A Lifetime With You Chapter 64


    Chapter 64


    “Sir, Miss Nagel left with her belongings after Madam’s visit yesterday and came back again at


    midnight. I truly do not know what has happened.” The housekeeper exined to Damien. Damien


    looked troubled and said, “So she left just like that?” “They left miss Nagel with no choice…” “Send


    someone to investigate. I want to know why is she asking for so much money.”


    Ava could only return home to her mother after leaving the Radbury family residence. Her home was


    still in disarray from the aftermath of yesterday’s visit by the loan sharks. Her mother was seen taking a


    nap on the sofa and couldn’t care less about anything. Upon Ava’s return, her mother cried and


    reprimanded her for being such a useless daughter. Not only Ava had lost her husband but also failed


    to earn money for the family. Ava could not be bothered to argue with her mother. She knew her well


    enough by now. She suddenly saw new footprints in her home, which were definitely not presentst


    night. “Mom, did anyone elsee here while I was gone?” “Who else could it be? It was those


    gangsters again, and they barged in early this morning! See for yourself. They even took the television


    and the air conditioner away!” Jessica pointed at the empty house as she wailed miserably. “They also


    mentioned that if we failed to pay them back within three days, they will return and cause havoc every


    single day! Seizing our stuff was only the beginning and after three days, my fingers would be gone by


    then! Each finger is worth ten thousand dors and once I have lost my limbs, they will stab my body


    then! Oh lord, why am I suffering so much!” Ava’s mother continued her howling. “Enough! Crying


    doesn’t solve any of our problems!” Ava was sick of listening to herints, and she went to hide in


    her own room. During the walk back home, she had time to think carefully. Since Damien refused to


    help her, she would have to go to Selden. Although Selden was merely a doctor, he was the next-in-line


    heir of the Oakley Corporation. Hence, five million dors was nothing for him. But…it was already


    difficult enough for her to ask for money from Damien, not to mention Selden. She mulled over it for a


    long time before she decided to call him. “I thought you’re unwilling to meet me again, but it looks like


    you’ve changed your mind.” Over the phone, Selden’s voice was as light-hearted as ever. But Ava was


    in no mood to banter. “Selden, I want to borrow…”


    Before she could finish, she heard a demure female voice asking, “Selden, who are you talking to over


    there?”


    Ava recognized it was Kelly. “Are you with Miss Hensley now?” “Yup, I need to settle something with


    her,” Selden nced at Kelly who was sitting beside him. He was determined to get Kelly to apologize


    for scheming against Ava and framing her for the video leaks.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    But Ava could not have guessed the reason for their encounter. She only prayed that she would not


    cause any further misunderstanding between Kelly and Selden. So she told Selden, “Then I’ll call you


    backter. Enjoy your time with Miss Hensley.”


    Then she hung up.


    Ava couldn’t do it…even if he was an old friend, she couldn’t bring herself to borrow money from him.


    She knew full well that Selden would not hesitate to grant her the loan, and she only had to ask for it.


    She scrunched her hair in frustration. As she rolled around in desperation, she identally knocked


    over her bag that was resting on the nightstand. The contents of the bag spilled out everywhere. As


    she bent down quickly to retrieve them, a small velvet box caught her eyes. It was her diamond


    wedding ring. She opened the box and was bedazzled by the diamonds within. Ava shut the box


    quickly, as though she was a thief sneaking around. With her heart thumping in her ribcage, she


    opened the box again, but this time very slowly. Considering the ring was a gift from Damien, it should


    not be a problem to im it for herself, right? It was thest remaining memento that she had for her


    nightmare-like marriage. Cutting through her mother’s cries of despair and her own dejection, the ring


    almost seemed to glow brilliantly with an angelic halo.


    The next day, Ava made up her mind to pawn the diamond ring. Although the money she got from it


    was barely even half of its true worth, she couldn’t be picky anymore.


    The man at the pawnshop handed her a receipt. He then exined that she could redeem her diamond


    ring within two years at a higher price if she still wanted it back. Ava thought it was unlikely that she


    would ever get to do so within her lifetime. As soon as Ava received the cash for the ring, she


    immediately made her way to the loan sharks’ den.


    Much to her surprise, the boss of the loan sharks weed her warmly. It was a stark contrast to his


    previous violent disposition. He even offered her a cup of tea upon her arrival. “Miss Nagel, I do hope


    you’ll kindly overlook our brashness earlier. We’re deeply sorry for the way we


    behaved. Please, you must believe that we had no idea of your true identity!” The head of the loan


    sharks was a prominent figure in the underworld, and yet he was now bowing respectfully as he offered


    tea to Ava. Ava was more confused than surprised. “I have the money. Give me your bank ount


    number now and I will bank in five million dors before noon,” she said. “That will not be necessary.


    Someone has already paid off your mother’s debts.” “Who was it?” Ava was taken aback.


    “That would be your husband, of course, the CEO of the Radbury Group. Miss Nagel, please forgive


    us. We know now that we have made a big mistake in underestimating you! We’re truly sorry, and


    please forgive us!”


    Ava stood up in surprise.


    So Damien eventually helped her to clear the debts? But, earlier on, he was… It was at that moment


    that she noticed the loan sharkckeys who trashed her house the other day. They were standing


    meekly in a corner with bruises and wounds on their faces. “Was this… Damien’s work?” They quickly


    denied her suspicions and exined themselves, “No, Miss Nagel, it’s all our own fault! We got these


    wounds from uh…we uh…we ran into a wall! Yes..it was an ident! Miss Nagel, we didn’t mean to


    hurt you and your mother, please believe us!”


    Ava turned around and quickly left the ce. She hopped in a taxi and headed to Radbury Group. The


    young receptionist recognized Ava, and she did not question her. She followed Ava into the elevator


    quickly instead. In the CEO’s office, Damien was focusing on a briefing by his secretary. He didn’t seem


    perturbed by Ava’s intrusion, but merely motioned for his secretary to leave them. It was only the two of


    them in the room now. “You are here? Well, seems like you have everything figured out then.” Damien


    said as he grinned. “Was it you who paid off my mother’s debts?” “Five million dors, phew! Your


    mother sure is something else.” Damien admitted. Ava was puzzled, “But why? You obviously didn’t…”


    “Ava, I’m a businessman, and obviously, I don’t do things for free.” Damien put aside the folder that he


    was holding.


    It was right then that Ava spotted the wedding ring which she pawned this morning on his office desk!