Chapter 88: Mayor Martin Reed Slammed His Hand on the Table

"Stop right there!" Mayor Martin Reed slammed his hand on the table, veins bulging at his temples.

Mrs. Martin had intended to drop her ultimatum and leave, letting The Reeds stew over it. She hadn’t expected the mayor to explode on the spot.

Thinking of her son’s future, she steeled herself and turned with a cold smirk. "What now, Mayor Reed? Have you finally agreed to our terms?" Her words were like pouring oil on fire.

"Harold’s mother, are you deliberately sabotaging this marriage?" Martin couldn’t tolerate his daughter being insulted like this. If they dared to humiliate her to her face, who knew how they’d mistreat her after marriage?

In that instant, he resolved to call off the engagement—but not without making Harold Martin pay for his audacity.

Mrs. Martin flicked her handkerchief dismissively. "Oh, Mayor Reed, such accusations! We came in good faith, but your family’s the one playing hard to get. If word gets out, it’s your reputation that’ll suffer." She shot Emily a disdainful glance. "A girl like her, acting all high and mighty? In the old days, she’d have been punished for her shame!"

She knew full well that if things came to blows, The Reeds would lose. Harold had another girl at the factory—one whose uncle was a high-ranking official. Compared to Emily, that match was like heaven and earth.

"Get out! I’d sooner marry a stray dog than Harold Martin!" Emily sobbed, lunging forward. "A family like yours deserves to rot without heirs!"

Mrs. Martin’s face darkened. "Emily Reed, don’t you dare be ungrateful! Marrying into our family would be an honor!"

Martin pulled his daughter behind him, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Fine! Then remember this: if Harold Martin ever sets foot in this village again, I’ll make sure he regrets it!"

"Mayor Reed, this is a new era!" Mrs. Martin forced a defiant tone. "If this escalates, let’s see whose daughter loses face first!"

"Ha! I got Harold that factory job—I can just as easily send him back to the fields," Martin sneered. "Test me if you dare."

The Martins slunk away in defeat. The moment the gate shut, Emily collapsed into her mother’s arms, wailing.

"Enough!" Martin kicked over a stool. "You should’ve thought of this sooner!"

Emily fled into the house and buried her face in the bedding. Outside, Martin and Helen sat on the doorstep in heavy silence.

The night wind swirled with dead leaves, mirroring the turmoil in their hearts.