Chapter 393: Martin Reed's Thunderous Shout Froze Everyone in the Courtyard

"Stop this at once!"

Martin Reed's thunderous shout froze everyone in the courtyard.

The Ward family's yard lay in ruins. Shards of glass littered the ground, several water vats smashed beyond recognition. Muddy water mixed with soil flowed freely across the compound. Calvin Ward crouched in a corner, clutching his swollen forehead. Daniel Ward and Sean Ward were pinned against the wall, their clothes torn to shreds, faces bruised purple and blue.

Tessa Wilson hid inside, arms wrapped protectively around her belly, face drained of color. A leering thug blocked the doorway, eyeing her with ill intent.

Derek Harlan lounged on a bench, legs crossed, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"Keep smashing!" He blew smoke rings, snarling. "Vanessa can run but she can't hide! Hand her over today or I'll burn this place down!"

Several men raised their clubs again.

"Try it!" Martin Reed strode into the yard, his gaze sharp as lightning. "Committing daylight robbery? Want to spend years behind bars?"

The mob instantly deflated.

Derek nearly toppled off his seat.

"Who the hell are you?" He jutted his chin defiantly. "I'm here for my wife—that's my right!"

Rage simmered in his gut.

This past year had been hell for Derek. First, the final fallout with his uncle Mitchell Fowler. Initially, he'd congratulated himself for ditching deadweight. But soon came news—his uncle opened a shop in town, recovered from illness, with all three daughters helping out.

Worse, his uncle bought each daughter a television set and gifted their husbands motorcycles. Villagers spoke of it with shining eyes. Rumor had it the Fowlers now lived in a two-story house, thriving.

Derek tasted bitter regret.

His uncle had once treated him like a son. If only he hadn't...

Swallowing pride, he'd attempted reconciliation—only to be rebuffed. His uncle swore he'd rather die unmourned than raise an ungrateful wretch.

Furious yet powerless, Derek's lavish spending soon left him penniless. When Vanessa refused him money, he'd beaten her. Recently, she'd seemed tamed—he thought his fists had finally worked.

Until...

"Mayor! Justice!" Calvin Ward suddenly lunged, clutching Martin's leg. "This monster is destroying our home!"

Derek's face darkened.

He hadn't come just for Vanessa today...