"Nicole? I don't know!"
"Let me tell you, your wife's brother is something else! I heard from the village secretary that he did a great service in the army and will be a big official when he returns!"
"You should quickly talk to Caitlin and have her brother help you get promoted to factory director. That would be truly impressive!"
My mother-in-law didn't notice the strange look in Charlie's eyes at all.
It wasn't until she saw me holding the dead pig, covered in blood, that she shuddered in fright.
The supplements in her hands fell to the ground.
"What in the world is going on?"
"Caitlin, what madness are you up to now?"
That old woman pounded the ground with her hands, wailing as if her heart were breaking.
Charlie turned around and stared at her.
"Mom, Jane told me that Nicole went out with you. Why didn't she come back with you?"
My mother-in-law's body stiffened. Her eyes darted left and right before she suddenly scrambled to her feet.
"Nicole?"
"Yes, she went out with me but had a craving and went to your aunt's house to eat soft-boiled eggs!"
As she finished speaking, my mother-in-law nervously grabbed the army-sent supplements and locked them away in her room.
After hearing this, Charlie felt something was off, but he didn't say anything more.
He walked towards the pig, grabbed its hind legs and began to drag it towards the scalding hot water.
I desperately held onto the pig's head, dragged along the ground by Charlie.
"Caitlin, you've gone too far!"
"How long are you going to keep playing this mad act?"
He gritted his teeth as he spoke. When I still didn't respond, he finally lost his temper.
"You can't bear to part with this pig, can you?"
"Fine! I'll grant your wish!"
"I'll let you bathe with this pig!"
He instantly increased his strength.
I protected the pig's head and fell to the ground, with my chin hitting the muddy ground heavily.
A burning pain brought tears to my eyes.
However, Charlie didn't see them. He continued to drag the pig by its hind legs.
He dragged it for hundreds of meters, finally reaching the scalding hot water.
"Caitlin, I'll say it one more time, let go of this pig!"
"Otherwise, I'll throw you into the pot together!"
I lowered my head, hugged the pig's head tightly and groped in the pig's mouth.
"It's Nicole!"
I held the silver bracelet in my hand, tears streaming down my face.
Charlie first frowned, then roared in anger.
"Caitlin! You actually fed Nicole's lucky bracelet to a pig! You've truly lost your mind!"
After speaking, he exerted force and the pig's hind half rolled into the hot water.
The steaming hot air hit me in the face and I jumped in without fear.
"Nicole, don't be afraid."
"Mommy is here, it doesn't hurt."
I tried desperately to push the pig up in the boiling water.
Just like that night, I tried desperately to save my bleeding daughter from the pig's mouth.
"Caitlin!"
Charlie was so scared that his whole body went cold. He also jumped down and tried to pull me up.
I kept holding the pig's head and pushed it desperately.
Charlie finally realized something.
His mind went blank and a chill ran down his spine.
His body, however, was burning uncomfortably from the scalding hot water.
"Caitlin, get out!"
Charlie grabbed my waist and forcefully pried open my hand holding the pig's head, dragging me out of the pot.
Before he could recover, I held Nicole's silver bracelet in my hand, my eyes fixed on the pig's mouth and suddenly burst into heart-wrenching sobs.
This cry startled Jane and my mother-in-law, who looked up and followed my gaze.
"This, what is this?"
They covered their mouths, their eyes wide with shock.
Following their gaze, Charlie's vision went black and he nearly fainted.
Just then, the courtyard door was pushed open.
Several men in military uniforms appeared.
The man at the front was my older brother, who had served in the army for many years.
