He Faked Poverty, Tricked Me Into an Abortion, All for a Bet Chapter 07

He Faked Poverty, Tricked Me Into an Abortion, All for a Bet Chapter 07

I started leaving home early and returning late, just like Ethan.

Besides my part-time shifts at the club, I found temporary warehouse work that paid at the end of

each day.

Gradually, I began coming home even later than he did.

He stopped asking why I was out so late, and we slept in the same bed with our backs to each other, saying nothing.

Several times, I could tell he wanted to reach for me.

Each time, I shifted closer to the edge, until one more inch would have sent me falling onto the

floor.

After receiving emergency treatment, Grandma regained consciousness and called me from my uncle’s phone.

She said she knew I had no money, that she had lived long enough, and that she did not want any

more treatment.

My uncle shouted from beside her, “Absolutely not! You have to get treated! If you die, then at least it’s over. But if you refuse treatment now, you’ll end up paralyzed. Your granddaughter is off enjoying the easy life in the city, so you think you can dump everything on your son and daughter-in-law?”

Then he snatched the phone away.

“The doctor said she needs some kind of… hip replacement surgery. I asked about the cost. It’ll be around fifteen thousand dollars, so start raising the money as soon as possible. I’ll be blunt. If the old woman ends up paralyzed, we are not taking care of her anymore. If you don’t send the money, neither your aunt nor I will set foot in this hospital again.”

I closed my eyes, my nails digging so deeply into my palm that they left bloody marks.

“Give me some time,” I said softly. “I’ll find the money.”

“Make it quick. The hospital isn’t going to wait forever.”

After the call ended, I took several deep breaths and wiped away my tears before turning around.

A man was standing behind me, and I could not read the expression on his face.

The club’s hallways were covered in thick carpeting, so footsteps made no sound at all.

I had no idea when he had appeared.

“I’m sorry, sir.”

I quickly lowered my head and apologized.

We were not supposed to take personal calls while working, and every guest at the club was either wealthy or powerful, none of them people I could afford to offend.

His gaze remained fixed on me for a long moment before he let out a quiet laugh.

“It’s always the same sob story in places like this. An alcoholic father, a sick mother, younger siblings you can’t afford to send to school, and a family falling apart. I thought people had finally stopped using that routine to fish for sympathy.”

His lips curved mockingly.

“What comes next? Are you going to start selling yourself to the guests?”

“Maybe not. I might sell a kidney instead.”

Maybe once someone was pushed far enough, they simply stopped being able to think.

At that moment, I did not want to think about what talking back to a guest might cost me, whether I would lose the job, or whether I would drag Lena into trouble.

But the moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

All I could do was apologize again.

“I’m sorry, sir. I lost my temper. Please don’t hold it against me.”

“All right. Go. I’m not going to make an issue of it. I’m not that petty.”

Keeping my head lowered, I hurried away.

When my shift ended, I stopped Lena and told her what had happened.

She thought for two seconds.

“It should be fine. Don’t panic. Not every guest is going to come after you over one remark.”

I twisted the hem of my uniform between my fingers, forcing myself to stay calm.

Then I asked whether there was any other kind of work I could do at the club besides serving.

Lena looked at me and immediately understood what I meant.

“I know you desperately need money right now,” she said. “Have you told Ethan what’s happening with your family?”

“I did. I wanted to borrow three thousand dollars from him, but he said he couldn’t help.”

A cold smile flashed across Lena’s face before she quickly hid it.

“Let me think. Since we’re from the same area, I’ll try to find you the lowest-risk option I can.”