Chapter 452:
I couldn’t go out to work. If I didn’t work, I wouldn’t earn any money. How could I change this bad situation?
In the midst of my great pain, something else happened that pushed me into an even worse situation.
This morning, while I was sleeping, I washed my clothes and went to the narrow balcony to bask in the sun.
My house was on the second floor. The windows on the balcony were open, and I could hear the sounds from outside.
The building was old, narrow, and shabby. Those who could afford it had already bought new homes and left this place.
The remaining residents here were mostly at the bottom of the social hierarchy.
The people around here were poor and uninspiring.
Moreover, their views were very traditional. They looked down on women who gave birth without being married.
This was one of the reasons why my mother had been so angry before. They liked to gossip about others’ scandals and then spread those terrible stories, as though it was some form of entertainment. What they didn’t realize was that every word they said was like a sharp sword, cutting deep and hurting others.When I finished drying my clothes, I heard soft voices from outside the window. Although the sound wasn’t loud, those people were at the bottom of my building, and I could hear them clearly.
“Have you heard? Lauren Meyer’s eldest daughter came back with a child in her arms. She’s been living here for a while.”
The voice was unmistakable; it was Patricia, my neighbor. She was always talking about others.
“I’ve seen her a few times. When Lauren Meyer went to buy food, she said she was cooking for her daughter and granddaughter.”
Another voice joined in.
“Didn’t Bella get divorced? Why did she have a child again? When did she get married? I haven’t heard anything from her mother.”
I knew exactly who the third person was. They liked to gossip about others, and they found it highly entertaining.
Even though these people enjoyed talking about other people’s business, when it came to helping, they would still lend a hand. So, most of the time, no one paid too much attention to what they said.
I wasn’t planning to care, but I didn’t expect to overhear even more unpleasant words.
“I guess she must have had a baby before getting married!”
“Nonsense, how could that be? Lauren Meyer is terrified of losing face. She’d never let something like that happen. And now, she’s taking care of Bella and the child every day.”
“Why is it impossible? I live right across from her, and I’ve heard things. One day, I heard crying inside. When I listened more closely, I heard Bella apologizing to her mother. She was saying she had embarrassed Lauren Meyer. I bet it’s because of the baby.”
“Well, that makes sense. It’s been over two months since she came back with the child. Have you seen the child’s father even once?”
