Chapter 3 Partiality

When Bennett snatched the money, the most terrified was Stephen Carter. The little girl felt it was her fault—now that the money was gone, her older and younger brothers would go hungry, and that was their father's private stash... Stephen Carter was so anxious she burst into tears. Somehow, she found the courage to suddenly rush over, grab the money pouch, and desperately try to snatch it back, crying out, "This is my father's money, it's not stolen, give it back to us!"

Andrew Carter was frightened when he saw his sister rush out and hurriedly shouted, "Stop fighting, come back!"

But he was too late. Bennett swung her arm—after all, she was an adult, and Stephen Carter, thin and frail, was flung aside in an instant, her head hitting the leg of the table.

"Xiang'er!"

Andrew Carter cried out in alarm and rushed over. When he reached out to touch her, he found a lump the size of an egg swelling on the back of his sister's head, with fresh blood oozing out. Andrew Carter completely lost it, transforming into an angry little leopard, glaring fiercely at Bennett.

"That one move of yours could have killed my sister! How vicious you are!"

"Nonsense!" Bennett would never admit to being so ruthless. She retorted, "Just a little girl, tough as nails—see, she's fine! Besides, even if she died, so what? One less burden! Saves a dowry, too!"

Bennett was not only mean and greedy, but she didn't care about his sister's life at all. Andrew Carter gritted his teeth and said, "You really ought to say that to your own parents, let them strangle you early and save the Bennett family a dowry!"

...

"You little brat, how dare you curse me!" Bennett's face flushed red with anger at Andrew Carter's words. She raised her hand and went to hit Andrew Carter again.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her leg. Looking down, she saw little Samuel Carter biting her thigh, his sharp little teeth sinking into her flesh—it really hurt!

"Filthy little scoundrel, I'll beat you to death first!" Bennett slapped Samuel Carter, pushing him back three steps. He landed hard on his bottom, and tears welled up from the pain. Bennett wouldn't let it go, lunging over to punch him again.

"You! Go! Die!"

Andrew Carter's eyes were bloodshot. He didn't care about anything anymore—he grabbed the porridge pot and was about to smash it at Bennett.

"Stop!"

A voice suddenly rang out from outside. Both Bennett and Andrew Carter stopped involuntarily. An old lady with white hair, leaning on a cane, rushed in from outside—it was Andrew Carter's great-grandmother, the head of the Wang family.

"Grandmother is here!" Bennett forced a smile, quickly trying to play the victim. "Erlang stole money from the family and even dared to raise a hand against his elders. If you don't do something, they'll turn the world upside down!"

"Elders? You think you deserve that title?" Andrew Carter was about to retort.

The old lady thumped her cane on the ground with a loud bang. "Enough! Are you all trying to make me die of anger?"

Bennett didn't dare say another word. The old lady bent down and helped Samuel Carter up, examining him carefully. The little boy was sturdy—he'd just landed on his bottom, nothing serious.

The old lady finally let out a sigh of relief, then glared fiercely at Bennett.

"This is our Wang family's grandson. He's already so big, and you still don't know your own strength. What if you hurt him?"

Bennett looked utterly unconcerned, but still mumbled a reply.

"Enough, just be more careful in the future."

From start to finish, the old lady didn't spare Stephen Carter a single glance, even though she was more seriously hurt. Andrew Carter's face was grim. He held his sister in his arms, and the little girl, feeling her brother's warmth, snuggled even closer.

"Grandmother, look at this—there's porridge and flatbread on the table, even better than what the elders eat! If this keeps up, won't the Wang family be eaten into ruin? Their father practices martial arts and eats a pound of meat every day, and look at how these kids behave! A whole family of gluttons and thieves—how can we go on like this?"

After Bennett finished, she started sobbing pitifully, but to Andrew Carter, it was nothing but disgusting.

Hearing Bennett mention his cheap father, Andrew Carter understood. Bennett targeted him and his siblings at every turn, all for the sake of her own branch of the family. Second Uncle Edward Carter and cousin Richard Carter were both studying, which cost money. The Wang family was already struggling, and yet his cheap father was obsessed with restoring the family's former glory, spending a lot on martial arts training. Bennett was unhappy about it and took it out on the children.

"Grandmother, these kids dare to steal from the family. Steal a needle as a child, steal gold as an adult—if you don't punish them harshly, what rules will there be?"

The old lady hesitated slightly, looking at Andrew Carter with suspicion.

But Andrew Carter was no pushover—he always insisted on reason, no matter what.

"Great-grandmother! Second Aunt calls us thieves at every turn—does that mean the Wang family is a den of thieves, from top to bottom? Then what does that make Second Uncle?"

"You..." Bennett was left speechless.

Andrew Carter sneered, "My parents went out and left us a little pocket money—what's wrong with that? If Second Aunt thinks that's stealing, fine! But I ask Great-grandmother to go search Second Uncle's room thoroughly. If you don't find a single coin, I'll admit to it. But if you do... heh, who the real thief is remains to be seen!"

Bennett was struck where it hurt. When it came to hiding private money in the Wang family, no one could beat her. If they searched her room, everything would be exposed.