?Chapter 1688:


    Jalen’s smile faltered, but he forced out a weakugh. “Come on, Brenna, don’t be like that. I’ll pay you back soon, I swear. You know how things have been—my mom just passed, and I’ve been drowning in medical bills. Just help me out here, please?”


    Brenna’s face was a mask of frost, her annoyance simmering beneath the surface. Her mother loathed Wesley, a man far from virtuous, and she believed Jalen, Wesley’s son, was cut from the same cloth.


    She had plenty of money but no desire to spare him a single cent.


    Ethan, less familiar with the situation, stayed quiet. He rarely saw Brenna act so cold toward family. Even with Sandra, whom she didn’t like, Brenna yed the part of a supportive sister, showing up when asked.


    He believed Jalen must be a bad person for Brenna to treat him like this.


    Ethan stood there, letting Brenna handle the matter.


    Jalen felt Brenna’s reluctance to help, a sinking dread settling in. He knew her contempt toward him was due to his father’s bad deeds.


    Leaning in, he said, “Brenna, I’m in a tough spot right now. I know my dad was terrible back then. Even I think he crossed the line. He was so self-centered, and he had the nerve to plead for Giselle’s forgiveness. I’m ashamed of him.”


    He exhaled heavily. “You can’t imagine how domineering he was at home. Everything revolved around him; everyone else’s needs camest. If Conor or I defied him, he wouldsh out, striking our mother and us. We didn’t enable him; we just had no choice.”


    Jalen paused for a moment. “Don’t fall for his ‘devoted husband and father’ facade. At home, he was a tyrant. He earned his prison sentence. But my mother couldn’t hold on—she had liver cancer and was always in agony. Conor and I borrowed from everyone to treat her. I’m really broke. Please, help me this time. I’ll repay you. My mother is gone, and my dad is behind bars, but we’ve got to keep going—pay debts, raise kids. My dad’s mess might cost me my job. I’m treating someone to a meal here tonight to save my position. I wouldn’t be here if I weren’t desperate.”


    g?lnσν????s﹒??????, the heart of fiction


    Brenna listened, unmoved, not believing a syble. She didn’t know Jalen well, but her experience with people told her he was likely weaving a sob story to swindle her.


    “You want me to lend you some money? Fine. Write an IOU, and I have one condition,” she said.


    Jalen’s spirits soared at that. He was convinced his slick words had swayed her. His father had failed to gain the Harper family’s favor, but he was confident his persuasive charm could win over anyone.


    Keeping his expression calm, he said, “Okay, I’ll write it.”


    Brenna signaled a server for paper and a pen. Jalen then retreated to the private room, hastily drafting the IOU, intentionally misspelling his name.


    In the corridor, Brenna said to Ethan, “Can you call mywyer over?”


    Ethan nodded and made the call.


    Jalenpleted the IOU and presented it to Brenna with both hands.


    Brenna scanned it, seeing nothing out of ce. Jalen stood before her, feigningpliance. “What is the condition?” Jalen asked.


    “The condition is that you stay here and tend to tables until midnight.” Brenna nced at her watch. It was half past nine now. Two and a half hours remained.


    .


    .


    .