Chapter 74
Matthew had harbored many misconceptions about Valerie initially, but as he got to know her better, he realized that most of his suspicions were probably misunderstandings..
However, her intense focus on money didn’t seem to stem from mere misunderstanding. He once thought her materialistic, but now he understood that her relentless, greedy mother was the reason behind her emphasis on financial security.
“What are you planning to do next?” he asked. I can manage to pull together 100 thousand dollars.”
Valerie was taken aback and quickly responded, “Mr. Grant, I’m never a patient person, but I didn’t expect you to act on impulse this time. Are you really considering selling the house? Where would we sleep then? Surely, we can’t end up on the streets, right?
Matthew fell silent, knowing that 100 thousand dollars was just a phone call away.
Bus Valerie was resolute. “Respect has to be mutual. I respect her as my mother, but if she looks down on me. I can’t just comply blindly, I’ve contributed a lot over the years to her living expenses. She should have saved up enough. Farming isn’t that costly, she should be managing fine. For now. I won’t give her more, but I’ll get her a gift for Christmas. The value will depend on how she treats me.
“You don’t have to do that. She claims she supported me, but in reality. I was sent to live with my aunt at 12, and she hasn’t spent a dime on me since I was 15. People change, and I must consider my own future she then added.
She left one thing unsaid. She would no longer be an endless sourer of money for Ruth. She needed to save every penny for her baby
Baby formula, diapers, clothes, toys–all these cost money. And as the child grew, there would be school fees, She had faced financial struggles growing up and didn’t want her child to endure the same. Ar the very least, she wanted to ensure her child could enjoy school without financial worries. If her child wanted to take extracurricular classes, she wanted to be able to afford them. She was determined to provide everything she missed out on for her child, hoping that growing up as her child would be a source of happiness.
“Alright. Matthew nodded, understanding her stance.
Valerie maintained a good relationship with Julian, so cutting ties with that family wasn’t an option, but she was prepared to make some compromises.
Matthew sighed, astonished at the reality of having such a heartless mother. He lost his parents early on. While they weren’t particularly warm or gentle, they never exploited their children for money
Thankfully, Valene had her understanding brother to lean on, which eased some of her burdens
After treating Matthew’s wound with iodine and securing it with bandages, Valerie faced a new challenge. Both of their hands were injured, and a pile of dirty dishes awaited them
To make matters worse, their new dishwasher hadn’t been delivered yet
Brightening with a sudden idea, Valerie said, “Mr. Grant, your left hand and my right hand are still functional. If we work together, we have a full set of hands between us
Matthew was skeptical about this makeshift solution, preferring to call a housekeeper instead. However, watching Valerie struggle to clean up using only her left hand, he reluctantly agreed to help.
They each used the other hand, awkwardly balancing the dishes and utensils as they moved toward the kitchen. Valerie had to stretch her arm up while Matthew bent down slightly to keep everything level
Just as they reached the kitchen, Valerie nearly stumbled, but Matthew quickly steadied her by wrapping his injured left arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “Hold steady,” he instructed,
Thanks, Valerie replied, her cheeks flushing. The close contact and the heat from Matthew’s body brought back memories of another night when he had held her just as closely
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