Tobias exhaled a cloud of smoke and said, “Since all of you want the truth, I'll tell you this—the demolition will not go ahead as planned. Not all crying children get candy. Whatever ruckus you cause won't change my decision. I'm sorry about your mother. I'm a representative of Ford Group, and I will compensate you on behalf of Skylar. All I ask is that you keep the monetary compensation a secret. You know this has nothing to do with Skylar.”
They would be satisfied with the figure Tobias suggested although it paled in comparison to the profits they would gain from the demolition.
Their hearts ached. Ximena had given her life for something so trivial.
Miranda breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Tobias could come to Skylar's aid and save her from being the scapegoat once more.
Anger and resentment bubbled up inside Miranda every time she remembered what Eva had said.
How could she be so thickheaded for an intellectual? I've told myself so many times that Eva is Skylar's cousin and a good person who would never betray her.
Skylar silently bowed to Ximena's photo before leaving, her eyes red and teary.
She grew up here and had seen many old neighbors move away or pass away. She remembered how it used to be rowdy downstairs. The old men would gather around the poplar tree to play chess while the old women played cards. After dinner, they would talk and take a walk around the neighborhood.
But now it was quiet, and the faces were unfamiliar.
Skylar went home and took a shower to wash off the nauseating stench of smoke clinging to her hair and clothes.
She couldn't figure out why she was particularly sensitive to the smell of smoke and couldn't stand it when Tobias smoked. She could always smell it on him no matter how faint it was.
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