In the afternoon, when she came downstairs, the boy’s mother had already changed into the cleaner’s clothes and was cleaning the hotel lobby.
Seeing Estelle coming, the boy’s mother quickly approached her and said, “Good afternoon, Miss Hudson.”
Estelle handed the list to her and said, “This is the list of all the welfare houses in Hadale for your reference.”
The boy’s mother said gratefully, “Miss Hudson, thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. I asked my boss for help, and he sent me the list,” Estelle said.
“Miss Hudson, your boss and you are both good people. Generally, good things happen to good people,” The boy’s mother smiled.
Estelle smiled back and said, “I hope so.”
Not far away, the hotel’s assistant manager saw them and shouted discontentedly, “Hey, what are you doing? Don’t let me see you slack anymore, or I’ll deduct your salary!”
The boy’s mother was startled. She quickly put away the paper and timidly said, “Miss Hudson, I have to work now. It took me a lot of effort to find this part-time job. I can’t lose it.”
Estelle sighed and nodded, “Go ahead. Is your son waiting for you at the gate?”
“Yes. The assistant manager doesn’t allow Henry to come in. He can only wait for me at the gate.”
It was autumn, and the cold wind was strong outside. Henry only wore a thin coat and was huddling at the gate because of the cold, looking very pitiful.
Seeing him, Estelle suddenly thought of Yohan and couldn’t help but feel sad.
“I’ll bring him in,” she said to Henry’s mother, leaving the hotel.
Henry was squatting there alone at the hotel gate, cupping his chin and murmuring.
Estelle couldn’t hear clearly what he was murmuring and walked toward him.
“Auntie!” Seeing Estelle, Henry ran to her excitedly.
Estelle caressed his soft hair and took his little hand, saying, “Let’s go inside.”
Henry was a little scared and stood still. “But there is a fierce man inside. He doesn’t allow me to enter the hotel.”
Estelle said gently, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you. Let’s go.”
Henry was still a little worried. But thinking that he could see his mother after entering the hotel, he followed Estelle into the hotel. He took every step carefully for fear of making too much noise.
However, when seeing him, the assistant manager frowned and came to drive him away again. “Hey, boy. Didn’t I say that you can’t enter the hotel just now? Why did you come in again? Get out!”
Henry was frightened, hid behind Estelle, and said with fear, “Auntie, I’d better go out...”
Estelle held him tightly, looked up at the assistant manager, and asked, “Why don’t you let him in?”
“He’s just the son of a cleaner, not the guest of a hotel. Of course, I can’t let him in,” The assistant manager said and glanced at her in disdain. “You’re here to apply for a part-time job? We don’t need more cleaners. Get out!”
As he spoke, he raised his hand to push Estelle.
Estelle dodged his hand and said coldly, “You mean the guests here can bring their children in, right?”
“Yes. We won’t let the children of our guests suffer from hunger and cold. Our hotel is an international chain hotel and is famous for providing the best service for our guests,” The assistant manager indignantly replied.
Estelle smirked, “Good. I’m the hotel’s guest, and this boy is my child. So he has the right to stay in the hotel.”
The assistant manager sneered and said, “You are a guest here? Do you know how much a room in our hotel costs for a night?”
“I don’t know.”
“Let me tell you. Even the monthly salary of the cleaner is not enough to pay for the cheapest room in our hotel. This is a high-end hotel. Look at your shabby clothes. How is it possible a person dressed up like this can afford to live here? Get out of here now,” The assistant manager said arrogantly, pushing Estelle hard.
And he happened to touch the incision on her chest.
Feeling the sharp pain in her chest, Estelle squatted on the ground slowly with a pale face.
Seeing this, Henry was so scared that he almost cried.
“Auntie, are you okay?” he asked worriedly.
Then he asked the assistant manager, “How could you push her so rudely?”
Hearing this, the assistant manager frowned and said with doubt, “I didn’t use much strength. Does it hurt so much?”
Estelle closed her eyes in pain, hoping the sharp pain could be relieved soon.
“Oh, I see! You brought this kid here on purpose to blackmail me, right? Humph. Nowadays, the blackmailers are more and more cunning. Miss, why do you have to earn a living in this way? I’ll count to three. If you still don’t leave, I’ll ask the security guards to drive you out.”
Henry looked at Estelle and said in a sobbing voice, “Auntie, are you hurt? I... I’ll go and wait outside obediently. I won’t come in anymore.”
Estelle shook her head with a pale face and said, “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“Auntie...”
Estelle held Henry’s hand and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you. I’ll protect you and won’t let anyone bully you.”
Seeing this, the assistant manager showed a worse attitude and called the security guards, “Get these shameless blackmailers out! Don’t let them show up here again!”
The next moment, several strong security guards in black rushed over and were about to pull Estelle and Henry.
Henry held Estelle tightly and cried, “Please don’t pull her. She is ill, and she doesn’t feel well. Let her rest for a while, and we will go out later. Please...”
“Stop pretending. I just pushed her gently and didn’t hurt her at all. Don’t you think that you can blackmail me!” The assistant manager snarled. Then he ordered the security guards, “Get them out of here right now!”
“Stop it!” At this moment, a man wearing a suit and looking noble rushed into the hotel hurriedly and said in a flustered voice. “Stop it! Don’t touch her!”
The assistant manager nodded and bowed as soon as he saw the man. “Mr. Steffan, what can I do for you?”
Holding the sofa’s armrest, the man called Mr. Steffan was out of breath and said, “You... Apologise to this lady now.”
“Apologise to her?” The assistant manager was stunned. “Mr. Steffan, this woman and her son want to blackmail us! Why should I apologise to her?”
“Because she is our boss’s future wife! Do you understand?”
After hearing this, the assistant manager was astonished and stared at Estelle in disbelief. “Are you sure? She just said she was just a guest at our hotel.”
“I live in Room 1231,” Estelle said in a soft and weak voice.
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