The Ex-Wife He Can’t Have novel Chapter 51

After not seeing her for a few days, Mallory looked much more disheveled and haggard.

Daniel offered to help pay the rent, but she turned him down.

She argued that a tenfold rent increase completely defied market pricing, meaning the landlord wasn't just after money—he wanted to drive them out.

Even if they paid the rent this time, there would just be another excuse next time.

Watching her struggle, Jillian felt a pang of guilt.

"I'm so sorry, Mallory. I never expected things to escalate like this."

"It has nothing to do with you," Mallory consoled her. "I'm the one who cursed her out, and I'm the one who hit her. I should be the one to face the consequences."

"It's my own fault. I'm still as impulsive as ever. I haven't changed a bit," Mallory said, raising her glass with a bitter smile.

From the tone of her voice, Jillian could tell she wasn't just upset about this specific incident.

From the discussion between Mallory and Daniel, Jillian gathered that Mallory's family had never supported her dedication to charity work.

When she went to teach in underprivileged areas after college, her family assumed it was just a passing phase and that she would back down after experiencing a little hardship.

They never expected her to stick with it for this long.

So, now that she was facing financial pressure, her family refused to lift a finger to help.

Daniel had already made a donation, and Mallory knew she couldn't rely solely on him.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Jillian asked.

Mallory looked at her with hazy, drunken eyes. "Actually, I think there is."

Jillian listened intently.

"The lease hasn't officially expired yet, but when it does, the entire hospital will likely have to relocate. The kids who have already had their surgeries need to be moved out first. We haven't found a suitable place to take them in, so basically, the volunteers and caregivers are taking them home, one by one."

Jillian understood completely.

"I can help foster one. I'll take care of them at my place."

Jillian shook her head. "Curse him out all you want. I won't defend him."

Her vision still blurred from the alcohol, Mallory whispered conspiratorially, "Honestly, Jill, how did you even end up married to Killian?"

Jillian knew exactly what she meant. Despite being a terrible person, Killian's social status was utterly unreachable.

Given the massive disparity in their backgrounds, under normal circumstances, their paths would never have crossed in a lifetime—let alone led to marriage.

"It was an accident. I got pregnant with his child, and he thought I trapped him."

Mallory pursed her lips. "If you gave him a child, consider it an upgrade to his genetics."

They arrived at the children's hospital. Just as expected, the rent hike had thrown the entire facility into a state of panic.

Caregivers and volunteers could be seen frantically hauling boxes outside.

"We still have two months before the lease is officially up. We're moving out the non-essentials first to ensure the remaining kids can have their surgeries smoothly," Mallory explained.