Bride To Be Not Me (Janice and Simon)

Helena also felt that the salary was far too low. The Fitzgerald family's children

had always been exceptional. Even if they were facing hardship, they should not have to fall to such a low level.

Unwilling to accept this, she went to look for Vivian.noveldrama

Out of consideration for their past relationship, Vivian chose not to say much and instead had the family driver relay the message when driving Helena back.

The driver had been working for the Ziegler family for nearly 20 years and was highly perceptive. He understood exactly what Vivian meant, so when he met with Helena, he spoke as diplomatically as possible.

"Mrs. Fitzgerald, our little town is not like the big cities. In cities, people are used to investing in talent and developing skilled workers. But in a small town like ours, we simply don't have that kind of capital. Here, wages are based on the job's responsibilities. I hope you can understand."

The meaning was clear. Sarah had no exceptional qualifications, no impressive work history, and no family background that warranted special treatment. Why should anyone bend the rules for her?

Helena was not a fool. She understood the meaning behind his words but forced herself to smile.

"So, are you saying that there's no room for negotiation? That doesn't sound right. Perhaps Mrs. Ziegler misunderstood me. I still remember how close my husband was with the Zieglers. Maybe I should explain it to her myself?"

She stepped out of the car, preparing to go back and speak with Vivian directly.

The driver followed her, the two of them standing by the roadside. At this point, he stopped bothering with the formalities.

"Mrs. Fitzgerald, a person needs to understand their own place in life. You know exactly what kind of person your daughter is. This job offer is already more than she deserves. Do you actually believe someone like her, someone who wouldn't stand out in a crowd, could land a position that pays more than ten grand a month?

"Why should others work so hard just to accommodate you? First, you need to prove your worth. But to be honest, I don't see any value in you or your daughter. Special treatment is reserved for those who have earned it."

Helena's face turned ashen with humiliation. Without another word, the driver got back in the car and drove off.

Just before leaving, he gave her one final remark. "Whether she reports to work on Monday is up to you. If she does not, then she shouldn't bother showing up after that."

Standing in the lingering chill of early spring, Helena felt as if everything around her had suddenly become foreign.

A year ago, such a thing would have been unthinkable. Back then, everyone in Yewford Town had treated her with respect. They had been eager to please her and had been afraid of offending her. She had her children by her side and a luxury villa shielding her from the wind and rain.

No matter how busy Janice was, she always ensured they were well-fed. Either

she arranged for meals to be delivered on time or returned home early to cook for them herself.

Not to mention work, even their

food, clothing, and shelter had all been taken care of by Simon and Janice. Not even a full year had passed, and everything had collapsed back to square one.

...

Back at home, Sarah anxiously asked, "Mom, did Simon call you? Did he tell us to hurry back to Greenfield City?"

She had spent the entire day dreaming of returning to Greenfield City. The idea of working disgusted her. She refused to associate with the factory workers. They were beneath her.

Helena sank into the wicker chair in the front yard, looking completely lost. From the alley, voices drifted in as people passed by.

"That's Prosper Stitch Group! Who would have thought that someone from our neighborhood would one day become a wealthy lady and a successful business owner?"

"Exactly. I heard the Fitzgerald family isn't doing too well these days. Let's see what they have to brag about now."

The words stabbed into Sarah's heart like a knife. She pressed her hands over her ears while clenching her teeth.

"This is all Janice's fault. If she had just helped Simon, our family would never have ended up like this. That wretched woman! Why can't she just die sooner? If she's dead, Simon can rise to the top again."