Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 202
"It's nothing serious. Don't think too much about it." Karlos kissed her forehead and closed the door. Maya watched from the window. As for the twins, they were still keeping their eyes shut, actually enjoying the game.
Karlos turned to face the old couple.
"Is it because of the stolen money? So what if we used it? So what if we burned your college credentials? You didn't finish college anyway. Karlos, we are family. Instead of being mad about what happened, you should forgive us. We have something important to tell you." Horrendo weakly stood up and winced in pain.
"Leave. I'm not your family. You never treated me like one."
Horrendo didn't deny it. He knew the truth about Karlos's real identity. He had been promised by his mother and brother that they would become millionaires as long as they waited.
"Karlos, you're going too far!"
The commotion naturally attracted attention, and several neighbors gathered to watch the scene unfold.
Andres, Brandon, Jerry, and even Gustavo showed up.
"Karlos, are these people giving you trouble?"
Brandon had a dark expression while gripping a baseball bat... He was known in the neighborhood as someone not to be messed with. After being ridiculed for his appearance in the past, Brandon had learned how to stand up for himself.
"Just say the word and we'll handle them." Andres was topless, looking thoroughly menacing.
"It's alright, these people are leaving right now." Karlos waved his hand dismissively.
Horrendo and Fea took one look at the intimidating group of men and scampered away. Both of them ran with awkward, limping steps due to their injuries. They didn't even get the chance to say anything more to Karlos before being chased out of the neighborhood.
"Thanks, guys. I'll treat you to something nice tomorrow," Karlos told his friends.
"You don't have to. Head back inside, Maya's probably worried. We'll handle the rest," Jerry assured him. He turned around and glared at the neighbors who were lingering, hoping for more drama. Some were whispering and gossiping about Karlos.
"What are you looking at!? There's nothing to see here! Go back to your houses and mind your own business!" Jerry raised his voice, shooing the onlookers away.
Karlos thanked them once more and headed back into the house, carrying the boxes of groceries inside. He saw his wife and children waiting for him.
"Did I make you worry?"
"The kids are doing fine," Maya assured him, wrapping her arms around him in a warm hug.
"I'm sorry..." Karlos sighed.
"What are you apologizing for?"
"I couldn't control myself. When I saw them making a scene in front of our house, I got so furious that I just wanted to hurt them. All that built-up resentment exploded."
Just like that time when Claire had mocked Maya, Karlos had instinctively lashed out.
Maya chuckled softly.
"It's fine. Honestly, I'm glad you beat them up. Your relatives are the absolute worst."
"They really are," Karlos agreed. "I'm so lucky to have a real family with you."
"Me too." Maya patted his back gently.
Seeing their parents hugging, the twins wanted to join in. They ran over and wrapped their little arms around Karlos and Maya's legs, giggling happily.
"Alright," Maya clapped her hands after a moment. "Let's head to the kitchen. My sweet little helpers listened so well today, so they deserve a treat! Who wants to eat brownies?"
"Me! Me!" The twins raised their hands in pure excitement.
"Babe, you know what to do. Call Larry and ask for a favor," Maya said to Karlos before leading the children toward the kitchen.
"I'll handle it." Karlos nodded. He knew his relatives wouldn't drop this easily, so it was better to deal with the situation before things escalated further.
...
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...
Horrendo and Fea awkwardly climbed out of the tricycle and paid the driver. Every step was painful as they limped toward their front door.
They lived in Alejandro Village, where roughly 70% of the residents shared the Alejandro surname. The village had once been surrounded by vast rice fields and greenery, but as Evitac City modernized, the area transformed into a suburban neighborhood, leaving only a few hectares of farmland intact.
This was the same village Caesar and his family had originally come from before selling their land and moving to the capital. Having achieved great success, Caesar's family often gave back to the community, even funding the village's road paving projects.
Inside their house, Horrendo and Fea found their son fast asleep. Their son, Pangit, was older than Karlos but remained completely unemployed.
Recalling the beautiful concrete house Karlos owned made Horrendo burn with jealousy and rage. The humiliating beating Karlos had dealt him only added fuel to the fire.
Seeing his son sleeping peacefully gave Horrendo an immediate target for his anger. He delivered a swift kick right to Pangit's face, making the young man yelp in pain.
"Ah! Who the fuck kicked my face!?"
"You bastard! Why didn't you tell me Karlos was living in a nice house!?"
"Pa? Why did you kick me!?"
"Don't change the subject! We went all the way to Una Town to find Karlos, and his house is a solid concrete building, not a nipa shed like you claimed!" Horrendo kicked him again.
"I don't know what you're talking about! I'm not lying, he was living in a nipa hut kubo the last time I went there!"
"Bullshit!"
Fea listened to their shouting match with a dark, calculating expression.
"It only means one thing," she chimed in. "Karlos is making a lot of money now and built a proper house."
"In just three years?" Pangit asked, thoroughly surprised.
"I heard fishermen in Una Town earn a fortune every November and December during the peak tuna and salmon season."
"It's December right now. Does that mean Karlos is out catching salmon and tuna?"
"Must be."
"It doesn't matter what he's catching. We need to force him to give us the money to bail out your grandmother," Horrendo told Pangit firmly.
"But Pa, is it even possible for Karlos to have 1.4 million pesos?"
"He has to have it, or else we'll never stop harassing him. That brat... I can't believe he dared to lay a hand on me." Horrendo gritted his teeth, silently swearing revenge.
[Thank you for reading this novel.]