Watching the packages pile up until they'd filled half the shopping cart in the blink of an eye, Molly Pendleton's face flushed an even deeper shade of red. She spoke up in a low, embarrassed voice. "What are you doing? Why buy so many of these?"Warren Pendleton just smiled. "These are consumables, same as toilet paper. It's convenient to have extras at home."Molly's pretty face turned scarlet, and she muttered quietly, "But there's no need to buy this many. Think how much money this costs."Used to pinching every penny, Molly couldn't help but feel the sting. Each pack cost a dollar or two. Two or three packs could buy a pound of meat.Warren chuckled softly. "You can't save your way to wealth. When it's time to spend, you spend.""Besides, if you keep using those cheap products, there's no safety guarantee. If you get sick again, that'll cost way more money, and it's bad for your health too."Warren's tone was firm, leaving no room for Molly to refu

After the hearty meal, Roy Hale and Cliff Hale headed home to take an afternoon nap before returning to work around two o'clock.What they didn't expect was to find the entire Hale family gathered in the living room when they arrived. On the table sat a platter of braised pork, identical to the one they'd just enjoyed at the Pendleton house.Bertha Hale sat off to one side. "You're back from work already?""Molly Pendleton mentioned you'd be eating at home, so she made a point of sending over lunch for everyone."Watching their wives and children dig into the meal with obvious delight, Roy and Cliff exchanged glances. A flicker of gratitude passed between them.Warren Pendleton had done this for the sake of the family. Though his behavior over the past few years had been difficult to watch, at the end of the day, they were still brothers who'd grown up together. Remembering the bond they'd shared since childhood, both men felt a wave of emotion."Go on

Once the thought settled in his mind, Warren Pendleton broke into a wide grin.With daylight still holding, he returned to the warehouse and spent the remaining hours filling it completely. This time, Warren stacked all the inventory destined for Whitaker Lodge in the back half of the space. The front section he filled with shelving units, each one lined with crates of fresh vegetables, price tags neatly marked beside every box.When he finished, Warren walked home on foot. It wasn't that he couldn't afford the fare anymore. He simply wanted to feel what it was like to walk again after being crippled for so long.The winter wind bit at his hands, turning his fingers red and raw, but Warren felt no cold at all. Heat burned through him instead. Thinking of the plan taking shape in his mind, he felt like he could run five kilometers without breaking a sweat.When he stepped through the door at home, his family took one look at his flushed face and immediately frette

Daisy Pendleton played the piano with evident joy, and her natural talent shone through every note.Watching her, Warren Pendleton felt guilt settle heavier in his chest. In his past life, he had spent over a decade barely noticing his daughter. He knew she was sickly, and that was all he knew about her.Only now, seeing Daisy at the piano, did he realize how much he had stolen from her.When the hour grew late, Warren urged Daisy to bed, then returned to his own room.That night, for reasons he could not explain, Warren dreamed of something he should never have dreamed.It was a cold winter. Molly Pendleton had found a steamed bun somewhere, plump and white, with a candle stuck into the top. The candle looked like a leftover from a village child's birthday cake, waxy and half-melted.Molly placed the makeshift cake in front of Daisy and coaxed her to blow out the flame.Then, in a voice soft and trembling, Molly spoke."Daisy, Mommy has to go

Hearing Warren Pendleton's words, Bertha Hale let out a long sigh. "You're already paying wages, and you're still eating and drinking at our place for free. How is that helping us?""Never mind all the food you've brought these past few days. That can of formula Molly brought tonight alone must have cost a fortune!"She sighed again, feeling helpless. A couple of years ago, they had indeed helped the Pendleton family, but Warren was repaying a personal favor far too generously.Warren smiled as he said, "Auntie, you've probably heard I just leased a shop in town these past few days."Bertha nodded.Her face filled with emotion. "Now that you've got the shop, just focus on living a good life!"Warren nodded and continued, "The shop's doing pretty well, but I'm busy with restocking and deliveries. Molly and my mom aren't in good health, so they can't help me watch the store."He smiled before asking, "Once things settle down in a few days, could you