I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away

Terrence Sterling and Meredith went to Westfield Reservoir and, as expected, found Justin there. Alone, Justin sat on the roadside grass, a beer in hand, surrounded by many empty bottles, drinking solo and gazing into the distance.

Meredith got out of the car and, seeing Justin like this, felt a blockage in her heart, a pang of empathy. “Wait here for a minute, I’ll go over,” she told Terrence, then walked towards Justin. Justin, noticing someone approaching, turned to see Meredith but wasn’t surprised. He often retreated here, and Meredith always managed to find him.

His eyes were red, evidence of recent tears, his demeanor utterly defeated. Meredith sat down beside him. “Justin, I’m here to take you home.”

That simple statement struck a tender spot in Justin’s heart, unleashing his tears. He quickly covered his face with his hands, trying to wipe them away. “Meredith, am I really that useless?”

“You’re not useless, you’re just too kind, and that’s why they’ve taken advantage of you,” Meredith reassured him, her gaze tender. “They may have given birth to you, but they don’t deserve to be called your family. You’ve tried your best, and that’s all that matters. Though this hurdle is hard, I believe once you’re over it, you’ll be better.”

Only Meredith knew the extent of what Justin had sacrificed for these so-called family members, how desperately he craved familial affection, and the injustices he had endured-she knew it all.

Justin wiped his face again, his voice laced with self-derision. “I gave them my all, but they just want to destroy me, all over an apartment! Meredith, why would they do this to me? I’m their son. If it weren’t for the DNA test, I wouldn’t believe these things they’ve done-I can’t believe I’m their son.”

The headlines and videos online, every accusation from Mr. Thatcher, were enough to ruin Justin. His emotions surged as he confided in Meredith. “When I first found them, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep for days. Initially, they said they would come to the capital to see me, but then they delayed, and later, they brought Tristan, who is paralyzed. I understood they wanted me to shoulder the family responsibilities. I could accept that…”

As he spoke, his emotions collapsed again, his voice choked with sobs. “Without money, I could take part-time jobs, sell my blood. The supplements I got from the blood bank-I took them home for them. Are those just supplements? No, that’s my blood they’re drinking, my flesh they’re consuming, and now they even want my life. Why did they even have me, Meredith? I just can’t understand.”

Meredith gently patted Justin’s back, soothing him. “I just spoke to Gemma; she’s still just a child, she doesn’t understand any of this. She’s just being used by Mr. Thatcher. With Thatcher’s intellect, it’s unlikely he could conceive such schemes. It’s probably your paralyzed brother behind this. I’ve got evidence that proves your innocence, ready to clear your name anytime. But this burden in your heart, that’s something only you can overcome.”

Justin took a deep breath, calming himself. “I know. They want to destroy me, then they’ll get the apartment and go back home to buy a villa, living off over ten million dollars. Lately, my dad has been pressuring me to sell the apartment and come home with him. I refused, but he secretly brought buyers to our place, which I discovered. It’s all part of their plot.”

Meredith nodded, her suspicions confirmed. As Justin’s emotions gradually stabilized, she pondered before speaking. “Justin, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you, but never found the right moment. I think you should know now.”

“What is it?” Justin asked.

“You once told me your siblings died in accidents, but that’s not the truth. Except for Tristan, every child your mother had was sold by your father. You’ve seen Reese at my restaurant; she’s from Crimson Copse. Your father selling children is pretty well-known around these parts,” Meredith revealed.

The cruel truth was hard for Justin to accept; his facial muscles twitched, his eyes widening in shock. “Sold… sold?”NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.