chapter 033 Similar Experiences"""Susan, thanks for your Shared Struggles

"Your concern, is appreciated, Susan, but you don’t need to worry about me,""unnecessary," Sharon said coldly.
Butresponded, her voice cold as ice. Susan didn’t stop there. She continued, ""You need , however, was undeterred.
"You're in need of money, right? Don’t think I’maren't you? I'm not being considerate as a friend. I’m currently inconsiderate, I assure you. I'm a manager at a bar now. If you’reyou're willing, you can comecould work there. WithUnder my guidance, earning you could easily earn five to six thousand a month won’t be a problem.""
."By nowthis point, Sharon had already opened the door. ""Thanks"Thank you, but no thanks.I must decline. Eric, let’slet's go inside.""
After Sharon finished speaking." With that, she and Eric walkedcrossed the threshold into the house together.
Inside the house...
""Sharon, they’re .Once inside, Eric's anger bubbled to the surface. "Those women are supposed to be your neighbors, yet they havewear such dreadful disdain on their faces,"" Eric fumed, thinking about," he seethed, recalling the harsh words of thatthe mother and daughter. He was filled with anger.
IfHad Sharon hadn’tnot held him back...Eric definitely needed to teach , he would have given them a lesson.
""piece of his mind."Actually, Susan and I grew up together as were childhood friends and classmates,""," Sharon said.
""Ohrevealed. "Really? So what happened between theyou two of you?"" Eric?" Eric asked, curiosity piqued. From his perspective, Susan hardly seemed very curious. It didn’t seem like Susan was a good friend to Sharon based on how .Sharon's gaze fell to the floor as she treated her.
Sharon lowered her head, reminiscing about the past. ""began to reminisce. "In high school, Susan had aSusan's boyfriend who secretly confessed his feelings to me one day. After . I rejected him, and in retaliation, he told Susan that I had seduced him. Susan came and cursed at me, calling me a slutShe confronted me, hurling insults and a whoreslurs. No matter how I tried to explain, she wouldn’twouldn't listen. SinceFrom that day, she cut offsevered all ties with me.""
After hearing this, Eric finally understood.
Sharon continued, ""Since cutting ."With this revelation, Eric began to understand the depth of their animosity. "Ever since she cut me off, both she and her mother have constantly insulted and badmouthedbelittled me, especially after Susan became a bar manager. Her mother loves to mock me, saying I don’t comparetakes pleasure in mocking me, comparing me unfavorably to her daughter.""
As," Sharon spokecontinued, her eyes turned red, and reddening as tears welled up.
"""Damn it!"" Eric squinted his eyes, his!" Eric's anger ignited.
Sharonflared anew. He was just a weak woman who had to endure suchincensed by the baseless humiliation. Eric felt furious on her behalf. Eric made up his mind to help Sharon.
""Alright, let's not talk about that. Today, Sharon had to endure. He resolved to help her in any way he could."Let's not dwell on this," Sharon said, wiping away her tears. "I invited you over for a meal. Let's not dwell on these unhappy things. Please, have a seat."" Sharon wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and ." She forced a smile.
At Sharon’s invitation, Eric sat on and gestured toward an old sofa.
Eric took a lookseat, glancing around. Sharon’s home was the small and old, but it was tidy. ""By the way, , tidy home. "Sharon, where are your parents?"" Eric?" he asked curiously. He hadn’t, realizing he hadn't seen Sharon’s parents at all.
""…them."My father passed away a long time ago, and my mother... ’he'sshe's bedridden n""w,""now," Sharon said, looking down.
replied, her gaze downcast. Eric was taken aback. Sharon, too, was also from a single -parent family? Her father had also passed away early. EricHe found himself was in a similar relating to her situation.
"""Eric, let me introduce you to my mother,""," Sharon said, leading Erichim into a bedroom.
In the bedroom, there lay There, a middle-aged woman with alay, her frail figure and a waxen complexion. She seemed to be in poor spirits. speaking volumes about her health. This bedridden middle-aged woman must be was Sharon's mother.
To be honest, when Eric saw her, he felt a pang in his heart. "" "Mom, this is my classmate, Eric,""," Sharon forcedintroduced, forcing a smile, not wanting to burdenhide her mother with her own troubles.
""worries."Hello, classmateEric... I'm not well, so I can't get up to welcome you,""," Sharon's mother said weakly.
Sharon's mother's voice sounded weak.
"""Aunt, yYou're being too polite, ma'am,""," Eric managed to forcereplied, managing a smile.
"""Sharon, did you have a goodhow was your day at school?""?" Sharon's mother asked with, concern.
""Don't worry, Mom. evident in her voice."I'm doing great,"", Mom. Don't worry," Sharon said with a smile. She daredreassured her, careful not tell her mother about any ofto mention the day’sday's events she had faced because itthat would only worrycause her unnecessarily.
""mother undue stress."That's good. Sharon, go quickly and cook for theour guest quickly."" Sharon's," her mother squeezed outinstructed, managing a paleweak smile.
After coming out ofOnce they had left the bedroom.
"", Eric voiced his concern. "Sharon, is youyour mother seriously ill? Why doesn't she go for treatment?"" Eric asked.
?"Sharon loweredlooked down, her head and spoke with a somewhatvoice somber tone:
""There's no way. . "Hospitalization and medical expenses are too expensive. I can't afford it. Even living at home, it's difficult to afford the monthly cost of medication.""
Upon hearing Sharon's words, Eric felt even more distressed.
is a struggle."Hearing this, Eric's heart ached. Sharon had no father, and her mother was bedridden, leaving her asand she was left to shoulder the sole provider for both of themtheir lives. She had to shoulderIt was too much!
""When for one person to bear."So when you used to singsang in bars to earn money, it was to save for medical expenses, right? And you care so much aboutyour focus on scholarships is because of this too?""?" Eric asked, piecing together Sharon's motivations."Yes," Sharon nodded softly."Sharon, you must have endured so much over the years," Eric said., his voice filled with empathy.
Now,
Eric finally understoodfound himself able to comprehend Sharon's actions.
""Yes,"" Sharon nodded softly.
""Sharon, you must have suffered a lot in these years,"" Eric couldn't help but say.
Eric could fully understand Sharonsituation, even empathize with her because he also came from a . His own background mirrored hers in many ways, both of them having been raised in single-parent family, his fatherhouseholds. His father's premature death had died early, and they hadleft him with a similar set of experiences.
The Even so, there was a distinct difference was thatbetween them. Eric washad been luckier than Sharon because, his mother was not confined to a bed, she was still capable of working. The weight of their circumstances had not bedridden. She could still work, and the heavy burden had not completely fallen on Eric's entirely descended upon his shoulders.
The luckiest thingmost fortunate turn of events was that he turned out to be his discovery that hew was Sean Williams' grandson.
"" "Suffering or not, I've managed to get through it anyway,"" Sharon showed a bitter smile.
After pondering for a moment, Sharon continued, ""," Sharon confessed, her smile tinged with bitterness. She paused, contemplating her next words before continuing, "If it wasn't for my mother insisting that I finish college, I would have dropped out and started working a long time ago.""
Thinking about." Reflecting on Sharon's experiences and her misfortunes, Eric couldn't help but feel sorrya pang of sorrow for her.
He couldn'tstruggled to imagine whatthe trials she had gone through. How she managedfaced, the sheer resilience it must have taken to survive thesethose years.
Eric couldn't fathom He found it difficult to comprehend Sharon's strength and resilience to withstand all of this.
, her ability to endure such hardships. It was precisely because of the burdenburdens she had enduredshouldered in life that Sharon was so different and stood out, appearing more mature compared to other girls.
"" her age. "Sharon, believe me, everything will get better soon,""," Eric saidassured her earnestly.
Although Sharon was Despite her unfortunate, she circumstances, Sharon had met Eric, and that wouldhe was determined to change everything.
He didn't believe in luck! "". "Getting better? I hope so,""," Sharon looked up atresponded, her gaze drifting towards the ceiling. SharonShe knew that making everything betterimproving her situation was as difficultmajor challenge as reaching the sky.
Because it would take a lot The cost of money to cure her mother, andmother's treatment was astronomical, an amount she wouldn't be able to earn that much money even after graduating unless she tookchose a different path.
Sharon had long given up since abandoned the idea of hoping for too much.
"" "Alright, let's not talk about this. I'll go cook,""," Sharon smiled to prevent ansuggested, her smile masking the awkward atmosphere. Immediately, Sharon She immediately busied herself with cooking.
Eric sat the task of preparing their meal. Eric found himself sitting in the small living room, lost in thought. EricHe could reveal his identity and giveoffer Sharon a largesubstantial sum of money to help her withalleviate her financial problems.
But last time Eric gave money to Sharon, she woes. However, he recalled how she had returned it all, so Eric the money he had previously given her. He worried that she wouldmight refuse if he gaveoffered her money directly.
"" "I need to find a different approach.""," Eric murmured to himself, already having an idea already forming in his mind.
It didn't takewasn't long before Sharon finished cooking. Three dishes and a soup, all ordinarysimple home-cooked dishesmeals, but it was good enoughthey were more than satisfactory for Sharon.
If it weren't for entertaining Eric, she wouldn't usually make so manyprepare such an array of dishes as, considering it would be wasteful.
After she finished cookingserving the meal, Sharon dishedcarried a portion of the meal and brought it to her mother's room.
On the table. "" "Eric, try it,""," Sharon flashed asuggested, her smile mischievous smile.
"". "Alright!""!" He couldn't wait andeagerly picked up the chopsticks. """Delicious!"" After !" Eric exclaimed after taking a bite, Eric exaggeratedly expressed his surprise exaggerated. Seeing Eric's exaggerated expressionover-the-top reaction, Sharon couldn't help but giggle and cover, covering her mouth.
"" with her hand. "Eric, don't be so dramatic. My cooking isn't that delicious.""
""." "It really is delicious. I'm genuinely marvel at itamazed. You're really skilled!""!" Eric laughed.
Eric He was indeed telling the truth. Although they were all simple home-cookedDespite the simplicity of the dishes, Eric discoveredfound that Sharon had cooked them exceptionally well.
"" "If someone is ableAnyone who gets to marry someone as virtuous as you willin the future, they would truly be lucky,""," Eric said with acommented, his smile.
"" warm. "Stop teasing me. With my family's situation and a bedridden mother, only a fool would marry me,""," Sharon pouted.
""retorted, pouting slightly. "Well, you never know, maybe there really are fools out there,""," Eric chuckled.
"" "Alright, alright. If you really think my cooking is delicious, and if you like it, you can come over often to eat,""," Sharon flashed aoffered, her smile charming smile.
"". "Sharon, we're just classmates. It's not good for me to come over and mooch off your meals regularly. Besides, if I do come over often, aren't you afraid that others will assume that we are a couple?""?" Eric laughed.
So, asteased. As he said that, herthis, Sharon's charming face turned a shade of red.


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