He was trying hard to salvage a bit of his dignity, refusing to appear weak in front of Chrystal and Uncle Kai.

Seeing Seno’s defiance, Uncle Kai’s tone suddenly turned serious. "Mr. Seno, I suggest you prepare yourself for a lawsuit and be ready to pay damages. If any neighbors are willing to provide testimony, please speak up now."

Seno hesitated, feeling the pressure from Uncle Kai and weighing the potential consequences of his actions. He had initially thought this mother and her children would be easy to exploit, but now the situation had escalated into something far more serious. He began to reconsider his stance.

Originally, he had just wanted to squeeze more money out of them by raising the rent. But now, involving the police and the courts could mean bigger problems. Whatever the outcome, it could end up costing him more than he stood to gain.

When Uncle Kai softly asked for help, some of the elderly neighbors could no longer hold back their anger.

"Seno Karion, you're a disgrace to your parents!"

"Mr. Karion and his wife were such kind people. How did they end up with a disrespectful son like you, always showing up to raise the rent? You rented out the place honestly, so why are you playing tricks like a crook?"

"This is fraud! Who in this neighborhood doesn’t know that Mrs. Safira and her daughter are good-hearted people? Little Ruby, just listen to this gentleman and take him to court! Get your money back and rent somewhere better!"

The neighbors spoke sincerely, all siding with Safira and Ruby. They were fed up with Seno’s dishonest behavior and wanted to defend the family they viewed as good and honest neighbors.

Seno hadn’t expected to be humiliated and dismissed. No matter how thick-skinned he was, he couldn’t avoid feeling embarrassed and nervous.

He used to cause a stir about the house rent without much trouble, so why was he suddenly caught in such a difficult situation this time?

Bad luck!

“Why are all of you interfering in this?”

Seno covered the corner of his mouth, unwilling to face Chrystal and the others. “Tch. I have other things to do, so there’s no point in arguing with you any longer!”

With that, he quickly fled the hallway, not even bothering to seek compensation for the blow he’d received.

Since Seno had chosen to escape, there was no point in chasing him down. Safira, concerned about her youngest daughter’s sudden appearance, quickly thanked the neighbors for their help and ushered Chrystal and the others through the door.

They entered a modest living space, and immediately, the atmosphere was filled with a quaint and traditional charm. The houses lined up neatly along narrow pathways with old stone walls. Along the sides, vines and potted plants bloomed, adding a touch of beauty to the old-fashioned surroundings.

Unlike other areas that might be more modern, this place exuded an unforgettable charm of the past. Though simple, the cleanliness and orderliness of every house radiated a sense of comfort and tranquility despite being in the heart of a bustling city.

Ruby, who had become an art teacher after graduating from university two years ago, had now opened an art school with her friends. Her apartment was filled with paintings reflecting her calm and harmonious character.

Safira, as a mother, had a cozy master bedroom with a large bed. Additionally, Chrystal found a small bedroom decorated in soothing light blue tones.

Safira gently held Chrystal’s hand. “This is especially for you, hoping you would come and stay here. Over the years, the blankets have been changed several times from old to new.”

Chrystal wasn’t used to physical contact with strangers, but hearing these seemingly ordinary words warmed her heart. She felt a deep sense of gratitude. Safira’s image was that of the mother she had always imagined and longed for. The warmth and care from Safira made her feel welcomed and loved.

Before Chrystal could speak, Ruby brought out a small first-aid kit from her room. “Mom, sit down quickly, and I’ll clean your wounds to prevent infection.”

Chrystal gently reclaimed Safira’s hand and took the initiative to guide her. Safira and Ruby didn’t expect Chrystal’s actions, and they shared a look of happiness.

After not seeing her for so long, why did they feel that Chrystal had “opened up” a lot? This was a good thing!

Ruby took out sterile cotton and urged with a smile, “Mom, sit down quickly. Don’t make Chrystal worry.”

“Ai!”

Safira, seeing the rare sight of her children gathered around her, felt both sad and relieved, even ignoring the sharp pain from the antiseptic for a moment.

She looked at her daughters for a long time before realizing that Uncle Kai was still standing at the door. “Please, come in. Thank you for your help earlier,” she said kindly. “I heard Little Stone call you ‘Uncle Kai.’ Were you sent by the Hermawan family?” she added with a smile.

Still standing at the door, Uncle Kai briefly explained. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Floryn. I’m Kai, the head housekeeper of the Leon family. A while ago, the two families proposed a marriage, and yesterday, the Young Lady moved in with the second son of our family.”

Safira, her hands trembling, grasped Chrystal’s hand, her eyes searching for an explanation. “What is this? The Leon family? What marriage are they talking about?”

Ruby reacted with anger, her eyes red with fury. “Who proposed this marriage? Was it Hendra or the old man? Why do they want to marry off our Chrystal, and to whom? Are they taking advantage of Chrystal’s obedience and kindness for their own gain?”

Uncle Kai was taken aback by the emotional reaction from the mother and daughter. After a moment of thought, he replied, “Actually, the idea came from the elders of both families, but neither the Young Master nor the Young Lady were forced into it. It’s related to a business agreement and larger family interests.”