Chapter 38 Evil Meets Its Retribution
“Alright!”
+8 Pearls
This time, they struck gold. Tom and Gwen, fully convinced by Joshua’s plan, promptly rented a vehicle and a warehouse for a few days to stockpile 3,000 pounds of bananas.
Renting the vehicle cost 1000 dollars, and the warehouse another 1000 dollars for a seven–day lease. Every remaining cent was funneled into purchasing bananas and longan.
They didn’t bother hiring extra help. Instead, the four of them worked tirelessly, loading the truck themselves.
By the end of the day, their bodies ached, their backs stiff and sore, but the sight of a warehouse brimming with bananas and longan invigorated their spirits.
“I checked the market trends–it’s already climbing! Prices started rising the moment we bought those 3.000 pounds!” Tom exclaimed, his excitement barely contained.
“This is just the beginning,” Joshua remarked, his tone measured but confident. “In the coming days, prices will skyrocket. The storm damage reports will be out soon, and when it’s confirmed that banana and longan trees were hit the hardest, demand will push prices through the roof!”
“So, we just hold off for a few days?”
“Exactly. Let’s head back to school in the meantime. In three to five days, the prices will peak. That’s when we’ll cash in.” Joshua replied with a knowing smile.
“Alright!” The others echoed his enthusiasm, ready for the payday.
Over the next few days, Joshua threw himself into a strict routine of completing practice exams and exercising, repeating the cycle with relentless focus.
He knew his body was suffering from malnutrition and needed restoration. With the SATS looming, he couldn’t afford to waste a single moment and seized every second to prepare.
Because of the stockpile, Joshua worried about potential theft and decided against returning to the rental house.
Instead, after discussing with Tom, they agreed to take turns staying in the warehouse to guard the bananas and longan. Each of them would take a day off from school to keep watch and fend off thieves- or even rodents.
Shirley barely remembered how she left Wendy’s room.
Wendy had spoken at length, her words piercing, and had handed Shirley a medical report before the conversation ended.
So much had been revealed, none of which Shirley had expected.
7:18 pm 44.
Chapter 38 Evil Meets Its Retribution
+8 Pearls
“I found him at the market,” Wendy had said. “He looked so frail that he fainted the moment I pulled him slightly. I had no choice but to take him to the hospital!”
She continued, “The doctors ran a full examination, and the results floored me. He’s anemic, underweight, severely malnourished, and even has heart complications…”
As Wendy recounted this, her voice trembled, her tears pooling and threatening to spill over.
“Our family has never lacked food or clothing! I couldn’t fathom how Joshua’s health had deteriorated to this extent. Shirley, did you know anything about this?”
Shirley had taken the medical report with a furrowed brow, scanning its contents before shaking her head solemnly.
“I’ve never heard him mention anything like this! We always thought…”
“Thought what?” Wendy asked sharply.
Shirley sighed heavily. “To be honest, Wendy, we all knew deep down. We used to think Joshua was just after Frankie’s things. And, well… his personality–it’s hard to warm up to. But we didn’t really hurt him…”
Wendy let out a mirthless laugh. “Shirley, with everything you posted in the group chat, do you honestly believe you didn’t hurt him?”
Shirley froze, her expression shifting. “The group chat… those…”
Her eyes locked on Wendy, wide with disbelief and tension, as she struggled to respond.
Wendy exhaled deeply and said, “That’s right! Joshua knows everything from the group chat. He knows you all mocked him, ridiculed him, played tricks on him, framed him, and humiliated him. He’s aware of it all! That’s why he left home.”
Shirley’s body froze, and a look of shock swept across her face, as though she had just seen a ghost.
“How is that even possible? Who told him?” Shirley asked, her disbelief evident.
“If you want to keep something hidden, then don’t do it in the first place!” Wendy sniffled, her voice tinged with frustration. “Shirley, you’re a top student! You know the power of gossip–it can destroy a person! Where has all that education you’ve received gone? And me, as the eldest sister, where has my wisdom gone? Do you know what Joshua said to me today when I went to see him?”
“What did he say?” Shirley asked, her astonishment growing.
“He said, ‘Wendy, evil meets its retribution. It’s not that it doesn’t happen; it just hasn’t happened yet. I, we, will face the consequences one day. Yes, retribution is inevitable.“”
Shirley’s eyes widened further, her shock rendering her silent.
“I can already imagine what Joshua endured during these past four years in our home. In truth, we’ve all known the reality deep down, but no one wanted to acknowledge it!” Wendy continued, her voice growing
more intense.
R4
7:18 pm
Chapter 38 Evil Meets Its Retribution
+8 Pearls
and never offering a kind word. But I’ve been asking myself–why are we so courteous to strangers, yet so harsh, so critical, so cruel, and so utterly cold–hearted to our own family, to our own younger brother?”
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7:18 pm f f f .
Promise to Punish My Ridiculous Family
