Chapter 244
During dinner, Emily didn’t talk, and Charlie felt even more awkward. So he tried to make conversation, “Do you like Lego?”
Emily whispered, “I only have this one Lego. It was a birthday gift from my dad when I was ten.”
Back then, her dad hadn’t started gambling yet, and he had just been promoted to head chef at a hotel, doubling his salary. He bought her the Lego she had always wanted for her birthday.
That year, they also moved into a new house – their whole family was the envy of neighbors and relatives.
But today, their house has been sold, and their family torn apart.
All because of gambling, Emily had never hated anything so much in her life!
Charlie said, “So your dad was pretty good to you. How did he end up like this?”
Emily looked sad and said slowly, “My mom told me that a chef in the hotel kitchen was jealous of my dad becoming the head chef, and deliberately introduced him to gambling. They set him up to win, and my dad won a lot of money in just a few days. But eventually, he got in too deep and couldn’t control himself anymore.”
Charlie nodded, “So your dad was a chef. No wonder you have a talent for cooking!”
Emily gave a bitter smile. When she was young, her father was her hero, but now, he was no longer the man he used to be.
A father’s love is a belief, and when that belief slowly collapses, nobody knows how painful and disappointing the process is.
Charlie continued, “Your dad just took a wrong turn. He’ll come to his senses in the future.”
Tears filled Emily’s eyes, but she didn’t dare to look up. Instead, she whispered, “Thank you.”
He didn’t look down on her, instead he comforted her. Emily was very grateful.
After dinner, as she tidied up the kitchen and returned to her room, she saw the broken castle put back together and sitting perfectly on her bed, along with a few treasured photo albums.
Charlie had moved them in while she was cooking.
She had stopped feeling sad, but now, tears welled up in her eyes again. She wasn’t sure if it was the sadness or that she was touched, but she covered her eyes and sobbed silently.
She had to find another job soon to pay Charlie back.
Three days later, Charlie’s injuries were mostly healed, and he went back to work. Before leaving, he told Emily he wouldn’t be coming for a while/ and that she should feel comfortable staying here.
This time, Emily didn’t say anything, she just knew she owed Charlie more and more.
Once Charlie left, Emily went back to work at the dessert shop and found another part–time job delivering food at night. Her life became even more hectic.
One night, Estelle went back to the Royal Mansion around 11 p.m. and saw Emily in the elevator. That’s when she found out Emily had taken a second job for the night.
Estelle told Jonathan to go upstairs first and then went downstairs to chat with Emily. Emily told Estelle everything that was happening at home.
Estelle had some idea about Emily’s family problems, but she never expected them to be as bad.
Emily had always worked to pay for her own tuition and contributed the rest to her family. But they still didn’t leave her with any backup plan.
And her father… how could he scam money from Charlie without thinking that Emily would have to pay it back?
How could a student who hadn’t even graduated yet be able to pay back $100,000?
Estelle really didn’t know what to say about such a father.
“Just stay here at Charlie’s place without worrying about anything,” Estelle assured her. “You don’t need to rush to pay him back either. Don’t overwork yourself, your health is the most important.”
With tears in her eyes, Emily smiled and said, “I always believed that as long as I worked hard, everything would get better. I still believe that!”
Estelle nodded, “Yes, things will get better!”
She had experienced dark times in her life, but now she was doing better. She believed that Emily could, too!
