Past 9:00 AM.
Sheila's House.
Sheila chattered incessantly with a face full of worry while hurriedly squatting down to take off Frank's shoes.
Frank felt utterly speechless about this but couldn't say anything, so he just tried to endure it.
As soon as one shoe was removed, the stench that had been contained within erupted right into Sheila's face...
Instantly, Sheila's aged face twisted from the smell. "Oh! Frank, your feet are going to kill me..."
Muttering a complaint, Sheila immediately held her breath and sped up.
Inside the room.
Not far behind Sheila, Eddie leisurely took a bite of his apple, smiling as he looked at Frank, who resembled a dying old dog.
Although Frank's existence, in a way, bore some of Eddie's pain, Eddie still hoped this scumbag would hurry up and die a painful death!
As a believer, Eddie found it truly hard to accept that a world created by God contained a guy like Frank.
Die painfully! Eddie chewed his apple, reciting the prayer silently with a smile.
Sheila finally managed to remove both of Frank's shoes. she quickly stood up, turned her head away, took a few deep breaths, and then reached out to support him. "Frank, I'll take you for a hot bath. We'll get you all clean..."
"Thank you, Sheila," Frank replied weakly.
It took quite a bit of effort.
Finally, Sheila successfully maneuvered Frank into the second-floor bathroom.
Minutes later.
As if washing a stinking stray dog, Sheila put on rubber gloves, grabbed the showerhead, and scoured Frank.
It was summer, the heat was intense, and Frank hadn't bathed in days. The filth on his body was unimaginable...
Even more exaggerated, he actually had fleas...
Karen needed to use the bathroom. Arriving at the door, she could smell the unbearable stench even through the closed door. "Mom, why does it smell so bad?"
Hearing this, Sheila frowned and replied, "Frank is back. He smells very bad."
Karen understood instantly. She shook her head helplessly, didn't say another word, and turned back to her room, where the air conditioning was running comfortably. She lay down on her bed.
Karen actually felt sorry for Sheila and was very tolerant of her mother.
As for Frank... she despised him. Yet, contradictorily, she was willing to accept him living here because, no matter how trashy or disgusting Frank was, he ultimately made Sheila happy.
Inside the bathroom.
Knowing Karen needed the facilities, Sheila sped up, scrubbing Frank vigorously.
She scrubbed for about twenty minutes, using a pile of water and cleaning agents.
Frank was finally clean.
Sheila didn't delay. She quickly dried Frank off, supported him out of the bathroom, and called out to Karen as they walked toward the bedroom, "Karen, the bathroom is free."
"Okay," Karen replied.
Sheila's Bedroom.
After helping Frank onto the bed and turning him over, Sheila busily took out her toys and approached Frank. "Frank, I haven't seen you in days. I want to play."
Frank was lying on his stomach, hurting all over. In this condition, he really couldn't handle this kind of thing, but he wanted to stay here and be taken care of by Sheila...
He hesitated for a few seconds.
"Be gentle, Sheila," Frank said.
Hearing this, Sheila was overjoyed. "Okay, I'll be gentle."
Not long after, muffled groans of pain from Frank echoed in the room.
About seven or eight minutes later.
Eddie walked into the room. He positioned himself behind Sheila and soon began his own movements.
Frank watched this scene helplessly, thinking Eddie was a total fking pervert!
---
The Gallagher House.
Just past noon.
Having slept enough, Fiona woke up. She first checked on Liam, and after confirming he was fine, she ducked into the bathroom to take a shower.
The warm water cascading over her body was incredibly comforting.
This comfort was truly a rare commodity in her current life of hardship.
Fiona let out a long sigh and closed her eyes.
As she washed...
Fiona felt a stir and immediately began to take care of herself.
Finished.
Fiona wrapped herself in a towel, went back to her room, changed clothes, and took Liam downstairs. She sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, grabbed her purse, and took out the tips she earned last night to count.
The tips were indeed substantial, totaling over one hundred and eighty dollars.
With this money, they had enough to live on for a few days.
More importantly, if she could earn this much every night... if she stuck it out for about a week, she could leave that hellhole and never work there again.
Thinking of this, a faint smile appeared at the corners of Fiona's mouth.
She rested for a while.
Fiona stood up, picked up Liam, and went out to shop.
Food, toilet paper, diapers for Liam... many things needed to be bought.
Walking down the street.
Fiona thought of Debbie.
"I wonder how Debbie is doing right now..."
Fiona was very worried.
---
Juvenile Detention Center.
Debbie, whose injuries from yesterday weren't severe, had just left the infirmary and returned to the cell block.
Of course.
Having fought twice in a row and beaten that blonde inmate into such a ghostly state, Debbie's sentence had been extended significantly.
But Debbie didn't care.
Because right now, looking at the fear in the eyes of many inmates, Debbie felt an unprecedented thrill.
It should be like this!
They should be afraid of me!
I am Debbie Gallagher!
Mess with me, and I'll kill you!
Debbie walked slowly, head held high. On her large, freckled face, there was clear pride.
Faced with this arrogance, some of the female inmates who had beaten Debbie before couldn't help but feel a little panicked.
Seeing this, Debbie felt even better.
A few minutes later.
A burly black female inmate, accompanied by several followers, approached Debbie and blocked her path.
"Debbie Gallagher," the black inmate, who was a head taller than Debbie and looked visibly powerful, spoke from a position of authority. "You can fight. I like that. Follow me from now on, and I guarantee no one will dare bully you again!"
Hearing this, Debbie smiled brilliantly. "Okay."
"Good. Then come with me. As my follower, you need to do a few small things for me," the black inmate waved her hand, signaling Debbie to follow.
Debbie followed obediently.
Hmm, a brand new experience.
A new world had just opened up.
Debbie's mind raced.
Some things, just like that, unknowingly changed forever.
---