“Thank you, Mr. Corbie.”
I lifted my head, offering him a polite smile.
“But I think I won’t need to trouble you.”
With that, I turned and walked away without pausing.
After that meeting, I returned to my small town and continued working as an English teacher.
I thought life would return to normal. It was a week later when my father suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage at the construction site and was rushed to the hospital.
The doctor handed me the critical condition notice, informing me that the surgery would cost at least three hundred thousand dollars.
I searched through all my bank cards, scraping together what I could, but could only manage less than fifty thousand dollars.
Just when I was desperate and about to sell our old house, an unfamiliar number called.
“Hello, is this Becca?”
It was Aaron.
My fingers tightened around the phone as my voice turned icy. “How did you get my number?”
“That’s not important right now.”
His voice carried through the line with a forceful tone.
“I heard about your father’s situation. I’ve already contacted the top neurosurgeon in the capital. The helicopter will arrive at your city hospital in two hours.”
My mind went blank.
“Are you investigating me?”
“I’m just concerned about you.”
He paused, his soft voice said again, “Becca, don’t argue with me. Saving your father first is the priority.”
My father was my only weakness. I couldn’t refuse.
Two hours later, my father was safely taken away. The hospital director personally invited me to his office and his attitude was respectful.
“Ms. Lament, all medical expenses for your father have been prepaid in full by Mr. Corbie. Don’t worry, we will use the best resources.”
I sat in the empty corridor, feeling suffocated, with nowhere to escape. Aaron used my father’s life to force me back into entanglement with him.
Late at night, another unfamiliar number called me. I swiped to answer. It was Claire’s voice.
“Becca, are you asleep?”
I remained silent. Claire chuckled softly. Her tone was laced with smugness and pity.
“Aaron has been running around handling your father’s affairs. He even canceled our family dinner.”
“He says he owes you something and this debt can never be repaid in this lifetime.”
“Becca, Aaron has done so much for you. You mustn’t be ungrateful.”
“Just let him make amends. Otherwise, he won’t be able to get over it and it will affect our relationship.”
Just as I was about to hang up, she suddenly added. “Oh, Becca, Aaron asked me to tell you that he wants you to stay put at home and wait. He’ll handle everything.”
“Handle what?” I asked coldly.
Her cheerful laughter came from the other end of the phone. “Of course, it’s your business.”
“He said he can’t let you carry that stain for the rest of your life.”
“He’ll find a way to restore your reputation.”
She emphasized those words with deliberate force, restoring my reputation.
My blood froze instantly. What did Claire mean by restoring my reputation?
He was the sole mastermind behind what happened back then. How did he plan to restore it? By finding someone to take the blame and then expecting me to be grateful to him?
A “beep” sounded as a multimedia message arrived. It was a photo of Claire and Aaron together.
In the picture, Aaron wore a robe while reviewing documents. Claire embraced him from behind, smiling sweetly at the camera.
The caption was [Aaron says, let bygones be bygones. We must look forward.]
The nausea in my stomach could no longer be contained. I rushed into the bathroom and vomited until I was dizzy.
In ten years, they ruined my life and now they want to buy their own peace of mind by acting like saviors.
