Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James) novel Chapter 1881

That evening, I spilled the beans to my dad when he got home late. He wasn't around much, only making it back because it was their anniversary, which was the only reason Mom had been out to grab groceries.

Dad was livid when I told him what went down. Without letting Mom in on it, he whisked me off to the market where it all happened. He had me point out each person who had messed with my mom that day.

The market was packed with folks standing in neat rows, like sheep led to the slaughter, too scared to put up a fight. They had their heads hung low, all their swagger from the day before was gone.

Why?

Because they were broke, chained to the market by contracts, each drowning under massive rent bills. They had no choice but to stand there as Dad had them do... Actually, it wasn't even his direct order. It came from the market manager, who wouldn't dare say a word to Dad himself.

I stood there, calling out each of the people who had wronged my mom. The ones who had been so bold the day before were now as meek as lambs, trying to appease Dad, saying, "We were just following rumors. We had no idea she was your wife..."

Even with their humble apologies, Dad didn't bother to give them the time of day.

The market managers got the hint quickly. They yanked those folks aside, roughed them up a bit, and then trashed all the produce on their stalls, grinding it into the ground.

Just like that, those people were on the verge of breaking.

Their livelihood was at stake. Without it, they'd be left to drift, with no means to survive.

Standing next to me, Dad said, "Reece, remember, for these people, death isn't the scariest thing. It's losing their livelihood that's terrifying."

Without a way to make a living, there's no hope.

Without hope, all that's left is despair.

The worst kind of suffering in this world isn't physical; it's the torment of the soul.