The Villainess Needs a Hug (Ivy Windsor) novel Chapter 914

Katrina asked, "What happened next?"

"In that same crash, Dale's sister-in-law was severely injured. Since they were at fault, the insurance payout was minimal. His family was instantly buried in debt."

"That is tragic..."

"And then there's Dale's younger sister. She met some guy from out of town while working at a factory. Against the Windsor family's objections, she insisted on marrying him. The marriage was a nightmare. He was physically abusive. Eventually, Dale and his brother had to drive down to the guy's house and threaten him to force a divorce. She moved back home with her kid, and now Dale's parents are raising the child while she works a minimum-wage job, barely making a few hundred bucks a month."

Hearing this, both Ivy and Katrina instantly understood the gravity of the situation.

"No wonder Dale is still single despite having such a great career. Any woman with half a brain would run for the hills before marrying into that kind of mess," Ivy realized.

Katrina agreed. "Exactly. His siblings' lives are a disaster. Not only is he financially supporting his brother and sister, but he'll most likely bear the full burden of his parents' retirement and medical bills."

"Exactly. His high income doesn't mean anything when his family bleeds him dry," Sophia said, her gaze drifting blankly to the floor.

Ivy's voice softened. "And tech engineers face massive burnout and layoffs once they hit thirty-five. If he doesn't have a solid nest egg, there's zero security for the future."

Sophia's smile turned even more hollow. "What nest egg? He bought a house last year and drained everything he had for the down payment. Between his mortgage and funding his family's emergencies, he lives paycheck to paycheck."

Katrina shook her head firmly. "That's a hard no. Even if he's the greatest guy in the world, you can't let your heart override your head. His family is a black hole. If you get with him, you'll be sacrificing your entire future."

"I know. That's why, even though I really like him, I can't take that step. He knows his baggage is too heavy, so he keeps his distance too. But I can feel that he..."

Sophia didn't finish the sentence, but Ivy and Katrina knew exactly what she meant.

If the gap was too wide, they didn't even have the luxury of falling in love.

"Anyway, today is a day for celebrating! Let's not talk about depressing things," Sophia said, quickly forcing a bright smile to lift the mood. "Don't worry about me. Love isn't a necessity nowadays anyway. My café brand is finally taking off, and I'm planning to open a second location next year. I just want to focus on my career and build my empire."

Katrina looked at her with an encouraging nod. "Focusing on your career is great! And hey, once you're successful enough—if you still like him and he's still waiting around—I actually have an idea."

Sophia looked curious. "What idea?"

Katrina was a regular at Sophia's café. Over time, they had grown close, sharing drinks and life updates.

"Don't you have a sister? Why doesn't he just join your family instead? I know it's not the traditional route, but extreme situations call for extreme measures. If he moves in, takes your lead, and the kids take your last name, you can set strict boundaries. He can offer his family basic help, but no emotional blackmail, and your finances stay protected."