Chapter 4 She Had No Right To Give Up

“Really?”

Eric’s smile was cold, dripping with scorn.

“So, this is about money, isn’t it? Not even a month has passed. What’s the hurry? Rest assured, you’ll receive your due. Just be patient. Surely, you don’t think we’d let you go hungry?”

He paused briefly, his tone becoming terse. “Avoid calling me unless it’s urgent. I’ll get in touch if there’s any need.”

With those final words, the conversation abruptly ceased.

Clasping the phone tightly, Hadley’s shock was evident.

To such an extent, Eric despised her.

“Absurd.”

With a frail chuckle, Hadley’s face turned ashen. Requesting money from him had left her feeling profoundly demeaned.

In silence, she lifted her hand to her unchanged stomach, closed her eyes, and allowed tears to escape quietly.

Eight months had passed.

Hadley was sleeping peacefully in her modest room, her pregnant belly prominently displayed.

The arrival of her child was approaching. Despite the doctor’s recommendation for an early hospitalization due to the baby’s backside position, Hadley merely smiled and

remained silent.

Her pockets were empty.

19.06

Chapter 4 She Had No Right To Give Up

Eight months earlier, following that call with Eric, he had spewed nothing but cruelty.

Yet, the financial support he promised never materialized.

Hadley had drained her savings. With no way to afford her apartment anymore, she ended up in a run–down neighborhood.

She never reached out to him for financial help again.

The thought of being labeled a parasite was unbearable.

After moving, Hadley managed to secure some part–time work, balancing it with her

studies.

Her earnings were limited, but through careful budgeting, she made enough to sustain herself.

As she drifted in sleep, the night erupted with cries of alarm.

“Fire!”

The shout pierced the air.

“Escape!”

Roused abruptly, Hadley leaped from her bed and threw open her door to a scene of utter chaos. Smoke engulfed the corridor as flames danced violently.

Her complexion drained of color in an instant.

“Hadley!”

Her neighbor, a fellow student, was frantic with worry as he caught sight of her.

“Why haven’t you fled? It’s a fire! Get out now!”

“Right, got it!”

In a rush, Hadley spun around to snatch her backpack.

She moved to venture deeper into her apartment, but her neighbor’s firm grip stopped her. “Are you out of your mind? Why are you heading back in? Leave immediately!”

“I must!”

Hadley’s frustration was clear as she stamped her foot.

Inside, her savings lay–every single penny she had painstakingly gathered for her baby’s

19:06

Had No fight

hospital bills, diapers, and baby

to retrieve

moved to step further, but at that moment, a flaming beam from the ceiling

“Ah!”

stepped back, narrowly

forward was now obstructed

“Hadley! Escape now!”

“No!”

head, she couldn’t consider leaving Breaking away, she made a reckless

“Ah!”

propelled the fire closer to her. Turning swiftly, Hadley felt the

“Hadley!”

out and yanked

his concern with a shake of her head, even as coughs wracked her body, spurred

“Let’s go, now!”

her arm, her neighbor pleaded, “You can’t

“But…”

alone could kill you both! If you go

almost forcibly by her neighbor, Hadley

that moment, the flames had already seared Hadley’s back, and she had ed to retrieve her savings. Powerless, she watched as her modest home was consumed by

was she to do

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19:06

O

<

“Ah!”

sudden, intense pain struck her, causing Hadley to grasp

the matter? Are

crowd formed around

“She’s having her baby!”

ambulance! We need to get her to a

“Ah!”

“Stay strong!”

a delivery table. She withstood a harrowing and dangerous labor for more than

she delivered

placed the newborn in her arms, and tears

Here was her child…

Her own family…

in

the outrage of the moment, she let her eyes

consciousness.

held her infant close, her

nurse, empathetic in her demeanor, was nearby, observing Hadley. She had come to discuss the outstanding hospital bills. Hadley had managed to pay a fraction, yet

Hadley lowered her head, at

defeated, with

and noting Hadley’s youth, assumed she

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19:06

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an uncaring

or perhaps friends, who could assist you? Call them the nurse gently suggested, and then moved

began to

She had no

a mother and could not ignore her obligations, as if

through her bag, she retrieved her

She called Eric.

echoed unanswered

last, the call was

“Eric…”

“Hello?”

Linda’s voice that responded,

Hadley? Do you need Eric? He’s unavailable at the moment. But feel free to talk to me,” Linda continued, her

Linda truly

harbor resentment

point, however, Hadley had

non–existent for

Hadley hesitated, and then said, “I was wondering

framed her request carefully, not as charity but

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