Chapter 194: The Greatest Fairness!
"What did you say?" Luke turned incredulously toward Ryder Clark.
Did the kid just curse at him?
Ryder Clark didn't even dignify it with a response.
He turned to Karen and asked, "Are you really going to lend them money?"
Karen rolled her eyes at Ryder Clark, clearly annoyed, and retorted, "So what if I am?"
Ryder Clark's face remained calm as he responded, "You know what their family's like. Are you sure they'll be able to pay you back?"
He held back, though. He really wanted to talk about about that dud of a student who couldn't even get into the local high school without pulling some strings. If you managed to slot him into high school, he'd still be a dud!
All he does is eat and sleep, and he dreamed about getting into an Ivy League school? Fat chance!
He should count himself lucky to get into a trade school to learn how to operate heavy machinery!
And a home in a good school district? His parents had only finished elementary school. How could they possibly tutor him?
It was obvious they were only after the location!
But Karen was no fool. How could she not understand the subtext in Ryder Clark's words?
And what of it?
Karen despised Ryder Clark!
The more he said, the more she wanted to do the exact opposite!
So, with a twisted smile that wasn't quite a smile, she scoffed, "Ha! This is the Johnsons' family business, Ryder Clark. It's none of your concern. And you have no say in the amount of money. Keep your mouth shut!"
Ernest Johnson was about to chime in, hesitant to lend out the money, but the glance Karen shot him made him back down instantly!
Liu Xue Min was thrilled beyond measure as he watched this unfold.
He boasted to Ryder Clark, "See? I said you were an outsider. You should mind your own business unless you want to shoot yourself in the foot."
Then he turned to Karen, grovelling and singing her praises.
Sarah Johnson clenched her fists, ready to defend Ryder Clark, but he stopped her with a gesture, signaling her not to speak.
Sarah didn't understand why, but she kept quiet; however, her heart ached for Ryder Clark.
Even she was surprised at how much she had changed recently.
When someone had ridiculed Ryder Clark before, she would only feel embarrassed and let down for choosing him.
But now, she was gradually learning to see things from his perspective...
Karen and the Johnson family chatted leisurely for a while.
The conversation only ended when Liu Qinghua, having polished off four plates of pasta and cleaned the dishes off the table, belched and announced, "I'm full, tired, and ready for bed!"
The clock struck midnight.
Lou Xue Min announced he would not be heading home that night and planned to stay over.
Sarah Johnson said, "We don’t have enough rooms, Uncle Lou. I'll book a hotel for you. It’d be better to stay there!”
"Oh, come on! Hotels are so expensive, there’s no need to waste money like that!"
His gaze swept the room and then settled on Sarah's bedroom as he suggested, “Your aunt and I can stay in your bedroom tonight, Sarah. You can bunk with your cousin Kyle; he's out tonight anyhow.”
"Okay!"
Lou Qing Hua agreed and promptly headed to Kyle's room to sleep.
Meanwhile, Sarah cringed at the thought of Uncle Lou's notorious foot odor. Even if he only spent a night in her room, it would be impossible to get rid of the smell!
Resisting, she proposed, "Uncle Lou, Ryder Clark is staying with me in here. How about you and Aunt Lou stay in Ryder's old room? He moved out recently, and it's free!"
Wang Yin Ping made a face of disgust. "You want us to stay in Ryder Clark’s room? No way! I don't want to catch any of his bad vibes. We are not staying there! We'll take your room. We're getting on in years and need a big, soft bed for our backs. You can bunk in Ryder’s old room. It's settled!"
"You..." Sarah was fuming.
Before she could retort, Karen interjected, "Sarah! You're the younger one here, give in to your uncle and aunt! Haven't I always taught you to be respectful?”
Sarah was left speechless by her mother's rebuke. It felt like emotional blackmail. She could see through Karen's motives – she was worried about coming off poorly if she didn't cater to their every need, afraid they’d badmouth her back home.
The thought only deepened Sarah's disappointment, and she said in a huff, "Fine, have it your way! Ryder and I will book a hotel for the night."
With that, she grabbed her purse, slipped on her shoes, and made for the door.
A hotel stay? Ryder Clark wasn’t about to miss out on an opportunity like that and quickly followed her out the door.
Bang! The door slammed shut.
Karen was seething. "That bratty girl has grown too bold lately, all because of that troublemaker Ryder Clark!”
Lou Xue Min echoed, "You’re right. I've noticed a big change in Sarah during this visit. It has to be that boy’s influence! For Sarah’s sake, and for the Lou family's reputation, you should make her divorce that man and kick him out!"
Karen retorted, "Do you think I don’t want to do that? I'm willing to do anything as long as I can get those two divorced and Ryder Clark out of my sight!”
Luke's eyes gleamed with mischief. "What if I can get them to split up?"
Karen eyed him skeptically. "Are you sure you can pull it off?"
"Absolutely! But if I do it, don't you think you’ll owe your little brother a reward?"
"What do you want?"
He grinned. "Well, my old bike has seen better days, and it's really not cutting it anymore. I've been thinking about getting a set of wheels, something around the ten grand mark, so..."
Karen cut to the chase. "If you can get rid of Ryder Clark, forget about a ten grand car—I'll buy you one worth twenty grand!"
"Deal!" Luke celebrated, practically dancing with excitement.
Ernest Johnson, who was watching from a distance, sighed softly to himself.
He had meant to warn Luke not to get involved and to steer clear of Ryder Clark.
But then, the thought of his bothersome brother-in-law siphoning off his family's resources was irritating.
Since Karen was on board, Ernest didn't dare object.
Perhaps it was best to let Luke cross Ryder, so he could experience a much-needed lesson...
Meanwhile, Ryder Clark and Sarah Johnson came downstairs.
Sarah, striding ahead in her high heels, fumed, "At this rate, that side of the family will bleed us dry! I can't believe my mom feels the need to keep up appearances so much!"
Ryder followed nonchalantly. "Let them be. Your mom said she lent them the money herself; it has nothing to do with me or you. She can deal with the consequences."
Sarah stopped, turned, and looked at Ryder seriously. "But... but it feels so unfair to you!"
"Why would you say that?" Ryder inquired.
Sarah’s eyes flickered with emotion. "When Ava had that accident, my mom kept the thirty thousand compensation, and she hasn't given you a single cent over the years. But she doesn't blink an eye when she gives money to my uncle! I just feel..."
Her voice choked up as she spoke.
Ryder felt a twinge in the softest part of his heart.
He pulled Sarah into his embrace, murmuring softly, "Even if the world is full of injustice, having you by my side is fairness I’ve been granted by heaven..."
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