On a rainy night, a very pregnant taxi driver stops to help a homeless, injured stranger, offering him a free ride to the hospital. But the next morning, she wakes to find a convoy of SUVs outside her house, with suited men waiting to share a truth that would change her life forever.
Cleo had been driving taxis for two years, and by now, she’d seen it all: late-night partiers stumbling home, families racing to catch flights, and remorseful businessmen smelling of cocktails and secrets. She’d heard countless stories, dried her fair share of tears, and learned to read people before they even stepped into her cab.
As she navigated the foggy streets, her back ached, and her unborn baby’s kicks pressed against her ribs—a reminder that her night shifts were becoming unbearable. But bills didn’t stop for anyone, so she whispered to her belly, “Just a few more hours, love. Then we can go home to Chester.” She imagined her orange tabby, Chester, sprawled on her pillow at home, shedding fur everywhere as her only true companion.
Her mind drifted back to the heartbreak she’d endured only five months ago. She had excitedly shared the news of her pregnancy with her husband, Mark, only to learn he’d been unfaithful with his secretary, Jessica, who was also expecting. Within weeks, Mark left and drained their bank account, leaving Cleo to work endless shifts to provide for the baby alone.
Late one night, just three weeks before her due date, Cleo’s attention was caught by a lone figure struggling along the highway’s shoulder, drenched by the rain. Even from afar, he looked injured and desperate. He staggered in tattered clothes, one arm held to his chest as he dragged himself forward. Cleo knew she should keep driving, especially at eight months pregnant, but her instincts overruled caution. Rolling down her window, she called out, “Are you okay? Need help?” The stranger, visibly shaken and bloody, pleaded, “I just need to get somewhere safe.”
Without hesitation, Cleo unlocked her doors, and he collapsed into the backseat. She quickly realized they were being followed as headlights flooded her mirror. The stranger urged her to drive faster, and Cleo’s adrenaline kicked in, navigating the winding streets with the skill of a seasoned driver. Finally, she lost the trailing car and brought her passenger to the hospital. As he thanked her, she thought little of her good deed, returning home exhausted and ready for a quiet morning.
But that morning was anything but quiet. Cleo awoke to the rumble of engines outside and peeked out her window to see a dozen sleek black SUVs lining her street. Men in suits formed a perimeter around her home, and Cleo’s heart raced, wondering if she’d unwittingly helped a criminal the night before. Opening the door cautiously, she was met by a man in an expensive suit who introduced himself as James, head of security for the Atkinson family.
“Last night, you helped their son, Archie,” he explained. The name Atkinson meant little to Cleo until she realized they were the Atkinsons—the billionaire family with a tech empire. Their son had been kidnapped three days earlier, and the ransom set at 50 million dollars. She had saved Archie on the side of the road without knowing it.
Archie explained, “They moved me last night, and I saw my chance to escape. But I wouldn’t have made it without you. I owe you everything.” His father, overcome with gratitude, handed Cleo an envelope with a check that made her knees nearly give out.
“Please, sir, this is too much,” she stammered, but Mr. Atkinson insisted, “It’s a small thank you for saving our son.” He glanced at her belly and added gently, “No child should enter this world with a mother who has to worry about providing.” Tears filled her eyes as Archie leaned forward, proposing that she lead a new community safety initiative for their family’s foundation—an effort to foster more people like her, who aren’t afraid to help.
As Cleo accepted their offer and watched the convoy leave, she felt an unfamiliar lightness, the burdens of the past few months finally lifting. She glanced down at her belly and whispered, “Did you hear that, little one? Mommy’s night job just got a big upgrade. And we did it by just being human.”
Justine Bateman Defends Herself After Being Called “Old” at 40 and Why She Wants to Age Naturally
People often have a habit of freezing celebrities in their minds when they were at the peak of their fame, forgetting that they are human beings who age like everyone else. In addition, the widespread use of cosmetic surgery and fillers today further distorts our perception of how people naturally look as they age. However, fortunately, there are still some celebrities who remind us that there is absolutely nothing wrong with looking different as we age compared to our younger years.
Justine proudly embraces her age.
If you were a kid or teenager in the ’80s and ’90s, you probably remember Justine as Mallory Keaton from the popular TV show Family Ties. But after that, she shifted her focus from acting to working behind the scenes. Now, she’s a successful author and director. In a recent interview, the actress, now 57 years old, came back into the spotlight to share an important message with all women concerned about getting older.
When she reached her 40s, people considered her “old.”
Justine didn’t think about getting older until she had to search for something online. She wanted to research and refresh her memory about something that happened during her fame. But when she typed her name, Justine Bateman, into Google, the search autocomplete suggested: “looks old.” This happened when she was only around 40 years old.
That revelation actually boosted her self-confidence.
When questioned whether she had ever considered cosmetic procedures, Justine explained that plastic surgery would cause her to “lose all of her authority.” She expressed contentment with her current appearance and emphasized that she finds satisfaction in the visible signs that indicate she has evolved into a different individual from her younger self.
She even decided to write a book about her experiences.
Justine doesn’t criticize those who choose to undergo beauty treatments to appear younger, but she does express a feeling of sadness for them. She explains that she feels sorry for those so preoccupied with the idea of fixing their appearance that it distracts them from focusing on the meaningful aspects of life. In 2021, Justine Bateman released a book titled “Face: One Square Foot of Skin,” which addresses this significant issue.
Women shouldn’t spend too much time fixating on their looks.
Justine shared some exciting news: “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with your face!” she wrote as the caption for an Instagram post promoting her book. Justine draws from her experiences to illustrate society’s obsession with how women’s faces transform as they age. When asked about the beauty of aging, Justine firmly states that she doesn’t care about others’ opinions. She confidently asserts, “I think I look rad. My face represents who I am. I like it, and that’s basically the end of the road.”
Several notable figures in the public eye have made the conscious choice to embrace natural aging, rejecting the pressure to undergo cosmetic interventions. One such individual is Cameron Diaz, who boldly opted to age gracefully without relying on Botox or similar treatments. After an unpleasant experience where Botox altered her appearance in an unexpected manner, Diaz decided to embrace her natural features and allow the aging process to unfold authentically.
Preview photo credit Invision / Invision / East News, Invision / Invision / East News
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