Chapter 507
Chapter 507:
Yelena stared at Neil, her gaze sharp and skeptical. She didn’t buy his casual dismissal for a moment.
Neil had always been a standout student—intelligent and ambitious. It seemed unthinkable for him to just abandon his education.
“If you’re not going back to school, what do you plan to do?” Yelena pressed.
Neil, lacking a concrete plan and simply not wanting to cause Yelena more concern, improvised a response on the spot. “I’ll get a job. I’m currently working here at the bar, aren’t I?” Neil suggested.
Yelena responded promptly, “You’re underage. All it takes is one complaint, and not only would you be out of a job, but the bar owner would face serious legal issues for hiring you p>
Neil’s expression darkened; he knew she was right. His mature appearance, marked by his height and athletic build, might have initially helped him seem eligible for the job, but the risks of legal action were undeniable.
At that moment, Austin, who had remained silent, chimed in. “Go back to school. This is the time in your life to focus on your studies. If you squander it now, you might regret it later, and there’s no going back to fix it. Life doesn’t offer do-overs. It’s crucial to make the most of the present p>
Neil was visibly moved by Austin’s words. He pressed his lips together, reflecting in silence.
Seeing Neil’s hesitation, Yelena quickly reinforced, “Exactly. Don’t do things you’ll regret later p>
Neil paused, his hands tightening and then relaxing, before a resolute expression took over his face. Turning to Yelena, he declared firmly, “Yelena, I want to go back to school! I still want to pursue my studies p>
Yelena’s face lit up with a smile. “Good p>
“But what about my job p>
gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.k𝗈𝗺 – 𝓐𝓬𝓬𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝒶𝓽 𝖠𝖳
Yelena interjected, “Don’t worry about it. Just go home and rest up. Return to school on Monday ready to give it your all p>
Neil paused as if recalling something, and then nodded in agreement. “Alright p>
Austin offered to drive Neil back to the orphanage.
Agate was waiting at the entrance. Seeing Neil, she moved towards him with excitement but then checked herself, slowing her steps so as not to overwhelm the boy.
“MS. Blakely,” Neil mumbled, his gaze fixed on the ground, ashamed to meet her eyes after his ordeal.
Agate managed only a choked response, “It’s good you’re back; as long as you’re safe p>
“I’m going to my room now,” Neil announced.
Feeling the eyes of a group of curious children on him, Neil hurried away, his embarrassment driving him to seek refuge quickly.
Yelena took a moment to explain Neil’s situation to Agate, reassuring her, “This isn’t Neil’s fault. The blame lies with the others. I’ll accompany him on Monday to resolve the issue with the school. Everything will be sorted p>
Agate might have doubted such assurances from anyone else, but coming from Yelena, she trusted them completely. “Thank you so much, Yelena,” Agate expressed her gratitude.
“It’s no big deal. It’s what I should do,” Yelena replied with a smile.
Agate reflected on the past. “When we first met, you were just a quiet child trailing behind your grandfather. I never thought you’d grow up to be so dependable p>
She was visibly moved, recalling the past challenges.
After old Mr. Roberts passed away, Agate feared they would receive no further help or attention from the Roberts family. But to her surprise, Yelena stepped in.
Not only did she make generous donations herself, but she also brought significant attention to the orphanage, sparking a wave of contributions and visits that kept the institution thriving.