The Billionaire's Maid Bride novel Chapter 43

Allison's been on the receiving end of Penelope's fists since she was a tyke.

She's always been a top student, but Penelope would tear her high-scoring test papers into shreds every single time.

There was even this one time Grace sewed Allison a pink skirt, and Penelope chucked it into the trash at first sight, snarling, "Only trash should wear clothes from the garbage."

Allison was trembling all over; her rage towards Penelope and her surrender to fate made it hard for her to breathe.

Grace let out a deep sigh looking at her, "Allison, without the help from the Flanagan family, there's no way we could've survived. You've got to keep going to school and get married someday, I'm sick, and I don't want to be a burden to you, I could be gone any day..."

"Mom..." Allison threw herself into Grace's arms, "Mom, you'll get better; we’ll find a kidney donor, and I'll find a way to get you a kidney transplant!"

"Silly girl, do you know how much that costs? We don't have that kind of money. We can only live here because of the Flanagan family's help. Allie..." She called Allison by her nickname, her eyes filled with tears, "I'm sorry for making you suffer like this; you should've..."

Choking back tears, Grace held Allison tight, but she couldn't say any more.

...

Nighttime had arrived.