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Chapter 9
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A Daughter's Court Chapter 9
Once the dust settled, Evelyn wanted to hit pause on school for a year and take some time to breathe.I said yes in a heartbeat. "Life's a marathon, not a sprint," I had told her. "If you're worn out, it's okay to take a breather before you jump back in. Remember: I've got your back, always."Things slowly got back to normal.My little early learning center was buzzing more than ever. Funny enough, the same folks who had been up in arms at my doorstep turned into some of my best customers.However, the quiet spell lasted less than a month before trouble came knocking again.One night, just after 10 p.m., I felt a prickle on the back of my neck as I headed home. Footsteps.I spun around–nothing.Come sunrise, my phone rang off the hook. It was one of my staff, panicked. "Ms. Smith, someone took a bat to our early learning center's glass door last night... Shattered it."And they left a note: 'Laura, you've ruined me. Now I'll ruin you and yours.'"I did not waste a second. I ca
A Daughter's Court Chapter 8
"And the reason I didn't save you myself is that our blood types don't match! I'm not your real mother!"From my bag, I took out a notebook and a faded newspaper.The notebook's cover was stamped with 'Adoption Registration Certificate.'The newspaper's headline screamed, [Silverbay tsunami claims thousands, leaves nearly a hundred children orphaned.]I laid them out in front of Evelyn. "You're not my flesh and blood. I adopted you after the tsunami. The 'father' who died too soon? That was a story I made up. I was scared that knowing you were an orphan would break your heart and make you feel alienated."Evelyn's look went from puzzled to shocked, and then to utterly devastated."You... What are you talking about? How can I not be your daughter? That's impossible!""In a way, yes and no." I took her hand. "I may not have brought you into this world, but from the moment I brought you home, I've loved you as my own. I stayed single, had no other kids, and poured myself into my bu
A Daughter's Court Chapter 7
The week-long live stream wrapped up with a bang.The video platform set up an interview at the city TV station's studio, a polished stage with two sofas–one for Evelyn, one for me–and Jessica, the host, poised at the stage's edge.As the interview kicked off, Evelyn played on the heartstrings of everyone watching. Dressed in jeans bleached by too many washes, her eyes rimmed red, she fussed with her clothes, hiding the patches that told stories of hardship."I just want to hit the books hard, but without the living expenses from my mom, I'm scraping by on part-time jobs..."Before she could finish speaking, tears streamed down her face. The camera immediately cut to a close-up, and the live chat exploded with messages.[Poor Evelyn!][Cruel mom, apologize now!]Evelyn continued to sob, her voice choking with emotion. "I know Mom might not love me, but I just wanted a little allowance. Is that so wrong?"However, as Evelyn's tale of woe continued, Jessica cut in with a gesture.
A Daughter's Court Chapter 6
I was in a panic and even confronted Frank, pleading with him to keep his distance from Evelyn.However, he flat-out denied any romantic involvement with her.He turned the tables on me, insisting he only saw Evelyn as a student and suggesting that I was reading too much into it.It was not long before I caught Evelyn sneaking money from me.It started with a couple of hundred, then escalated to thousands. Eventually, she brazenly used my credit card to splurge on a $15000 men's watch.When I challenged her with the credit card bill, she shot back, "You just don't get love, so stay out of my personal life."That was when I learned that Frank had already made his move, promising to marry her after her high school graduation.He had filled her head with ideas that my business earnings were hers to claim, urging her to funnel more cash his way for his so-called business ventures, all for the promise of a better life.Left with no other option, I froze her bank account. However, sh
A Daughter's Court Chapter 5
As soon as the door swung open, Jessica stormed in.Clutching a stack of photos, her chest was heaving with emotion. "I figured it out! Evelyn isn't broke! She's loaded, isn't she?"I motioned for her to take a seat on the armchair across from me and poured her a coffee.She laid out the photos on the coffee table, each one marked with red circles highlighting the important bits."The night of the sixth live stream, after Evelyn got her paycheck from her side gig, she went out of her way to the Global Meridian Bank by the school. I had someone pull the bank footage, and there she was at the ATM, transferring her entire hundred fifty bucks paycheck to some guy named Frank Yates."It doesn't add up. She's too broke to even buy a meal, so why is she sending her cash to someone else?"I had a hunch that something didn't add up. Digging into the name, I discovered that this kid, Frank, was living in Grand Willow Estate, right in the heart of downtown. It's one of the swankiest places
A Daughter's Court Chapter 4
At the hospital, the doctor leading the rescue effort said Evelyn was in dire straits, needing blood right away.However, her blood type was rare, nowhere to be found in the hospital's reserves.Upon seeing me, the doctor clutched at my wrist, desperate, "Ms. Smith! You're her mother. You could be a match! Please, go with the nurse to get tested!"I kept my smile. "I'm sorry, but a transfusion could weaken my immune system, and I'd rather not."Jessica was on me in a flash, gripping my arm. "Laura! Inside there, that's your daughter, the one you carried for nine months! How can you just stand there and say no?!"I brushed her off, my voice calm as though I were commenting on the day's weather."Lowered immunity could lead to catching a cold, and I'd rather not risk it."Everyone around was floored, unable to fathom a mother's heart so cruel."Besides, Evelyn's an adult. If she's chosen this path for herself, then it's her right. We shouldn't waste the hospital's time and resour
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