Common Sense Hijack System: The Picky Beater!

Chapter 26: Money Tree

"F-Fiona...? The good girl? Maya’s kid?!"

Luna hissed, white-knuckling the wheel. "Yeah. Fiona. Maya’s youngest."

The car went dead quiet, heavy as hell. Caleb’s brain felt like somebody was beating it with a hammer of confusion.

Lucy blinked, dropped her gaze, her face dark. "If that was really Fiona... then Maya’s been watching you this whole damn time. Both you and Melisa."

The car rolled on. Fiona—the girl that almost got hit—just gave ’em one look and kept walking like she owned the street. Calm, flat, cold as ice—straight up didn’t give a damn.

Luna tapped the wheel, breathing sharp. "Why the hell you never told me about her, Caleb?!" Her voice cut like a blade, pissed and fed up.

Caleb snapped his head at her, face twisted. "I... I’m just as shocked! Shit... Fiona—she was sweet, nice. That’s how I remember her. She never acted like her mom..."

Lucy jumped in fast, her tone like a slap. "Wake the hell up, Caleb. Maya could’ve pulled everything from your school records alone. Of course she’d send people to watch you and Melisa. And don’t play dumb—maybe she didn’t use Fiona straight up... but who knows? Why else would Maya’s little girl end up at Torkside?"

That line cut deep.

Caleb’s hands shook in his lap. For the first time, his eyes burned—not from fear, but from too many damn questions he couldn’t answer.

He went quiet, memories of high school rolling back. Fiona was always cool, buying him food, slipping him gifts. People even thought they were dating once. Now it all felt dirty—knowing she was blood from the same woman who wrecked his mom’s life.

The ride dropped into silence. The two women didn’t push him any further. Caleb stared at the road, green light flipping red. His thoughts turned bitter:

So the cash she spent on me, the gifts she gave... that was should be mine all along?

He glanced at the sidewalk. So I once blushed over that cute innocent girl I thought, and she is that bitch’s daughter? Fuckin’ disgusting...

His jaw locked tight, teeth grinding.

The ride to the station was dead quiet. Caleb just kept his head down, thoughts spinning out, while Luna stole glances at him through the rearview, her face heavy. When the car finally stopped in front of the station, Caleb pushed the door open without a word.

With the black hoodie, cap, and mask, he looked more like a thief than some runaway dude. The wad of cash stuffed half-ass in his hoodie pocket screamed how unprepared he was.

"I’m going alone," Caleb said flat, voice almost empty. "Just let me."

Lucy and Luna froze. Only the hum of the engine filled the air.

Luna rushed out of the car, her steps quick. She popped the trunk and pulled out an old, beat-up backpack, color faded from years of dust. With tears brimming, she shoved it toward Caleb.

"Caleb... please, take this. Don’t just carry money in your damn pocket. I... I don’t want anything bad to happen to you out there." Her voice shook, soft but desperate.

Caleb turned slowly, eyes narrowing from behind the mask. He paused, then took the bag without a word. He stuffed the cash inside, slung it over his shoulder.

Lucy stepped out too, her stare cutting into him. "Listen to me, and listen good. Never... put yourself in danger. Whatever happens, don’t do anything stupid."

Luna’s hand pressed on Caleb’s shoulder. "You know where the village—Larkird—is, right?"

Caleb dipped his head, exhaled. "Relax, Aunt. I still got my phone. I know the way to Larkird."

He turned, heading toward the station gates. Each step felt heavy, but steady. Until finally, his figure vanished into the crowd—swallowed by the swarm of passengers, leaving Luna and Lucy frozen on the curb.

Luna bit her lip, chest tight with fear. Lucy just clenched her fists, hiding her worry behind a stone-cold face.

Caleb was gone—swallowed up by the sea of people.

Luna stood frozen, biting her lip, eyes wet. But Lucy snapped her head around, voice exploding.

"Don’t you dare mess with Caleb, Luna!" she barked, finger stabbing the air.

Luna lifted her chin, breathing heavy, but her gaze stayed firm. "I just want him safe! And besides..." her voice dropped, steady with resolve, "...he loves me. You’re the one who said it once, remember?"

Lucy’s face hardened in an instant, blood boiling. "That’s no excuse to chain him down! If you force him, you’re no better than Maya—wrecking his damn life!"

Luna froze, but kept her chin high, refusing to back down. Their eyes clashed, burning, until Lucy finally turned away with a sharp scoff.

"Enough. Go home. I don’t want you screwing things up any worse." Her tone was cutting, full of weight.

Luna swallowed hard, her heart trembling. She glanced one last time toward the station—toward the spot where Caleb had just vanished. Her lips whispered, faint, almost inaudible:

"Caleb..."

Then, with heavy steps, she turned back to the car. The engine roared to life, and the vehicle rolled away slow, leaving Lucy alone on the curb.

Lucy let out a long breath, fingers shaking as she pulled her phone from her pocket. Her voice was ice when she spoke.

"Yeah... pick me up. Now."

Her eyes never left the station doors, that stone-cold face hiding the storm of worry boiling underneath.

[Meanwhile, when Caleb was stuffing the cash into the bag]

On a rusty bench a few meters away, three ragged-looking bums went quiet. One of them—a scruffy dude with patchy beard and booze on his breath—snorted, eyes going wide.

"Mommy’s boy? Damn... he packin’ some cash," he rasped, laughter dripping with malice. "Think we can score quick right now."

His buddy slumped on the ground against a pole, clothes torn and filthy, cracked lips curling into a crooked grin.

The third—tall and skinny, arms hooked lazy behind his neck—narrowed his eyes, tracking Caleb as he zipped the bag shut and started moving. A thin smile crept across his face, twisted with bad intent.

Just as Caleb drifted away from the two MILFs and into the crowd, the tall one muttered low, sharp:

"Buckle up, boys... time to snatch some easy cash."