Chapter 853: The Green Turtle (Revised)

For the next hour, Ruud darted frantically between the bathroom and the Brookes family living room. Every time he sat down on the couch—barely enough time to warm the seat—he would leap back up and rush to the bathroom yet again. The Brookes family, having set aside their grudges for the moment, sat neatly on the sofa, quietly watching Ruud’s desperate trips with a mixture of amusement and indifference. Thanks to Ruud’s predicament, Tina hadn’t offered the laxative-laced sugar water to anyone else. Brandon, ever the curious chatterbox, had asked earlier, “Why does Ruud get sugar water, and we don’t?” Ian, already at his wit’s end with his brother, smacked the back of Brandon’s head. “Use your brain, idiot!” he snapped, ready to launch into a scolding. But Tina had calmly interjected, her tone sharp and icy. “Because sugar water is for scumbags. You don’t qualify.” Ian, catching her point immediately, exclaimed with satisfaction, “Now, that hit the spot!” The Bro