Chapter 56 Find a Good Man
Half an hour later, Marlee woke up. Quinley had been keeping watch beside her.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hidden this from you." Quinley apologized.
She'd waded too deep into these murky waters—getting out unscathed wouldn't be easy. She didn't want to drag her family down, but her opponents were ruthless, and she couldn't defend against everything.
Marlee's eyes were red as she stared at Quinley with fury. Suddenly, she raised her hand and slapped Quinley hard across the face. In all her years, this was the first time Marlee had ever hit her.
Quinley didn't dodge or cry out in pain.
"Quinny, you've disappointed us so much." Marlee's voice trembled as she scolded her.
Quinley kept her eyes downcast and said nothing. She'd always shared good news but never bad news. Three years ago when she signed that contract with Sylvia, she only told Marlee she'd found a good employer.
Marlee had no idea how Colin had cheated death, and Quinley never explained. She hadn't even told Marlee that Colin had received a kidney transplant. Marlee simply thought Quinley was lucky and capable.
When Quinley left Apex Global Group, she didn't tell her family. When she became an account manager, she said even less. Colin was a respected teacher, and Marlee had enjoyed a lifetime of honor because of that—they couldn't accept Quinley's apparent fall from grace.
"How could you do something so shameless? What did your father always teach you? Quinny, you're humiliating us both. How can we face people after this?" Marlee's questions came one after another.
Quinley couldn't answer. When she'd made these decisions, she hadn't thought about all this.
"Mom, I'm sorry." She could only apologize repeatedly.
Marlee was furious. She got down from the bed, left Quinley behind, and returned to Colin's room.
"Colin, we're not continuing treatment. Her money is dirty—we're going home!" In her anger, Marlee reached to pull out the IV needle from Colin's arm, insisting they leave immediately.
Quinley hurried in to stop her, but Marlee wouldn't listen. "Your money is filthy. Your father and I won't take it." Marlee cried as she shouted.
The most hurtful wounds come from the sword in the hands of those you care about most. Marlee cried, and Colin's eyes reddened too. Only Quinley stood there without shedding a single tear.
"Mom, sit down. I have something to say." Quinley stood up and locked the hospital room door. She pulled over a chair and sat down, opening her phone to show her bank account statements—money flowing out like water every single day.
"I'm sorry. I've hidden many things from you both. Dad didn't have ordinary kidney disease—he had kidney failure in both kidneys. Without a transplant, he would have died. For those three years, I was someone's mistress. The money isn't dirty—I earned it through my own efforts. I just wanted Dad to live."
"Denny owed three million. I emptied everything I had, but still couldn't fill that hole. I became an account manager—not what you think. I earned money with my own skills because I wanted to save my brother's life."
"I'm not your biological daughter, but you raised me with love. You're the people I care about most in this world. For you, I could give up everything."
Quinley's words exploded like bombs in Marlee's heart, one after another. She broke down sobbing and pulled Quinley into her arms. "Quinny, why didn't you tell us anything?"
Marlee held Quinley tight, crying and crying. What would telling them have accomplished? Just added to everyone's pain?
Quinley gently patted Marlee's back. "Mom, I'm fine. The money I earned isn't dirty."
On the hospital bed, Colin opened his mouth. He couldn't speak, but tears streamed down his face. Quinley wiped away his tears and forced a smile. "Dad, focus on getting better. Your good fortune is still ahead of you!"
Colin nodded, his face covered with saliva, mucus, and tears. At the doorway, a thin figure flashed by. Quinley didn't notice.
Deep in the night, all was quiet. Colin and Marlee were both asleep, but Quinley couldn't sleep. Too many things had happened recently, one after another, link after link. She was exhausted from dealing with it all.
She went downstairs to buy coffee and took the elevator, forgetting to press the floor button. Before she knew it, she'd reached the roof. So Quinley took her coffee and went to the rooftop.
The rooftop was empty and deserted. She found a quiet spot to sit down. In the distance was the city's bustle—neon lights flashing, bright lights everywhere—the worldly atmosphere she both craved and wanted to escape. Further away were the stars and sea, the shining Milky Way—the divine and sacred that remained beyond her reach.
Quinley sipped her coffee—iced americano, no sugar. The bitter taste lingered on her tongue, slowly spreading into her heart.
"Is that you?" She was looking up, searching for the morning star, when a voice suddenly came from behind her.
Quinley turned to see David approaching with his own cup of coffee.
"Dr. Brown, you still haven't finished work?" Quinley asked.
"Poor me has to work the night shift." David complained, stretching out his long legs and plopping down right next to Quinley.
She shifted aside, creating distance between them. David chuckled softly through his nose.
Quinley's need for personal space was unsolvable. He didn't press closer, taking a big gulp of coffee and setting the cup on the ground. He leaned casually against the railing and asked out of nowhere, "Are you tired?"
He'd heard everything said in the hospital room that evening.
Quinley hugged her knees, still gazing into the distance. "Tired." She let out a soft breath as she answered.
How could anyone living in this mundane world, driven by desire, not be tired?
"Find someone to marry." David's thought process was peculiar. He turned his head to look at Quinley as he spoke.
"Who would want me?" Quinley joked. Given her current situation, who would want her?
"There are always good men out there. Having someone to share the burden would mean you wouldn't have to be so tired."
But finding that good man wasn't so easy.
"Dr. Brown, we'll talk about it when I find that good man." The night wind was a bit cool. Quinley picked up her coffee and stood to leave.
With people you don't know well, it's not appropriate to speak too deeply, especially at night. She'd only taken two steps when David pushed himself up with one hand.
"What do you think of me? I don't claim to be a good man, but I'm definitely not a bad one. If you're willing to marry me, financial security is basic, and protecting you is my responsibility. You can work if you want to, or stay home if you don't. I promise you—with me, no one will dare bully you or your family."
David's gaze was intense, his devilish eyes like the dark night. He stood with one hand casually in his pocket, staring at Quinley's back, waiting for her response.
Quinley was shocked. She hadn't expected David to make such a joke. She had to admit, the bait he'd thrown out was tempting.
But Quinley was no longer a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl. She didn't believe in men's promises, and she wouldn't grab just any man as a lifeline because of temporary difficulties.
"Dr. Brown, thanks." This time, David didn't make wisecracks.
He called after Quinley's retreating figure, "Stop having foolish fantasies about Zachary. You're from two different worlds—he's not right for you."
He's not right, but you are?
Quinley laughed softly and shrugged at David. "But your shoulders aren't broad enough."