Missy thanked the hawker and gobbled down the food.
Lacey looked lovingly at her daughter, “Her appetite is getting better.”
Lacey thought Missy had her breakfast at home.
However, Zeke frowned at the sight.
He deliberately hugged Missy and trailed further behind Lacey and asked Missy in a low voice, “Missy, did you not have breakfast in the morning?”
Missy nodded her head, “Yes. Aunt said I could only eat after doing all the dishes.”
Zeke felt for his daughter, “Missy, what do you like to eat? Daddy will bring you out later.”
Missy carefully replied, “Daddy, I... want to try the KFC that I saw on the TV. Could you bring me there?”
Sure!
Zeke agreed immediately, “Daddy will bring Missy there later.”
It has not been easy for Lacey. Even KFC was a luxury for her.
What happened to Lacey these three years?
Lacey arrived at a nearby market.
The market was situated at the center of an urban village. The place was filthy, unhygienic with seemingly endless chatter.
Zeke noticed a group of onlookers abuzz with excitement as soon as he entered the market.
It was chaotic with sounds of items crashing and shrieks.
It sounded like Hannah and Daniel Hinton.
Damn it, someone is bullying mom and dad.
Zeke jostled his way into the crowd.
Eight ruffians flipped over the fruit stall and the fruits were scattered all over.
The ruffians did not stop at that and even stepped on the fruits.
Danial and Hannah protected the remaining fruits on the trishaw as they shivered in fear.
The leader of the ruffian, Scarred Face brandished a steel baton as he dashed toward Daniel and Hannah.
“Hey old man. Pay your protection fees.”
“Otherwise, your remaining fruits and the two of you will suffer my wrath!”
Daniel stood before Hannah to protect her.
“Brother, we just paid our due for this month ten days ago. Why are you asking from us again?”
Scarred Face merely replied, “Stop yakking. You guys ate yesterday. Why are you eating again today?”
Daniel felt helpless, “Sure, if you put it that way. But it seems like we are paying more than others.”
“We need the money to treat my granddaughter. But now we’re giving it all to you.”
Stop the yackety-yak!
Scarred Face’s patience was running out, “I’m asking you one last time. Are you going to pay up or are you going to get the hell out of this place?”
Daniel was exasperated, “Please give us a way out. This is money for my granddaughter’s treatment. You guys are essentially killing her if you take this money.”
Damn it!
Scarred Face was enraged and was about to hurl at him with the baton.
Zeke was about to speak when Lacey spoke up, “Stop it.”
“I’ll pay the protection fees.”
Scarred Face stopped as he eyeballed Lacey, “Saves me the trouble.”
Lacey walked over to Daniel and Hannah’s side, “Mom and dad, are you guys alright?”
Guilt was written all over Daniel’s face, “I’m too weak.”
“I can’t even fork out the money for Missy’s treatment.”
Lacey soothed him, “Mom and dad, don’t worry. I’ve figured it all out.”
She glanced at Scarred Face. “How much is the protection fee?” Lacey flipped through her purse as she asked him.
Scarred Face replied, “Twenty thousand.”
What on earth?
Lacey stopped searching her purse and looked at him in surprise, “You guys might as well rob us. Twenty thousand for a fruit stall is over the line.”
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