Money

"Miss, we can only buy it at this price. The house is old, and you want all the cash in a hurry," the man said, sitting on the chair, negotiating the price.

"But $50k is too low. The whole house is worth more than that. How can you buy it for so little, Mister?" Mary asked, looking at the man, who appeared to be in his 40s. They were here negotiating the price for the house.

This house held a special place in her heart. Her late husband had built it, and they never had children. They adopted Alisha, and after her husband passed away, Mary turned the house into a small orphanage, adopting more children or taking them in after various incidents.

Never did she imagine she would have to sell it, but today was that day. She didn't want to face tomorrow knowing Alice would come and cause trouble because they refused to marry Alisha to him.

Here she was, ready to sell it now. The only person willing to do so urgently was exploiting the situation, knowing they were in urgent need and taking advantage of it.

That's why there's a saying: when you're in a tough spot, everyone starts taking advantage.

"Ma'am, you have to understand, the house isn't in a prime location, and we're offering full payment in cash. I don't think you can find a better deal than this," the man smiled, claiming it was the best offer.

Mary knew it wasn't the best offer, but after trying her best for the past two days to find a buyer and getting nowhere, this was the only option she had.

Mary sighed, feeling a pang of desperation mixed with resignation. "I understand your point, but this house holds so many memories for me. It's not just about the money; it's about letting go of a piece of my past."

The man's smile faltered slightly, sensing Mary's reluctance. "I understand, ma'am. But I'm afraid this is the best offer we can make. If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

Mary glanced at the man, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. She knew she

couldn't refuse the offer, no matter how small it was. They had to leave, and she doubted she would find another buyer so quickly.

"Okay, I'm ready to sell it at this price, but only if I receive the money first," Mary said, putting forth her condition.

"No problem, your money will be deposited in your bank within two minutes," the man assured her.

"I want it all in cash. I can't accept payment through the bank. You said you were ready to pay in full cash, so that's why I'm selling you this house," Mary remarked firmly.

"Ma'am, I can arrange for cash payment. Don't worry. I need to call my boss for that," the man replied, pulling out his phone and dialling a number to inform his boss of the deal's success.

As Mary watched the man make the call, a mixture of relief and sadness washed over her. Selling the house meant leaving behind a lifetime of memories, but it also meant ensuring the safety of everyone under her care.

Once the call ended, the man confirmed, "Everything's set. We'll bring the cash over right away."

Mary nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of her decision. "Thank you."

The man walked away, and after a few minutes, he returned with a suitcase in his hands. He opened it, revealing all the money to Mary.

The $50k looked like much more in the suitcase. Though not a huge amount, it filled the entire suitcase due to the presence of smaller bills.

"Here's the money. You need to sign the papers first," the man said, sliding the documents across the table to seal the deal.

Mary hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the papers. This was it, the final step in letting go of the home she had cherished for so long.

With a deep breath, she picked up the pen and began to sign, each stroke of the pen feeling like a farewell to a chapter of her life.

As she finished signing. The man nodded in satisfaction, taking the signed papers and handing over the suitcase filled with cash.

"Thank you, ma'am. You've made the right choice," he said with a slight smile.

Mary glanced at him as he thanked her. She nodded in acknowledgment as she looked at him. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, the weight of her decision to sell the house sinking in.

“You should meet my boss too, he is coming in five minutes. Congratulations. I am happy to take over such a good house,” the man said as he sat down.

Mary still felt a shaky feeling in her heart as she looked at the money. It was over—all over. Nothing could be changed. The house was sold, she had the money, and she could leave everything behind and start a new life, saving Alisha from everything.

How this man suddenly changed his tune—first he said he could only pay so much because the house wasn't good or in a great location. Now that she had sold it, he was praising it. Only her heart knew how she was able to do it.

It's all because all things came second—her orphanage kids mattered to her most.

She never had kids of her own, which is why she valued all the kids she had now, especially Alisha, the first kid she and her husband adopted.

And that made Mary feel like Alisha was her own, even though she felt this way about every kid in the orphanage. But Alisha was there with her when her husband was alive, so that held more memories.

Alisha was even there with her when her husband died, so selling this house for her safety meant nothing.

She didn't let Alisha or any other kids out in the lobby of the house today because of the deal. She didn't want Alisha to be here because she would be too sad, and that would make it even harder for Mary to sell it off.

"Sure, I would love to meet your boss. Congratulations on the deal," Mary said with a heavy heart, forcing a smile and pushing her emotions aside.

Now that it was done, there was no use in dwelling on it. She had made her choice, for better or for worse.

"Hello.”