Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph
Chapter 209 A Mother's Strength

"No, where are you taking me? I won't go!"

The woman was being dragged to a car by a bunch of guys, fighting like crazy to get away.

People walking by acted like they didn't see a thing, like this was just another night outside the club.

Someone in the car yelled, "Hurry up! Are you playing or what?"

"I'm not that kind of girl. Please, let me go."

She was being pulled along, holding on tight and begging for mercy.

One of the guys, clearly annoyed, slapped her across the face.

"Don't pretend to be pure. Pool babies here are just selling themselves. Do a good job, and I'll pay you more."

She covered her face, crying. "Please, I have a kid waiting for me at home."

One guy sneered and pinched her cheek. "So soft, huh? We can't believe you have a child. Just play with us."

"Hurry up, I can't wait any longer," the person in the car urged again.

The guys kept dragging her towards the car. She clung to the door, her feet braced against the car, refusing to get in.

I stood nearby, arms crossed, and said coldly, "I'll give you ten seconds to let her go."

They stopped, and even her crying paused.

Everyone turned to look at me.

"Hey, a beauty."

"Nice figure, quite the woman."

Their eyes lit up, looking at me like I was a prize.

The woman saw me, tears still on her face, and called out softly, "Emily."

It was Sophie. I had a fleeting glimpse of her last night and thought she looked familiar. Turned out it really was her.

I gave her a reassuring look, checked my watch, and said calmly, "Ten seconds are up. Still not letting her go?"

The guy in the car poked his head out, eyes flashing with interest when he saw me.

He tapped the car window with his fingers, smiling suggestively.

"Beauty, I advise you not to meddle, or do you want to join in too?"

One bold guy urged, "Don't waste time. Just take her along too."

I didn't panic, just raised my eyelids and glanced at them indifferently. They could see the disdain in my eyes. This disdain probably triggered their desire to conquer.

"Take her away."

One guy signaled to the others, so they let go of Sophie and walked towards me with bad intentions.

I crossed my arms, a faint smile on my face, looking at them like they were clowns.

Before they could get close, the guy in front was kicked to the ground.

Dakato was already standing in front of me, shielding me, and glaring coldly at the men.

The guy who got kicked down naturally didn't take it well, cursing, "Bitch, get her!"

In an instant, Dakato started fighting with the guys.

I helped Sophie step back and got into the car to wait.

Seeing the situation turn bad, the guy in the car also got out to help. A few guys fighting one woman seemed like bullying, but I wasn't worried at all.

Dakato was skilled; these thugs were no match for her.

In no time, she had them all on the ground, groaning.

Dakato returned to the driver's seat and quickly drove away from the scene.

Sophie and I sat in the back seat, and she kept crying. "Emily, I'm sorry for causing you trouble," she sobbed.

I shook my head and smoothed her messy hair.

"Hey, Sophie, let's drop that topic for now. I went to your place, but the neighbors said you moved out a while ago. I also checked the kindergarten where you worked, and they said you haven't been there for a while. Where are you living now?"

Sophie lowered her head, hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke, "I, I live in Grimeville Ghetto."

I knew Grimeville Ghetto, located on the outskirts of Starlight City, was probably the dirtiest and most chaotic place in the city.

I asked Dakato to drive to Grimeville Ghetto.

On the way, I asked, "Where's Abby?"

Sophie clutched the hem of her clothes and said, "I left her with a neighbor lady. Her husband works at a construction site, and she stays home doing housework, not working. So I asked her to watch Abby at night for ten dollars a day. When I get home from work, Abby is usually asleep, and I bring her back."

I could hardly imagine what kind of life Sophie was living with Abby.

Sophie clutched her bag and cautiously asked, "Emily, can I change my clothes in the car?"

I nodded. "Go ahead."

She changed into a T-shirt and jeans from her bag, then used a small mirror, tissues, and makeup remover to clean her face.

When we arrived at Grimeville Ghetto, we got out of the car. The ground was uneven dirt, with trash scattered everywhere, and the air reeked of rotting garbage.

City development hadn't touched this place, so most of the houses were old and run-down. The wealthier folks had moved to the city center, leaving these homes mostly rented out to migrant workers. The conditions were rough, and the place was a mix of all sorts of people.

Sophie led us forward. There were no streetlights, just the dim moonlight lighting up the slum-like area.

As we entered an alley, she slowed down and turned to remind me, "Emily, the road here is tricky, be careful."

The path was tough, with broken tiles and the occasional glass bottle underfoot. Single-story houses lined the alley, with people smoking on doorsteps and men in shorts washing at outdoor faucets.

Sophie walked quickly with her head down, probably used to the awkward scenes. Our arrival drew curious glances and whispers. After a while, I heard a child crying faintly.

Sophie heard it too and quickened her pace toward a house. She knocked on the door, and the child's crying grew clearer as it opened.

"Sophie, you're back early today," a woman's voice came from inside.

Sophie politely said, "Yeah, there wasn't much to do today, so I came back a bit earlier."

The woman handed Abby to Sophie, smiling. "Abby has been crying for you. It's like this every day. It's quite a task to get her to sleep."

Sophie held Abby, kissing her face tenderly. "Sweetie, mommy's back, don't cry."

She suddenly remembered something, quickly took out ten dollars from her pocket, and handed it over. "Thank you so much."

"Don't mention it, we're neighbors. It's not easy for a young girl like you to raise a child alone. I'm happy to help," the woman said kindly but didn't forget to take the money.

Sophie, holding Abby, led us to her rented room, just ten feet from the woman's place.

The small room had peeling plaster, cobwebs in the corners, and a damp floor. It was simply furnished with a bed, a table, and a makeshift cooking area with a gas stove and some pots and pans-all in one room. Sophie placed Abby on the bed, quickly straightened the sheets for us to sit on, and brought a small stool with two cups of water on it. "Have some water."

She rubbed her hands on her pants, looking a bit awkward.

Abby, probably tired from crying, fell asleep shortly after being placed on the bed. Her face was still streaked with tears, her eyes red and puffy, and she occasionally sobbed even in her sleep, showing she had been crying for a long time. Sophie pulled a thin blanket over her, then took out tissues to wipe her tears. "I used to come back very late every day. By the time I got home, she was already asleep. I didn't know she cried herself to sleep every night."

Sophie's eyes were also brimming with tears, her pain evident.

As a mother myself, I understood her feelings at that moment.

She sat by the bed, gently patting Abby, and spoke slowly, "Lacey used to visit me often, and Richard came to see the child twice, giving me some money. But he was always cold to me. I know he doesn't love me; he probably gave money out of pity for Abby. After all, it's his child."

Richard must care about Abby. Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked himself to catch her that day under the bridge.

"Later, Linda came to see me, warning me not to pursue her son anymore, not to try to use Abby to win Richard back, or she would make sure I never saw the child again."

I could imagine Linda's face when she said those words: sharp, mean, and arrogant.

Sophie spoke slowly, and I listened quietly.

She continued, "I was really scared Linda would take Abby away, and I'd never see her again. So, I had to move, change jobs, and disappear. This place is only $80 a month, which I can afford. I got a job at a nearby kindergarten where I can take Abby during the day. But the pay is low, and after expenses, there's not much left. I worried about her future schooling, and the kindergarten salary alone wouldn't cut it. I saw an ad for a pool club job. The hours were at night, so it didn't clash with my day job, and it paid $100 a night. After paying $10 to the neighbor to watch Abby, I could still save $90. This way, I could slowly save some money."

Sophie's eyes were filled with tears, but her hands, gently patting Abby, still showed a mother's tenderness, as if she was protecting her whole world.

A mother's love was strong! I knew she had many grievances she hadn't mentioned. For instance, what would have happened tonight if I hadn't happened to come across her?

Just then, the door was suddenly pounded on forcefully.

"Open up, open the door!"

A drunken man's voice sounded from outside.