Big Novel

Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"Are you Betty Beckett?" The man spoke in Cyrrisian. When Betty heard her mother tongue, she slowly stopped crying and lifted her face.
A stranger in a suit stood in front of her.
"How... How did you know me?" Betty immediately put aside her ego and begged him in tears and snot, "Y-You must be sent by my dad, right? Please, bring me home to Solana City. I do not wish to stay a day longer in this godforsaken place!
"I am really sick right now. It's a serious illness. I might die if I don't receive treatment. Dad won't leave his daughter to die."
The man replied flatly, "I'm sorry, Ms. Betty. Your dad did not send me."
Betty collapsed onto the ground again with a look of disappointment and despair. The man added, "However, someone would like to meet with you."
Betty had no capacity to think. Hopeless and embattled, she scrambled up from the ground and followed him to a luxury car.
When the car door opened, the first thing that came into her vision was a pair of luxury silver satin stilettos. The ankles of the woman were bony and pristine.
Betty hurriedly flinched when she recalled the shabby outfit she was wearing. The stilettos on that woman were once Betty's favorite brand, but all Betty could do now was admire them.
"Ms. Betty, please enter the car," the man casually said to her.
Betty bit the bullet and entered the car. The graceful woman in the car was surprisingly dressed in a white lab coat. Smiling, she radiated warmth and friendliness. Betty instantly took a liking to her.
"Hi, Ms. Betty. Nice to meet you." The woman politely reached out for a handshake.
Tears streamed down Betty's cheeks when she shook the woman's hand. After being bullied by her landlord and neighbors, as well as dealing with the drop in quality of life and the sudden AIDS diagnosis, she felt extremely emotional when accorded respect in the car.
Seeing that, the woman quickly handed her some napkins in a thoughtful move.
"T-Thanks..." Sniffling, Betty asked, "May I know your name? And how did you hear of me?"
The woman beamed. "My last name is Gardner. I'm also from Solana City."
Gardner?
Betty stared at the smiling face in front of her and sniffled again. She explained, "I. I once knew this annoying bitch who was a Gardner too. But you are way prettier and kinder than she was."
"Is that so? Well, we're destined to meet, it seems." The woman's smile broadened. "I had heard of you when I was in Solana City. You were living a glorious life as the daughter of Javier Beckett then.
"I ran into you when I was at the hospital. Your current state piqued my interest, so I wanted to check on you. Since we're both from Solana City, I want to help you if I can."
The earnest remark sent Betty crying again. After she tired herself out, she clutched the napkin tightly and hissed in spite, "It's all because of that fool... and Jasper Beckett!
"Everyone sided with my dimwit sister and joined hands to bully me! They beat me up and robbed me of my hearing. Not only that, I caught AIDS because of them. They wanted me dead!"
The woman frowned. "What about the AIDS?"
Betty cast aside her pride when she finally ran into someone who offered a listening ear. Crying, she vented about the unfortunate events that had befallen her.
The woman patiently heard her out and sighed indignantly. "Gosh, they did you dirty. They made you suffer. How could they be so heartless toward their flesh and blood?
"If I were you, I wouldn't let this slide. I would do anything to drag that sister to the afterlife with me."
The woman's smile grew creepier. "Since your brother did everything for your sister, you may take revenge against him by making her life hellish."
The woman's remarks reignited Betty's desire for revenge. A murderous look appeared in Betty's eyes as she huffed and puffed.

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