Babel Novel
Chapter 1498
How could Jamie feel right about taking the money?
In just a few days, Winnie had already lent her so much. She couldn't keep taking advantage of her.
"Jamie, if I were living alone, I wouldn't care so much. But now, with Jack and the baby on the way, it's unrealistic for us to keep living together forever. Take this money. It's enough to cover at least half a month's rent," Winnie said firmly. Jamie could hear the underlying message. Winnie was trying to hint, as gently as possible, that it might be time for Jamie to find her own place.
It made sense. Winnie was building her own family and naturally wanted privacy. Having a relative around wasn't exactly ideal, especially with everything Ben had been doing lately.
While he hadn't openly revealed anything about their past, it was clear enough that Winnie had noticed something.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
Jamie truly wanted to move out, but the moment she started looking for a place, Ben would make her life difficult. She didn't mind for herself, but with Winnie and Charlie as her soft spots, she felt trapped by these bonds. Winnie noticed her hesitation and felt a bit pained. "I didn't mean anything by it. Don't take it to heart. You're my only family, and we grew up depending on each other."
If someone had told Winnie before that she would one day consider asking her only family to leave, she would never have believed it.
But ever since last night, that thought had taken root. After all, sometimes distance can bring harmony. If they lived separately, Jack wouldn't see her sister so often, and situations like what happened last night wouldn't arise. "Winnie, I really can't take this money. Keep it for yourself. I'll look for a place over the next few days, and if I find something suitable, I'll move out," Jamie said, handing back the money.
Mrs. Lucas had given her three months to cut all ties with Ben. No matter what, Jamie had to make that happen within the deadline. Moving out would be part of that plan, so it wasn't a lie to Winnie.
"No rush," Winnie replied, "Just wait
for the right place, with a good landlord. And if you don't find one, there's no pressure. You're welcome here, rent-free, which takes a little weight off your shoulders." After a bit more small talk, she picked up the breakfast tray and headed out.
Jamie watched her go, her chest heavy with emotion. If only Ben weren't in the picture, life would be so much better for her and her sister.
After taking a moment to clear her mind, Jamie pulled herself together and got ready for work.
Today, her job involved handing out flyers on the street, dressed in a heavy mascot costume. It was
exhausting work. The costumes et
head was large and heavy, and the humid weather made her sweat profusely in minutes. But the pay was worth it.
She worked a few hours in the morning and then again in the afternoon, earning about $40 a day, plus lunch, with pay at the end of each shift. If she wrapped up early, she could fit in a housekeeping job and still have time to visit Charlie at the hospital.
Meanwhile, Ben arrived at the law firm.
As usual, he poured himself a cup of coffee before heading back to his office, closing the door to focus on his work. Just as he immersed himself in the files on his screen, the office door suddenly swung open. What was going on with his assistant today? Not even a knock!
Irritated, Ben looked up, only to find several officers standing in front of him.