Chapter 244
During dinner, Emily didn’t talk, and Charlie felt even more awkward. So he tried to make conversation, “Do you like Lego?”
Emily whispered, “I only have this one Lego. It was a birthday gift from my dad when I was ten.”
Back then, her dad hadn’t started gambling yet, and he had just been promoted to head chef at a hotel, doubling his salary. He bought her the Lego she had always wanted for her birthday.
That year, they also moved into a new house – their whole family was the envy of neighbors and relatives.
But today, their house has been sold, and their family torn apart.
All because of gambling, Emily had never hated anything so much in her life!
Charlie said, “So your dad was pretty good to you. How did he end up like this?”
Emily looked sad and said slowly, “My mom told me that a chef in the hotel kitchen was jealous of my dad becoming the head chef, and deliberately introduced him to gambling. They set him up to win, and my dad won a lot of money in just a few days. But eventually, he got in too deep and couldn’t control himself anymore.”
Charlie nodded, “So your dad was a chef. No wonder you have a talent for cooking!”
Emily gave a bitter smile. When she was young, her father was her hero, but now, he was no longer the man he used to be.
A father’s love is a belief, and when that belief slowly collapses, nobody knows how painful and disappointing the process is.
Charlie continued, “Your dad just took a wrong turn. He’ll come to his senses in the future.”
Tears filled Emily’s eyes, but she didn’t dare to look up. Instead, she whispered, “Thank you.”
He didn’t look down on her, instead he comforted her. Emily was very grateful.
After dinner, as she tidied up the kitchen and returned to her room, she saw the broken castle put back together and sitting perfectly on her bed, along with a few treasured photo albums.
Emily had always worked to pay for her own tuition and contributed the rest to her family. But they still didn’t leave her with any backup plan.
And her father… how could he scam money from Charlie without thinking that Emily would have to pay it back?
How could a student who hadn’t even graduated yet be able to pay back $100,000?
Estelle really didn’t know what to say about such a father.
“Just stay here at Charlie’s place without worrying about anything,” Estelle assured her. “You don’t need to rush to pay him back either. Don’t overwork yourself, your health is the most important.”
With tears in her eyes, Emily smiled and said, “I always believed that as long as I worked hard, everything would get better. I still believe that!”
Estelle nodded, “Yes, things will get better!”
She had experienced dark times in her life, but now she was doing better. She believed that Emily could, too!

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
The last updates were on September 6, 2026. Almost a month now, may we please have updates. Thank you....
Yes, hoping for updates as soon as possible....
I hope that our wonderful author is well and in good health so she can fulfill our wish for this story to have a wondeful ending....
Hello admin, please update the novel...
Still no updates? I was off the radar for a few weeks, expected at least 100 chapters would have been updated by now. Sigh, it is a disappointment...
I hope all is well with you and your family. Please continue to give us updates. I'm still curious to see how Carson wins Marina back, they're the last couple to formally commit from Jonathan and Estelle group....
What happened? Please let's finish the story and get back to Estelle, Jonathan and their baby....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
Kindly update the novels...
Please update...