The Harvest of Vengeance Chapter 2

Shawn sneered as if he heard the biggest joke in the world and reached for the papers.

He flipped through two pages, and his expression went from mocking to livid.

"Tangerine grove damage assessment... based on the average yield of the past five years, estimated total yield loss for the next ten years... including labor costs, land maintenance costs, brand value loss... totaling $18.5 million?"

His voice trembled as he read the final number, and he slammed the papers onto the table, scattering them everywhere.

"Are you crazy? This is extortion!"

Mrs. Stone snatched a few pages, her eyes widening, then screamed:

"You ungrateful wretch! The Stone family brings you back to a life of luxury, and instead of being grateful, you want money? Eighteen million? Why don't you just rob a bank!"

I ignored their hysteria and looked at Sarah.

Her performance was right on cue.

Tears fell like broken beads.

She stood up, swaying, her voice filled with endless grievance and self-blame.

"Sister... I know it's all my fault. I was ignorant and ruined the village's tangerine grove..."

"But I didn't mean to..."

"Blame me if you want, hit me or scold me, but why use money to hurt Mom and Dad's feelings? We are family..."

She started to kneel towards me, "I apologize, I'll kowtow to you, please don't do this..."

Shawn and Mrs. Stone rushed to support her.

The family huddled together, glaring at me as if I were the villain tearing apart their happy home.

"Lin! Look what you've done to Sarah!"

Samuel finally slammed the table and stood up, pointing at my nose, full of disappointment and anger:

"The Stone family owes you nothing! Bringing you back is a favor, not an obligation! If you keep making trouble, get out!"

I waited for them to vent, then spoke slowly, my voice not loud but clear enough for everyone to hear.

"First, this isn't extortion, it's compensation."

"What Sarah destroyed was the livelihood of over a hundred families in the village for the next ten years. This data was recorded by my grandfather in his ledger for decades, stroke by stroke, accurate to the harvest of every single tree."

I paused, my gaze sweeping over each of them.

"Second, I already said, my last name is Lin. I came back not to recognize any relatives, nor to be anyone's sister."

I stood up, looking down at this ridiculous family of four, finishing my sentence word by word.

"I am here to collect a debt. Paying debts is the law of the universe."

"Your Stone family affection is worthless to me. I don't want it."