"Uncle, if you say that, I'll be too ashad." My cousin said. "If my mom takes this money, won't the neighbors poke fun at us? My mom was confused for a mont. We can't accept this money. We're family. If others find out, won't they laugh at us?"
"And have you forgotten, when my parents were working outside when I was a child, I stayed at your house until I was ten. You always gave the best food and toys first while William, Macy, and Ray could only watch."
My cousin looked ashad, his eyes red. "It can be said that you made up for the lack of parental love in my childhood. We absolutely cannot accept this money."
My dad sighed, and my mom's eyes welled up with tears as she sniffled. "We're family. There's no need to be so formal. Co, let's sit and talk. Macy, go make so coffee!"
I was deeply moved. My cousin was a person who rembered kindness. Just the fact that he brought his family over to apologize tonight and said those words, any anger I had dissipated.
I said to him, "Tommy, please sit down."
"William, I'm sorry!"
He bowed to . "Today is Ray's graduation celebration. You bought a new car and brought your girlfriend. It's a triple celebration, but my mom ssed it up. Please don't be mad."
I quickly went to support him. "It's all in the past. After a good night's sleep, everything will be forgotten. Don't worry about it. Every family has its conflicts. The key is to resolve them."
"Thank you!"
Then, my uncle also stepped forward and said, "You know, I'm not good with words. Actually, I've seen everything you've done over the years. It's all my fault for being too weak, letting my wife bully you."
My aunt stood by, not daring to say a word.
"Don't say anything more. Whatever happened in the past, let's leave it there. Today's matter is settled."
My dad waved his hand and pulled him to sit down. They talked about the past, from childhood to when our grandparents passed away and we grew up. The bond between the two brothers was still strong, and both were moved to tears.
At so point, Ray woke up and leaned against the door fra, quietly listening to their conversation.
My uncle's family eventually left, leaving the money behind. But the rift between the families was gone, even though my aunt never spoke a word.
My cousin said he wanted to visit our aunt's house, as we only have one aunt.
"Actually, your uncle has his difficulties," my dad explained. "Back then, your aunt's family was well-off. Marrying into our family was considered marrying down. Without your aunt's family's support, your uncle's family wouldn't be doing so well now."
I thought for a mont, then took the $10,000 from the car and split it into two. "Ray, this $5,000 is yours. Now that we have money at ho, feel free to use it. There is no need to be too frugal!"
"Macy, this $5,000 is your college startup fund. Others have it when they go to college, and you shouldn't be lacking."
"William, this is too much. I usually earn enough through part-ti work. This money..."
"Just take it. Use it for whatever you need. Buy food, drinks, watch movies, get clothes and makeup. Do what soone your age should do."
I patted her head. "Other people's sisters are treasures, and so are mine!"
"Thank you, William!"
She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and smiled happily.
"William, then I'll take it. When I start working in the future, I will definitely pay you back!" Ray said confidently.
My parents were also pleased. Although our family used to be warm, it always felt like sothing was missing. Now, nothing was lacking.
"William, now that you have a company, you need money everywhere. Take this for ergencies."
"Mom, I have plenty of inco now. Besides, this money is my gift to you."
"William, you started a company?"
Macy said. "Can I intern at your company next sester?"
"Of course!"
I nodded. Ti flew, and Macy was about to enter her senior year. In soone else's company, she might be mistreated and bullied, but in my company, no one would dare to bully her.
"I have two companies now. One is a dance training company, currently managed by Lucy, and the other is a dia company. You can choose which one you want to go to, and I'll arrange it for you."
"Wow, William, you actually have two companies!"
Macy looked at admiringly, and Ray also joined in. "William, does this an you're a big boss now?"
I chuckled. "Not exactly a big boss, more like a small one!"
"Can I help out at your company during sumr and winter breaks?"
"Sure, but let's start from the basics!"
"Okay!"
That night, lying in bed, I checked my phone and saw a bunch of ssages.
Holly:
* "Mr. Maine, I've finalized the collaboration. The contract is in your email!"
Her work reports were always so concise, but I was excited. We had secured deals with the radio, newspaper, and TV channels—all major traditional dia outlets.
I didn't know what to say.
I replied: "Great, that's fantastic! Wait for tomorrow morning!"
WY dia Company's channels were set up, and we could officially start operations. The progress was far beyond my expectations.
Lillian Allen:
* "William, we'll et tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock. Rember!"
lody Wilson:
* "The weather is nice today. Would you like to go for a walk by the seaside?"
* "William, are you playing hide and seek again? (Angry)"
* The most recent ssage was sent at three in the afternoon. "Fine. If you're ignoring , I'll go with soone else!"
Below was a photo of her in a one-piece swimsuit at the beach.
I was instantly furious. 'Who did she go with?' I thought. I hadn't had ti to check my phone all day today.
I replied: "I went back to my hotown today to deal with so things and just finished. I wasn't ignoring you on purpose!"
After waiting for a while without a reply from her, I admit I started to worry. 'Is she at the beach with another man right now? She wouldn't, right?' Even though I knew her, won could be impulsive, and it was normal for emotions to override reason.
Just then, she sent a voice ssage. I quickly played it, and a series of gasps and muffled sounds filled the air. The voice was hers, a mix of pleasure and a strange, unfamiliar distress. My mind went blank. My heart pounded against my ribs. It felt like a hand was squeezing it fiercely, a wave of intense, nauseating pain washing over . The unmistakable sounds of intimacy, shalessly sent to . My vision blurred.
"lody, we're done!"
With trembling hands, I sent the ssage and deleted her contact.
I forced myself to calm down and lit a cigarette, the anger in my heart growing stronger. I smoked half a pack before the anger subsided slightly.
Just then, a friend request popped up on my phone: "William, I was just joking with you. Please add back!"
"William, I'm sorry. I really didn't do anything to betray you."
Looking at the ssages from lody, I sneered. If she had the guts to send that, why didn't she have the guts to admit it?
I replied: "Do you think I'm a fool? Do you think I'll believe you?"
"Accept my friend request. Let's video chat. I really didn't deceive you!"
'Video chat? To see you being intimate with another man and then humiliate again?' I thought. Honestly, lody was indeed capable of doing such a thing. If she had any decency, she wouldn't have taken advantage of for a year.
"No need. Whoever you're with has nothing to do with . Let's leave it at that!"
After replying to the ssage, I waited a while before opening the ssage from Tatiana Camille: "Rember to pick up at 7 in the morning!"
I replied: "I'm in my hotown in the countryside. I won't be there that early. You'll have to drive yourself."
It was best not to make any decisions when angry, and I definitely shouldn't take it out on others.
Tatiana seed to sense sothing off about . "Why did you go back to your hotown?"
"There are so family matters. I needed to take care of so things."
"Are you in a bad mood?"
"No, it's getting late. Get so rest!"
Just as I sent the ssage, a video call popped up from Tatiana.
I really wasn't in the mood to answer the call, even though Macy and Ray were sleeping upstairs and were unlikely to hear it.
I hung up the call. "My family is resting. It's not convenient to answer."
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