Chapter 166: Lip Decides to Drop Out
In the back alley of the Southside Restaurant, cigarette butts were scattered all over the ground in front of Lip.
Sniqua had already gone back inside to work, leaving him alone, smoking one after another.
He still hadn't worked up the nerve to tell Fiona.
"Fuck!" Lip flicked the cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his shoe.
He had never dealt with something like this before.
His mind was filled with uncertainty.
Judging from Fiona's earlier attitude, there was a good chance she would have issues with Sniqua being pregnant.
And that was the last thing Lip wanted.
On top of that, if he decided to keep the child, he'd have to go out and find a job.
School? That was out of the question.
But to Lip, that didn't feel like a big sacrifice.
Right now, he was arrogant—looking down on those who followed society's rules and kept the system running.
He believed that even without an education, he could still carve out a future for himself.
Like a calf unafraid of the tiger, he had no idea just how cruel the real world could be.
That was why, in the end, he would be reduced to delivering food just to get by.
If he had understood, at this stage, the importance of education and credentials, his life might have taken a completely different path.
But then again—if he had that awareness, he wouldn't be Lip.
For people like him and Fiona, those at the bottom of American society, what limited their chances wasn't just class oppression or systemic design.
Yes, the system was corrupt and full of unspoken rules—but it had never completely blocked the path upward.
With enough effort, ordinary people could still climb into better positions and change their fate.
The real problem was perspective.
People raised in the South Side were often limited by what they could see—or more precisely, they didn't understand the value of information.
In the past, information had been monopolized by the upper class, one of the most effective ways to control wealth and opportunity.
Without access to it, ordinary people could only trade their labor for survival.
But now, in the age of the internet, much of that information was open and accessible.
If Lip had paid more attention, he could have figured out what it really took to change his future.
Unfortunately, his narrow worldview—combined with being constantly told he inherited Frank's intelligence—made him arrogant and overconfident.
So at this moment, Lip firmly believed that as long as he worked hard, he could build a better life for himself, Sniqua, and the child.
---
After steeling himself, he returned to the restaurant.
But instead of heading back to the kitchen to wash dishes, he walked straight to the register.
"Fiona, I need to talk to you. Can we step aside?"
Fiona looked a little surprised.
Even though Lip had been working for her lately, the tension caused by Svetlana had never really gone away.
If he was willing to talk now, it meant there was still a chance to fix things between them.
Thinking that, Fiona nodded with a small smile. "Sure. Give me a second."
She leaned out and called toward the prep counter. "V, can you cover the register for me?"
Veronica looked over.
With a sigh, she put down what she was doing.
Veronica walked over and took Fiona's place. "Make it quick. We're swamped right now!"
Lately, Veronica had been living a life fuller than ever before. Fiona hadn't shortchanged her when it came to pay, so she was working with real enthusiasm.
"Alright, I got it. Thanks, V." Fiona said, patting Lip on the shoulder. "Come on, let's talk outside."
She led the way out of the restaurant.
Lip followed behind her, already thinking about how he was going to bring this up.
Soon, the two of them reached the roadside.
Fiona pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one for herself, and handed one to Lip.
"Alright, what is it?" she asked, still in a relatively good mood.
"Uh… Fiona. Sniqua, she…" Lip started, but halfway through, he stalled, unable to continue.
"What about her?" Fiona's brows immediately furrowed at the mention of Sniqua. She had never liked that Haitian girl to begin with.
Lip turned his head, looking through the restaurant window at Sniqua, who was wiping tables inside.
Fiona followed his gaze. Both of them were now staring at her.
"She… she's pregnant." Lip took a deep breath and forced the words out.
"Pregnant? So what?" Fiona frowned, confused about what that had to do with the two of them.
"The baby… it's most likely mine," Lip said, hesitating.
"What the fuck???"
Fiona stared at him in shock, her face full of disbelief.
"What did you just say? Say that again."
She genuinely thought she'd misheard him.
Lip took a drag from his cigarette, then repeated, "Sniqua's pregnant. I might be a father."
Fiona let out a strained, almost hysterical laugh. "Holy shit… do you even hear yourself, Lip?!"
She grabbed her head and turned away, staring out at the road as she laughed nervously.
"I know exactly what I'm saying. I've seen the pregnancy test."
Fiona was speechless for a moment.
"A pregnancy test? And you're just sure it's yours? Do you have any idea how hard it is to raise a kid?!"
She turned back sharply, her tone rising.
"Listen, Philip. You go back in there right now and tell her to get an abortion."
"I am absolutely—absolutely—not raising another child!"
Fiona's reaction caught Lip completely off guard.
He had expected anger, maybe frustration—but in the end, he thought she would accept it.
Instead, she was being outright ruthless.
His face flushed red with anger.
"Go!" Fiona pointed into the restaurant at Svetlana, shouting.
For a split second, Lip's first thought was—she had never yelled at him like this before.
"Fuck! I don't need you to raise this kid, Fiona! Who the hell are you to tell her to get rid of it?!"
Lip snapped back, shouting just as loudly.
Passersby on the street slowed down, throwing curious glances their way, eager to watch the drama unfold.
Inside the restaurant, people had also noticed the argument.
Veronica and Sniqua were both watching.
They didn't know what the fight was about—but it was clearly escalating fast.