Chapter 106: Elena Ward Immediately Noticed the Peculiar Look in the Shepherd's Eyes

Elena Ward immediately noticed the peculiar look in the shepherd's eyes—a mix of pity, sympathy, and something indescribable. Her heart sank. Her eldest sister must be suffering terribly.

"What's happened to Rose?" She clenched the hem of her shirt.

Over the years, her two sisters had sacrificed so much for her. Especially Rose, who had married into this impoverished mountain village and still scrimped to support her. The thought made Elena's eyes burn.

"Easy," Adrian Stone said, steadying her trembling shoulders. "Let's see her first."

Elena took a deep breath. Panicking wouldn't help. At least with Captain Stone here, they could handle whatever awaited them. She glanced at his crisp military uniform, drawing some comfort from it.

They followed the rugged mountain path into the village. A ramshackle adobe house came into view, its bamboo fence leaning haphazardly around a small yard. As they neared, they saw the vegetable garden inside was trampled—deliberately destroyed.

The creaking gate swung open, and suddenly, furious shouting erupted from inside.

"Darren Lewis! He's your own son!" A woman's tearful cry pierced the silence. "I gave all my earnings to your mother! Now the boy's leg is like this—what am I supposed to do?"

"Serves you right!" a man roared. "Who told you to haul stones? If it weren't for supporting your deadweight sister, would the kids have had to help? Would they be hurt?"

Elena froze. Deadweight... That had to mean her.

A sharp slap rang out, followed by the sickening thuds of blows.

"Stop!" Adrian charged inside, Elena right behind him.

In the dim hut, a brutish man was slamming a woman's head against the wall. In the corner, a feverish teenager lay curled up, his right leg a mangled mess.

"Who the hell are you?" The man released the woman and backed away warily.

Elena rushed to help the bloodied woman up. When she recognized the battered face, her throat tightened. "Rose..."

Rose looked up, her swollen eyes widening in shock. "L-Elena?"

"It's me." Elena wiped the blood from her sister's face with shaking hands before turning to glare at the so-called brother-in-law. "Is this how you treat my sister?"

Darren faltered under Adrian's military presence but blustered, "I discipline my own woman—none of your damn business!"

"Discipline?" Elena pointed to the unconscious boy. "This is the result?"

Adrian was already examining the injury, his frown deepening. "The wound's infected. He's burning up—needs a hospital now."

"No money!" Darren jutted his chin. "Let her sister pay for it!"

Elena trembled with rage. Just then, hurried footsteps approached outside, and a shrill voice called out, "Darren! I heard soldiers are here?"