Chapter 689: Afraid to Hear Her Own Name
Chapter 689: Chapter 689: Afraid to Hear Her Own Name
On the evening of the fifth day of the New Year, Renee Jennings started a live stream from home.
An account was constantly posting leading comments in the public chat.
Renee noted the account name and asked Sawyer, who was on duty back in Zenvia, to look into the user’s identity.
After the stream ended, Renee stretched her arms and back.
She picked up her phone. Sawyer had already messaged her back.
Renee’s slender brows slowly furrowed as she read the message. ’This is ridiculous,’ she thought.
It was Yvonne Morgan again. ’She really has too much time on her hands.’
Renee dialed Sawyer’s number. "Sawyer, are you hungry?"
"Renee, you finished your stream," Sawyer laughed on the other end of the line. "I didn’t think I was, but now that you mention it, I am getting a little hungry."
"Wait for me."
"No, no, it’s fine. I’ll just order some takeout."
"Don’t order takeout," Renee said. "I’ve already ordered food."
"Huh? You already ordered?"
"Yep. I’m heading over to you now."
Renee hung up, threw on a black puffer jacket, and hurried downstairs.
Seeing her come down, Diana Jennings stood up. "Renee, the food is in the insulated container."
"Thanks, sis. Love you." Renee blew her a kiss.
After messaging Sawyer during her stream, she had asked Diana to order some takeout, but Diana said there were ingredients in the fridge and she would cook instead.
"Be safe on the road," Diana reminded her.
"Got it, don’t worry, sis." Renee picked up the insulated container and waved to her. "You should get some rest, sis."
"Okay." Diana walked her to the entryway.
When Renee drove to the police station, Sawyer was already standing by the entrance, having waited for who knows how long.
Just as she parked the car, Sawyer jogged over. "Renee."
Renee opened the car door, exasperated. "Why are you standing out here in this cold? I would’ve come inside as soon as I got here."
"I wanted to wait for you outside." Sawyer’s cheeks were red from the cold.
Renee rubbed her hands together to warm them up and then cupped Sawyer’s face. "Quick, get inside."
She opened the back door of the car and took out the insulated container.
Sawyer quickly reached out. "Let me help."
"It’s fine, it’s not heavy." Renee took her freezing cold hand. "You go inside first. Your hands are like ice."
"I don’t feel cold," Sawyer said with a smile.
Renee sighed helplessly and just picked up her pace.
It was much warmer in the office. Renee took off her jacket, opened the container, and started taking out the food, one dish at a time.
Sawyer looked at the dishes in surprise. "This looks homemade."
"My sister made it while I was streaming." Renee arranged the dishes and handed her a pair of chopsticks. "You can start eating."
"Oh my gosh." Sawyer was touched. "Having Sister Bella cook so late... I feel so bad."
"That’s why you have to eat a lot," Renee said, placing a piece of beef in her bowl.
Sawyer took a bite and gave a thumbs-up. "This is delicious. Sister Bella is an amazing cook."
Renee couldn’t agree more. "Everything my sister makes is delicious."
"Sister Bella is too perfect!" Sawyer exclaimed.
"You don’t have to work tomorrow, right?"
"Nope."
"Then come stay at my place for a couple of days."
"Okay! In that case, I’ll take you up on that."
"What’s there to be polite about? We’re family."
Sawyer then brought up the information she had found earlier. "By the way, about that Yvonne Morgan who never gives up... do you have any ideas?"
"I’ll find some time to go meet her," Renee joked lightly. "I wonder if she has a secret crush on me, the way she’s always so fixated on me."
"I know, right? She has way too much free time. Doesn’t she have anything better to do?"
"My thoughts exactly."
By the time they finished eating, it was already two in the morning.
Sawyer urged Renee to go home and rest. "Renee, you should head back early."
"It’s fine, I’ll stay a little longer," Renee said. "You can’t go to sleep right after eating anyway."
"But it’ll still take you some time to drive back."
"Sawyer, why do you keep trying to rush me out? Don’t you want to chat with me?"
"No, no." Sawyer quickly waved her hands, explaining, "I’m just worried that staying up late is bad for your health."
Renee raised an eyebrow. "And you’re pulling an all-nighter. Isn’t that even worse?"
Sawyer gave a helpless smile. "It’s for work. I don’t have a choice."
"Why didn’t you go home for the New Year?" Renee had heard that Sawyer had volunteered for holiday duty.
The smile on Sawyer’s face slowly faded, and a touch of melancholy colored her features.
She lowered her head and said softly, "It isn’t fun going back, so I’d rather stay here on duty and let my other colleagues have a happy New Year’s holiday."
’Whenever I go back for the holidays, my main purpose is to help with chores. The rest of the time, it’s like I’m invisible; no one even sees me.’
’On the rare occasion that relatives or neighbors visit, they don’t ignore me, but I hate the things they say.’
’It’s always either pestering me to get married or pestering me for money.’
’Things like, I’m not young anymore, I should find a good man to marry and get some bride price money to help out my parents.’
’Or how working in a big city like Zenvia must mean I earn a lot of money, and how much do I send home each month?’
Renee said softly, "If you’re not happy there, then don’t go back. But I have to tell you this now: you’re not allowed to volunteer for holiday duty next year. Come spend the New Year with my family instead."
Hearing this, Sawyer stared at her, stunned.
"What’s wrong?" Renee blinked, confused. "You don’t want to?"
Sawyer shook her head vigorously and quickly explained, "It’s not that I don’t want to! I’m just afraid I’d be bothering you all..."
"Of course you wouldn’t," Renee said, amused. "Silly Sawyer, if I was worried about you being a bother, I wouldn’t have invited you. But if you think you’d feel uncomfortable, you can say no."
"I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable," Sawyer said quickly. "Actually, I really like your family. Everyone is so nice. It’s much more comfortable than being at my own home."
A smile spread across Renee’s lips. "Then it’s a deal," she said, beaming. "Next year, you’re spending the New Year at my place."
Sawyer nodded emphatically. "Okay!"
"Pinky promise." Renee held out her pinky finger.
Sawyer linked her pinky with Renee’s, a bright smile blossoming on her face. "Pinky promise!"
"I’ve been wondering," Renee began, voicing the question that had been on her mind. "Everyone else on the team goes by their first name, but everyone calls you Sawyer. Why is that?"
Sawyer pursed her lips and said slowly, "I asked everyone to call me Sawyer. I..."
Her voice trailed off. She took a deep breath. "I’m afraid to hear my own name."
Renee’s brow furrowed slightly. She wasn’t sure if she should press the issue.
But Sawyer was already explaining. "My name sounds too much like Sweetie’s name. Every time someone calls me, I always mishear it as Sweetie’s name."
Her name is Sheryl.
Sweetie’s name was Shirley.
Whenever people spoke a little too fast, or when they were a little far away, she would hear "Shirley" and lose control...
"I’m sorry." A lump formed in Renee’s throat. She clenched her fists, her voice low. "I still haven’t been able to help you find Sweetie."
Sawyer looked into her apologetic eyes, shook her head, and offered a gentle smile. "Renee, you’ve already given me so much warmth. Finding Sweetie isn’t your responsibility. You absolutely must not blame yourself."