Chapter 233

After we finished eating, Ryan went to pay the bill. When he came back, he exclaimed, "Three dishes, and they only charged me twenty bucks? Is it really that cheap?"

I rolled my eyes and said, "Must be nice being young—not even knowing the value of money yet."

Ryan just grinned, scratched the back of his head, and followed me toward the parking lot.

Once we were back in the car, Ryan pulled out a signed debt slip, stamped it with his thumbprint right in front of me, and handed it over. He said, "Ms. Murphy, thanks for being so generous. I’ll remember this favor for sure."

"It’s nothing. Just make sure you hit the books once summer’s over," I said, folding up the debt slip and tucking it into my bag.

"Yeah, I will," Ryan replied, his eyes burning as he looked at me.

That look in his eyes sent a wave of heat through me—maybe it was just the stuffy car, but I suddenly felt a little hot.

As I pulled up to the office, I spotted Yvonne sitting on the front steps, clutching that old doll I gave her back in the day.

As Ryan and I walked over, Yvonne dashed right up to me. She asked, "Mom, where did you go?"

Ryan’s eyes went wide. He exclaimed, "Wait, Ms. Murphy, your kid’s already this big?"

I nodded. Then I turned to ask Yvonne, "Why are you here all alone? Where’s your dad?"

Yvonne whispered, "I came by myself."

"Go back to your grandma’s place. I’ve got work to do and can’t look after you right now," I said, waving her off.

"Mom, I won’t bother you. Can I just play nearby?" Yvonne said, trying to be considerate.

"That’s not happening. You’ll just end up distracting me," I said coldly.

"Then can I go to Grandpa William’s place? You always took me there during summer break. I want to go fishing with Grandpa William again," Yvonne asked, her eyes shining with hope.

"You didn’t want to see them last time, so you’re not going this time either," I replied, still looking cold.

"I’m sorry," Yvonne whispered, her eyes starting to fill with tears.

Ryan stood there for a bit, kept his mouth shut, then headed inside to work.

Yvonne was holding back her tears—she wasn’t the crybaby she used to be.

I called Jared, and he had the driver come pick her up right away.

"Your dad asked for you to go stay with him," I said.

Yvonne said, "Mom, are you not going to pay attention to me? Even if I try to be good and do what you say, you still won’t care?"

"Being good isn’t just something you say," I replied, opening the car door.

Yvonne made her way over, dragging her feet. She said, "Mom, can I go hang out at Grandpa William’s place? I’ll ask them myself."

"Whatever, if you can talk them into it, go ahead," I said. I wasn’t about to stop her—my parents would be happy to have her around.

Yvonne finally perked up a bit. She hopped into the car and waved at me. She said, "Bye, Mom."

I closed the car door, watched it drive off, then turned and headed back to the office.

Around four in the afternoon, Sally suddenly appeared at the door of my temporary office, dripping in jewels.

Some people at the company still had no idea who she was.

Sally looked like she was about to explode as she stormed over and shoved open my office door, making the glass rattle.

She jabbed a finger at me and said, "Victoria, I always thought you were the quiet, gentle type. Back when Jared said he wanted to marry you, I was a hundred percent against it.

"But later, I saw your good character and finally agreed to let you two get married. And now look at you—asking for money, and even trying to snatch Yvonne away from us, is that it?"