Chapter 577 The Sigh of Sorrow
Chapter 577 The Sigh of Sorrow
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At 10:30 in the evening, the dim light of the Northern Business Plaza executive office cast long shadows: across the floor.
Gatlin knelt before Elliott, his hands shaking as he begged for mercy.
"Mr. Chandler, please. I've been here for so long. Even if I haven't done much to earn praise, I've worked. hard. If you let me stay, I'll do anything. Just don't fire me. Please. "If I leave now, no one will ever give me a chance again.
Elliott's lips curled into a bitter smile. His voice was sharp as a blade. "If I keep you, how do I explain that to Mr. Ramsey? How do I face the people who look up to me? "I've warned you befere, Gatlin. I won't stand for this kind of behavior on my land.
"Drogo attacked Joanna, and instead of doing what's right, you defended him and went after Mr. Ramsey. You made your own bed. Now lie in it.
"Spare your life tonight? That's me showing mercy. Don't mistake that for kindness.
"Who taught you to suck up to the powerful and crush those beneath you?
"If I let you get away with this, what will happen to the company? What will happen to everything I've built?
"Leave. If you don't stop talking. I might just end your miserable life.
Gatlin's body shook, his hands trembling as he fell to his knees. He bowed several times. "Thank you sparing me.
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"You're out of Brighton. I've set up a pension for you, enough for you to live out your days. But you must be gone before midnight. Understand?"
"Yes, Mr. Chandler! Thank you!" Gatlin scrambled to his feet, bowing again, and hurried out of the room.
A pair of bodyguards entered next, their footsteps quiet but firm. "Mr. Chandler, the people from Sproutlings Learning Institute, including Kandy, have been dealt with." "And Francesca?" he asked.
"Francesca's situation has been handled. Her mother has received the full medical payment as instructed."
Elliott nodded slowly. "Good. As for what happens next that's her problem.
"What's the situation with Joanna and her mother?"
One of the bodyguards hesitated before speaking. Joanna and Marge were living in a house on the western edge of the city, but today, the landlord took it back." Elliot's face darkened. He glanced out the window at the heavy rain. "What?" His voice was a low growl. "Where are they now?"
Chapter 577 The Sigh of Sorrow
"They're moving out, the bodyguard reported. "The landlord tossed all their things outside."
Elliott's jaw tightened. "Who is this landlord?"
"We don't know, Mr. Chandler, We haven't been able to figure it out yet"
"Mr. Ramsey told us to stay away from Joanna and her mother. We are to watch them from a distance, not
interfere."
Elliott's eyes narrowed, and his expression became unreadable. Fine. Keep your distance. But if no one harms them, let them go. His mind raced.
Why had Robin Ramsey ordered him to stay out of their lives?
Why not just help Joanna and her mother directly?
But Elliott couldn't grasp the deeper reason behind Robin's choice.
Robin didn't want to harm the pride of the two women.
On the train, he had noticed how, despite their struggles, Joanna and Marge carried themselves with quiet pride.
They kept their dignity, clinging to the little joys they could find.
They wouldn't accept charity, not from anyone.
They would rather work hard at menial jobs than lose their pride for a moment of case.
To them, struggling on their own was more important than receiving help from others, no matter how hard it got
Robin understood this. That was why he told Elliott to stay out of it, to give them space to keep their. independence. Instead of stepping in directly, Robin asked Marrisa to help quietly.
Through her, Joanna could find ways to improve her life at school, to change things on her own.
The satisfaction and pride of earning success through her own efforts was something money could never give.
Joanna and Marge weren't like people such as Rhea.
Rhea, with her shallow desires and obsession with appearances, would do anything for money-as long as it didn't require work.
Though Rhea came from a poor family as well, she thought like someone from the lowest rung of society, always looking for an easy way out.
11:53 Tue, Dec 3 ti B.
Chapter 577 The Sigh of Sorrow
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At the stroke of 11 PM, a torrential rain fell on the town of Brighton. The streets were slick with water, the night sky lit only by flashes of lightning
Outside a crumbling house on the edge of the western district, Marge and Joanna stood, drenched to the bone. They clutched the last of their belongings, helpless against the downpour. A man, his face lined with age, stood in the doorway, watching them.noveldrama
Joanna, shivering from the cold, stepped forward. "Please, sir," she begged. "Can we stay just one more night? We'll find a way to pay you, I promise.
"If it weren't for an unexpected situation, my salary would've come through today. But the training center I work for had a problem.
"Don't worry, my paper won a prize. Soon, I'll get a scholarship. I'll repay you."
The landlord studied them with a cruel gaze, his lips curling into a sneer. "No money, no room. Get out."
Joanna turned to look at Marge, whose frail form trembled in the rain. She couldn't give up yet
"Please," she said again, her voice almost breaking. It's so late, and the rain is coming down hard We'll leave by morning if you just let us stay tonight. My mother's not well-if she gets sick.
The landlord eyed Joanna as she stood there, soaked and shivering. His gaze was cold and calculating. Til let you stay," he said, his voice laced with malice. "But only if you agree to something... in return." Joanna stiffened, her eyes narrowing with disgust. "You're vile!"
The landlord's face twisted into a snarl. "Vile?" He took a step forward, his hand swinging across Joanna's check. "You think you can just stay here without paying the price?"
Marge grabbed Joanna's arm, pulling her away. "Come on, Joanna. Let's go. We'll find shelter somewhere else.
The landlord's laughter echoed in the rain. "In this cole I hope you freeze out there."
His eyes followed Joanna, greedy and unblinking. "Like I said, if you agree to my terms, I'll let you stay. Three months, no charge. What do you think?"
Marge stepped forward, pointing a trembling finger at him. "You think you can get away with this? If the master hears about this, he'll have you killed!"
The landlord's laughter echoed in the dark, empty street. "Kill me? The master? Are you crazy, old woman? You'll freeze to death out here tonight, I swear it!" Marge didn't answer him. She grabbed Joanna's arm and pulled her into the rain, pushing forward.
As they ran, Marge's laughter broke the tension. "Joanna, I'm so happy today!"
Joanna turned to her mother, drenched and looking like a soaked rat, but still laughing as if the world were fine. "Mom, how can you be happy right now?" Marge's smile only grew. "Joanna, it's Mother's Day today!
Chapter 577 The Sigh of Sorrow
"It's the happiest day I've had in 20 years!"
Joanna stopped dead in her tracks. Today? It's Mother's Day?
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She looked at herself, wet and shivering, and then at her mother, equally soaked. A sharp pang of guilt twisted inside her chest.
"Mom, I'm so sorry. I couldn't even give you a warm home to rest. And today of all days, I've made you struggle in the rain." Her voice broke. Tm sorry."
At last, they found shelter. They rushed into the self-service area of a bank owned by Robin's family.
They sat on the cold floor, trying to catch their breath. Marge's smile was still there, lighting up her face. Joanna, today, the gods gave me the biggest gift. I'm truly happy. I don't even know how to explain it." Joanna watched her mother, soaked to the bone, yet still radiating joy. Her own eyes welled with quiet tears, a mix of love and pain.
When the webs of fate wrapped around my hearth,
When the smoke of dreams whispered the sorrow of hunger,
I stubbornly spread the ashes of my own lost hope....