Chapter 328: High Blood Pressure

Night fell. The banquet ended and the guests departed.

Ken Ward stuffed a wad of cash into Mark Ward’s hand and patted him on the shoulder.

“Milo, thanks for all your hard work today. My family and I are heading back to the city tomorrow. I didn’t bring much cash with me this time, so take this. Consider it a small token from your big brother.”

Mark Ward quickly tried to refuse.

“Brother, I can’t, I really can’t. We’re brothers, thick as thieves. Helping out is what family does. You’re treating me like a stranger.”

“Enough. Don’t try to be a tough guy with me. I know what your family’s situation is like. Just think of it as me helping out with your household expenses.”

Seeing that he was still playing the game of pretending to refuse what he clearly wanted, Ken Ward decided to change his approach.

“Or, just consider it payment for a job! If you have free time, you can come by every now and then to check on the house for me. Sweep up the leaves and trash in front of the door, how about it?”

A faint blush spread across Mark Ward’s dark, weathered face, though it was hard to tell if it was from the alcohol or his emotions.

He clutched the money in his hand and nodded emphatically.

“Deal. I’ll make sure to keep the area around the house spotless! Brother, what time are you leaving tomorrow? I’ll butcher a couple of chickens for you and give you some eggs. They’re all homegrown—clean, nutritious, and safe to eat.”

“No need. Don’t go to the trouble. Keep them for their eggs. We can buy whatever we want in the city anytime. Alright, alright, it’s getting late. You should head home.”

Ken Ward waved his hand dismissively.

“Okay then, we’ll get going. Brother, sister-in-law, if you have time, remember to come back and visit more often.”

With that, Mark Ward left the villa with his family in tow.

After closing the main gate, Joanne Cheney no longer bothered to hide the disdain on her face.

“Your brother is honest enough, I suppose. He still respects you as his older brother. But that wife of his has never been a good person. The moment she saw the money, her eyes lit up. It’s only five thousand yuan, for crying out loud. Look how greedy she was.

“And you have no idea. During dinner, her spittle-covered chopsticks dug through every single dish. It was so disgusting I completely lost my appetite.

“She started packing up leftovers before people were even done eating. A country bumpkin is a country bumpkin. Reeks of poverty and has no class at all.”

“Alright, that’s enough out of you. He’s my brother, and she’s my sister-in-law, no matter what! Don’t forget, our son is still inside. If he heard you, I’d like to see how you’d explain yourself!”

Ken Ward scolded her in a low voice.

Joanne Cheney curled her lip in contempt but didn’t say anything more.

To ensure their son had the best possible development and future, their family had always subscribed to an elite education philosophy.

In their child’s eyes, they were always a strict yet gentle father and a kind, loving mother.

Sometimes, when you pretend for long enough, you start to believe you really are that person.

‘He shouldn’t think I don’t know what’s going on. I’m just saying what he’s really thinking.’

‘He clearly thinks the same way, but he’s so obsessed with saving face. Shoving a pittance at them just to polish his image as the ‘big brother.”

‘If you ask me, after his parents died, there was no reason to keep in touch with these poor relatives at all.’

‘What’s our status, and what’s the status of that pack of dirt-poor ghosts? Associating with them just lowers our own standing!’

…

Meanwhile, after counting the money, Mark Ward’s wife started speaking in a snide, passive-aggressive tone.

“Tsk, no wonder he rolled it up before giving it to you. Trying to make the wad look thicker, was he? Just five thousand yuan. Is he trying to shoo away a beggar? And that pearl ring your sister-in-law slipped me this afternoon—who knows if it’s even real.

“He hasn’t been back in years, and I thought he’d be some big shot. Figures. The richer people get, the stingier they become.”

“Alright, will you give it a rest? Didn’t he say he didn’t bring much cash? Besides, that’s my own brother. I already feel guilty taking this money!”

Mark Ward shot her a glare, snatched the money, stuffed it all into his own pocket, and kept his hand pressed over it protectively.

“Hey, that money…”

The woman started to say something, but Mark Ward cut her off self-righteously.

“What money? Isn’t the money we have at home enough for you to spend? I’m taking this to town tomorrow to ‘deposit’ it, so don’t even think about it.”

Walking behind them while playing a game on his phone, Walter Ward curled his lip in disdain.

“‘Didn’t bring cash’? That’s just an excuse, and only you would believe it. Who doesn’t use their phone for bank transfers these days? If he really wanted to give us money, he would’ve just sent it directly. Why bother putting on a show?”

The woman also chimed in, “Exactly. Our Walter is right. You think about it. In all the years he’s been successful, besides helping our Walter get into a high school in the county town, has he helped our family one bit? You treat him like a brother, but has he ever given a damn about you?”

“Alright, alright, shut your mouths, the lot of you! Speaking of which, I’m getting pissed off. Walter Ward, can’t you put some effort into your studies? Do you know how long I had to beg your uncle to get you that spot?

“We’re both sons of the same father, so why is it that his son can be the top scorer, while my son is a good-for-nothing who needs connections just to get into high school?!”

Walter Ward wasn’t intimidated at all and shot back,

“So you do know you’re sons of the same father? Well, Owen Ward’s dad is a big boss. Why isn’t my dad? Don’t tell me Grandpa didn’t put in as much effort when he was making you as he did when he was making Uncle, huh?

“If you were capable enough to get me a big house in the city and a luxury car, I’d definitely be a top scorer too! But too bad for me, you’re not capable!

“I think you can give up on me going to school. Just hurry up and sell Hope Walsh and Lana Walsh. Get me a big house in the city with the money, and I’ll make you a grandfather ASAP. That’d be a much better deal.

“Don’t worry, when the time comes, I’ll put in the same amount of effort no matter which kid I’m making.”

“What did you just say, you little bastard?! How did I end up with a monster like you for a son?!”

Feeling his dignity as the head of the household had been challenged, Mark Ward raised his hand to strike him, but his wife stopped him.

“There, there, he’s just a kid! Why are you getting angry with him?!”

Walter Ward rolled his eyes impatiently and walked right past them to go home by himself.

“He’s completely spoiled, and it’s all your fault, you damned woman!”

Mark Ward cursed, backhanding her across the face.

He hadn’t actually intended to hit his son earlier; otherwise, he would have easily broken free from his wife’s grasp.

The woman, unfazed, pushed aside her disheveled hair and said with perfect self-assurance,

“He’s my only precious son. Who else would I spoil but him? But I think what Walter said earlier has some merit. Hope is already 19 now, it’s about time we found her a husband.

“Oh, by the way, I heard that Boss Hughes from town is looking for a wife. His last three wives only left him with two ‘money-losing ventures,’ so he wants to find someone fertile who can give him a son. What do you think…?”

Mark Ward clasped his hands behind his back and pondered for a moment.

“I’ll ask around when I go to town tomorrow.”

“Yes, deal!”