Chapter 24
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Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Clare bombarded Nadia with so many questions that Nadia did not know where to start.
Hearing these questions, Nadia realized how little she actually knew about James.
She knew he was a programmer, but she did not know which company he worked for. His annual salary was a mystery, and all she knew about was his rundown courtyard house. Daisy lived there too, and it crossed her mind that maybe the house was under Daisy’s name. Nadia wasn’t even sure if James bought their current home or rented it. However, she was certain about his Chevrolet Sail
Her interactions with James’s parents were limited. They had met once when they wanted to repay her for saving Daisy. offering her a check for 40 thousand dollars. After receiving the marriage license, they had not met again. As for other family members, aside from Daisy, she knew practically nothing.
Clare observed Nadia’s speechless expression with a furrowed brow.
“Nadia, this is just plain absurd. I mean, you actually got hitched to someone without even knowing a single thing about
him.”
She thought Nadia was being incredibly naive. Marrying a man with an entirely unknown background could be very dangerous. She could not believe that Nadia had not even considered these possibilities.
“You’re walking on thin ice here. Who knows if this person might be using you for some illegal activity, and you’re completely clueless.”
With that, she poked Nadia’s head with her finger.
“You’re seriously a bit too naive…”
“Alright, enough already. I’ll just ask him when I get back tonight.”
At the time, she had only been concerned about Iris’s surgery costs and had not had the leisure to think about all these questions. Besides, they had ended up getting the marriage license under unusual circumstances.
Clare put down her coffee and continued to ask, “I noticed you were so anxious on the phone yesterday. Is your grandma okay?”
“No worries. It’s all sorted out!”
Thinking about yesterday’s events, Nadia could not help but feel grateful to James. If he had not been there yesterday, she did not know what might have happened.
He had helped transfer Iris to another hospital room. Rebecca and Jim would not be able to find Iris so quickly.
“Good to hear. I heard your grandmother has cancer. Have you sorted out the medical expenses? Don’t be foolish and pay on your own again. Your grandmother shouldn’t only count on you and Elena. She has two sons and a daughter. You and Elena could help take care of her as granddaughters, but when it comes to money, go to your uncles, aunts, and your other
relatives!”
As someone who had little insight into Nadia’s family situation, Clare could not help but admire Nadia’s kindness.
This struck a nerve with Nadia, and she became irritated.
“They would never help my grandma. When my grandma got sick, my uncles didn’t even answer the phone. My cousin did pick up, but they assigned me and Elena to take care of Grandma.”
Nadia downed her coffee in one go and tossed the cup into the trash with a heavy thud.
“Elena and I were raised by Grandma since we were kids. Though my uncles don’t care, I can’t let Grandma suffer without getting medical treatment.”
“Your uncles can be really something else. They don’t even look after their own mother. There are truly heartless.”
Clare exclaimed indignantly but then grew concerned for Nadia.
“Don’t hesitate to ask me if you’re in trouble, Nadia. I’ve gotten over 20 thousand dollars to spare, and if you urgently need money, just take it.”
Saying this, Clare walked behind the counter, took out her wallet, and handed Nadia a bank card.
Clare’s parents were business owners, and their family conditions were relatively comfortable.
After graduating from college, Clare’s parents wanted her to take over the family business, but Clare did not want the same hardships her parents endured. She aimed to earn enough to support herself without the added pressure.
That was why she partnered with Nadia to open this flower shop shortly after graduating from college. Although the shop did not bring in big money, it was enough to provide for their basic needs.
Looking at Clare, Nadia’s eyes welled up with tears, and her voice choked as she spoke. “Thank you, Clare. But you can keep
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Chapter 24
the money. My grandmother’s medical expenses are already taken care of.”
She had been best friends with Rebecca for over 20 years, but in the end, Rebecca’s loyalty could not hold a candle to Clare’s, and Clare was someone she had only known for just a few years. It made her realize the difference between people. can be truly vast.
She could not accept Clare’s money. Nadia knew how hard Clare had worked for that money, earning through the flower shop over the past two years.
“Taken care of?” Clare looked surprised. Treating cancer was costly. Elena was just a homemaker. Clare knew Elena did not have much money. She could not fathom how Nadia managed to resolve the expenses.
During their leisure time, Nadia and Clare often gossiped about Elena’s family matters. She knew that Elena did not have a single penny to spare.
“My husband gave me 90 thousand dollars as the engagement gift, just enough for Grandma’s treatment.”
Hearing this, Clare jokingly remarked, “Nadia, is your husband a hidden billionaire, and you just don’t know it?
“You know those novels where the domineering CEOs hide their billionaire identities to test if their wives genuinely love them? Could your husband be one of those?”
Nadia tossed the bank card onto the counter in front of Clare and retorted, not very pleased, “I think you’ve been reading too many novels. I told you not to read novels on your phone, but you never listen. You’re always glued to your phone and reading as if there are billionaires left and right.”
“There do exist lots of billionaires. We’ve got some wealthy folks in Kingsley. Do you know who the wealthiest person in Kingsley is?”
Clare picked up the bank card and returned it to her bag, leaning in mysteriously.
“Who cares? It’s got nothing to do with us, regular folks.” Clare shook her head.
Her most important task now was to earn money quickly and repay James. She also needed to cure Iris’s illness as soon as possible and clear the debt. Then, she could divorce James and return to her previous single life.
By noon. Nadia had whipped up some sandwiches and a salad in the flower shop’s kitchen, serving it as a simple lunch for Clare and herself.
Just when they finished their meals, another wave of customers arrived at the shop.
These were mostly office workers who came during their lunch break to buy flowers. Nadia and Clare remained busy until the time passed eight in the evening.
Nadia just could not shake her worries about Iris at the hospital, so as soon as her work at the flower shop was done, she dashed straight to the hospital. When she arrived at the ward, Iris was sleeping. The caregiver had just finished helping Iris with her meal and was washing dishes.
The caregiver greeted Nadia and took Iris’s clothes to wash when she saw Nadia. Seeing how well Iris was being taken care of, Nadia finally felt at ease and went to find Kadin.
She had already informed Kadin before coming, and he was waiting for her in his office. As soon as she entered, Kadin poured her a cup of coffee.
“I know you like coffee, no milk, no sugar. I prepared it in advance for you.”
Nadia looked at Kadin appreciatively. “Thank you!”
She found it strange, though. She did not know how Kadin knew her preferences so well.
She took a sip of the coffee, put the cup on the nearby table, and found the taste to be exactly to her liking:
“Kadin, did you hire my grandma’s caregiver? I heard it costs 60 dollars a day, and a month’s commission was paid upfront. I came today to give you the money.”
She was ready to take the money out of her bag. It was the flower shop’s earnings from the past few days, all brought with her as Clare had instructed.
“You didn’t hire the caregiver?” Kadin placed his coffee cup down and looked at Nadia.
“I didn’t! If you didn’t hire her and I didn’t hire her, then who did?”
The more she thought about it, the more unsettling it seemed. She was worried that someone was trying to harm Iris.
Chapter 25