Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire novel Chapter 211

The knock on the door made Selena glance up just as Ricky walked in.

"Hey, you're still awake?" His voice carried a hint of worry.

Selena quickly tucked away the financial papers she'd been poring over and looked up at him. "I was just about to call it a night."

Ricky lingered by the couch, not saying a word and not leaving. The usually defiant teenager looked utterly defeated right then.

Selena had a good idea of what was weighing on his mind. She patted the couch beside her, inviting him to sit.

Ricky plopped down, his elbows resting on his knees, his head bowed low. The energy drained from him.

Selena gently ruffled his hair, offering comfort with a tenderness she rarely showed. "Hey, it’s okay. We’ll figure it out."

But Ricky wasn’t a little kid anymore. He understood the seriousness of their situation all too well.

After a long pause, he spoke, his voice heavy, "Selena, there's no way we can come up with that kind of money. Maybe we should just declare bankruptcy. I can start working. I'm not scared of hard work. I’ll make enough to support Mom and Dad, and you too."

Selena felt a pang of bittersweetness. She knew he was sincere. She shook her head softly. "The fact that you're not blaming me for what happened with Aunt Claire is a relief. But I can't let you lose Dad, too. Alright, enough worrying, kiddo. Get some sleep, or you'll end up with dark circles, and they won't do you any favors in the looks department."

Ricky protested, "I'm not a kid anymore. I'm an adult now."

Selena chuckled, "You'll always be my little cousin. If the sky's gonna fall, it’s my job to hold it up first!"

With that, she gave him a playful nudge with her foot. "Now scoot, get to bed!"

Ricky's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and not wanting Selena to see, he quickly got up and dashed out of the room.

Selena watched him leave, her own eyes misting over.

The next day, she made her rounds to several banks, hoping to secure a loan using her uncle’s real estate as collateral. However, the news of the app crash had spread like wildfire overnight, creating a media circus and a flood of negative chatter aimed at Brook.