Married a Secret Billionaire by Breaking Wave

Maisie took a deep breath and said coldly, "I don't need it."

"Maisie—"

"I've got work to do. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up," she said before Cindy could respond, then disconnected the call.

However, in the quietness of the late hours that night, Maisie tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She recalled how, from childhood to now, Cindy's warmth toward her felt like an act of charity, sparing only a tiny bit of warmth for her when neither Owen nor Nicole needed it.

She remembered being bullied at school, with no one at home standing up for her. Her classmates mocked her for being a child who was not cared for. She was met with a torrent of scolding when she went home and told Cindy about it. Cindy only ever blamed her for being troublesome.

She also recalled the first time she got her period. She was frightened and ran to Cindy in tears. Instead of comfort, Cindy's immediate reaction was, "Disgusting! Wash your stained clothes yourself!"

Since then, she hadn't confided in Cindy about anything.

to please everyone. When she met Daniel, she unconditionally complied, placing herself

didn't bring her the happiness she

streamed

give up. Instead, she showed more concern. She called Maisie every day, not

she even inquired about Maisie's relationship with Daniel—"Is he treating you well? Is he serious this time? He won't abandon you like last time, will

Maisie responded briefly

smile on Cindy's face. She knew that Maisie's biggest weakness was her soft heart and strong sentiments. If Maisie truly

continued to pick up the phone, it indicated

a neighborhood with elderly ladies around Cindy's age. They gathered every day, discussing mundane daily

well, how to store food to prevent spoilage, whose child had grown taller, whose daughter-in-law was pregnant, whose old man had hidden extra money, whose housewife had been swindled

gossiping elderly ladies were irritating, but this common, down-to-earth