Chapter 28


    ra never imagined that what she considered her most precious feelings would be seen byn as


    nothing more than a frivolous fling, a game where the heart had no stake.


    She walked under the maple, her gaze lifting to the leafy canopy above. Every sweet memory


    they’d shared here ncw felt like a knife twisting in her gut.


    She couldn’t bear the pain any longer; she wanted to forget everything about this ce.


    ra slipped two rings off her neck, her tears scalding hot as they fell upon them. A bitterugh


    escaped her.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    She squatted down and dug a small hole beneath the maple, burying the rings within. Staring at the


    still rings in the dirt, marked with the engraving of two heartbeats, ra’s shoulders shook


    uncontrobly as she sobbed.


    After several relentless days at the hospital and the office, ra’s father’s condition had finally


    stabilized, and thepany was back on track.


    She nned to catch up with Anders and Sasha that evening, but no sooner had she driven a short


    distance from her ce, she spotted an elder woman staggering toward her car.


    ra mmed on the brakes in rm. The car screeched to a halt, and the elder woman toppled


    over, conveniently next to her front wheel.


    ra’s first thought was that it was a scam.


    As ra reached for her phone to call the police, she saw the woman moaning on the ground, and


    her heart softened.


    Stepping out of the car, ra crouched beside the woman with concern. “Are you alright? Do you


    need an ambnce?”


    The woman sat up, looking at her warily, silent as the grave.


    A bystander advised, “Miss, leave it be. It’s probably a con. Your car didn’t even touch her. How


    could she fall?”


    ra was undeterred. “I’ve got a dash cam. If it’s a scam, I’ve got proof. I should just get her to a


    hospital first. At her age, you don’t want to risk anything more serious.”


    Disregarding the onlookers, ra took the elder woman to the hospital for a full check–up. It turned


    out to be nothing more than a few scratches and slightly high blood pressure.


    ra bought the woman some food and drink, soothing her gently. “You’re okay now. Can you tell


    me how to reach your family? I’ll let theme get you.”


    The elder woman, looking into ra’s kind and pretty face, finally found her voice. “Yongdy,


    you’ve gone through so much trouble for me, how can I ever thank you?”


    ra, relieved to hear the woman speak, replied with a smile, “As long as you’re alright, that’s


    thanks enough for me.”


    “But I must repay you somehow. I overheard you on the phone about yourpany’s troubles. Let


    me have my grandson throw a few big contracts your way. He’s a big–shot CEO, really, I’m not


    fibbing.”


    ra handed the woman a cup of water with a smile. “I appreciate the thought, but I’ll handle the


    company issues. Just give me your family’s contact, and I’ll have theme for you.”


    “That won’t do. I believe in repaying kindness. I have to let my grandson help you out. Oh, and he’s


    still single, handsome, with a hefty fortune, though a bit hot–tempered. If you don’t mind, you could


    take him off my hands, and all his wealth would be yours.”


    As the woman spoke, she dialed her grandson’s number.


    14.45


    Half an hourter, ra was in a nearby café with the elder woman, waiting, but the man who


    walked in was someone ra knew all too well.