?Chapter 1434:


    Terrified of being arrested, Ruby had no choice but to leave the gatedmunity, her heart heavy with desperation. After some thought, she decided to go to Brenna’s workce, hoping to find her there.


    Brenna turned her gaze away, her face a mask of ice. Ethan, beside her, gently squeezed her hand and murmured, “She has brought this upon herself.”


    Ruby’s stomach churned with hunger, growling loudly as she trudged along the road toward Brenna’spany. Penniless, she couldn’t even afford to pay her phone bill. She considered reaching out to Isabe, but her phone was long out of service, leaving her stranded.


    In the distance, Ruby spotted a man offering a woman a small, palm-sized birthday cake and a single rose. The woman only scoffed, tossing both into a nearby trash bin without a second thought. Driven by hunger, Ruby hurried over, fished the cake from the garbage, and wolfed it down.


    As she walked toward Brenna’spany, she scavenged for scraps along the way, her resolve hardening. No matter what it took—begging or pleading—she was determined to get money from Brenna or convince her to take her in.


    The journey from Bayview Apartments to Shirie’s towering Mitchell Group Tower stretched a grueling forty kilometers. By car, it was a swift thirty-minute trip, but for Ruby, who could only walk, it was an endless ordeal. Age had sapped her strength, forcing her to pause often to rest after short stretches of walking. Kind strangers along the way offered her bread and two bottles of mineral water, small mercies that kept her going.


    By the time she reached the Mitchell Group Tower, it was past four in the afternoon, with just over an hour before the workday ended. Her legs, heavy as if cast in lead, buckled beneath her as she looked at the building. She stumbled into the lobby.


    The sleek, modern décor—sprawling, with polished floors gleaming under soft lights—evoked memories of the Barrett Group’s offices in their prime. Back then, she had been a privileged person, gliding through life in chauffeured cars, oblivious to the trash bins lining the streets. Now, her gaze lingered on them, wondering if a wealthy passerby might have discarded something of worth.


    The contrast felt surreal. Just then, a voice snapped her back to the present. Meeting the young, poised receptionist’s eyes, Ruby forced a weary, cating smile.


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    “Hello, how may I assist you?” the receptionist asked.


    Ruby sank onto a lobby sofa, mustering her strength before speaking. Chastened by her experience at Bayview Apartments, she avoided mentioning her role as Brenna’s foster mother to dodge suspicions of deceit.


    “I’m a rtive of Ms. Harper,” she said, her voice soft. “I need to speak with her about something urgent. Could you call her toe down or escort me to her?”


    Her disheveled hair, weathered skin, and threadbare clothes painted a picture of hardship. Katie Howe, the receptionist, upheld the polished courtesy of a top-tier firm and replied politely, “Please wait here a moment. I’ll contact Ms. Harper.” She handed Ruby a bottle of water before stepping away to make the call. Momentster, Katie returned with a gentle smile. “Ma’am, Ms. Harper says you may go up. Ms. Turner will escort you to her office.”


    “Please wait here.” Relief flooded Ruby, and tears welled in her eyes. Brenna was truly willing to see her. Her emotions surged as she recalled a desperate call to Isabe days ago, before her phone was cut off and her home was lost. She had begged Isabe for seven thousand to cover heating and property fees.


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