?Chapter 43:


    Sadie cast her gaze downward, masking the bitterness and despair swirling in her eyes, and murmured in a hushed tone, “Understood, Mr. Wall.”


    Observing her distress, Tina quickly closed the distance between them, tenderly grasping Sadie’s hand and whispering, “Sadie, it’s really okay to take a break. Don’t overthink it. Remember, your healthes first.”


    With a strained smile, Sadie tightened her grip on Tina’s hand, expressing her gratitude. “Thanks, Tina. I appreciate your concern.”


    With no further obligations at work, Sadie decided it was time to leave for her grandma’s ce, where she would stay for a while. In a world that often felt lonely, Laura was her only family and the only light that kept her heart warm.


    As she gathered her things, memories of the earlier confrontations haunted her—Noah’s aloofness, K’s gloating, and the inquisitive stares from her colleagues felt like daggers to her soul, suffocating her spirit.


    “Sadie?” Laura’s eyes widened in surprise as she saw Sadie. “What are you doing here?”


    Having just wrapped up a line dancing ss with her close friends, Laura entered her kitchen to find Sadie unexpectedly standing there, holding a spat.


    Sadie mustered a strained smile as she arranged the stir-fried vegetables on the te, her movements deliberate, aiming to project calm. “Grandma, I made some dishes for you! Come taste them and tell me what you think.”


    Laura regarded Sadie with a gentle, perceptive look as she ced her palm fan beside her on the table. She hadn’t even touched her food when she pinned Sadie with a deep, prating stare, as though she could unravel all the secrets Sadie was trying to hide.


    Feeling a tingle of unease under Laura’s intense scrutiny, Sadie maintained her poise. She served a bowl of shrimp and grits—Laura’s favorite—and attempted to steer the conversation away from the tension. “Grandma, please have some. I remember how much you used to enjoy my shrimp and grits.”


    Yet Laura wasn’t swayed by the diversion. She continued to study Sadie with a solemn expression, and her voice was slow and measured when she finally spoke. “Sadie, did something happen between you and that young man, Alex?”


    g?lnσν???s．c????, a world of tales


    At the mention of Alex, a flicker of difort crossed Sadie’s face, and her grip on the fork tightened imperceptibly. She conjured a light, dismissive smile and reassured Laura. “Grandma, everything’s fine. Please, don’t worry about it.”


    “Sadie,” Laura responded with a mix of firmness and affection, “I might not be as sharp or as capable as I once was, and there’s only so much I can do for you, but promise me this—don’t ever let anyone hurt you. If your heart is heavy, juste home. I’m always here, waiting.”


    Instead of challenging Sadie’s pretense, Laura simply extended her hand and sped Sadie’s, her fingers warm against Sadie’s chill. Her voice was soft yet unwavering, a testament to her unconditional support.


    Overwhelmed, Sadie could no longer contain her emotions. Her nose tingled as tears surged, blurring her vision, and she choked out a barely audible, “Grandma…”


    Laura, her heart swelling with tenderness, drew Sadie into a warm embrace, her hand gently patting her back in aforting rhythm reminiscent of Sadie’s childhood. Softly, she murmured, “Look at you, my dear, still so quick to cry just like when you were a little girl.”


    Nestled against Laura’s shoulder, Sadie found sce in the familiar, soothing scent ofvender soap, a fragrance that always seemed to calm her storms.


    She took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to still the chaotic whirlwind of her emotions.


    Now wasn’t the time to break—she had to stay strong.


    For her unborn child’s sake, Sadie knew she had to act fast to secure the funds needed for a safe delivery and a fresh start.


    .


    .


    .