WantNovelChapter 469
She placed a hand over her chest, feeling the steady but heavy rhythm of her heartbeat. Then, reaching for her
phone, she made the call.
"Miss Sanders, I'm ready to tell you everything."
Mrs. Mendes sat in the dimly lit living room, the night sky outside shimmering with stars, the moon hanging high
and distant.
Across from her, Sarah and Melvin sat in silence, listening intently.
"The day my daughter died, after | left the police station, | met her at my doorstep. She toldshe would help
"Actually, | saw her that day. On the twentieth floor, in the stairwell. But | didn't say anything... After you two
cto see me, she showed up not long after. | don't know who she is, but I could tell she was someone rich.
Her clothes, the way she carried herself—any one piece of her outfit could probably pay for years of our living
expenses."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips before she continued.
"| couldn't hold back. | asked her outright. She toldto stop thinking about what happened that day. Just keep
insisting that you were the one who caused my daughter's death. That was all | had to do.
"And to make sure | agreed, she gavea million."
Sarah's eyes narrowed. "So that's why you refused to answer my questions? Just for that one million?"
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Mrs. Mendes nodded. "You people never have to worry about money. A million is nothing to you—it's barely worth
a few pieces of clothing. One of your sports cars probably costs several million. But for people like us, do you
have any idea what a million means?
"It means | don't have to wake up at dawn every day, breaking my back just to make ends meet. It means | don't
have to hesitate when my child gets sick, afraid to step into a hospital. It means | don't have to live in a
crumbling apartment, fearing every night that the walls might collapse on top of us.
"This money could buyand my son a stable future. So tellwhy wouldn't | take it?"
Even if Tina were still alive, working tirelessly for decades, she might never have earned a million in her lifetime.
Sarah understood. Melvin didn't say anything either.
A single tear slipped from the corner of Mrs. Mendes's eye.
Maybe she had taken the money, but at least now, she was choosing to do the right thing.
Sarah met her gaze and spoke slowly. "That one million might buy you and your son stability, but it won't bring
Tina peace. Can you truly live with that, Mrs. Mendes?"
Her eyes instinctively drifted to the framed black-and-white photo on the table. For the briefest moment, she
could have sworn Tina's eyes softened into a smile.
Her chest tightened.
"That's why | called you here," she murmured.
After a long pause, she reached behind her and pulled out an object, handing it to Sarah.
"This is Tina's phone. Maybe there's something useful in it. I've failed as a mother. I've made my decision-
tomorrow, I'm taking my son back to our hometown."
Melvin glanced at Sarah before
speaking. "Don't leave just Yen
have Sqesne ehudale and
pFotect you. Until this is all settled, it's
safer for you to stay here." The
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the latest chapter there!
Mrs. Mendes looked at them in confusion but eventually nodded.
As Sarah and Melvin stepped out of the rundown apartment, their expressions remained serious.
Once inside the car, Sarah recounted
everything she oEereure!
eenbanst Grbdihe past two
days, every detail she had observed.
"I'm certain-it was Vivian," she concluded.
"If it's her, this won't be easy," Melvin said gravely.
Sarah handed him Tina's phone. "Melvin, I'll leave this to you. | can't crack the passcode."
A weight of caution settled between them.
After days of running into dead ends,
they had finally fou ggmething
Spmeidgdteh hold the key to
the truth. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
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