Chapter 8

“Do you have proof?” Yvonne Xander was flustered. Indeed, she was the one who drugged Monique Xander. However, she only arranged for someone to take some nude photos of Monique. Everything was already out of her hands when Monique was nowhere to be found after the photographer came. Monique was the one who went to a savage’s room. She had nothing to do with that. “I have the footage of you bringing me upstairs.” Monique could only bluff her at the time, it was impossible to have footage from such a long time ago. “I’m not telling then.” Yvonne could only stare at Monique with anger due to her threat. “You will not bring up what happened in the past. Do not blame me for what happens next if you dare to speak in front of dad!” Yvonne was finally subdued. She was worried that her father might break her limbs if he learned that she drugged Monique. “You’ve reached. Get out of my car.” Monique’s tone was cold. She was initially unsure whether it was Yvonne who drugged her five years ago as she was heavily drunk. She had been keeping the hope that it was not Yvonne’s doing and she misheard. It was heart-wrenching for Monique to hear Yvonne admit just now. She felt like she was suffocating from the pain. She drove away as soon as Yvonne got out of the car. Looking at the departing car, Yvonne grinned coldly and walked into her house. “You’re back. Why did you drink so much?” Yvonne’s mother, Siobhan Zack who was waiting for her in the living room nagged and helped her to the couch. “Have a guess on who my ride was!” Yvonne extended her arms to hug her mother’s hand as she leaned into her. She had a smug smile like she was showing something off. ‘Yvonne is rarely this cheerful. Perhaps it was her boyfriend?’ Siobhan raised a brow and asked, “Who was it?” “It was Monique!” Yvonne’s grin got even wider. She promised not to tattle on Monique to her father but she never said she would not get someone else to do that for her. … “Fate brought us together outside the troubled times, yet destiny brought us to love in the hardest times…” Monique’s phone had been ringing a few times. The calls were from her uncle, Zephyrus Xander. She did not dare pick up the call but it would distract her from work if her phone kept ringing. It was clear that her uncle found out about her taking night shifts driving a cab although Yvonne promised not to tell him. Who knew whether Yvonne exaggerated while telling the story? How annoying. Monique did not want to face her uncle the moment she pictured the look of disappointment on his face. However, her grandfather entrusted her to her uncle and he had been taking care of her like her father for 10 years. Nothing she did would ever be enough to repay his kindness. He was trying to show his concern over her, she did not need to be cautious with him all this time just because Yvonne called her scum. Monique called her uncle back after thinking through the dilemma and he picked up the phone almost instantly. “Uncle, were you looking for me? I was busy.” Monique tried to speak calmly but her heart was pounding. She was still hanging on to the last bit of hope that Yvonne did not tell her uncle about what happened. “Is Yvonne telling the truth? Are you driving a cab? Answer me.” Zephyrus asked while trying to maintain his composure. Zephyrus had always liked Monique because she had always been a good girl and she was never a liar. What happened five years ago must have been an accident, she must have been really drunk to have done something so outrageous. “Uncle, I…” Monique’s face sank. She was silent for a while, unable to speak. She lied to her uncle’s face and he must be angry now that he found out. Besides, she did not only lie about driving a cab, she also worked part-time in a café during the day. Monique did not know where to begin. It was not easy for her to get a job when she had to take Little Nomi with her. She even picked up trash for money during her darkest days. “I understand that life hasn’t been easy for you. You could’ve just told me if you were having difficulties, you didn’t have to lie.” Zephyrus was disappointed that the happiness he just had for her was nullified. He even gave Yvonne a lecture in front of his wife so that she would see Monique as an example to improve on herself. His words were a massive slap to his own face. His wife Siobhan would be dissatisfied with this. He realized Monique was growing more distant from him. He initially thought that she would return after experiencing hardships in the outside world, he did not expect that she would rather live a hard life out there with her baby than choose to go back. She even lied to him when he called to check on her. “Uncle, I’m sorry. It’s my fault.” Monique did not intend to lie to him, she just did not want him to worry about her. Her uncle did secretly send her money once, but her aunt found out. Monique knew that her uncle had been in fights with her aunt because of her. After all, she was not their daughter. She was just an abandoned child living under their roof She no longer wanted to trouble her uncle. “Uncle, I’m actually working right now. I’ll visit you tomorrow.” Monique had a faint smile on her face. Some things were better-said face-to-face. After Monique’s shift ended, she just stood there with her head lowered while thinking of a reason to ask her manager for a day off. She was knocked into by someone by accident. Then, she started apologizing out of habit. “What’s the matter with you? You’ve been so absent-minded lately, watch where you’re going.” It was her manager, Sacha Long. His eyebrows were furrowed together with displeasure. Sacha had a slender figure and fair skin. He looked energetic and fresh. Monique was disagreeing internally as he was the one who bumped into her but she accepted her fate and sighed. “Manager, I want a day off tomorrow.” Monique stretched the corners of her mouth and laughed awkwardly. The café had been busy these few days and Aunt Harriet had just returned from her leave. Yet, Monique was requesting a day off at that timing. “The café’s been packed these past few days. You guys shouldn’t be requesting so many day-offs if there’s nothing urgent.” “It was Aunt Harriet who requested leave and she only does that once in a blue moon. I intend to visit a relative,” Unable to come up with fake excuses, Monique told the truth. “Wow, you would really make stories up just to get a day off. I’ve never heard you mention any of your relatives since you started working here,” Sacha raised a brow in doubt, he was going to walk off impatiently. He heard from other employees that Monique had a daughter after seducing a man and that nobody knew who the father of the child was. Besides that, she only did dirty and tiring chores in the café. That was the reason he looked down on her. “Please, he’s a relative from my hometown.” The light smile on Monique’s thin lips remained. “You only get one day. You can’t request leave anymore this month.” Sacha glanced at her and left. “Yes, of course,” Monique replied smilingly. The truth was, she did not want to request leave anyway after this. … Monique let Little Nomi tag along to the supermarket the next day. Excited Little Nomi could not help but look and walk around. Monique stopped at a jewelry store when she noticed a jade bangle on sale. It was selling for half the price and only cost 500 yuan. Monique was reluctant at first. She then forced herself to purchase it as a gift for her aunt because it had been a long time since she went back. Little Nomi noticed the fineness of the jade bangle chosen by her mother. The bangle did not look like something a person of her mother’s age would wear. Also, her mother would never buy something this pricey for herself. “Mommy, who is this for?” Little Nomi was curious about her mother’s sudden generosity.