Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to support her mother, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably with sobs.

Out of the crowd, a man stepped forward. It was Uncle Jack, the same man Emma had given a pack of cigarettes to last time.

When Uncle Jack made his move, his wife shot him a glare, signaling him not to meddle. Yet, he approached Emma and helped her lift Peyton up.

Seeing someone come to her aid, Emma knew it wasn't the time for tears. She quickly stood up, her voice choked with gratitude.

"Uncle Jack, thank you."

The middle-aged man sighed, unsure of what to say.

"Let's get your mom inside and then figure things out," he suggested.

Meanwhile, the chatter among the villagers continued. Mrs. Smith from the Odeberg family stood with her hands on her hips, berating Emma for her shamelessness and accusing her of flirting around.

In this town, an unwed pregnancy could ruin a woman's reputation entirely.

After delivering Peyton home, Uncle Jack left promptly, wary of the gossip that might ensue from his stay.

Now, it was just Emma and Peyton in the room.

With no other choice, Emma endured her pain, heated some water, and gently wiped Peyton's face.

Peyton woke up the next day, clutching her chest and complaining of heart pain. After her complaints, she began to berate Emma.

"It's all your fault. How did I end up with such bad luck? Do you have any idea what people were saying about us last night? If only your father hadn't passed away so early, leaving me to raise you alone."

"I might as well be dead," Peyton lamented, trying to get out of bed to throw herself against a pillar.

But before she could act, the Odeberg family arrived, demanding the return of the dowry with a fierce attitude.

Knowing they were at a disadvantage, Peyton and Emma couldn't confront them. After all, they were just a mother and daughter with no one to lean on.

"The Moll family! Come out this instant! Not only do you owe us thirty thousand for the dowry, but you also owe us for the feast last night. All those dishes on each table cost tus a fortune, not to mention the compensation for our emotional distress. That's a total of fifty

thousand! Bring it out now!"

Emma was furious when she heard the demand for fifty thousand. The feast had been modest, costing no more than a few thousand. Yet, the Odeberg family was demanding a whopping fifty thousand! "Mom, where did you put the dowry money? Let's give it to them," Emma said.

Peyton sighed and retrieved the thirty thousand meant for the dowry, but they wanted fifty thousand.

With the thirty thousand in hand, Emma stepped outside.

The Odeberg family had brought a crowd, ready to make a scene. The village folks, eager for more drama, had gathered again.

"Here's the thirty thousand for the dowry," Emma announced.

Upon counting the money, a member of the Odeberg family snorted dismissively.

"And the remaining twenty thousand? What about the money for the feast and the compensation for our emotional distress? You've caused us so much trouble, Emma. We all know about the man who fathered your child, the one who came to your house for treatment. Tsk, tsk. You really have no shame. It's no wonder no one in the village wants you, so you throw yourself at any man who shows up. How disgraceful!"

The villagers had a way with harsh words, and although Emma was known for her toughness, she was speechless in the face of such a crowd. Her unwed pregnancy was indeed a fact, and now the entire village looked down on her. "Twenty thousand? How could last night's meal possibly cost that much?"

The Odeberg family stood defiantly, unreasonable and demanding.

"Fine, if you won't pay, we'll just search your house ourselves! We're talking about compensation for the emotional distress you and your daughter have caused. The whole village witnessed your scandal We just lost one woman in our family, and now we're stuck with a baby that needs a mother. The time we've wasted because of your actions needs compensation. And that's on you!" Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Their logic was utterly absurd.