Second Chance: Marrying into Wealth Chapter 169

Quinlan's dad, my grandma's youngest son, was the classic spoiled baby of the family. My uncle got pampered from the get-go, which turned him into a lazy, good-for-nothing bully.

He never took school seriously and spent his time hanging out with the local troublemakers, getting into all sorts of mischief. Even after he got married, he didn't change his ways.

My grandma, being the stubborn woman she was, insisted that my dad help him out. My dad managed to get him a pretty easy job, but instead of working hard, my uncle spent his time drinking and gambling with his shady friends.

When he lost money gambling, my grandma even tried to get my dad to lend him money to pay off his debts. My dad refused. Eventually, my uncle resorted to stealing materials from the factory where he worked and even tried to sell Quinlan. When the factory discovered the theft, they called the cops.

The police not only found out about the theft but also discovered that Quinlan had been sold. My uncle was arrested and sent to prison for multiple offenses.

While my uncle was in prison, our family took care of his family as best we could, but he never changed.

Even after he was released, he didn't show any gratitude. Instead, he resented my dad for not helping him. He manipulated my grandma into asking my dad for money. When my dad realized what was happening and stopped giving my grandma extra money, my uncle lied that she was sick. That time, her fake illness almost became real.

My dad was completely disheartened and gave my uncle a severe beating, warning him to stay away. My uncle was so scared that he finally settled down and stopped asking my dad for money. They pretty much cut off contact after that.

Years later, when my parents passed away, my long-lost uncle and aunt showed up, pretending to care about me. I was in deep grief at the time and didn't know the full extent of what my uncle had done. Their concern felt like a comfort, and I was somewhat moved.

It was around this time that I got a secret phone call from Quinlan.

That was when I learned that my uncle and aunt weren't there out of concern for me but to get their hands on my parents' inheritance.

Lawrence was with me at the time. He was after my family's wealth and wasn't about to let anyone else, especially a blood relative, get in the way. I didn't know what he did, but he managed to drive my uncle's family away, and they hadn't dared to come back since.

I had to admit, sometimes it took a villain to deal with another villain. Lawrence was ruthless, and I doubted he used any kind methods to deal with my uncle.

After that, Lawrence was the only person left in my life. Having lost my parents and been betrayed by family, he was the only lifeline I had. This was one of the reasons I became so dependent on and trusting of him.

Because I was grateful to Quinlan for her warning, I kept in touch with her. We would occasionally talk on the phone.

Through these conversations, I learned about her situation.

Her dad, who always favored boys over girls, wanted her to start working right after middle school and eventually get married to bring in money for the family. If it weren't for her good grades and the support of her teachers and school leaders, she wouldn't have been able to continue her education. She excelled in her studies and got into a top university.

After graduation, she landed a job at a Fortune 500 company. But her greedy parents exploited her even more, demanding that she transfer her entire salary to them every month. They didn't care how she would survive without her income.

Quinlan, having been educated, was no longer the submissive girl she once was. She learned to resist, sending only a small portion of her salary home and saving the rest.

But her parents were relentless. They showed up at her workplace, causing such a scene that she lost her job. This happened more than once.

She threatened to cut ties with them, but they refused. Every time she got a new job, they found her and caused trouble, forcing her to change jobs repeatedly.

Quinlan had no stable life or social connections and couldn't confide in anyone about her struggles. She had to endure it all silently.

It turned out, some parents really didn't love their children. I often thought of her and couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Quinlan sighed deeply. "Who knows," she said bitterly. "It's probably only a matter of time before they find me again."

She looked at me with a hint of envy but quickly composed herself. She stood up and paid her respects to my parents' memorial.

"Your parents were nothing like mine," she said. "I've come to realize that my parents only see me as a money-making tool. They don't love me at all."

"Don't think too much about it," I said, pulling her back to the couch. "You've done nothing wrong. Things will get better for you."

I was curious about her current situation. Since she had come to me, I guessed she needed help with something.

Knowing her, she wouldn't have come unless she had no other choice. I was also concerned about where she was staying in Starlight City.

"Where are you living now?" I asked.

"I'm renting a small studio on the top floor," she replied.

She hesitated before continuing, "Melinda, I actually came to ask for a favor."

"Tell me," I said. "If I can help, I will."

"Our magazine recently launched a weekly feature on Starlight City celebrities," she explained. "The person originally assigned to this task had a falling out with the editor-in-chief and quit. She had planned the whole thing and had the connections to make it happen. But now that she's gone, the responsibility has fallen on me. This would have been a great opportunity, but it's turned into a huge problem for me."

Knowing Quinlan's determination, I figured she would have tried to interview people one by one if she had to.

Sure enough, she continued, "I don't mind doing the legwork, but the problem is that the clients she lined up have all refused to be interviewed by our magazine now."

It seemed like she was caught in the middle of a power struggle. Quinlan had become a casualty.