Chapter 537

Chapter 537:

Neal had sent texts checking in, wondering if she was okay. His latest message checked whether she had started her day well and had something to eat.

Bonita quickly reassured him. “I caught a cold, so I crashed early without checking my phone last night. Slept well, though, and feeling a lot better now, so no worries.”

Neal’s prompt reply came through, saying, “Stay hydrated and keep warm!”

With a slight smile, Bonita responded, “Already on it! Bought a thermos to always keep water on hand.”

Neal responded, “Impressive.”

Shortly thereafter, he transferred three thousand dollars to her. Staring at the screen, Bonita hesitated momentarily before accepting the transfer.

Just days earlier, Neal had borrowed fifty thousand dollars from her, and he had been making gradual repayments—sometimes a thousand, occasionally two thousand, or even five hundred. So far, he had returned nearly twenty thousand.

Although Bonita had told him not to rush the repayments, insisting he prioritize his well-being, Neal had half-jokingly said, “Paying back promptly makes it easier to borrow next time.”

Respecting his sense of pride, Bonita chose not to push further. She then logged into her secondary account and began tipping on his livestream.

Ever since their online relationship began, Neal had urged her not to tip during his livestreams. To respect his wishes, Bonita immediately set up new accounts. To keep him from noticing, she spread the tips across multiple accounts. By this point, she had created dozens of new accounts, each carefully noted down. While he was livestreaming, she would log into each account, one after another, to send tips.

She held on to the belief that her contributions might ease his burdens somewhat.

When Neal first borrowed money from her, he must have hesitated, only asking when he had exhausted all other possibilities.

This thought cast a shadow over Bonita’s spirits, and she sighed, feeling a wave of sadness. She sensed that Neal’s cheerful facade masked deeper concerns. Her desire to provide more substantial support grew stronger.

As Bonita exchanged messages with Neal, her phone’s abrupt ring startled her. Her complexion turned ghostly at the sight of the caller ID. She stared at the screen, frozen in place, unable to answer.

The phone ceased ringing only to start again with relentless urgency. The word “Dad” blinked on the screen over and over, tormenting her like a recurring nightmare. After a tense moment, she gathered the courage to answer, her hands trembling as she held the phone.

Her father’s voice cut sharply through the silence the moment she answered. “I’m right outside your school. Come out now!”

Bonita’s heart raced, and her body went rigid without thinking. She held her phone so tightly that it felt like it could shatter in her hand.

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