?Chapter 188:


    Back then, Yvonne had yet to marry Norton. She faced endless insults and ridicule from the public. It was a terrifying time in her life. Debt collectors kept hounding her, and she had spent many sleepless nights—too many to count. No one had been there for her, except for Rachel. Rachel had used all her savings to help her, even though it was merely a drop in the bucketpared to what she needed to pay her family’s debts.


    Even so, that small amount had proven to be crucial to her survival.


    Rachel had stayed with her for an entire month, afraid that Yvonne might resort to something drastic. Later, when Yvonne began suffering from insomnia, Rachel had taken her to see a doctor, covered her medication, and even held her to sleep at night. Yvonne used to be so timid. Every time the debt collectors came around, she would have a mental breakdown.


    And each time, Rachel had stood in front of her, shielding her from the storms life threw her way.


    She still remembered one time when a creditor had threatened to harm her if she failed to pay on time. Those people were ruthless. They told her they would torture her before selling her to a whorehouse. Yvonne had nightmares every single day after that.


    When the day finally came, the creditors broke down her door. Once again, Rachel had stepped up, pretending to be Yvonne, and confronted those men. If she could, Yvonne would rather forget that part of her life.


    “If you’re willing to talk about it, I don’t mind listening,” Norton suddenly said, catching her off-guard. His tone had softened slightly, though there was still a distinct aloofness in the way he spoke.


    “I’d better leave it in the past,” Yvonne said firmly. For a fleeting moment, she had considered telling Norton about her past. But as the cool evening breeze brushed against her face, she quickly regained herposure and changed her mind. Norton’s sudden interest in listening intently was likely a fleeting curiosity. Soon enough, he might use her of ying games again, manipting the situation to gain his sympathy.


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    The car soon pulled up to the supermarket. Despite thete hour, the sprawling store was still bustling, its shelves neatly stocked with fresh produce and essentials.


    Since their purpose was to shop for groceries, Yvonne guided Norton directly to the relevant section, her steps purposeful and her demeanor calm. They made their way to the seafood section, where the shelves were lined with an assortment of fresh catches. Yvonne pushed the cart, her eyes scanning the options as she turned to Norton.


    “What do you feel like eating? Go ahead, pick whatever you want.”


    Norton raised an eyebrow, eyeing the seafood with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. “Didn’t you say you only make simple dishes?” He gestured at the array of seafood with a hint of doubt. “Are you sure you can handle cooking these?”


    Yvonne returned his gaze with a confident grin. “I can steam them. Simple enough,” she replied, her tone steady.


    Norton was momentarily at a loss for words. His lips twitched slightly, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she was teasing him. Without a word, he took the shopping cart from her and began pushing it forward.


    Yvonne followed closely behind. “So, you’re really not having seafood tonight?” she asked, a hint of relief in her voice.


    A sense of satisfaction bubbled up inside Yvonne as she posed the question. She knew some types of seafood could be a hassle to clean, especially those with a pungent smell. She had no clue how to mask the fishy odor, and thest thing she wanted was to disappoint Norton with a subpar meal. If that happened, it would surely push her further from her goal.


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