The more she spoke, the harder she cried, finally throwing herself into Nora's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Crying loudly, just like at a funeral.
I clenched my fists, ready to speak, but Jason, her father, with bloodshot eyes, stood up and grabbed my dad by the collar. He picked up the ashtray from the coffee table and swung it toward my dad.
"Jason, we've been asking politely for so long, and you refuse to lend us money. Fine. But why bully my daughter?"
"You dare make her cry, I swear I'll kill you!"
This scene was exactly the same as in my past life.
Jason had a violent temper, but he wasn't actually going to hit anyone.
He just picked up the ashtray to scare my parents.
In my previous life, my parents were so frightened by his behavior that they gave them the money, thinking it was better to avoid conflict.
This time, I wouldn't let my family repeat the same mistake!
Sure enough, my dad was scared by Jason's crazy behavior.
He held onto his collar with one hand, trying to stop Jason's hand with the ashtray with the other, his voice anxious. "Brother-in-law, don't do this, that's not what I meant. Let's just talk..."
"Talk? The one who bullies my daughter must pay!"
Jason pushed the ashtray even closer to my dad's head.
My mom rushed to intervene but was pushed aside by Jason. I quickly caught her.
Jason was taller and stronger than my dad, who was just a schoolteacher. He worked in transport, so his strength was naturally much greater.
Unable to fight back and with my mom and me at risk, my dad finally gave in. "We'll lend you the money! We can lend it!"
Jason's movements paused, but the vicious look in his eyes didn't lessen.
"How much?"
My dad choked up, glancing toward my mom.
"Brynlee, how much money do we have left?"
My mom, already in tears, blurted out without thinking, "Thir..."
Seeing that she was about to say 30,000, I quickly interrupted her, "Mom, we don't have any money left."
"Last night, I went to an underground casino hoping to try my luck, and I lost our last 30,000."
Afraid they wouldn't believe me, I pinched my thigh hard, bringing tears to my eyes from the pain.
"Not only that, but I owe them another 30,000. They're demanding I repay it within a week..."
With a shaky voice and tears at the corners of my eyes, I looked as believable as I could. Even my parents were fooled.
"Lost, lost it all?"
"And owe another 30,000?"