“So it’s meeting the parents, huh? Alright then. First you’ll need a gift”
“Right, right. But it’s my first time meeting her mother. What should I bring?”
Molly had no experience with <b>this </b>and wanted Caitlin’s advice.
“Reba raised two kids on her own. She’s thrifty and practical. If you give her something too expensive, it might not win her favor.”
“You’re right.”
“Better if it’s something meaningful you made yourself.”
“I could… but what should I make?”
“As far as I know, Reba was once a ballet dancer. Why don’t we start from there?”
Molly looked embarrassed. “Ballet? You mean I should perform for her? No way, I can’t dance!”
“I’m not asking you to dance. Here’s what I mean…”
With Caitlin’s coaching, Molly finally had the perfect gift prepared and dressed appropriately.
Caitlin apanied her to meet Reba. “Molly, let’s stop by the café on the way. I asked Wendy to join us.”
“Okay.”
Caitlin had already called ahead. Knowing Molly was going to Reba’s, Wendy arranged for a coworker to cover her shift. Everything was in order. She stepped out of the cafe, ready to wait by the roadside, when she suddenly spotted Mrs. Jones in the distance.
“Wendy, I’ll only take a few minutes of your time.”
Mrs. Jones nodded slightly, <b>then </b>turned.
Wendy’s heart sank. A bad feeling spread through her chest, but she had no choice except to follow.
Inside the Jones family’s car, Wendy sat stiffly beside Mrs. Jones. “Auntie, what did you want to see me about?”
“I’ve already looked into your background. Your parents divorced years ago, your father remarried, and your mother’s mental health isn’t stable. She’s been dependent on medication. Your brother is a doctor. You studied abroad for two years, but you’re now working in a café, correct?”
Wendy nodded quietly.
“I don’t <b>know </b>how you and Benjamin met, but I need to be honest. I’m not satisfied with your circumstances, especially the fact that your parents divorced. I don’t want Benjamin’s future wifeing from that kind of family. I hope you can understand.”
16:06 Tue, Sep 9 B …
Her tone wasn’t sharp, but calm and factual.
56 voucher
Wendy understood immediately–just as she’d feared–this woman did not want her with Benjamin.
“I understand. Honestly, nothing’s really happened between us. I know I’m not a match for him. I’ve never thought of climbing above my station. He and I are impossible,”
Her chest tightened with hurt, but she kept her voice even.
“I’m d you realize that. Aspensation, I can arrange a far better job for you–sry, benefits, vacation, ten times what you earn now. Or anything else reasonable you want. I can make it happen.”
“No, thank you. I don’t need anything. I’m fine where I am. If that’s all, I’ll excuse myself.”
Wendy gave a polite nod, opened the door, and got out.
Mrs. Jones watched her walk away and let out a long sigh. The girl wasn’t nearly as calcting or greedy as she had imagined. If not for her family background, she might have been eptable.
Wendy held her tears in until she left the car. Then they fell freely. She thought of all Benjamin had <b>done </b>for her, of the words he’d whispered that night, and the ache inside her deepened.
When she had been heavier, she had still carried <b>a </b>certain confidence. But after she slimmed <b>down</b>, she somehow lost it–because she had fallen for Benjamin. Facing a man so far out of her league, how could she possibly feel secure?
Her broken family was a scar she could never erase, a mark she had never chosen.
Standing by the roadside, she saw Benjamin’s name sh on her screen. Her chest tightened painfully. She ignored the call once, but it came again. With a shaky breath, she answered.
“Hello?”
“Little Pudding, what are you up to? Miss me?”
Benjamin leaned back in his office chair, fresh from a meeting, his feet propped casually on the desk, his tone. yful.
“What about you? I’m heading home.”
“I’m thinking about you. Why home! Don’t you have a shift today?”
“Molly’sing over. I should be there. Nothing else, I’m hanging up.”
She wanted to end it quickly before he could hear the tremor in her voice.
“Wait-” Benjamin stopped her. “What did I tell you? Before you hang up, you owe me a kiss. You forgot <b>again</b><b>? </b>
“There are a lot of people around. Not now.”
She used the excuse to end the call, just as Molly’s car pulled up.
“Hop in<b>, </b>Wendy!” Molly called.
“Coming!”
Wendy slid into the backseat. Caitlin nced at her red eyes through the mirror. “What’s wrong? Your eyes. look puffy.”
“Oh, <b>just </b>a bug flew into my eye. Nothing <b>serious</b>.”
Sheughed lightly and rubbed at her eye, refusing to share what had just happened. Her situation with Benjamin was her burden alone.
Caitlin let it drop, and the three women chatted about other things until the car stopped outside Wendy’s apartment
A <b>few </b>minutester, Simon’s car pulled up. He eyed Molly, then Caitlin. “Sorry to keep <b>you </b>waiting. Caitlin, you came too<b>?</b>”
“Of course. I’m here to keep Molly from running away,” Caitlin teased.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Don’t forget the gift.”
Together, the four carried their presents upstairs.
<b>As </b>soon as they reached the fifth floor, Simon and Wendy froze. From inside the apartment came furious shouting.
The security door was closed, but the inner door stood ajar. A woman’s voice shrieked, raw with hatred.
“Get out! You worthless piece of trash! I hope <b>you </b>go bankrupt and your whole family ends up begging on the streets! I curse you to be hit by a car <b>the </b>moment you walk out!”
“<b>You </b>damn woman, are you looking to die-”
A man’s violent roar cut her off. Then came a piercing scream.
“Ahhh!”
“Mom!” Wendy cried, panic flooding her face.
Simon fumbled out his keys, shoved the lock open, and rushed inside. The scene <b>that </b>greeted him left him. utterly stunned.
Tue, sep y