Dumping 47
The cop shot them a dirty look. "The Police Commissioner is throwing Chief Parker in the slammer for an investigation. And you two, you ain't going anywhere either." He jabbed his finger at Sophie and Dylan, making them turn white with fear.
Sophie blurted out, "Why should we stay? We haven't done anything wrong"
"Causing trouble and unlawfully occupying someone else's house, Just based on this, you two could end up doing several years behind bars." The cop laid it out plain and simple
Hearing that, Dylan glanced over at Sharon in disbelief, his face draining of color, thinking. She called the Commissioner? And they took down Chief Parker that fast? No freaking way! Isn't she supposed to be out on her own! I thought her family had zero pull
Dylan, being a local, knew that Erlan was not born and bred in this place. After having lived here for decades. Ethan was still an outsider
The cop ignored Dylan's thoughts, signaling for cuffs. Sophie made a break but got pulled back. Soon, the Police Commissioner's crew arrived and whisked them away,
The cop came up to Sharon and Ethan, saying sorry. "We knew you were clean, but the Chief... You know how it is out here in the sticks."
"Got it" Sharon knew he meant well but couldn't do much, so she didn't kick up a fuss.
The cop polarely walked Sharon and Ethan out, then swung by later to make sure the rest of the Evans family cleared out by morning.
As Sophie and Dylan got hauled off, Harper, left behind with her son, bawled her eyes out, hurling curses as she packed up
"We should thank Alanna this time. Without her, who knows how much crap we'd be in. After all, it's my fault for letting you suffer, Ethan murmured, feeling guilty for failing to protect his daughter Being a quiet man, admitting self-blame showed just how heavy the quilt weighed on him.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
Sharon took Ethan's hand and said, "Dad, I'm not a kid anymore. I can handle myself. But you can't go waving knives around. It's scary.
In her memory, Ethan had never pulled a stunt like that before.
Ethan remained silent, the guilt hanging heavy on him these days, wondering if his own weakness had let the Stanley family walk all over his daughter.
Sophie and Dylan got out the next day, looking disheveled. They not only blew securing the house but also dragged Chief Parker into it, who happened to be Sophie's niece's husband.
Early in the morning. Sophie's niece showed up in tears, begging Sophie to help get Chief Parker out Sophie had no pull like that. In the end, she scared her niece off with a good tongue-bashing.
The Evans family moved back to their old rundown shack after losing the big house. Being lazy, Sophie and Dylan didn't bother fixing it up much, so while others built big homes, theirs stayed bare, just one cramped room for four people.
Bright and early. Sophie's grandson was in tears, saying he hated being there. They used to live large in Ethan's place, but now back in their old spot, it felt like a dump. And it wasn't just the kid; Dylan and his wife were also in a sour mood.
What was worse, heavy rain started pouring early in the morning, and the leaky house drove Harper to angrily leave for her parents' place with her son. Dylan, in a fit of rage, smashed what little furniture they had before storming out. Finally, only Sophie remained, sighing heavily,
She regretted not treating Sharon and Ethan better, thinking it might've avoided this mess. And also the resented the Cress family for snatching away a house they clearly didn't need.
"Rich people are always heartless and ruthless," Sophie mused.
The more she thought, the worse she felt, tears streaming down her face.
After a while, Sophie remembered her daughter living an affluent life, despite their strained relationship. It had been almost twenty years since she last visited, but her granddaughter had stayed for a while. Thinking about her granddaughter perked Sophie up. She dug through her stuff and grabbed a phone book, filled with her own chicken scratch. After a bit of hunting, the found the number she wanted and dialed it in a flashu
"Hello!" Soon, a clear voice came from the other end
Sophie took a quick breath and replied, "Hey, Tilda, it's Grandma"
"Mm," Tilda responded, unenthusiastic. No excitement for her grandma there,
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Clupter 47
Eager to vent, Sophie brushed off Tikla's attitude. "Tikla, Grandma got bullied"
"What happened?" Sophie getting bullied was news to Tilda, surprising her.
Sophie quickly recounted what happened.
After hearing the story, Tilda got it right away. "Grandma, you moved into someone cle's house and tried to boot them out. They were just protecting their legal rights. Why get all worked up?"
Tilda knew her grandma like the back of her hand who was lazy, always looking for shortcuts. So, it wasn't exactly shocking her grandma pulled such a shameless move.
"Sorry, Crandina, I can't help, Tilda said, eyeing her nails, growing impatient. If Sophie wasn't family, she'd have hung up by now,
Tilda's rejection hit Sophie hard. Tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably.
"Tilda. I'm gening old, and I'm nearly homeless. Your mom's not helping, and I'm stuck. Maybe you don't care, but how can you talk like this? Sophie cried, struggling to speak through her sobs, tears pouring our endlessly.
She continued, "It's all Sharon's fault. She got dumped, moved back with a freeloader, and ruined everything Ethan's place would've been ours if she hadn't shown up broke. I just want us to live better." Though Tilda didn't hang up, she wasn't really tuned in. It wasn't until she heard Sharon's name that she snapped to attention, startled.
"Who did you say? Tilda momentarily thought she misheard.
Sophie repeated. "Ethan, and his daughter, Sharon"
Tilda didn't mishear. "Which Sharont she instinctively asked
"Who else could it be? The one who used to sit out in the yard, belting our tunes with those two big braids. You even asked me about her name, remember!"
Years ago, Tilda stayed at Sophie's place for a while, but she didn't remember much Hearing Sharon's name made her heart race, unsure if it was the same person she knew.
"Tell me what she looks like, and then I'll decide if I can help. Tilda said.
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