Jamie frowned. "Aren't you getting it backwards? Haven't you been the ones pushing us into a corner all this time?"

The woman stiffened and retorted sharply, "That's because we have no choice but to protect ourselves."

Perhaps she had been holding her son too tightly, because the boy squirmed and mumbled, "Mom, you're hurting me."

The woman quickly loosened her grip, her face flushed with guilt. "I'm sorry, Hugo."

The boy rubbed her arm gently and replied in his soft, sweet voice, "It's okay, Mommy. I forgive you."

Her son's reassurance seemed to calm her nerves.

Seizing the moment, Jamie said, "I think there's a misunderstanding between us."

"What misunderstanding? Are you going to deny that Mrs. Lopez ended up in the hospital because of you? You people, with your wealth and power, could crush us with no effort," the woman sneered. So it came down to this, just as Jamie had anticipated.

Fortunately, she was prepared. Before leaving the hospital, she had obtained Mrs. Lopez's medical report.

jump to conclusions," Jamie said,

the papers but

arms. The boy's

like some?" Jamie asked

to give to someone else," Hugo said quickly, shaking his head. But his gaze remained fixed on the treats. Children from

Don't worry, there's more where that came from." "Really?" Hugo's eyes lit up as he turned to his mother

no, but seeing her son's hopeful expression,

district, most families lived frugally. Even gifts had to be rationed and saved for special occasions, sometimes redistributed at the end of the year. Spending on

endure this lifestyle, but for Fiona, watching her child go without always came with a pang of guilt. Hugo, now reassured, happily began unwrapping the milk carton. His innocent joy brought a faint smile to Jamie's

didn't respond, her emotions a mixture of

compensation wouldn't be so bad," Jamie continued. "Even if it's not enough to buy a new home outright, the

talk. Nothing but lies," Fiona

do you know it's a lie if you've never tried? And

who was more educated than her husband, glanced reluctantly at the report. She couldn't

about who's been stirring the pot. Who stands to gain from keeping

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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