The usual chirping and chatter at the dinner table vanished, replaced only by Chuck's calm voice. The women even suppressed the sound of their chewing, focusing entirely on every word he uttered.
Since he had decided to speak, Chuck made sure to lay out the context clearly. The simplest way was to narrate his journey chronologically since landing on the island: defeating the wild boar with a jungle trap, the battle with the leopard in the redwood forest, the encounter with the python in the swamp, clearing the wolf pack with Molotov cocktails, and finally, the life-and-death struggle against the black bear with his newly forged bronze gear.
Most of the women knew parts of these stories or had been involved in segments, but hearing him weave them into a coherent timeline allowed them to finally understand the grand scale of his journey.
However, as he spoke, Chuck maintained an intentionally lighthearted tone. He glossed over the most terrifying details—like nearly being crushed to death by the python or being swatted through the air by the bear's massive paw. To the women, it sounded like an adventure game where the hero was simply "leveling up." They became so engrossed in the tale of "Chuck the Adventurer" that they forgot to eat.
The meat soup in the center of the table gradually cooled, a thin film forming on its surface. Finally, Chuck concluded with his friction-filled history with Valentina and his sighting of the giant bird in the volcanic zone that morning. He picked up his clay cup, took a sip of water to soothe his dry throat, and summarized:
"In short, this island is like a giant gauntlet. Every region has a 'lord' guarding its territory. To gather resources there, I have to defeat them. But since these lords don't typically leave their lands, the giant bird on the volcano isn't an immediate threat. I'm currently working on a strategy; I'll find a way to deal with it eventually."
He smiled and set down the cup, signaling the end of his talk. A long silence followed. Finally, a soft voice broke the quiet.
"Baba..."
Chuck turned to see Momo Gu sitting beside him, her small hand clutching his sleeve. Her large eyes were fixed on him, filled with a trace of bewilderment. "When... when you fight those monsters, is it dangerous?"
The light atmosphere in the room turned heavy instantly. Looking at the girl's watery eyes, Chuck found himself unable to answer for a moment. He sighed inwardly. Sometimes, this little one is too smart for her own good.
After a brief hesitation, he smiled and pinched her cheek. "Of course not. At most, it's just a few scratches. If you don't believe me, ask your sister Julia."
Momo's worry subsided slightly. "That's good then..."
In her eyes, Chuck was invincible; wild beasts were no match for him. Similarly, Kaede and Kaoru let out audible sighs of relief, their eyes once again gleaming with hero-worship. Momo's question had been their concern as well, but if Chuck said it was fine, it was fine. He was Mr. Chuck, after all.
In contrast, the expressions on Julia and Yitong's faces remained tinged with lingering heartache. Julia had been with him the longest and knew how hard he had fought. Yitong, sharp and rational, knew the challenges Chuck faced couldn't possibly be as easy as he made them sound. Still, in their hearts, Chuck was the man who could do anything. No one compared to him.
Only Janet, sitting in the corner, had a dark expression. Her gaze toward Chuck was filled with a mix of irritation and disbelief. Her eyes seemed to scream: What the fuck are you talking about? Why are you coddling them? Why aren't you telling them the truth?
As the warm atmosphere returned, Yitong took the pot to the fireplace to reheat the soup. The women, who had been too captivated to eat, began enjoying their dinner with renewed vigor. It was a scene of domestic bliss.
Janet couldn't take it anymore. Looking at the happy faces around her, she realized she couldn't bring herself to shatter this peace. She stood up and headed for the door.
"Aunt Janet?" Julia noticed her departure and paused mid-stroke while petting Momo. "It's late, where are you going?"
"It's nothing, Jules. It's a bit stuffy in here; I'm going for a walk."
"Oh, okay. Come back soon~"
"Don't worry."
Janet pushed open the door and stepped out. Chuck, who had been carefully ignoring her, finally shifted his gaze toward the door. He felt a wave of helplessness. He had always tried to keep the women away from the dangers he hadn't yet conquered. But with Janet, he had been forced to let her witness a brutal, bloody struggle in the redwood forest just to win her trust.
He had nearly died then. If Janet hadn't been there, things might have ended very differently. Consequently, to her ears, Chuck's sanitized stories sounded like utter bullshit.
"I'll go check on her," Chuck whispered to Julia. He propped his hands on his knees and stood up from the table.
"Oh, sure." Julia raised an eyebrow, a playful, knowing smile in her eyes. But then she frowned, a faint, inexplicable sense of unease fluttering in her chest.
Outside, Janet was nowhere to be seen on the terrace. The sun had completely vanished, and the last traces of dusk were gone. Chuck walked to the slope and remembered their pact from earlier.
"After dinner tonight... come find me at the east beach."
He quickened his pace, heading through the familiar jungle toward the shore. Sure enough, before he even cleared the treeline, he saw her voluptuous silhouette standing by the water under the pale moonlight. Janet was facing the dark, crashing waves, her hands tucked into the pockets of her hoodie.
Chuck scratched his chin and approached her slowly. "Our plans for tonight haven't changed, have they?"
Janet didn't turn around or answer. The incoming tide roared against the sand. Chuck stood in the awkward silence for a long moment until finally, the mature Western mare turned around. Her red curls were whipped across her pale face by the sea breeze, giving her an air of raw, mature beauty.
"I know you have your ways, and I've kept my mouth shut about what happened in the redwoods. But do you really plan on lying to them forever?"
"Lying?" Chuck paused, then gave a bitter laugh. "I just don't think they need to know. Is that really 'lying'?"
Janet took a sharp breath, her shoulders trembling. Her original intent in talking to him was to get him to share the burden, to let the others help carry the weight. Chuck had technically shared, but his half-assed version was unacceptable to her.
"'They just need to live a carefree life... they don't need to know the cruel side of this island... I'll take all the hits.' Is that it? Chuck, you're so cool. You're like a fucking superhero. Do you want me to carve you a medal?"
Chuck's smile faded. He understood her anger, but he didn't accept her logic. "Julia and the others won't get hurt, and they won't live in constant, pointless fear. You're right—that is my plan. What's wrong with that?"
"Everything!" Janet took a step back, her blue eyes filled with disbelief. "You want to be the big hero? Fine. You want to keep them in the dark? Fine. But you almost died right in front of me! You can't hide it from me! If you actually die one day, how am I supposed to look Jules in the eye? How can you be so selfish!"
Her voice rose until she was practically screaming. Chuck stepped forward and clamped his hand over her mouth. "Hey! Keep it down!"
The red-haired mare was far fiercer than her niece. Instead of melting into his arms, she struggled violently. Chuck applied more force, trying to pin her and talk her down, but Janet was incredibly strong and fueled by adrenaline. In the scramble, Chuck lost his balance. They both tumbled into the soft sand, with Chuck landing squarely on top of her.
"Hah... hah..."
The soft sand cushioned their fall. The sensation of the warm, fleshy body beneath him was indescribable—like lying on a massive, soft water bag. The scent of mature womanhood and milk filled his nostrils. Despite the tension, Chuck was a red-blooded man who had been anticipating this all day. Naturally, he felt a "reaction."
Janet felt the hard ridge pressing against her thigh and her face flushed with a mix of shame and anger. But she didn't push him away. Their breathing eventually synchronized.
To Chuck's surprise, Janet spoke first in a soft voice. "I'm sorry. I got emotional."
"It's okay," Chuck replied, his hand instinctively finding one of her heavy, meaty breasts. He squeezed the plump flesh, feeling its incredible density.
In truth, Janet had a right to be upset. She was now the sole bearer of a secret that would force her to worry every time he left the house. But Chuck wasn't wrong either. If the others knew, they couldn't help him; they would only worry needlessly. In a way, Janet was in this position because she had forced him to take her along in the first place.
As her head cooled in the sea breeze, Janet realized this too. Her anger faded. She lay on the sand, staring at the starlit sky while stroking Chuck's broad back with her warm palm. "Fuck... I guess I'm destined to be the only one worrying about you from now on."
"You could look at it another way." Chuck propped himself up on his hands, using the moonlight to find the metal zipper at Janet's neckline. "You're the only one who can help me share the pressure."
He pinched the zipper and slowly pulled it down. As the moonlight illuminated her snowy skin, Janet's blue eyes began to glow with a different light. If he puts it that way... it's true. Being the one who could see his vulnerable side and hold him while he rested... the thought brought her a surge of happiness.
[Janet's Trust has increased by 8! Current Trust: 63 (Adoring)]
The zipper reached the bottom, and Chuck pulled the hoodie off her shoulders. The argument hadn't created a rift; it had brought them closer. The red-haired mare finally let a seductive smile touch her lips as she reached behind her back.
"Brat... you sure know how to make Mommy happy."
The next second, the massive bra restricting her chest snapped open. Two enormous, snowy mounds with large, dark aureoles and small, hard nipples spilled out with a violent jiggle.
Gulp. Chuck's throat moved. His hands were drawn to them like magnets, kneading the heavy flesh into various shapes as Janet's face turned crimson. His dragon threatened to tear through his shorts, while a dark, wet patch began to spread between the legs of Janet's athletic pants.
As the sound of the waves faded and the drumming of their heartbeats took over, Janet raised her hands and hooked them around Chuck's neck. Her eyes were glazed with lust as she parted her lips, her breath hot and fragrant.
"What are you waiting for? Shove that big, thick thing of yours inside me. Fuck me as hard as you fuck the others... make Mommy your woman too."