James admired my father, which was why he went to great lengths to find me and offered me a position at his company.
His company was based in Zenova State.
At the time, I was deeply in love with David and couldn’t bear to leave him.
Besides, I didn’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps, so I gave up the opportunity.
Right now, everything I once cherished regarded me as worthless. I had nothing left to hold me back.
With my ruined reputation, finding work in the entertainment industry, let alone any job in the country, would be nearly impossible.
Thinking about this made me uneasy. My heart pounded as I anxiously dialed the number.
When the call connected, I carefully asked, “Hello, is this Mr. James?”
There was a brief hesitation on the other end before a soft “Mm” came through, followed by silence.
His quietness made my palms sweat with nerves.
“I’m Lucas Carter’s daughter, Saveline Carter. Does your company still need a gemstone appraiser?”
I felt completely uncertain. I was terrified that if I only introduced myself as Saveline, he wouldn’t remember me and would just hang up. So, I had no choice but to bring up my father.
My body trembled with nervousness and my voice involuntarily choked up.
“It's okay, don’t cry.”
Unexpectedly, the voice on the other end was that of a gentle young man.
It sounded somewhat familiar, but it was definitely not the voice of the person who had given me the number that day.
“You… You’re not Mr. James? I’m sorry, I must have dialed the wrong number.”
My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, plummeted once again into the depths.
The person on the other end didn’t answer my question but instead said gently, “I’ll come pick you up.”
I was utterly confused. If he wasn’t James, why would he come to pick me up?
Sensing my silence, he added, “I’ve heard about what happened to you. I have a flight tonight. Let’s talk in person.”
With that, he hung up.
I was completely bewildered, knowing nothing about the identity of this person.
The only thing I was sure of was that he knew me. Maybe it was because of my father that he was willing to help me.
How ridiculous. Just to leave David, I had started to look forward to the arrival of a stranger I had never met.
The love I once depended on had now become the very thing I was desperate to escape from.
Two people who had once loved each other so deeply had now reached the point of mutual resentment. It was quite a pity.
Even though that person was only willing to help me out of respect for my father, at least I had a place to go.
For a brief moment, the heavy weight in my heart was lifted.
Now, all I had to do was wait for him to arrive and help me process my work visa.
While waiting for the visa, I could finalize my divorce.
With that plan in mind, I started packing my belongings.
Looking at the single suitcase before me, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
After ten years of marriage, everything I owned in this home could fit into just one suitcase.
I had made up my mind. I didn't want anything. As long as David agreed to sign the divorce papers without trouble, I was willing to leave with nothing. Even the house and car that he transferred to my name, I would give them up as well.
It wasn’t that I saw money as worthless or thought of myself as noble. It was just that David had once been the one who pulled me out of the abyss. He simply didn’t love me anymore; it wasn’t as if he had committed some unforgivable crime.
I still remembered that year, right after my parents' suicide. The widows of the miners who had died in the collapse gathered at my doorstep, holding banners and demanding that I die with them, saying that the Carter Family deserved to be wiped out.
It was David who hid me in the basement. Despite being so young, he stood tall like a man, looking at me with unwavering determination and saying, "Saveline, wait here. I'll take care of it and once it's done, I'll take you away."
