The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 141

Laila’s POV

“I don’t have any money,” I said “I’m sorry.”

I didn’t want Jessica or Hannah’s lives to be uprooted or altered in any way. I never had. That had always been why I worked so hard to keep the money going in, even as Victor’s greed grew and grew.

“If I had the money now, I would give it to you,” I told her. “But with Ava’s medical bills…”

“Why does everyone get to live a normal life but me?” Jessica asked. “How is it my fault? Why am I being punished?”

Hannah put her arm around her sister, as Jessica started to cry. To me, Hannah said, “We only just found out. She just needs some time.”

“I’m sorry,” I said again.

“Please leave me alone,” Jessica said. “Just go away.”

I didn’t know what to do, or what else to say, so I walked back to my original spot to thank the other donors. When Hannah and Jessica moved to the front of the line, I stepped back and away.

Jessica was glaring at me through her tears. Hannah was still holding her, occasionally sending my apologetic glances.

“What’s that all about?” Riley asked me as I joined her in a set of chairs farther away. It felt good to get off of my feet for a

minute.

“That is Jessica and Hannah Harper,” I told her.

Riley’s eyes went wider as her voice dropped to a low whisper. “Vanessa’s sisters?”

I nodded.

Riley looked back at them, then to me once more, after the sisters were led to the back rooms to be tested.

“Why was that one glaring at you?” Riley asked. “I thought they liked you.”

“They do, I think,” I said. “But… Jessica had to quit gymnastics because I can’t afford to keep up payments with Victor. I’m sure he’s turning her against me as punishment. She even said that if I married William, everything would be okay again.”

“She’s young,” Riley said. “We all say foolish things when we’re young.”

“Taking care of them is my responsibility,” I said. “It’s what Vanessa wanted. It’s what I should be doing. I feel like I’m failing them.”

“Missing a few gymnastics classes might feel like the end of the world to her right now, but she’ll get over it,” Riley said. ” Besides, when this is all over and you get back on track, she might be able to start again.”

“She’ll miss the tournament.”

“There will be other tournaments.” Riley placed a supportive hand on my shoulder. “You can’t take on the weight of the whole world. Life still happens. You can’t shield those girls from everything.”

I wanted to believe what Riley was saying, but I still felt the pang of guilt. I had already tried to shield the girls from so much, and for a lot of it, I had been successful. They hadn’t known much hardship, despite what Victor threatened. They were never hungry. They kept going to their school.

This was truly the first time that any of it had started slipping through the cracks.

Yet, even just this, filled me with guilt. I didn’t want to fail anyone hard I worked or fought, failure still seemed inevitable.

not Ava, the girls, or myself. But sometimes, despite how

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