Chapter 2327
Keegan always felt that Larry was a bit too concerned about Stella. Getting reassigned and having a pay cut when you’re already strapped for cash would make most people resentful. But not only did Larry not complain, he even gave Stella a drawing by his own son, which was quite unusual.
However, the background check Keegan did on Larry showed nothing suspicious. In fact, Larry’s life could be described as quite unfortunate. Larry’s son wasn’t born deaf. He lost his hearing due to a kidnapping incident. Mistaken for a wealthy family’s child, the kidnappers demanded a ransom, but the wealthy family refused to pay. The police, fearing the kidnappers might harm the child, didn’t inform them they had the wrong kid. When the kidnappers realized the ransom wasn’t coming, they abandoned the child and fled.
After Larry’s son was rescued, doctors declared he had permanently lost his hearing. Larry’s wife, who had a family history of mental illness, couldn’t cope with the trauma and had a mental breakdown. Another reason Keegan didn’t want Larry around Stella was that Larry had a gambling history before his son’s incident.
Every time he got his paycheck, Larry would disappear for days, spending all his money in casinos. He hardly cared for his wife and child, leaving his wife to earn whatever she could from odd jobs to support their minimal needs. Larry’s transformation happened after his family’s misfortune. The once idle man suddenly turned over a new leaf, finding a stable job and taking care of his wife and child.
Those who knew Larry couldn’t help but sigh, “A prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold.” Larry not only quit gambling, but also stopped drinking, and took care of his deaf son and often-ill wife without complaint. But Keegan didn’t believe a gambler could truly change. Like his uncle, Blake Crosby, who would kneel and swear off gambling every time he lost,
only to relapse when tempted.
If someone could quit gambling, they wouldn’t have fallen so deep in the first place. Keegan believed people could improve, but he did not believe that gamblers could reform. He had long wanted to persuade Stella to replace Larry, and now it seemed the right time.
Keegan said, “Since he’s no longer working with you, keep your distance from him.”
“Oh, if he hadn’t said it was from his son, I wouldn’t have taken it. It would hurt the kid’s feelings to refuse.”
As soon as Stella finished speaking, her phone buzzed. She picked it up and opened the message. Keegan glanced at it, and his eyelid twitched.
Messages were flying in the “Socializing Group Seven.”
B: Ms. Hall, where is Mr. Sadler? Weren’t you going to bring him back into the group?
C: I added him on WhatsApp but he didn’t accept.
A: He didn’t accept mine either! Does he think he’s too good for US?
F: @stella
A: @stella
Stella felt a headache coming on. She looked at the troublemaker beside her, “Where did you steal the photo you gave me? Is it a friend of yours?”
Keegan whispered, “No, it’s Al-generated.”
s photo
He added, “Using someone’s photo without permissionys llegat.” llegat.”
Stella ground her teeth, “Using a fake
photo is even more shamefullf
hadn’t found out, were you really going to hook up with my colleagues using that?”
Keegan murmured, “You didn’t find out, I confessed.”
“And you’re proud of that?”
Stella glared at him and started
typing on her phone, “Sorry, everyone. I didn’t check properly. This Mr.novelbin
NO
Sadler has a partner. He tried to
cheat on his wife and got caught. His
wife is the one who left the group.”
Keegan was speechless.