After smoking three cigarettes in a row, Monica Usher made up her mind! She didn’t feel the smoke choking her at all. It was her first time smoking, yet she had the state of a seasoned smoker, getting more addicted with each puff, as if it was the only way to numb herself. After finishing a bottle of wine, Monica Usher leaned wearily into the sofa. She stared vacantly at the ceiling, her mind drifting to the warm images she saw through the live broadcast tonight, and before she knew it, tears filled her eyes. Monica Usher felt abandoned, played, and manipulated. After a while, the image of Barbara Sutton floated into her mind. She thought of the loyal girl who tidied her room, cleared out her liquor cabinet without permission for her health, and stocked the fridge and liquor cabinet with drinks. This girl was the type to repay even a drop of kindness with a fountain of gratitude. With a sigh, Monica Usher picked up her phone and dialed Barbara Sutton’s number. At this moment, needing to raise money but having no solution at all, Barbara was in her tiny rented room, having cried until her throat was hoarse. She was sitting behind the door, hugging her knees, feeling overwhelmed with helplessness. The phone rang; who would call at such a late hour? She wiped her tears and took out her phone, thinking it might be President Lane asking about work—but it turned out to be an unfamiliar number? The ringtone continued... Despite feeling down, she answered, "Hello?" trying her best to control her emotions. "Barbara, are you asleep?" A familiar voice came through. "Monica??" Barbara Sutton was stunned, asking in disbelief, "Is it really you?" "Yes, it’s me." Monica Usher said, "Let’s meet at Listening Café at ten in the morning tomorrow." "Monica, where are you?" Barbara Sutton was quite worried about her, "Have Lydia’s people found you? Are you safe now? I’ve told CEO Kingston about you!" The other party’s heart tightened with curiosity, "What did you say to Justin?" "I—I’m not!" Barbara quickly explained, "I said you were forced, someone held a knife to my throat making you sign, and I also said..." "And what else?!" She pressed on, eager to know Justin Kingston’s reaction. "I also said that you previously refused many company offers." Monica Usher didn’t care about what she said, she urgently asked, "What did Justin say about it?" "CEO Kingston likely sent someone to look for you, but I’m not sure, and I haven’t dared to inquire about the progress." Barbara Sutton said, "But when CEO Kingston heard you might be in danger, he was concerned." Was he really concerned? Really? Monica Usher couldn’t help but smile, her heart wrenched with pain again. Was he truly worried about her, or worried she would fall into Lydia Ingram’s hands to be used? "Alright, Barbara, it’s getting late, you should rest early." Monica Usher said to her, "Ten in the morning, Listening Café." After saying that, she hung up the phone. Barbara Sutton held the phone, still leaning against the door, hugging her knees, thinking... should she borrow money from Monica tomorrow? But if she borrowed the money, with her salary, without eating or drinking, it might take two years to repay. The period was too long, and Barbara felt embarrassed to ask. The interest on online loans was too high. But considering her mother’s situation, she couldn’t delay any longer, her heart was filled with conflict. Original content can be found at novel⦿fire.net Her mother raised her with difficulty, the family conditions were poor since childhood, her mom suffered many grievances, and yet didn’t have better days before falling ill. She couldn’t watch her mother fall! At night, in Finn Morgan’s apartment, it was as pristine as a showroom. Under the warm yellow lights, Hailey Hale had already run to the bathroom for the 11th time. Her stomach was increasingly uncomfortable, she drank a lot of warm water, finally unable to bear the pain anymore. She opened the bedroom door, finding nobody in the living room sofa, but the shoes at the entrance were still there. With doubts, she walked towards the study room, where under the warm light, she spotted his figure. Finn Morgan was sitting at the desk, with an open laptop in front of him, holding a mouse, his eyes fixed on the screen, not sure what he was doing. She tapped on the open door. Finn Morgan looked up, "Why aren’t you sleeping yet?"