Chapter 1973 Something About Him Has Changed


    In the early hours of the morning, Denise helped Magnus back home. He''d had far


    too much to drink, the stench of alcohol clinging to him, and he was clutching two


    thousand bucks in his hand.


    "Here," Magnus said, handing the money to Denise. "For food and rent."


    "You don''t need to give me that much," Denise replied. "Keep it. You might need


    it."


    Magnus waved her off. "No, take it. Otherwise, you''ll keep saying you want to kick


    me out."


    Right after speaking, he slumped into a chair. His head was pounding, and his


    knees ached. "I really didn''t expect that after working so hard, all I''d earn is two


    thousand."


    In the past, money, whether it was two thousand or two million, meant nothing to


    Magnus.


    Denise, though, felt differently. "A hundred bucks for a ss of wine isn''t bad. It''s


    way better than working for someone else."


    Magnus stared at her, confused. "Why do you say that?"


    "You''re really out of touch with how regr people live. You know most folks only


    earn five or six thousand a month, right?" Denise sighed. "Even here, if I don''t get


    tips, I only make about twenty thousand a month."


    Magnus felt a pang of sympathy.


    "Don''t worry," he told her. "When I strike it rich, I''ll take care of you."


    Seeing him start to brag again, Denise didn''t take him seriously. "No need," she


    said. "Just focus on earning and saving for yourself. Being self-sufficient is


    enough."


    "I''m serious! I really can make money," Magnus insisted, emphasizing every word.


    He''d said simr things before, to his granny, to Cecilia, about paying them back


    once he had money. Back then, those were just empty promises.


    But this time, something had shifted. Magnus genuinely wanted to help the


    woman in front of him.


    "That''s good," Denise said sincerely. "At least your gratitude makes me feel like


    helping you wasn''t a waste."


    Magnus chuckled. "Just wait and see. I won''t stay down forever."


    Denise shook her head, half exasperated, half amused.


    Completely drained and drunk,


    Magnus closed his eyes and fell


    asleep in the chair. Watching him


    like that, Denise eventually gave in.


    She gentlyid him down on the


    nket she had already spread on


    the floor.


    Before long, Magnus began to snore. He hadn''t snored before, but maybe it was


    all the stress and exhaustion catching up with him.


    "Don''t hit me... Please..."


    Just as Denise was drifting off, she heard Magnus mumbling in his sleep.


    When she turned on the light, she


    saw his hands iling in the air, his


    lips trembling. "Don''t hit me, I was


    wrong. I won''t do it again."


    "He really is a pitiful soul," Denise murmured with a sigh.


    In the days that followed, Magnus


    went with Denise to work as usual.


    For some reason, he seemed to get


    into trouble nearly every day.


    Magnus was terrified, but he had no options. He couldn''t go back, and he didn''t


    dare return to Tud.


    While treating his wounds one day, Denisemented, "You really have bad luck.


    Why do people keep picking on you?"


    "How would I know? Maybe they''re jealous I''m good-looking," Magnus joked.


    He used to look gloomy all the time, buttely, there was something different


    about him.


    Denise was about to respond when her phone rang. She picked up quickly.


    "Hello?"


    "I''ming now. Please don''t discharge my parents. I''ll pay the bill when I get


    there," Denise pleaded into the phone.


    She ended the call and turned to Magnus. "I have to go to the hospital. Stay home


    and take care of yourself."


    "Okay." Magnus nodded. But after hesitating for a moment, he stood up. "I''lle


    with you."


    He had been staying with Denise for a while but had never met her parents.