The air inside the house instantly crackled with hostility, with neither side willing to back down.
The village chief hadn't expected things to escalate this far. Cursing his luck inwardly, he had no choice but to brace himself and step forward to play the peacemaker.
"Don't be angry, don't be angry. This is indeed my oversight. I didn't confirm things clearly with Shawn Preston beforehand. But now that things are the way they are, can you do me a favor and each take a step back?"
"What kind of step back?"
"Shawn Preston, you've already taken their money, so you must agree to let them stay. As for you, Miss Donovan… Shawn's grandmother is recovering from an illness upstairs and needs peace and quiet. You will all stay on the first floor, and don't even think about running upstairs. Disturbing a sick person is one thing, but what if this gentleman, in his advanced age, were to catch what the old lady has? You wouldn't want that to happen, would you?"
