Nora lowered her head. She could understand Serina. It was no easy thing to be a single mother.
“I’m tied up with two kids, so I can’t spend much time on writing. And sometimes, I have to prepare more chapters to feed the sales demand. Most of my books have to wait until several months to be published, and I have to wait another one month to get the royalties!”
“Serina, I know.”
“Then why did you want to wrap it up? Nora, I haven’t been paid until nearly the fifth month. Please let me continue at least for a few more months, okay? Well, Cherry’s disease cost me an arm and a leg. Do you want to watch my kids and I starve to die?”
Serina was good at nothing but writing and earned a living from it. If Nora shut it down, she would become jobless.
“Serina, I want to help, but I can really do nothing. Our website went through a huge crisis, and we don’t want it again. We shouldn’t have made a noise at that time, and we didn’t expect many people to report the website. So, we must be cautious with the new website!”
Serina gave a patient sigh. She heard about the website breakdown. Due to heavy investment, the new website was built for nearly a few million.
“Fine, I’ll tweak a little bit and end the story. But I don’t have an income for the next few months! I can’t do that. If I write a new book, I need time to create a story. Do you mind if you put my books on the recommended list?” Serina begged a favor of Nora.
She needed money. Although she made a small profit as a spokesperson, it was far from enough for her daily expenses.
Serina wasn’t going to make it with that money.
Nora seemed embarrassed.
“Nora, are you going to take down all my books?”
Nora smiled awkwardly, “That’s what I’ve told you to do. We have to lie low until the wind blows over. Your books will be republished at that time.”
“You are leading me off a cliff!” Serina shouted.
“Serina…”
“Nora, I spent a lot of effort to gain popularity. If I change my pen name now, I will start from scratch. You know, we count on these followers. I think you know better than me what this whole thing means!”
Anger spewed up in Serina.
Nora kept silent because it was her boss’s order.
“There are too many non-fiction writers, too few resources. It’s just a matter of time before I get kicked out. I’ve taken a great risk to change the pen name, and now you’re going to take down my books? What the hell do you want?”
“Serina, think on the good side. Maybe this time is different. Relax! Now you should focus on ending the story. I will try my best to help you with the other books.”
Nora was a deputy editor, but she didn’t have much power.
Serina didn’t want to make things difficult for her.
“Alright, let’s call it a day.”
“Serina, I’ll leave first. I’ll think hard when I get back.”
Serina nodded in response.
Nora left.
Derek’s return was kept low-profile. Only a front-page headline mentioned this.
It might be better if it didn’t spread out. Otherwise, people might suspect that Derek was trying to rekindle an old affair.
Serina let out a long sigh. ‘This was all just bad luck!’
Her money could get them through a while, but it wasn’t a long-term plan.
It seemed that she needed to make some preparations.
Serina washed her face in the bathroom before returning to the ward. As she entered, she saw Derek!
There were two stuffed giraffe toys of different sizes in the room. Cherry was sitting on the big one with Derek’s support.
A few small giraffe decorations were hanging around the big toy’s neck.
Serina and Cherry saw the giraffe toy in the mall before, but it was expensive and not practical. No matter how much Cherry loved it, Serina wouldn’t put it in the house.
“Daddy, this big giraffe is you, and the little one is Mommy. This one is me, and that one is Blueberry.”
Cherry murmured as she pointed at the decorations on the toy.
“Daddy, there’s another one left! Who is this giraffe?”
“This one is your brother,” Derek looked at Cherry with a smile.
“Brother? But we don’t have a brother!” Cherry blinked innocently.
“You will have,” Derek smiled faintly.
The kid didn’t understand what it meant, but Serina did. But Serina shouldn’t lose her temper in front of the kids.
She cleared her throat and caught everyone’s attention.
“Oh, you’re back,” Derek was the first to speak.
“Why are you here? Aren’t you busy?”
“I have to see my daughter, right, Cherry?” Derek tapped Cherry’s nose.
“Yes, daddy misses me! That’s why he’s here!” Cherry giggled.
“Blueberry, take Cherry out and watch her. I have something to say with your … dad.” Serina said with a smile.
“Okay, Mommy!” Blueberry nodded.
“Are you two going to have a private conversation?” Cherry tilted her head curiously.
“Mommy misses me. She wants to have a private conversation with me!” Derek carried Cherry down from the giraffe toy and placed her on the bed.
Cherry covered her mouth and chuckled.
“You can’t eavesdrop,” Derek stood up and walked out with Serina.
Serina did not stop until she reached the stairs. “What the hell are you doing, Derek?”
“What do you mean? I can’t follow you.” Derek shrugged confusedly.
“I said I didn’t need you anymore, and we didn’t work out. Can you please leave?”
Serina’s emotions wavered and caught up with her thoughts every time she saw Derek.
“Serina, I…”
“Stop talking. When will you make up your mind and disappear from my life? You always show up and play with the kids, and our divorce will have a great impact on them.”
“I’m not going to leave anywhere.”
Derek gave an evil smile, making Serina confused.
“Derek! What do you want?”
Serina finally roared out. She was driven up on the wall by Derek!