He Does Not Deserve My Devotion-Chapter 26: Failure to Raise Money

Nina Walsh didn’t believe it. She wouldn’t believe it even if it killed her.

’Mom isn’t that kind of person. How could Mom possibly be like that?’

Brian Sherman’s face twisted with menace. "If you dare breathe a word of this, I’ll make sure you and your mother are utterly ruined!"

In the end, Nina Walsh left the Sheridan Family home without a single cent, her spirit completely crushed.

The moment the door closed, Wendy Sherman eagerly asked, "Dad, is it true? Is Nina Walsh’s mom really...?"

Brian Sherman didn’t answer, retorting instead, "What did you mean just now about the bastard in Nina Walsh’s belly?"

Wendy Sherman ran to Brian Sherman, as if looking for praise. "Dad, don’t worry about any tricks Nina might have. I know one of her secrets. She’s pregnant and has been secretly taking progesterone supplements. I don’t know which bastard got her pregnant, but she’s probably just like her mother—a slut who sleeps around."

Hearing this, Brian Sherman immediately guessed who the father was. He knew better than anyone who Nina Walsh had been with for the past two years.

"Wendy, keep Nina Walsh’s pregnancy a secret for now. Don’t tell anyone. I have other plans."

...

By the time she left the Sheridan Family’s home, it was nearly evening. The setting sun stretched Nina Walsh’s shadow long behind her.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess, Brian Sherman’s words echoing relentlessly in her mind.

She didn’t believe her mother could be that kind of person. But if not, why had her mother handed over the Walsh Family’s assets all those years ago? Why had she let Brian Sherman suppress her to the point where she couldn’t even find a job?

Her mother was no pushover, nor was she someone who was afraid of trouble.

She remembered when she was in middle school and had transferred to a new school. A boy in her class bullied her repeatedly. Telling the school administration did no good because the boy was the principal’s own son.

When her mother found out, she stormed into the school without a second thought and beat up the principal’s son in front of everyone. Afterward, she and Nina were called into the principal’s office.

The principal threatened her mother, saying he would have Nina Walsh expelled and ensure she’d never attend school again unless they both knelt and apologized to the boy, and also paid ten times the amount of his medical bills.

Just when she thought they were in deep trouble, her mother pulled a phone out of her pocket that had been recording the entire time.

In the end, that principal was fired, the boy transferred, and no one at school ever dared to bully her again.

’So why would a mother who wasn’t afraid of power bow to Brian Sherman back then? Could he really have had some kind of leverage on her?’

’Impossible. I trust my mother’s character.’

Nina Walsh shook her head, trying to clear the chaotic thoughts from her mind. Right now, she had to focus on solving the problem of the three-million-plus debt.

She couldn’t get any money from the Sheridan Family, so now her only option was to shamelessly go and beg the Grant Family.

Just as she was thinking this, a car pulled up beside her. The window rolled down, and Mrs. Grant, sitting in the back seat, looked over at her.

The car had been following her silently ever since she left the Sheridan Family’s home.

Mrs. Grant took Nina Walsh to an elegant teahouse. The atmosphere was quiet and serene, offering excellent privacy.

"You know why I’ve come to find you, don’t you?" Mrs. Grant asked slowly after taking a sip of tea.

Nina Walsh nodded. "Aunt Grant, don’t worry. Second Brother Grant isn’t going to marry me. He just doesn’t want to get married so soon, so he’s using me as a cover."

"Nina Walsh!" Mrs. Grant said her name, her tone tinged with impatience.

"I want you to stay away from Declan. We agreed on this before, and you promised."

Nina Walsh lowered her head. Mrs. Grant took a plane ticket and a check from her purse. "This is a ticket to Yalara for tonight. And three million."

Hearing the words "three million," Nina Walsh’s ears perked up. She desperately wanted to agree, to take the money and solve her urgent problem.

But if Second Brother Grant found out she had traded their friendship for three million, he would be devastated.

Nina Walsh pushed the check and the ticket back to Mrs. Grant, who looked at her with displeasure.

"Aunt Grant, please don’t worry. Second Brother Grant and I are just friends, and that’s all we’ll ever be. I promise you I won’t pursue a closer relationship with him, because I already have someone I love."

...

Night had completely fallen. The car lights flowed like a river, but there was no light in Nina Walsh’s heart.

The path to the Grant Family was also a dead end. With less than sixteen hours left, where was she supposed to raise the money? What had she done wrong? Couldn’t Heaven grant her even a single day of peace?

Nina Walsh felt a pang of regret. Maybe she should have accepted Mrs. Grant’s three million.

Unwilling to spend money on a taxi, Nina Walsh took the bus back to Michelle Quinn’s small apartment. The moment she got off, she rushed to a trash can on the roadside and vomited uncontrollably. She was a pathetic sight, looking at a glance like a drunkard sleeping off a hangover.

She gently placed her hand on her lower abdomen. Just then, she felt a slight flutter under her palm, as if the baby in her belly was giving her a high-five.

Nina Walsh froze. All her other emotions vanished as she focused every bit of her awareness on her palm.

A baby less than two months old couldn’t possibly have quickening. But Nina Walsh stubbornly believed this was her baby responding to her.

A jolt of encouragement shot through Nina Walsh, and her steps felt much lighter on the way home.

Downstairs from the apartment building, Aiden Sinclair suddenly appeared, blocking her path.

Nina Walsh stopped. They stood face to face, only an arm’s length apart.

Aiden Sinclair didn’t speak. ’Will Nina ask for my help?’ he wondered.

But Nina Walsh just glanced at him, turned to the side, and walked past.

Aiden Sinclair turned and caught up with her, holding out a check he’d taken from his pocket.

"What’s this for?"

"It’s like I said before. If you need money, you can come to me anytime."

Nina Walsh reached out and took the check. Six million.

’Aiden Sinclair is giving me six million, double the three million from before. How generous. Doesn’t he want me to kneel and apologize to his sweetheart anymore?’

A slow, mocking smile crept up one corner of Nina Walsh’s mouth. She gripped the check with both hands, and with a RIP, tore it in half.

"Mr. Sinclair, done playing the villain and now you’re trying out for the hero role? If you love acting so much, go put on a show with your girlfriend. Stop disgusting me with the sight of you!"

Nina Walsh raised her hand and threw the torn pieces of the check in Aiden Sinclair’s face, then walked into the apartment building without a backward glance.

...

"Lemon, you’re finally back! I called you, but you didn’t answer. I was worried sick!"

The door flew open and Michelle Quinn rushed out, pulling Nina Walsh inside.

"How did it go? Did you get the money?"

Nina Walsh shook her head. "I didn’t get it."

Michelle Quinn sighed. "If there’s really no other way, I’ll sell my small apartment to pay off your debt first."

"No way. It took you more than ten years of hard work to save up for this place."

More than ten years was no exaggeration. Michelle Quinn was an orphan who grew up crammed into an orphanage with dozens of other children. Her lifelong dream was to have her own home. She started working odd jobs at fourteen, pinching every penny, and had finally, with great difficulty, bought this small apartment.

"Even if we sold it, it wouldn’t be in time. Don’t worry, there are still more than a dozen hours until noon tomorrow. I’ll go see another relative tomorrow. She can help me."

After saying this, Nina Walsh got up, washed her face, and quickly went to bed. Michelle Quinn, still worried, went to check on her. Nina was sleeping soundly and peacefully, showing no signs of distress.

After checking on Nina, Michelle Quinn hid in the bathroom to call Declan Grant, but his phone had been off since that morning.

Michelle Quinn put down her phone. Though she had never been religious, for the first time ever, she clasped her hands together in front of her chest and prayed to the heavens:

"I’m willing to be a vegetarian for the rest of my life and never harm another living thing. I just pray to heaven to protect Nina, help her get through this crisis safely, and let her give birth to a healthy baby."