Chapter 11 So Much Money

• “What are you up to?” Looking at Maverick's extended hand, Josephine furrowed her brows.
• “If divorce marked the end of my previous life chapter, then our reacquaintance signifies the beginning of the next.” Maverick didn't feel the slightest bit of embarrassment.
• All he felt was an overwhelming sense of heartache for the woman standing before him.
• “We're already divorced. What you're doing is pointless. Don't think you can deceive me with these tactics again. I've told you this. I won't trust you anymore!” Josephine walked up to the door. “Move aside. I need to go home now.”
• Maverick obediently stepped aside.
• Despair was the greatest sorrow. That saying was befitted Josephine's current state of mind.
• Maverick knew that with all the terrible things he had done in the past, it was impossible to expect Josephine to change her mind with just a few words.
• The anti-theft door swung open, and Sasha, who had been standing at the entrance, instinctively stepped back a few paces upon seeing Maverick. Her petite face was filled with alarm.
• Even though Maverick had been trying to cheer her up just moments ago, the psychological trauma he had inflicted upon her with his bouts of heavy drinking and losing money, followed by episodes of violent outbursts, was not something that Sasha could easily forget.
• “Sasha...” A pang of anguish gripped Maverick's heart, yet he could only smile gently and say, “There's no need to be scared. I won't go in. These are the snacks and toys I bought for you. It includes your favorite Princess Elsa. You can hold on to these for now, and if you want anything else in the future, just let me know. I'll buy it for you.”
• Sasha wore a conflicted expression, her gaze constantly shifting between the things in Maverick's hand and Josephine.
• It seemed she would only dare to receive the items with Josephine's consent.
• “Where did you get the money? Why did you buy all these things? Did you ask your parents for money again?” Josephine's expression turned even colder.
• Given Maverick's character, apart from asking his parents for money, Josephine couldn't think of anyone else who would be willing to lend him any.
• “Maverick, when will you finally grow up? Do you think it was easy for your parents to work themselves to the bone just to earn a little money? You've squandered all their money. What will your parents live on in their old age? Also, you haven't paid back the money you've borrowed from your relatives. Your parents were the ones who helped you borrow the money. You might not care about your reputation, but your parents still need to live with dignity!” Josephine bit her lip, her delicate body trembling with anger. “I'm begging you. Please act more maturely! My meager salary is barely enough to send Sasha to kindergarten. Can you please stop disturbing us?”
• Maverick didn't utter a word of rebuttal. He merely listened to her in silence, figuring that was perhaps the only way Josephine could vent her grievances.
• It wasn't until Josephine fell silent that Maverick finally spoke. “Josephine, I admit I was a jerk in the past. But I've changed now. I can earn money. If you don't believe me, just check out my digital wallet—”
• Josephine pointed downstairs and yelled, “No! I refuse! Leave. Hurry up and go. I don't want to see you. Leave right now!”
• “Josephine—”
• “Are you leaving or not? We're already divorced. If you don't leave, I'm calling the police!” Josephine shrieked.
• “All right, all right. I'm leaving, I'm leaving.” Maverick hurriedly waved his hand and began descending the stairs. Improving my relationship with Josephine isn't something that can be achieved in a short period. If I continue to pester her here, she will only despise me more.
• Truthfully, Maverick himself could hardly believe that the woman who once loved him so deeply could now harbor such disdain and hatred for him. I've brought this all upon myself.
• “Hold on!” Seemingly having recalled something, Josephine asked, “When I went to Howard Finance today, Mr. Lemmon tore up the IOU right in front of me. He even told me that our debts were settled. Why is that?”
• “I helped him make some money, and he's very grateful to me, so he decided to write off the debt,” Maverick said truthfully.
• “Ha!” Josephine sneered. Ever since his business venture failed, he's been coming up with lie after lie. At this point, he's so skilled at deceiving others that I can hardly tell if he's lying or not.
• “Do you really take me for a fool?” Josephine retorted. Howard is an affluent man. I can hardly say the same for Maverick. Yet, he's telling me he helped Howard make money? What a joke. It would've been more convincing if he had said it was the other way around.
• “I really don't want to hear any more of your nonsense,” she said. “When you have some free time, go and visit your parents. They've worked hard to raise you.”
• After Josephine finished speaking, she glanced at the various parcels on the ground. Seeing Sasha's look of anticipation, she hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to bring those items into the house.
• Bang!
• After the anti-theft door was shut, Maverick unexpectedly revealed a smile.
• The fact that Josephine had asked Sasha to call him to ask whether he had found a place to stay and hand over the items he had bought for their daughter was proof that their relationship could still be salvaged.
• “Josie, wait for me,” Maverick murmured before turning around and leaving.
• After Maverick left, Esther emerged from her home and knocked on Josephine's door.
• “What else do you want—” Josephine instinctively bellowed, but when she saw that it was Esther outside the door, she caught herself.
• “Mdm. Warren.” Josephine forced a smile.
• She genuinely held a deep respect and gratitude for Esther.
• Esther said, “Josie, let me tell you something. Maverick just returned the one thousand he had borrowed from me. Not only that, but he also brought me some canned food and milk. He was really polite, looking completely different from before. It seems he has truly changed.”
• After Josephine heard that, her expression changed.
• She hastily said, “Mdm. Warren, you're a good person, but you mustn't let Maverick fool you with his tricks. He's always used this tactic to borrow money from our relatives. Now, you're without a pension, relying solely on the savings you and Mr. Stone had saved. You really can't afford to lend him any more money.”
• After a moment of thought, Esther gripped Josephine's hand and said, “Josie, I know I shouldn't be advising you. After all, I know better than anyone what you've gone through these past few years. However, I've been through it all, and I trust my instincts. As long as you haven't fallen in love with someone else, even if it's for Sasha's sake, you should give him a chance to prove that he has turned over a new leaf, don't you think? Sasha is about to start school. She can't be without a father as that would make her the subject of ridicule among the other children.”
• Josephine shook her head. “Mdm. Warren, I understand what you're saying. Still, over the years, how many chances have I given him? He promised to change every time, but in a blink, he's back hanging out with those fair-weather friends of his. He can't change. He will never change!”
• As she spoke, Josephine couldn't help but break into tears again.
• Josephine never allowed herself to shed a tear in her parents' presence because she had made the choice to be with Maverick.
• Only when she was talking to Esther would she let down the guard that filled her heart with weariness.
• “All right, all right, my dear. Let's not cry anymore. I won't speak another word.” Esther embraced Josephine and continuously sighed inwardly. That rascal truly hurt Josephine too deeply!
• “Mdm. Warren, I've embarrassed myself in front of you again.” After crying for a while, Josephine recollected herself, bid farewell to Esther, and then returned home.
• “Mommy, look. It's money, so much money!” Sasha's muffled voice echoed.
• She had a fried chicken drumstick in one hand and a thick stack of money in the other.
• Josephine was momentarily taken aback before hurrying over to Sasha's side.
• She peered inside the bag containing the toys and saw nine more stacks of money within, just like the one Sasha was holding.
• The bag actually contained a whopping one hundred thousand in cash.
• Besides that, there was also a piece of paper.
• “Mommy, is this the money Daddy gave us?” asked Sasha.
• Josephine didn't respond. She picked up the piece of paper with trembling hands and recognized Maverick's unmistakable handwriting. He wrote: Josie, I earned this money through honest means, so you don't need to worry. Take some of it and pay back those relatives. Use the rest to take care of yourself and Sasha. Don't hesitate to spend the money. I was a jerk in the past, and I know that. I'm aware that a few words from me now can't possibly convince you to trust me again, nor can they erase the hardships you've endured over the past few years. However, I hope you can grant me a chance to make up for everything. The Maverick of the past is dead. From now on, you and Sasha will be the people I care about the most in this world. I'll never let you suffer even the slightest grievance again.
• Josephine's tears streamed down her cheeks, dampening the sheet of white paper.
• She felt an overwhelming urge to tear the paper into shreds, yet, in the end, she still delicately folded the paper and tucked it away into a drawer.