James’s deep voice came through the phone, “Don’t be afraid, send me the address, wait for me.”
I sent him the address.
In no time, James sent me a screenshot, it was a ticket for the next flight.
The call wasn’t hung up, I leaned back in my seat, not speaking. On James’s end, there was constant traffic noise, until my name was called, “James, I have to board the plane now, I’ll hang up first.”
His breathing on the other end was a bit heavy, “Okay.”
I turned my phone to airplane mode. I never drag my feet on important matters, and quickly arrived near the home of the man who had killed my parents in the car accident.
I searched around his house but couldn’t find him.
I asked Aunt Linda who lived nearby, but she said she didn’t know. I sat dejectedly at the door when a man dressed in a suit driving a niche brand car stopped in front of me. I would
recognize this man even if he turned to ashes.
I stared at him intently, he seemed to notice me too, giving an awkward smile, “Look, I just got out of jail, and the creditor is already at my door.”
I said word by word, clearly, “Pay back the money.”
Zack sighed, “You don’t look like you’re short of money, do you? Anyway, I don’t have any.”
My eyes reddened with anger, “Driving a car, wearing an expensive watch, this is what you call not having money?”
Zack shamelessly said, “Ah, these were given to me by my uncle, what’s wrong with that?
Is it not allowed?”
I wasn’t after the money, because I could earn this money back myself. I just felt injustice and worthlessness on behalf of my parents. Why could Zack live so comfortably while my parents could never come back?
He got out of the car, not wanting to deal with me anymore, and was about to enter his house. But I stubbornly blocked him, refusing to let him in.
Zack was obviously getting impatient and was about to push me away when suddenly a figure covered me.
James stood in front of me, still a bit out of breath. It seemed he had rushed over.
Zack was separated from me by James, “Who are you?”
James calmly said, “I’m her husband. Since you don’t want to pay back the money, we don’t need to negotiate anymore. You can talk directly to my lawyer.”
I was stunned for a moment, “Lawyer? Where did the lawyer come from?”
Just as I finished speaking, a chubby man in a suit carrying a briefcase came running from not far away, panting as he said, “Oh my goodness, Dr. Quinn, can you have some consideration for me? I’m carrying 160 pounds of meat here.”
I suddenly felt a bit unreliable, but after James took Zack and that chubby lawyer inside, we got good news in less than half an hour.
Zack relented, saying he would compensate me in installments, twenty thousand each month.
I agreed.
To show sincerity, Zack gritted his teeth and immediately transferred twenty thousand to
<
- me. I stared blankly at the balance in my phone
My other hand hanging by my side was enveloped by a warmth. It was James.
&
He held my hand, his eyes full of heartache, “Why are you so silly? Why didn’t you tell me
earlier?”
I felt the warmth transmitted from his palm. This was the second time James had taken the initiative to hold my hand. He filled the emptiness in my heart completely, but I still stubbornly avoided it, just as he had avoided me back then, “I haven’t agreed to get back together with you! Who said you could hold my hand?”
James raised his hand and stroked my head, “Okay, then when will you agree?”
I turned my head, not looking at him, but the corners of my lips revealed a smile that even
I felt was genuine, “We’ll see.”
The matter was resolved satisfactorily, and the three of us bought return tickets together.
Life slowly got back on track.
