Chapter 150 Ms. Bourbon, Please Give Me Another Chance
Cassidy didn't say a word—just started closing the door.
Molly frantically pushed against it. "Ms. Sanders, you can't abandon me! Did you forget everything you said when you adopted me from the orphanage? You promised I'd be a rich family's daughter! You promised!"
Cassidy shoved hard against the door, but Molly was fighting just as desperately to keep it open. Unable to shut it immediately, she snapped irritably, "Let go! I only made those promises because I thought you'd be useful. But you're completely worthless. Not only can't you make me look good, you cause trouble every other day. I can barely take care of myself right now—I don't have time for you. Get lost!"
Molly shook her head violently, crying. "But you promised! If you won't help me and Jennifer won't either, what am I supposed to do? Tuition's due tomorrow. At least give me the money for that!"
"Go find Arabella!" Cassidy sneered. "Didn't she want to adopt you at first? Go to her! She's so kind and caring—she definitely won't abandon you!"
Molly froze. "Arabella..."
"That's right! Arabella!" Venom flashed in Cassidy's eyes as she ground out the words. "She was the one who wanted to adopt you in the first place. I just swooped in. Now that you're desperate, obviously you should go to her!"
Molly hesitated, not moving. "But I was so horrible to her back then..."
She didn't think Arabella would help her after everything that had happened.
Cassidy's tone turned coaxing. "Why not? Didn't you say she'd been sponsoring you for years before? She has feelings for you. Just apologize sincerely and she definitely won't sit back and watch you suffer. After all, this affects your entire future. She's the kindest, softest-hearted person around. If she refuses, that would just be inhuman."
Taking advantage of Molly's stunned silence, Cassidy slammed the door shut!
As if she'd waste time on Molly now that she was divorced from Anthony.
She'd only rushed to adopt Molly in the first place to make Anthony and the Watsons think she was more caring than Arabella. She had no use for the girl anymore!
She only had about a million left. With her father in prison, she'd need money to grease palms. She had to maintain her lifestyle too. The expenses were piling up—she didn't have spare cash to play saint.
If Arabella was so kind, so generous, so compassionate, then obviously this was her problem to solve!
Cassidy snorted and headed upstairs to continue packing.
She had three days to get everything together and move out.
Thinking about how she'd never be Mrs. Watson again, never have endless spending money and luxury goods, she felt a twinge of loss. But then she reconsidered—once she was divorced from Anthony, there'd be nothing standing between her and Sawyer. Once she won Sawyer over, what kind of life couldn't she have?
Sure, Sawyer had let Anthony take her away last time, but she figured Sawyer just hadn't been in a position to intervene.
Besides, before she'd left, she'd seen the pain and reluctance in Sawyer's eyes. She figured once Sawyer knew she didn't blame him, he'd be overjoyed.
With that thought, Cassidy felt newly motivated.
Just then, Caroline called. Gone was the earlier hostility. Instead, her tone was conspiratorial.
"Cassie, you spent so long with Anthony—you must have some savings, right? I contacted someone with connections who can help get your dad out. Only five hundred thousand dollars. Transfer me the money quick."
Cassidy's expression changed. "Five hundred thousand? Why doesn't he just rob a bank? I don't have money! And stop finding 'connections' on your own—you'll get scammed and not even know it!"
"You stupid—" Caroline started to curse but caught herself, remembering only Cassidy could get that kind of money. She forced her tone to stay pleasant. "He's not a scammer. He specializes in this kind of thing. You don't understand!"
Cassidy said, "Either way, don't contact anyone yet. Wait for word from me."
Caroline was confused. "You're already divorced from Anthony. What kind of connections could you possibly have?"
Cassidy's mouth twisted. "What, you think I'm worthless just because Anthony dumped me? You slapped me way too soon. I don't need Anthony—I've got plenty of ways to handle this!"
Caroline brightened, her tone turning fawning. "That's my girl! You're so capable!"
Hearing her mother's flattery, a flash of satisfaction crossed Cassidy's eyes. The psychological validation was immensely gratifying.
She didn't realize she was just a pitiful creature who could only establish her place in the family by constantly proving her worth. This was the common situation for girls in countless families that favored sons over daughters.
Endless cycles of having your value denied and being exploited. Some people could break free and soar. Others couldn't escape and remained forever trapped in that mindset, gradually becoming twisted.
After hanging up, Cassidy hesitated before calling Sawyer. Hearing the automated message saying the number was off, she didn't think much of it. She decided once she was settled, she'd go to Sawyer's apartment to find him in person.
After leaving the mansion, Molly thought it over and actually went to find Arabella.
She'd overheard Anthony on the phone that day and knew Arabella was injured and in the hospital, so she headed straight there.
Alexander received a call from his people saying Molly had come to the hospital looking for Arabella. They'd stopped her and wanted to know what to do.
Alexander held his pen, pondering for a moment before smiling. "Let her in."
The grievances Arabella had suffered, the indignities she'd swallowed—it was time to get some of that back.
Even if the other party was just a kid, Alexander had no intention of letting her save face.
After hanging up, he grabbed his suit jacket and headed out.
At the hospital, because Alexander had said he'd come handle discharge paperwork in the afternoon, Arabella had spent the whole morning directing the nursing aide in packing up. She'd only been hospitalized, hadn't brought much with her, but after ten days the room had accumulated almost as much stuff as her house.
Never mind the pretty decorations and stuffed animals Daisy had bought to cheer her up—just the little things Alexander casually brought back each day added up to quite a collection.
To Arabella, all these things were precious. She couldn't just leave them at the hospital.
By the time the aide finished, they'd filled two large plastic bags just with little trinkets.
Two knocks suddenly sounded at the door.
Arabella was puzzled. Who visiting her would knock? Her first thought was Daisy's admirer. When the aide opened the door and Molly walked in, Arabella instinctively frowned.
She hadn't seen Molly in months. Ever since the Watson family adopted her, the girl had become a stranger as far as Arabella was concerned.
With Molly's mercenary personality, showing up suddenly... had she run into trouble? Was it because of Cassidy and Anthony's divorce?
In just a few seconds, Arabella's mind had raced through numerous possibilities. Yet her emotions remained completely calm as she simply asked, "What are you doing here?"
A reunion after so long. Though they'd parted on terrible terms, she felt no resentment, no anger. Only calm.
Calm because she'd already let it go. Calm because her life was happy and peaceful enough that she no longer dwelled on past hurts.
Before coming, Molly had done extensive mental preparation. She'd expected Arabella to point at her nose and scream at her to get out. She'd braced herself for the cruelest words. The one thing she hadn't anticipated was Arabella looking at her with such calm indifference—like looking at a stranger.
She pinched her palm hard and her eyes immediately reddened. She took a few pitiful steps forward. "Ms. Bourbon, I came to apologize."
"I'm sorry. I was short-sighted before. Cassidy deceived me. I thought she genuinely cared about me, but I never expected... they beat and cursed me every single day. Now they've just thrown me away..."
"I have nowhere else to turn. They won't pay my tuition or take care of me anymore. The Watsons won't let me through their gates. I have nowhere to go. At this rate, I'll have to go back to the orphanage..."
"Ms. Bourbon, I worked so hard to get out of that orphanage. I don't want to go back. I can't live like that again. Please, please give me another chance..."
She finished tearfully, but seeing Arabella's expression remain calm and detached, she gritted her teeth and dropped to her knees!
Arabella frowned. "What are you doing? Get up."
Molly shook her head, crying. "If I go back to the orphanage, my life is over. I'll never have another chance. Ms. Bourbon, you're so kind—you'll help me, won't you?"
Under Molly's earnest gaze, Arabella gently shook her head. "I'm sorry. I do sympathize with you, but there's nothing I can do about your situation. Please leave."
Molly was shocked. This wasn't the response she'd wanted.
She rushed to the bedside and grabbed Arabella's hand. "Ms. Bourbon, you're still angry with me, aren't you? I know I was wrong! They deceived me! I actually wanted to stay with you! Please adopt me—no, no, you don't have to adopt me. Just keep sponsoring me! I really don't want to go back to the orphanage!"
Arabella smiled slightly. "I think if your parents were watching from heaven and saw what their daughter had become—full of lies and schemes—they'd be very disappointed."
"Ms. Bourbon, what are you talking about?" Molly said unhappily. "My parents died a long time ago."
"They did die, but I'll never forget—when you were two years old, your mother carried you on her back into the mountains. She was afraid mosquitoes would bite you, so she smeared mosquito-repellent herbs all over your skin. Just to be safe, she left her own arms and legs exposed. Her body was covered in bites, but your skin stayed clean."
"She was so tired, yet she carried hot water and formula for you. Every time you cried, she'd stop and mix a bottle. It wasn't anything expensive, but even though her lips were cracked and peeling, she never took a single sip. Watching you drink so contentedly, she smiled so happily."
Arabella's smile remained, her eyes distant with memory. "I admit, that scene moved me. That's when I started sponsoring you. I thought with such a wonderful mother, you deserved more opportunities and a better life."
Molly's eyes darted away. "But she died so early. I had to grow up alone with no one to help me. I had no choice..."
"I understand." Arabella looked at her like an equal adult. "Everyone has the right to choose the life they want. Which path you take is your freedom. When you told me the truth back then, I didn't blame you. I wished you happiness, remember?"
For a moment, Molly remembered what she'd said to Arabella at Cassidy and Anthony's wedding, and how Arabella's face had gone pale.
It was true. She hadn't blamed her. She'd said she wished her happiness, wished her well in everything.
An indescribable feeling welled up inside Molly. She was too young to identify what it was, but instinctively she sensed something bad. She knew—Arabella was rejecting her.
Panic flooded through her, and with panic came resentment. Why? She'd humbled herself this much—why wouldn't Arabella just give her one more chance?
"Ms. Bourbon, you can't abandon me!" Molly started crying harder. "You said before that you'd support me until I was grown! You can't go back on your word! Besides, it's just sponsoring me—it won't even cost you a few thousand dollars a month! You're so good—you'll help me, right?"
Arabella sighed. "It seems you still don't understand."
"Let me be direct then. Molly, I won't adopt you, and I won't sponsor you anymore. Our connection has come to an end. I'll say it again—I don't blame you. I wish you well. But I won't go backward. Please leave."
Molly was about to say more when Alexander walked in holding Becky's hand. Seeing Molly, he acted as if she didn't exist, instead smiling warmly at Arabella. "I already handled the discharge paperwork downstairs. A nurse will bring up a wheelchair in a moment, and I'll take you home."
Arabella smiled back. "Okay."
Becky glanced at Molly, fear creeping into her heart. She knew Ms. Bourbon had always wanted to adopt Molly. Now that Molly had come back looking for Ms. Bourbon, would Ms. Bourbon not want her anymore?
After hesitating, she proactively pulled out a certificate from her backpack and showed it to Arabella. "Ms. Bourbon, look! This is my award from this exam. I got first place!"
Arabella looked surprised and delighted. "Wow, really first place? You're amazing!"
She'd never been a top student herself and had a kind of admiration for kids who were.
Seeing Arabella's pleased expression, Becky relaxed slightly. Maybe if Ms. Bourbon saw her grades were this good, she wouldn't abandon her.
Just then, a nurse arrived with the wheelchair. Alexander bent down and gently lifted Arabella in his arms. His embrace was broad and secure, carrying that familiar clean scent. Arabella's ears immediately turned red, her heart pounding. But the moment was too brief—Alexander quickly settled her into the wheelchair.
An inexplicable sense of loss washed over her. Arabella sighed quietly to herself.
The three of them left chatting and laughing, none of them sparing Molly another glance.
Molly stared at the backs of that family of three. Their happiness seemed to solidify into a tangible thing, transforming into a knife that stabbed viciously into her heart. Her eyes went bloodshot, consumed with jealousy.
She screamed hysterically, "Ms. Bourbon, you promised Ms. Ramsey you'd take good care of me! Can you face her now after this? You're just a hypocrite! A sanctimonious fraud!"