Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_11
Sadie felt a burst of pride as she watched the triplets happily run off to the children’s play area with Brenda. Their little giggles and excited voices brought a warmth to her heart that nothing else could. She quickly turned her attention to the task at hand: shopping for the best deals for her kids.
She navigated through Ruby Plaza with purpose, her sharp eyes scanning the shelves for anything on sale, her mind calculating how to make the most of every dollar. As a mother, she’d become an expert at stretching her resources, and this outing was no exception.
She checked her phone once more, the notification from Micah still fresh in her mind. Despite everything, she felt a small spark of satisfaction seeing that money transfer. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. As long as he kept his word, she would continue to push forward with her plan.
When she reached a store with a 50% off sign plastered on the window, she walked in, her mind already ticking off items she needed. She didn’t have the luxury of splurging, but she knew how to shop smart. Her kids’ essentials were always top priority—everything else came second.
As she browsed, she noticed a young woman across the aisle staring at her and the triplets, her phone out, presumably taking photos. Sadie paused for a moment, feeling a pang of discomfort. She knew her kids were adorable, but this constant attention was becoming too much. She quickly pulled the triplets closer, tugging their masks and hats a little tighter.
“Mia, Nathan, Noah, stay close,” Sadie called out, a touch of urgency in her voice. The triplets, obedient as always, scampered over to her side.
The woman with the phone didn’t stop recording, though, and Sadie could feel the eyes of other shoppers on her. It was frustrating, but she had learned to ignore it most days. She would never let them see how much it bothered her.
After loading up with necessities, Sadie made her way back to the play area to collect the triplets. The afternoon had flown by, and she was ready to head home, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still off. Micah’s deal, the money she had received—it all seemed too easy.
But she couldn’t afford to overthink things now. Her priority was her children, and every step she took now was to secure a better future for them. Micah, for better or worse, was a tool in that plan.
As she exited the mall, her phone buzzed once more. It was another message from Micah. She hesitated for a moment before opening it.
Micah: [You keep your promises, and I’ll keep mine. Hope tonight goes as well as last night.]
Sadie sighed, her mind racing. Micah was playing his game, and she was playing hers. But there was a part of her that wondered if she was playing too dangerously.
