Chapter 6 Family

• "Mom, I've registered for marriage, and the money will be transferred this afternoon."
• She mentioned the only thing Darcy cared about, and she watched as relief washed over her face. Nikita experienced a sensation akin to a needle piercing her heart.
• "As long as you've married the man you love, I'm at ease. Now sit; I'll get you some food."
• Carlos slammed his fork down and growled, "Marriage registration is a big deal. Why didn't you take your mom with you? Now you've got the marriage certificate, but the money hasn't arrived. What if the Wests change their mind at the last minute?"
• Darcy grew anxious upon hearing this.
• "Yeah, Nikita! That's not how you should've handled things. You should have gotten the money first before getting the certificate. You've got the order all wrong!"
• Nikita's heart grew cold. She took a deep breath to explain, but Carlos had already stood up.
• "Darcy, come with me to the Wests. Since the certificate is issued, there's no way they can delay the payment. If they dare to short you even a penny, you two will divorce immediately! I'd like to see if the Wests can still keep their family reputation."
• Nikita and Derek had been dating for three years and had visited each other's families.
• Carlos knew all about Derek's background, which is why he had the nerve to demand a whopping 100,000 dollars.
• He was sure the Wests could afford it.
• Darcy always followed Carlos's orders to the letter. Without hesitation, she untied her apron and was ready to leave the house.
• Nikita quickly grabbed her arm. She had endured enough humiliation today. These two were adding salt to her wounds.
• "Mom, Derek's family refused to pay. They said if I asked for money, we'd break up. So, I broke up with him."
• "What?"
• Carlos almost raised his hand to hit her, but Darcy intervened just in time.
• "What are you doing? How could you hit the child? Can't you just let her finish speaking?"
• "Speak! Let her explain! A family with such a good background, and she just walks away from them? And what about Simon's bailout? Is it over now?"
• Darcy's eyes turned red with frustration, and she was full of complaints.
• "Nikita, what's going on? Didn't you say you registered the marriage? Who did you marry? And how much money did you receive?"
• Nikita found it absurd as she observed the money-obsessed, greedy faces before her.
• She quickly regained her composure and recounted everything numbly as if it were someone else's story.
• "I met him on the street. He was willing to give 100,000 dollars, so I agreed to marry him."
• Sunlight poured through the windows, but she felt a chill rising from her feet. Nikita continued, "I have to go to work this afternoon. So, I need to pack my things and move out now. Once the money comes through, I'll transfer it to you right away."
• Carlos slammed his hand on the table.
• "No way! Why wait until the afternoon? Call him now and make him transfer the money! If he refuses, we'll sue him for marriage fraud!"
• Darcy chimed in immediately.
• "Exactly, Nikita! Who gets a marriage certificate but doesn't receive the money? Call him now! You're so impulsive about this marriage. What if he turns out to be a scammer? You'll leave us with nothing!"
• Nikita had thought that Darcy might at least be worried about her after learning she'd gotten married on a whim.
• However, her mother's only concern was the money she should have earned.
• Nikita let out a self-mocking smile.
• "I don't have his number. Let's just wait."
• She turned and went into the storage room, the only place in the house that she could call her own.
• When she closed the door behind her, the small space offered no sense of security.
• Outside, she could hear Carlos's furious yelling and Darcy's constant attempts to calm him down.
• Nikita didn't have many belongings; a single suitcase held the marks of more than ten years of her life.
• "Nikita, it's Mom. Open the door!"
• It hadn't been quiet for long before Darcy's voice came through the door again.
• Nikita hesitated for a moment but finally opened it.
• Darcy stood there with red, swollen eyes, and suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.
• "My poor Nikita. It's all because I'm useless that I dragged you down and suffered with me!"
• She sobbed uncontrollably. Nikita felt a lump in her throat, but no tears came.
• This wasn't the first time Darcy had apologized. When Simon's mistakes were blamed on her and Carlos had beaten and cursed her, Darcy had always come crying afterward, apologizing and pitying her.
• However, the next time Nikita was punished, Darcy would still hide and pretended not to see.
• "Mom, I wasn't lying. I really don't have his number. However, I do have his grandmother's number. If the money doesn't come in this afternoon, I'll call. You don't have to cry."