?Chapter 1654:


    Hurley noticed Christinae to an abrupt halt, her attention fixed on the man sitting by the roadside. A slight crease formed between his brows. He wondered if herpassion had taken over,pelling her to intervene.


    “Bonnie, are you thinking of helping him?” he asked quietly.


    If that was what she wanted, he could have someone give the man money — but excessive kindness was not always wise. There were too many people in the world living in hardship to save them all, especially when you didn’t know who they truly were, or what choices had brought them to where they sat. Some people appeared miserable, yet their pasts might reveal disturbing truths. Helping someone genuinely good brought peace. Helping the wrong person could turn a moment of goodwill into disaster for oneself and one’s family.


    At most, Hurley would allow an intermediary to hand over some cash — without exposing any information about the Jones family, and without letting his daughter approach the man directly. He had heard too many terrible stories of young women led by sympathy to help strangers, only to be harmed. No matter how remote the possibility, he would never let his daughter face such a risk. He had lost her once. It could never happen again. He refused to stake her safety on faith in human goodness — the darker instincts of people were far easier to awaken.


    “Dad, let’s give him some money,” Christina said.


    She knew money alone couldn’t resolve the homeless man’s suffering. For now, however, she needed to ease her father’s mind — she couldn’t let him notice her concern about the man’s poisoning.


    “Alright,” Hurley replied without hesitation. He pulled out all the cash he had with him and ced it in her hand. “Do you think that’s enough? If it isn’t, I’ll have someone bring more. You don’t need to worry about this anymore.”


    Watching her father, Christina realized her assumption was correct. He truly wanted her kept far away from the homeless man, and the rest of the family likely felt the same — fearful that herpassion might expose her to danger. After all, they had already lost her once. Where any risk was involved, however small, they would never allow her to take it.


    When Christina remained silent, Hurley took it as dissatisfaction with his response. He let out a weary sigh.


    “Bonnie,” he said, “the world can be a harsh ce — it isn’t something we can change alone. All we can do is give to charity. Transforming the entire world is impossible, even for a family with our means. People are driven by many things, and wherever humans exist, there are struggles. If you feelpassion, we’ll donate more. But in the future, when you see someone suffering, don’t step in yourself — have someone else offer help. Those who look pitiful aren’t always what they seem. I’m not telling you to be cold, and I’m not stopping you from doing good. I just need you to know how to protect yourself. I can’t lose you again.”


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    As he spoke, Hurley tightened his grip on her hand. The mere thought of any harming to her sent a surge of fear through him. No matter what danger he faced personally, he could remain steady — but the instant he imagined his daughter in peril, his heart was overwhelmed by a fear he could not control.


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