Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 35

Estelle’s smile vanished, and she asked seriously. “What’s going on?”

Emily hesitated, trying to control her emotions, and then slowly began to explain, “My dad is a gambler. He’s been gambling since I was little and hasn’t stopped until now. A month ago, he didn’t come home. But half a month ago, he came back and told us he owed someone 300,000 dollars and had to sell the house. My mom. refused to give up the house no matter what. Finally, yesterday those people took my brother away Now my mom and I are desperately trying to sell the house to raise money. They said they want to get the money by tonight or we’ll never see my brother again.”

Estelle frowned, “Did you call the police?”

Emily sounded exhausted and helpless, “My mom doesn’t dare to call the police and she won’t let me call either!”

“What about your dad?”

“He ran away!” Unable to hold back any longer, Emily burst into tears.

“Don’t cry!” Estelle said calmly, “Don’t be in a hurry to sell the house. If you sell it, where will you and your mom.

live?”

“I’ve been working part-time while studying, and I’ve saved 20 or 30 thousand, but it’s still not enough. Our relatives are afraid of my dad’s borrowing, so nobody trusts us or is willing to lend us money.”

Estelle could never have anticipated that behind Emily’s perpetually optimistic facade, lay a fractured family. She knew all too well that not all individuals deserving of the title “parent” truly lived up to it.

“Emily, please don’t sell the house,” Estelle said calmly, her voice laced with determination. “I’ll find a way to help.”

“You’re just a student too, what can you do? You don’t have to worry about it. Our house may be old, but it’s still worth something.” Emily didn’t want to trouble others with her problems, so she hadn’t reached out to Estelle, even in her desperation. It was only today when Estelle called that she couldn’t control herself.

“Don’t you know I work for the Lamont family? I can borrow money from them,” Estelle said.

“Really?” Emily was shocked.

Estelle tried to sound casual, “Yeah, 300,000 dollars is nothing to the Lamont family. It’s easy to borrow.”

Emily responded quickly, his voice filled with determination. “Then please help me borrow the money. I’ll give them an IOU, and I promise I’ll repay it without fail!”

“Don’t worry about that now. Do you know where your dad usually gambles?” Estelle asked.

Emily said, “I do. I’ve even been there before and had a big fight with

my dad.”

This was Emily’s first time in a place like this. Seeing men and women cuddling in the halls, she was too nervous to open her eyes.

“Don’t be afraid.” Estelle said, gripping Emily’s hand firmly.

Emily nodded, feeling a sense of reassurance in Estelle’s presence.

As they opened the door to their room, a cacophony of loud music and the pungent odor of alcohol overwhelmed them. Inside, people were singing, drinking, and the room was filled with a chaotic blend of laughter.

Seemingly oblivious to the two newcomers, the partygoers carried on with their revelry, paying no mind to their

entrance.

Emily’s hand was trembling slightly in Estelle’s grasp, and she felt an urge to leave.

Estelle kicked the door with her foot, making a loud bang, and finally, the people in the room stopped their noisy activities; except for a few drunk ones, who kept swaying unconsciously.