Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 2220

Childbirth takes a brutal toll on a woman’s body. Lindsay couldn’t even bear to imagine what her own stomach must look like now.

After dinner, her younger brother barely made it to the bathroom before throwing up—he’d eaten far too much, as if he could somehow fill the constant ache of hunger by cramming in everything on the table.

Lindsay felt miserable too, but at least she didn’t get sick.

When her brother came back, his face was drawn tight with regret.

She wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “Alright, that’s enough. If you eat any more, there won’t be anything left for tomorrow.”

He nodded sheepishly, glancing at Athena for reassurance.

Athena paid the bill, gathered up their boxed leftovers, and they all headed back to Lindsay’s place.

Waiting for them at home were five hungry children. The youngest two were twins, just infants still, and even the oldest was only seven.

The twins needed to be carried, so Lindsay set the other kids up at the table with dinner and made up bottles for the babies.

Athena watched Lindsay rush frantically from one task to the next, while Lindsay’s brother was only barely managing to coax bites of food into the kids’ mouths. Athena let out a quiet sigh.

By the time the chaos died down, Lindsay looked utterly exhausted.

“Athena, there must be a reason you came to see me tonight, isn’t there?”

They’d finally reached the heart of the matter, but Athena found herself at a loss for words.

Simply surviving was already a daily struggle for Lindsay and her family. Was it really fair to drag her into the Keller family’s mess?

Athena hesitated, but Lindsay seemed to sense her inner conflict.

“Just say it. I need money, Athena. I’m not greedy, but if you can give me some, I’ll do anything you ask. I can’t stand seeing my kids go hungry, and we’re almost out of formula. I have no idea when I’ll be able to earn more, and my health’s not good. No one wants to hire me for temp work anymore. I keep thinking—what if something happens to me? What will become of them?”

Lindsay gave a broken laugh, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Why is our fate so cruel, Athena?”

Athena’s eyes glistened as she looked away.

“The only reason I’m still alive is to get revenge for Kerwin,” she said quietly. “I miss him so much. Maggie told me she bought Kerwin’s ashes, then mixed them with animal feed and gave them to the pigs. I can’t even bring myself to picture it. I just want those people to rot in hell. Lindsay, you’re my only chance. I need your help. I can pay you. I have two million dollars left in my account—it’s all yours.”

Two million dollars—a sum so large, Lindsay could barely comprehend it.

She stared at Athena in disbelief, then finally drew in a shaky breath. “Alright. Give me the money, and I’ll put my life on the line for you.”

Athena hugged her tightly, her eyes red with unshed tears.

“Lindsay, I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize, Athena. I really need this money. With it, my five kids can finally have a chance at a decent life.”