?Chapter 1351:


    “The money has been transferred. You’ve done an excellent job recovering most of the hundreds of thousands owed. Here’s your bonus,” Barry said.


    The money Barry handed Milford appeared to be nearly ten thousand dors.


    Milford pushed Barry’s hand away and said, “You don’t have to give me this. Without you, I’d probably be panhandling somewhere.”


    He hadn’t had an ID before. He couldn’t return to Wist Land to obtain a new one and had been penniless. Even construction sites had refused to hire him. Although he had rescued Lisa, Barry could have simply given him some cash and dismissed him. But Barry had chosen a different path. He had offered Milford a way to make a living.


    “Today’s sess is all due to your own effort. Don’t hesitate. Take it!” Barry firmly ced the cash in Milford’s hands. “I’m not sure what you’ve been through, but I know you need money. Take a few days off, buy what you need, and thene back. The construction site will be active again soon, and there are some business deals you’ll need to handle for me.”


    Barry was aware of Milford’s knack for debt collection, using his personal connections to retrieve almost all the money owed without straining any rtionships. He even considered Milford a godsend.


    Milford looked at the money now in his hand, paused for a moment, and then tucked it into his pocket. “Thank you, Barry. I will go and buy some things I need.”


    Barry drove away in his car.


    Milford headed to the bus stop and caught a bus downtown to the mall.


    The mall had just reopened post-Christmas, still festooned with holiday decorations. Milford made his way directly to the third floor and headed for the toy section.


    He surveyed the array of shiny dolls, priced from a few hundred to several thousand dors.


    He selected the one he felt was the best, priced just over two thousand dors—a mid-range option among the dolls. Afterpleting the purchase, he took a taxi to Eileen’s ce.


    Finding the doorway empty, he realized Eileen and her family weren’t home for Christmas. He ced the doll under the two pine trees by the door.


    The warm winter sunlight bathed the tall, green trees in a soft glow. Their sparse branches barely concealed the doll, still in its packaging. Milford paused at the entrance of the vi, taking a moment to survey the familiar surroundings that stirred old memories.


    He stood there for a while, pulled a sticky note from his pocket, scribbled a few words on it, and affixed it to the doll before hastily turning to leave.


    After Eileen watched Milford board the bus, she leaned back in her car seat, let out a deep sigh, and then drove home with Gabri.


    Gabri was overjoyed after receiving the card. Once out of the car, she dashed into the house, her arms iling excitedly as she chattered with Ruby, Le, and Ste.


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