Alexander said, "I gotta go," and turned to leave. Getty, barely holding back her frustration, shouted, "Alexander!" But he didn''t even look back.


    Getty was fuming. She''d juste back from the hospital, and he couldn''t even offer a kind word.


    Meanwhile, Alexander drove to the restaurant, only to find it closed and dark. He sat in his car, staring at the ce. After a moment, he tried calling Quinn, but it went straight to voicemail.


    Annoyed, he lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, then flicked it out the window before steering the car back towards the Vi.


    Upon arrival, he found the Vi seemingly deserted. The bedroom was immacte, with no indication that Quinn had returned. It suddenly urred to Alexander that he had frozen Quinn''s credit cards. Without funds, how could she have possibly made her way back?


    Without wasting a moment, he dialed Kyle''s number, stepping outside as he began to converse.


    Elsewhere, after dropping Juliet off at her makeshift shelter-a tarp thrown over an old car frame near a dump-Quinn felt a wave of overwhelm wash over her. Juliet had mentioned that the shelter was a gift from the owner of the dump, a token of pity.


    Quinn had just returned from a 24-hour convenience store and, upon stepping into the shelter, was met with an indescribable smell. Juliet switched on the sr-poweredmp, revealing the dirty bedding on the floor.


    Quinn looked at her with aplex expression, her eyes filled with pity. She remembered when Juliet used to teach her to write, fold origami, and tell her bedtime stories. The Juliet in her memories should not be living like this. Juliet extended a hand to touch Quinn, but seeing the frail and dirty skin, she hesitated and drew back. Quinn, however, didn''t hesitate. She grasped Juliet''s hand and sat down next to her.


    "Don''t touch me. Your clothes are too nice to get dirty," Juliet murmured, her eyes welling up with tears as she thought of her son and daughter-inw.


    Quinn bit her lip and gestured to Juliet, "Don''t worry. From now on, I''ll take care of you."


    Tears shimmered in the old woman''s eyes as she attempted a feeble smile. "You don''t need to, dear. You''ve got enough to deal with the Kennedys, and I''m not getting any younger. Just visiting is more than enough. You don''t have to look after me."


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    Instead of responding, Quinn busied herself tidying up the bed and then motioned to the elderlydy, "Would it be alright if I stayed over tonight?"


    "This ce is too dirty for you, child. Don''t trouble yourself," Juliet said, her voice cracking with embarrassment and guilt, feeling bad that she couldn''t offer Quinn a proper ce to stay.


    "It''s not dirty at all," Quinn reassured her, shaking her head. "To me, it''s cleaner here than anywhere else."


    Augh escaped Juliet, carrying within itsyers of life''s hardships and sorrows.


    Quinn kicked off her shoes andy down beside Juliet. Having allocated everyst cent to purchasing groceries for Juliet, she found herself penniless for the journey home, and her phone battery was depleted. Moreover, venturing out to g down a cab at this ungodly hour was out of the question. Even if she managed to make it back, it would be to a home devoid of warmth or wee. She far preferred thepany here.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Silly girl," Juliet sighed in the dark.


    Quinn closed her eyes. Despite the unpleasant smell clinging to the bed, sleep imed her.


    The morning cold woke her sooner than she wished. Upon opening her eyes, Quinn was greeted by the first light of dawn, casting a golden hue over the crumbling facades.


    Juliet had risen early. She was perched on an outdoor stone, tending to a pot of boiling water. Approaching quietly, Quinn crouched beside Juliet only to see that she was boiling eggs-the very ones Quinn had bought the previous evening. "Awake, huh? Give it a moment more; the eggs are nearly done," Juliet announced without a nce back.


    Quinn nodded with a smile.


    All night, Alexander had been searching for her, retracing her steps to the modest shelter and scouring the restaurant area, but she was nowhere to be found.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .