Laura couldn’t help but feel touched by how her family quietly looked out for her. They never made a big deal of it, but she could see it in the little things they did. And then there was Jesse. He was always behind the scenes, helping her out in ways she never asked for. He’d hooked up her family’s factory with new business, building up their reputation and bringing in more money. As the factory got busier and its name got out there, her own status as the Charles family’s daughter naturally rose too.
Jesse did all of this just for her, never asking for thanks or trying to show off. He never mentioned it, not even once. If Linda and the others hadn’t let it slip, Laura probably would have stayed in the dark. Her family, once they learned the truth, began thinking about how to pay Jesse back for everything he’d done. They only accepted his help after making sure he was serious about her, that he wanted to marry her for real. If things didn’t work out in the end, they were ready to return the favor and thank him properly.
“Mom, he’s so amazing, and I’m just... ordinary. I really don’t know what he could possibly see in me,” Laura said, her voice uncertain.
“I’m just this small-time web writer. Sure, I make some money from my stories, but compared to someone like him, it’s nothing. Even my little investments with Isabella have brought in some returns, but I still can’t hold a candle to him. I don’t even have Isabella’s huge ambition, dreaming of becoming some billionaire boss lady. Honestly, I’m just happy with what I have.”
She genuinely enjoyed her simple, peaceful days. She didn’t have the drive to chase after more. The career she’d built and the money she earned felt like plenty to her.
Writing was still part of her life, but now that she had other sources of income, it was finally something she could do for fun instead of worrying about the numbers. Back then, if her books didn’t do well, she’d have to cut them short, sometimes after writing hundreds of thousands of words. It could mean working for nothing, not even making enough to cover her rent. The pressure was intense when writing was her only job.
Her dad and brother had tried to get her to join the family factory, to learn the ropes and help out. She always said no. She wanted to make it on her own, and honestly, she just loved writing too much. If she went a day without making up stories, she’d feel restless.

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