Chapter 141


    Hearing this, Sherilyn fell silent.


    Joyce seemed a bit miffed. “You didn’t tell me about such a big deal! If I hadn’t pried it out of


    William, were you nning to keep it from me forever?”


    “I…” Sherilyn was clearly embarrassed, “I’m sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose.”


    “You did it on purpose!” Joyce saw right through her. It had to be about money–certainly not


    enough–but she wouldn’t ask for help.


    Puffing up in annoyance, Joyce said, “Sherilyn, do you even consider me a friend?”


    “Of course, I do.” Sherilyn rushed to exin, “It’s precisely because you’re a friend that I couldn’t


    ask.”


    True friendships are as delicate as water, and since they met, Joyce had already helped her so


    much. She couldn’t shamelessly keep taking.


    “Joy, I owe you too much.”


    “Hey… for Jenna’s sake, what’s there to fear in owing one more time?” Joyce sighed, “The surgery


    costs $50,000, and if you don’t borrow from me… where else could you possibly get that much?”


    At those words, Sherilyn’s eyes welled up with tears, the dam breaking anew. “Joy, I don’t know


    how… how to thank you.”


    “Don’t rush.” Joyce grinned, carefree as ever. “We’ve got a lifetime ahead, take it slow.”


    She continued, “I called to put your mind at ease. Don’t worry about the surgery costs; you’ve


    got me.”


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Sherilyn choked up with emotion, struggling to say, “Joy, thank you.”


    Some favors can’t be repaid with just words, and for Sherilyn, she owed Joyce big time!


    Joyce’s own voice wavered a bit, “Hehe, alright then. I’ve said what I needed to, it’ste over there,


    you should get some sleep?”


    “Yeah.”


    “Oh, and…” Joyce caught her just before she could hang up, her voice softening, “Sherilyn, happy


    birthday.”


    “Yeah, thank you.”


    The moment the call ended, Sherilyn broke down in tears. The evening’s bustling birthday party


    paled inparison to the warmth she felt from her child and friend’s birthday wishes. Now, things


    were looking up. Though ashamed to lean so heavily on Joyce, Jenna’s surgery


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    expenses were settled, and they could look forward to being reunited after the operation!


    The next day, Sherilyn woke upte. Not seeing Gilbert around, she breathed a sigh of relief. After


    last night, regardless of his intentions–whether calcted or simply a moment of madness–she


    didn’t want to see him anymore.


    At breakfast, Sherilyn asked the housekeeper, Cara. “Cara, where’s Sylvia?”


    “Thedy just left for a follow–up appointment not too long ago.”


    A follow–up? Sherilyn furrowed her brows. She had intended to say that she had stayed with the


    Johnson family for a few days now and it was time to leave, but it just so happened that Sylvia


    wasn’t home.


    She had to head to the studioter, then to Neon Nights Bar for rehearsal in the afternoon, and


    perform there in the evening. It seemed she would have to stay with the Johnson family for one


    more night; it would be too rude to leave without saying goodbye to the elder.


    After breakfast and a quick tidy–up, Sherilyn headed out. It was a non–stop day, all the way to her


    evening performance at Neon Nights Bar.


    Fortunately, Gilbert didn’t show up tonight. After Sherilyn took off her makeup and changed


    Wclothes, she left the Neon Nights Bar.


    “Sherilyn!”


    Across the street, by a silver Pagani, Edgar stood in a crisp suit, smiling and waving at her. How did


    he get here?


    Edgar jogged over, crossing the street to reach Sherilyn. “Are you done with work? Let me drive you


    home.”


    “Well…” Sherilyn hesitated, “No need, I’ll just take a cab.”