Crossroads

Stephanie had gotten drunk the night before and stormed up to apartment 302, causing a ruckus.

Her antics led to complaints from the neighbors, and the security guards eventually ful to escort her back to her apartment. It was incredibly embarrassing.

When she woke up the next day, her head was still pounding from the hangover. She regretted her impulsive actions and was rarely in emotionally out of control. Her eyes blazeil with anger as she realized she hated the upstairs tenant, Dominick, even more.

"Dominick, you better not come back she yelled furiously at the ceiling first thing in the morning Rubbing her temples, still sleepy, Stephanie leaned against her headboard, frowning. She vaguely remembered encountering a man in the park the previous night while drinking She didn't recognize him, but he seemed to know Dominick. Who was he?

Annoyed. Stephanie flopped back onto her bed, deciding to sleep off her frustrations.

Everyone had their own troubles in life.

Molly's biggest worry right now was finding a job.

She had been out since morning, visiting several companies, but felt her chances were slim. Most companies weren't hiring at the end of the year.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

The weather was getting colder. Despite the midday sun, the wind still bit sharply.

Molly had been waiting at the bus stop for half an hour. When her bus finally appeared, she tried to rush over, but her small frame couldn't compete with the crowd, She ended up being left behind, watching the already full bus drive away, feeling utterly dejected.

The bus only came once every half hour, and with her car in the shop for maintenance, Molly quickly calculated her savings and expenses. Reluctant to spend money on a taxi, she decided to walk home, saving every penny.

Walking along the main road, she kept an eye out for any stores hiring temporary staff. Salih thì FindNovil.not website on Googll to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

She knew her previous job as a nanny for the Roberts wasn't a long-term solution. Quitting was probably for the best, freeing her from indecision With the New Year approaching, most reputable companies weren't hiring, but some shops might need extra hands for the holiday rush.

Molly wasn't afraid of hard work. She just wanted a paid job that would keep her busy, change her to a new environment, and keep her away from thoughts about the Roberts.

A bucket of cold water suddenly dumped over her as she walked and got lost in thought.

Drenched, her coat dripping. Molly shivered uncontrollably, barely processing what had happened. She blinked away the water clinging to her eyelashes and looked up Her stepbrother, Wade, stood there with a menacing expression, shouting angrily at her. "You wretch! Are you t with you today!"

Molly was snaked and furious, but Wade had already started with his aggressive accusations.

trying to kill me! Let's see how I deal Seeing that it was someone she knew, Molly grew even angrier. She wiped the water from her Lice talking about?"

and took a step back. What nonsense are you

"You think you can talk to me like that? Have I not taught you a lesson in too long?" Wade roared with his coarse voice. "You said you'd give me money but kept dragging it out. You cheap trick, you've caused debt collectors to come after us. Now my wife is talking about divorce!"

"What does that have to do with ine? Molly held back her anger "I never agreed to help you."

Passersby began to stare, especially at Molly, who was soaking wet and hearing their loud argument. They pouted and whispered, making her feel interly humilised Before she knew it, she was dragged into a nearby alley She turned, trying in puash Wade away, but was met with a hard slap to her Lice. The sharp sharp sound echoed in the nauw space always embarrassing for? The familiar, sharp, high-pitched voice belonged to her biological mother Chapter 317

With Wade and Andrea blocking the alley entrance, Molly lowered her head, eyes reddening, and didn't retort Wade said. "They said we could give 20 thousand dollars upfront and repay the rest gradually.."

"I don't have any money. Molly bit her lip and said just that.

Wade, seeing her defiance, flew into a rage. "You wretch, how dare you talk back to me!" His thick arm, tattooed with lions and tigers, grabbed her collar, and his other hand prepared to strike her again.

Andrea, fearing that Wade, a gangster, might seriously injure Molly, quickly intervened, "Wade, remember she's your sister. Don't hit her for my sike."

Wade barely gave Andrea any face but reluctantly let go after she assured him, "Don't worry about the money. I'll make sure she gives it. Just let her first."

With a dismissive push, Wade shoved her, causing her to stumble backward and scrape her neck and chin against the rough wall Molly kept her head down. She was soaking wet, her face stinging from the slap, but she held back her tears and remained silent.

Andrea approached, adopting a more conciliatory tone. "Molly, we raised you.

Your brother owes some money, and you can't turn your back on us. Besides, we'll need your brother's support in the future. If you have money, you should give it to us. Don't be ungrateful.”

Molly kept her head down, her face pale from the cold wind, looking ashen and lifeless.

Andrea continued, her tone gradually growing resentful, "And where did you run off to on Christmas? Didn't I tell you I had set up a blind date for you! You didn't go, and it was so embarrassing for me. Do you even realize that?"

Her voice turned firm as she said, “Luckily, they didn't blame you. I've already arranged everything with them. You have to go tomorrow," I'm not going" Molly said, her voice hoarse as she squeezed out the words after a long silence. Andrea had anticipated her refusal and wasn't too angry. She continued lecturing her daughter, "He has a house, a car, and he's a manager at a big company. When I mentioned you were unemployed, he immediately agreed to help you find a job if you marry him. Unlike that last company that fired you for no reason, who would hire someone like you with your brain? In the end, you'll still need to rely on a man. Marrying him is a stroke of luck for you Molly's eyes reddened, and after holding back her tears, she finally managed to say, "Mom, he's over fifty!"

"So what if he's over fifty? Isn't there a trend now for younger women to marry older ment His children aren successful and dive abroad. He just wants a companion for the rest of his life. All you have to do is keep him company. It's a pretty easy life. When he passes away, you'd get half of his estate.

Andrea kept persuading her. "Molly, given our background and status, who do you think you can marry? How old are you now? The earlier a woman marries, the more valuable she is. No one will even look at you in another year or two. "Don't be like those women who are vain and think they can snag a rich and handsome man Look in the mirror and see what you look like. You need to have self-awareness. Stop daydreaming all the time and be content with what you have.

Molly could no longer hold back. "How am I not content!" she cried, her eyes red and swollen with tears streaming down her face. She stubbornly stared at her own mother.

"Mom, even if your daughter is lowly as dirt, I still have my dignity. Don't think you can sell me for glory, I'd rather die than agree!" She shouted out all her grievances and suddenly pushed her mother away, running desperately into the depths of the alley.

Wade, his face twisted with malice, immediately chased after her, shouting viciously at her retreating figure, "You filthy bitch, stop right there. I'll break your legs!" Terrified, Molly's steps became increasingly erratic.

She was truly scared that Wade would follow through on his threat. She had often been beaten black and blue before, and no one at home had ever stood up for her. Since she was young, she had learned not to speak out of turn or resist. She had been so obedient and tolerant Molly ran for a long time until she was gasping for breath. She gradually slowed down and stopped only when the terrifying sounds of pursuit were no longer behind her.

She did not know where she was, so she sat down randomly on a stone step. She sobbed, her handsom clutching her head, and suddenly, she and couldn't hold back any longer and burst into tears. "I'm so useless. I've worked so hard. I've really tried my best. Why do they treat me like this! I just want a little bit of happiness..."

Molly admired Stephanie very much because she was the first to stand up om for her. Secretly, she envied Stephanie because she was so beautiful, confulent, and straightforward, Stephanie would go after what she wanted, unlike Molly, who was useless and tiusid, always bowing her head and never daring to speak up for fear of offending others.

10:27 AM I .

This was an old, rundown area with abandoned buildings and d few pedestrians.

The cold wind blew fiercely from all directions.

The wind dried her soaked clothes halfway. She squatted, head down, on the dusty stone steps, feeling dizzy. Suddenly, a shadow appeared in front of her.

When Molly realized someone was there, she froze as if facing death. Before lifting her head, she heard a familiar, gentle voice. "What are you doing here?"