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

needs: hospital bills,

need to retrieve

a flaming beam from the ceiling

“Ah!”

stepped back, narrowly

was

“Hadley! Escape now!”

“No!”

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

“Ah!”

the fire closer to her. Turning swiftly, Hadley felt the flames lick at her

“Hadley!”

reached out and yanked her to safety.

her head, even as coughs

“Let’s go, now!”

neighbor pleaded, “You can’t

“But…”

your child! The smoke alone could kill you both! If you go

forcibly by her neighbor, Hadley managed to flee from

she had ed to retrieve her savings. Powerless,

she to

31.0%

19:06

O

<

“Ah!”

sudden, intense pain struck her, causing Hadley

the matter? Are

formed

“She’s having her baby!”

an ambulance! We need to get her

“Ah!”

“Stay strong!”

to the hospital and positioned on a delivery table. She withstood a harrowing and dangerous labor

delivered

newborn in her arms, and tears welled up

Here was her child…

Her own family…

alone in

overwhelmed by the outrage of the moment, she let her

consciousness.

held her infant close, her gaze

had come to discuss the outstanding hospital bills. Hadley

her head,

utterly defeated, with nothing left to

by compassion and noting Hadley’s youth, assumed she

47.6%

+4

x+

19:06

ок

an uncaring

friends, who could assist you? Call them the nurse gently suggested, and then moved away, careful not to

began to

Friends? She had

was a mother and could not ignore her obligations, as if she were

her bag, she

She called Eric.

echoed

the call

“Eric…”

“Hello?”

voice that responded, smooth and slightly

He’s unavailable at the moment. But feel free to talk to me,” Linda continued,

truly offer

harbor

however, Hadley had no room

were non–existent

“I was wondering if he might…

her request carefully, not as

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