Chapter 5 Drop Those Thoughts
784 Words
A high-maintenance heiress like her wouldn't stoop to amuse my mother.
There she sat, high and mighty, eyes half-closed as if even sparing my mother a glance was beneath her.
My mom was sitting on the hospital bed with a look of utter helplessness. When she saw me, it was like seeing a savior.
It was only when Jasmine heard me enter that she opened her eyes.
First, she glanced disdainfully at my mom.
I immediately went in. "Ms. Linnell, what brings you here?"
"Is there something work-related we need to discuss? Maybe we should step outside?"
Jasmine kept silent, and I looked distressed. My mom wasn't well, and I didn't want to talk with Jasmine in front of her.
Our dealings, if ever found out by my mom, might just kill her.
Jasmine seemed quite pleased with my pitiful state. She watched me quietly for a while before getting up, walking towards the door, and signaling me to follow.
Jasmine stopped her steps at the stairwell of the fire escape, took off her sunglasses, and lifted her chin arrogantly, "Ms. Harvey, I can see you need a big sum of money. With your mom's condition, it'll cost at least a few million dollars to treat her."
I pursed my lips, did not reply, and quietly waited for her to continue.
Seeing my submission, her originally imperious tone softened considerably. "I didn't come out of kindness to see your mom. I just wanted to remind you that in Springfield, there's nothing the Linnell family can't reach."
She's right. In Springfield, there was nothing she couldn't do, legal or not.
Plus, it would be foolish to bring more unnecessary trouble upon myself at such a critical time.
So I nodded. "I understand."
"You better. If you drop those misguided thoughts and focus on your work, I won't trouble you. Otherwise, I can easily relieve you of a burden. Understood?"
Jasmine softly extended her hand and patted my face, her demeanor dripping with scorn.
I opened my mouth, wanting to say something. But ultimately, no words came out.
I could sell my body, but I really didn't want to beg her or lose my dignity.
Jasmine was quite pleased with my act. She arrogantly lifted her sunglasses as she left the hospital.
I silently returned to my room. Seeing that I was alone, Mom immediately grinned and asked, "Cynthia, who was that just now?'
Her complexion was pale, her face marked by sickness, yet you could still see the beauty of her youth. She looked like a flower on the verge of wilting.
She spoke weakly, and after her words, she started gasping for breath.
I managed a small smile. "Mom, I've got some good news to share with you."
My mother looked at me, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"I got a job, and now I'm working for Hynes Corporation!" I said.
My mom, knowing how long I had dreamed of joining Hynes Corporation, smiled even more genuinely and asked, "But aren't you…?"
"Of course, I had some help from a patron. That person just now is my boss. She sees potential in me, so she brought me into Hynes Corporation. Don't mind her pride; she's actually a good person; she just has a bit of a princess attitude. Today was my first day, and I messed up a bit, so she got a little angry."
After I finished speaking, instead of offering a relieved smile as I had expected, my mother just held my hand tightly. A blistering tear fell onto the back of my hand.
"Cynthia, you were supposed to be a princess too. It's all my fault… all my fault…"
Her tears and her words hit my heart like a hammer.
I quickly took her hand.
"No, mom, it's not your fault. It's all because of that damned Robert!"
Robert Nell is my older stepbrother. He gambled away and took out loans in my name before skipping town, leaving me to shoulder this enormous debt.
I wiped the tears from my mom's face, suppressing the pang of heartache. "I've got a job now, a steady income. Everything is going to be okay, Mom. Once I pay off the debt, let's move to a small town and live a peaceful life, alright?"
My mother just sat there silently, tears falling down her cheeks freely.
After a long while, she finally said, "Cynthia, you are my most precious treasure. If it's because of me that you suffer any hardship, I'd rather die immediately."
"Cynthia, I want you to be happy and blessed."
I was puzzled. My mother would never say something like that out of the blue. Had she found out about some things?
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