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She glared." Emma, don't play nice. This is all your fault!"
"Did you tell Sophia I'm sleeping with the boss? She's divorcing him now. Happy, ruining a marriage?"
"And the draw—you set me up, didn't you?"
I blinked innocently." Lauren, I'm your best friend. How could you accuse me?"
"Sophia's divorce is her choice. Your loan's your doing—how's that on me?"
"And the draw? I begged Sophia to give you that chance, so I filled the box with your name. You should thank me!"
"What?!”
Her eyes widened in disbelief, then she lunged."Emma, I'll kill you!"
Her door flew open, and her dad stormed out."You shameless thing, you dare show your face!"
He grabbed her collar and slapped her twice across the face.
"Dad...let me explain..."
Before she could finish, he slapped her twice more.
"No excuses! We're going to the police station to disown you!"
Her worst fear hit.
She clung to his shirt."Dad, I'm sorry!"
"I was tricked. After the holiday, I'll pay it back!"
He ignored her. Her mom tossed Lauren's belongings outside, grabbing their family documents.
"Lauren, you've disappointed us. You're an adult, causing us this mess!"
"Once we disown you, take your junk and get out. We never want to see you again!"
Her mom, teary, sighed," If I'd had a son, not this money pit."
The words pierced Lauren's heart.
She collapsed, sobbing," I don't want to be disowned!"
Her mom, fed up, snapped, You want to drag us all down?"
She slapped Lauren twice, blood streaming from her nose.
Lauren glared at me, furious." Emma, you ruined me! You ruined me!"
Seeing her despair, I smiled, satisfied, and went home to devour three bowls of rice.
That day, her parents officially disowned her.
From my window, I watched as a broken - down Lauren, clutching her meager belongings, left the apartment complex.
A few days later, Sophia told me Lauren had tried to move in with the boss. But he'd been left penniless after the divorce, barely able to support himself, let alone her.
When work resumed, Sophia promoted me to department manager in recognition of my outstanding performance.
Then came news of Lauren's suicide by drowning.
Sophia and I shared a smile."Three blessings at once."
