Another Blow
Tuesday, Continued…
As the small sum of money lay scattered at her feet, Anna Jones hesitated. Lu Jinhu’s venomous words had made one thing abundantly clear—he intended to leave her utterly destitute. Every safety net she thought she had was gone. Reluctantly, she bent down again, her trembling fingers picking up the money she had initially refused. Pride battled with practicality, but survival demanded her concession.
With the cash clenched in her fist, Anna raised her head, glaring at the six people who had just shattered her entire world. Her voice quivered, but her resolve was unyielding.
“You’ve ruined everything I held dear. But mark my words—what goes around comes around. You’ll get what’s coming to you someday. Maybe not from me, but it will happen. And I hope I’m there to see it.”
Yang Lin sneered, her voice laced with mockery. “You can dream, Anna. But for now, you’re nothing. No one. Just disappear already.”
Lu Jinhu’s voice was sharp and dismissive. “Spare us the dramatics. Take your money and go. And don’t bother with threats—you’ve already lost. I can make your life even worse if you try anything.”
Anna straightened, clutching the plane ticket and stuffing the cash into her handbag. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she forced her shoulders back and her head high. Her pride, battered and bruised, demanded that she leave with at least the appearance of dignity.
“You’ve stolen my happiness, but I wish you none. Remember that.”
With that, she turned and walked away. Her legs felt like lead, her chest ached with every step, but she kept her pace steady. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her crumble completely, even if her spirit felt shattered beyond repair.
The sounds of laughter followed her, their voices brimming with cruel joy, but Anna refused to look back. Everything around her blurred—people, buildings, even the sunlight seemed distant. She focused on the path ahead, her only goal to find a quiet place where she could collapse in peace.
She rounded a corner near the Civil Administration Bureau, her mind too clouded by despair to notice her surroundings. Suddenly, she collided with someone. The impact sent her sprawling to the ground, and whoever she had bumped into also went down with her.
“Watch where you’re going!” came a sharp, annoyed voice. “People don’t need to be knocked over because someone isn’t paying attention.”
The voice jolted Anna from her daze. She looked up, realizing the man she had collided with was partially sprawled on top of her. His face was stern, his words biting, but there was something in his expression—a flicker of concern as he noticed her tear-streaked face and disoriented gaze.
“You weren’t paying attention,” he said again, his tone softening slightly. “Are you okay?”
Anna blinked, still processing what had happened. The sharp pain in her knees and palms from the fall barely registered. She could only think of one thing: yet another disaster, hot on the heels of the one that had already obliterated her life.
“I—I’m sorry,” she stammered, struggling to sit up.
The man moved back slightly to give her space, brushing off the dust from his suit. “You look like you’ve been through something,” he said, his tone now cautious.
Anna shook her head, feeling tears well up again. She had no words to explain what had happened—not yet, not to a stranger. But little did she know, this unexpected encounter would be one she’d recount to her future children and grandchildren, a pivotal moment in the story of her resilience.
