Chapter 1978

Chapter 1978

After leaving Mark's place, Shirley received a call from her dad.

"Shirley, Mark said you two had a row. Try to be a bit more understanding, will you? The guy's swamped with lab work. Can't you just sit down and talk it out? You're not one for arguments, what's gotten into you?"

Shirley felt a lump in her throat and couldn't hold back any longer.

"Dad, this is between us younger folks. Please, stay out of it. You said it yourself, I don't like arguing. So, clearly, he's the one at fault."

"What fault can Mark possibly have? We've known the lad for years. Don't be so headstrong."

Tears welled up in Shirley's eyes. "So, without knowing anything, you've decided it's my fault, right?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end before her father spoke again, "I used to tutor Mark myself. Even back then, he was a good kid. I know him well. Just go easy on him."

Shirley hung up, marking the first time she ever hung up on an adult.

Back at her rented apartment, her head was throbbing with pain.

letter was still lying on the coffee table. After some thought, she sent it

we met in Maplewood during our club internship?

an unpleasant argument, and her reaching out was a peace

a line in the future, she could always break up then. There was no need for suspicion now. But Mark's

You chose to sponsor that kid. Shirley, sometimes you're too saintly. You're not exactly rolling in dough, yet you're dishing out $2,000 every six months. I worried you were trying to 'keep up appearances.'

message, Shirley burst

any means. She had earned a decent amount of money translating online and teaching abroad with her professor, saving up a tidy sum. Sponsoring a child was no issue

back, when

the other club members

After all, none of

offered to sponsor, and Shirley's proposition might have seemed like moral

felt for the kid, tall and thin, with good

her phone for a long time, then, mustering some courage, requested a couple of days off from her

onto the

a month. You won't have to do much, just show up. You want to be

but pressed the

night, she arrived at the entrance to the mountain village she

leading up was newly paved but

drove her, but that letter gave her

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