Chapter 400
Chapter 399 Beth’s Story
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The waiting was unbearable, but if Beth wanted to tell a story, Natalie was ready to listen.
Beth drew in a long breath. “He and I grew up together. He always protected me, always stood up for me whenever anyone bullied me. I thought we’d spend our whole lives together. But the year of the SATs, his scores were poor. I wanted to repeat the year with him, and he agreed. But when the time came, he suddenly ran away from home.”
Her eyes lowered, dimming with the memory.
“That night, he said he wanted me. I thought, he’s hurt by failing, and I truly wanted a future with him, so I gave myself to him. The next morning he was gone. Just a note–he said he was going out into the world, and wouldn’t come back until he made something of himself. He promised me a grand wedding, to marry me before everyone. He told me to wait.”
Beth’s lips curved in a smile, but her tears betrayed her.
“Then I got pregnant. My parents refused to let me keep the child. They wanted me to end it. But I couldn’t. I believed he would come back. It was our child–I couldn’t decide alone. My parents kicked me out, cut ties with me, said I’d shamed them.”
She clenched her clothes tight, her voice trembling.
“I worked wherever I could, carried the baby, and finally gave birth. He was beautiful. But when he was a year old, he fell, started bleeding uncontrollably. The doctors said it was leukemia. Treatment would cost more money than I could dream of.” This content belongs to.net
Natalie’s chest tightened as she listened.
Beth’s voice dropped lower. “When I was at my lowest, he called. Said he had a good job now, said he could give me a future. Told me to meet him at an address. I was overjoyed. I wanted to tell him he had a son, that our boy needed treatment. But before I could, he hung up. The phone was off every time after.”
Her tears slipped free.
“I thought he was my angel. I carried my son, traveled all that way. When I finally saw him, he already had another woman. And then–he sold me. He sold me and our son.”
Beth let out a hollow laugh.
Natalie’s stomach twisted. “He knew the boy was his?”
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13:02 Thu, Oct 9
Chapter 399 Beth’s Story
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“He knew,” Beth spat. “But he said plenty of women would bear his children. He didn’t want a sickly son. He needed money for an ‘investment.‘ He said if I really loved him, I’d let him sell me and the child so he could make a comeback. That’s when I realized the truth. I had thrown away my parents, my whole life, for a man who wasn’t worth a dime. And by then, it was too late.”
Her hand shook as she lit another cigarette, dragging smoke into her lungs.
Natalie hated the smell, but she said nothing. She knew Beth needed something–anything- to keep herself steady.
After a few drags, Beth exhaled slowly. “The one who bought us was the boss of this ship. I’ve been here three years now. They control my son’s treatment–never curing him, just keeping him alive to hold me hostage. I refused to sell my body, so I’ve been stuck at the very bottom. I only know Kasen. I’ve never met anyone higher. I don’t even know who the boss is. If not for my son’s illness worsening, I wouldn’t have agreed to take this job at all.”
Natalie’s eyes widened. “You can take jobs by choice? If you don’t… can you survive here? Are there other roles on this ship?”
Beth blinked, a little surprised by her sharpness.
Then she nodded.
“Yes. The ship is huge. Even at the bottom, there are options. Some work as dealers in the casinos here. It’s dirty work, but at least you don’t have to watch women like you being sold. But the pay isn’t nearly as good as jobs like mine.”
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