Chapter 7 Homeless

• The expression on Darcy's face softened instantly.
• She wiped away her tears and pulled Nikita to sit down on the simple bed.
• "Nikita, tell me. What kind of person is he? What does he do for living?"
• Looking at the gentle expression on Darcy's face, Nikita felt a mix of sourness and warmth in her heart.
• Suddenly, an image of Theo, tall and shielding her from the wind, flashed through her mind.
• "He's a decent guy; he has a car and a house. Life won't be too difficult with him."
• Darcy's eyes lit up.
• "Nikita, is the house his? Where is it located?"
• Darcy worked as a real estate agent, so Nikita assumed she was just in her 'work mode' and didn't hide anything from her mother.
• "Kingsbury's Golden Residence."
• "Golden Residence? The average price is over a hundred thousand per unit. He's quite well-off then. Now that you're legally married to him, Nikita, you have the right to know about his assets prior to the marriage. Once a man has money, his mind starts to wander. After marriage, you must keep a good hold of things; don't end up like me—always under someone's thumb, got it?"
• Nikita couldn't tell if her mother truly cared, but she mumbled an acknowledgment, not bothering to argue.
• Now that Darcy knew the man came from a decent family, her mood improved significantly. She took a few more glances over the marriage certificate before handing it back to Nikita.
• Darcy added, "Once the money arrives this afternoon, we'll bail Simon out. After that, you should invite him over for dinner. We're all family now, and it's time to get acquainted. Simon's school is in Kingsbury. Carlos and I were worried it would be too far from home. But now it's perfect. If Simon doesn't like living in the dorms, he can stay with you. His brother-in-law has a car, so commuting won't be an issue."
• "Mom, there's no way I'm letting Simon stay with me!" Nikita interrupted Darcy's fantasy, her tone unusually firm. "Besides, he's on a business trip and won't be able to make it."
• There it was—Nikita had known all along. Her mother wasn't truly concerned about her life; she just wanted to solidify this marriage to benefit Simon.
• As for the borrowed money, she'd pay it back herself. It was the price for her freedom from this hell, and she didn't need anyone else to carry that burden.
• However, she would never allow the Fosters to control the rest of her life again.
• If that was the case, what was the point of getting married?
• Darcy's expression darkened, but she didn't lash out.
• "Fine, fine! You've grown up, and now that you're married, I can't tell you what to do anymore! After all these years of hardship, all I get now is resentment." She wiped at her eyes and walked away with a heavy sigh.
• Nikita felt as though a heavy weight pressed down on her chest.
• Clenching her fists tightly after years of compromise, Nikita knew she couldn't back down anymore.
• She grabbed her suitcase and was ready to leave this oppressive home. However, Carlos blocked her in the living room.
• "It's past noon now, so technically it's afternoon. You should call him and ask him to send the money over. I won't let you leave until we settle this.
• Nikita's expression tensed up. Years of beatings and scoldings left her unable to control the tremor of fear in her body.
• Instinctively, she glanced at Darcy, who was peeking out from the bedroom but quickly pulling her head back. There wasn't a trace of hope left in her heart.
• She couldn't help but laugh at herself. What had she been expecting?
• It was humiliating, but she pulled out her phone to call Dorothy.
• Before the call even connected, her phone pinged with a bank notification.
• The money had arrived—100,000 dollars, not a penny more, not a penny less.
• When Darcy heard the money had come through, she immediately perked up. Darcy emerged from the room with an old, slightly worn blue hairpin in hand.
• "Nikita, I don't have much to give for your wedding. I received this as a gift from your grandmother when I got married. Take it and live a good life with him!"
• A good life?
• Nikita's eyes reddened again, but she didn't take the so-called wedding gift. After all, she hadn't even had a wedding. Why would she need a piece of worn jewelry from her elder?
• From now on, she was a woman without a home. Nikita lowered her head and was overwhelmed with sadness.