Chapter 105

Under the intimidating gaze and commanding presence of Ken, along with the threat of his whip, Grace and her six companions lowered their heads and remained silent, obediently lining up to leave the courtyard.

As they exited, Summer, seated at the table, slowly turned her attention back to her meal, quickening her pace upon noticing Logan had already finished his food.

Logan, not yet rising from his seat, asked, "Feeling soft-hearted?"

Summer shook her head while chewing on her bread.

Observing the ten people squabbling and accusing each other over food, Summer felt a mix of emotions but mostly relief. She was glad she had resolutely chosen to live independently and not join them.

In the novel, if she hadn't insisted on her decision and joined forces with them, she would have ended up doing most of the work and receiving little to no appreciation, only occasional verbal praise. Any mistake or problem would lead to criticism and blame.

In the story, if not for her diligent and meticulous efforts to maintain their basic living standards, they wouldn't have stayed united. Henry's charisma and generosity were built on this unity.

Without her silent support, they would have lived recklessly, enjoying the moment without thinking about the future, inevitably leading to their downfall and exposing their selfish nature.

Summer's rationality in this matter was evident, though her long-standing affection for Henry and her deep friendship with Charlie and Gabe were hard to ignore. Logan, understanding this, didn't press further.

He and Henry had never gotten along. Logan saw this as a chance to enjoy some schadenfreude. He despised Henry's self-appointed leadership and his assumption that he could care for everyone, always wearing his carefree and righteous demeanor as if he were the most extraordinary person.

Logan believed Henry deserved his downfall, signaling the end of his days as the adored leader among the group.

Summer, swallowing another bite of bread, continued, "I think this is for the best. Stealing from the granary is a serious offense, and they deserve to be punished. Youth is no excuse for wrongdoing. Their actions have caused significant trouble for the village. If the village lets them off, that's a real problem."

Logan looked at her for a moment before asking, "Don't you feel any pity for Henry?"

Summer's response was muffled through a mouthful of bread, "Why should I pity him? He brought this upon himself. Besides, Sophia is the one who cares for him; she was crying for him earlier. It's not my place to pity him."

Logan continued to watch her, "You sound a bit jealous."

Summer's eyes widened in denial, "Not at all. He doesn't deserve my pity."

Regardless of the situation, Henry was always seen as the protagonist. Though he was sent to a labor camp and would endure hardships, it wouldn't significantly impact him. His carefree nature would help him handle any situation.

The real impact was on Sophia. With Henry gone, no one would protect her at the labor camp, and with Ken's watchful eye and whip, her days ahead would be harsh.

Sophia had never endured such hardships before, always shielded by Henry. From now on, she'd have to navigate a world of suffering on her own.

Logan couldn't tell how much of what Summer said was genuine, so he didn't probe further.

Once Summer finished eating, they cleaned up and prepared to go to school, the incident not significantly affecting them.

After work, Summer and Logan checked on their sun-dried adobe bricks, which looked good. On their way back to the camp, Summer planned their next steps.

"Tomorrow, we should buy the necessary timber and have the carpenter start on the beams and windows while we lay the foundation," she said.

Despite the food crisis and the attention it had drawn from the village officials, Summer didn't plan to stay in the camp any longer than necessary. The sooner they built their house, the better.

Discussing the house, they returned to the camp to find it dark and silent, with no sign of their companions.

"They're not back from work yet?" Summer whispered, puzzled.

Logan replied, "It seems so."

If they had returned, they would likely be in the middle of another argument. They entered the kitchen, lighting the oil lamp and starting dinner. Soon, Lily, Grace, and Cecilia joined them, their weary faces illuminated by the lamp.

Summer glanced at them, noticing the toll of the day's events on their expressions.