She had a father who neglected her existence, a sister who would only use her, and a mother who loved her but couldn’t do anything for her.
“It’s not like you were trying to depend on others. Just right now because of Aunties sickness, you need to pay medical bills, that’s why you feel so helpless. But Auntie will get better soon!”, James said laughing. “Where ever I can, I will help you out.”
“Thank you.”
“There is no need to thank me. We are old friends, remember?” But not just that, he has been her long time admirer.
…
Quarrington Group, presidential office.
Looking out from the french windows of this office, one has a panorama picture all of S city in the eyes.
The decoration was kept in gray tones, which gives anyone entering the room a clean impression. The liquor closet was full of branded liquors, wine glasses hanging from the wine rack.
Quiana knocked the door, and opened it cautiously. “Mr. Quarrington, are you there?”
“Yes, come in please.”
Quiana only dared to enter after she heard Mr. Quarrington’s approval.
“Sir, you have a video conference this afternoon, its about the development of our new ground. Here are some documents, would you like to take a look?”
Harold rubbed his forehead and reached for the folder. “Sure, give it to me.”
“Also, Ms. Torah Andrews and her father are here, they are waiting in the waiting room. They have been here for over an hour, sir.”
“Why are you telling me just now?” Harold dropped the pen in his hand and raised from his chair. “Ask them to come in.”
“Yes, Mr. Quarrington.”
After his secretary left, he cleaned up his desktop and saved and locked important files on his computer. When he opened his drawer to put some folders in, an earring took over his attention. It was a cherry shaped earring, made of cheap glaze.
His lips shuddered, and put the folders in to cover the jewelry.
Just a few seconds later, Torah and her father entered his office.
She was holding her back with one hand, visibly walking in pain.
“Harold…”
“Yeah.” Harold took big steps walking to her side, reached out one hand to support her. “You should be resting at home in this condition.”
Torah bushed. “I am just anxious about our wedding, Harold. I even took my father with me to see you, so we can set a date soon!”
Sean Andrews laughed. “My daughter is all grown now, I can’t keep her home anymore!”
“It’s all right, Sean Andrews, after our wedding, Torah can still visit you anytime she wants!”
Sean Andrews sighted. “I am really reluctant to marry her to you, but I also can’t keep her by my side her whole life. Sooner or later she will need to find her own happiness. I know that in my heart.”
“Daddy…”, Torah took her father’s hand. “Didn’t you hear, Harold already said, I can visit you as often as I want!”
Sean Andrews laughed in relief.
Harold was standing beside them, watching them with his dark eyes.
“By the ways, Sean Andrews, I heard you have another daughter?”
The second Harold mentioned Jenny, his expression changed immediately.
“Don’t even mention her. It is all my fault.” Sean Andrews lowered his head, and looked very upset. “I made a mistake when I was young. I wanted to make it up to her, at least she is innocent. But she… she only surrounds herself with men. She won’t even listen to what I say.”
“Daddy, don’t get angry. You have done your part, and Mom has never blamed you either.”
Sean Andrews patted his daughters hand. “You really are the best, always thinking about my feelings.”
“Dad…”
Harold slightly moved his lips, no one can guess his feelings. He seems to be thinking about something, but there’s no way to tell what.
“So that’s the story. Sean Andrews, don’t beat yourself up about it.” Harold checked his watch, “I still have some time now, why don’t we go have some lunch? We can talk about the wedding then. Both my parents are sill overseas, they won’t be able to come back anytime soon, but I can decide about my own wedding, I know they will respect my decisions.”
“Harold…” Torah pulled on the sleeve of his suit, “When I think about getting married to you soon, I get so excited that I get sleepless at night!”
Harold’s face lit up with a smile, covering all his emotions with it. “Really? I hope you will feel that even after our wedding.”
…
After getting groceries with James, Jenny made some dishes that she was really good at.
His home was decorated in Northern Europe style, simple and clean, it doesn’t seem like a man’s house.
“Do you usually have a house cleaner?”
“No, I do it all myself.” James picked up his bowl, his eyes squeezed with his smile, “When I get the time I tidy up a bit, but most of the time I am not here anyways. My parents also don’t visit, it’s just me. And I barely get visitors, so the house keeps itself clean.”
“Right…”
“Actually, my house really needs a female master.” James glanced at Jenny, her face showed the awkwardness she was feeling, so he quickly changed the subject. “It’s all my Dad’s fault, always telling me to find a girlfriend. He’s making me anxious with it.”
Jenny didn’t reply to that. She knows what James is trying to tell her, but she can’t. She’s not good enough for him, not even just being a common friend of his.
After the meal, Jenny saw the exhaustion on his face, so she used that as an excuse to leave. Harold insisted on giving her a ride home. She told him that she will go to the Andrews’ house.
When she got off James’ car, she suddenly heard Harold’s and Torah’s voices. There was absolutely nowhere to hide, so Jenny could only stay where she was. James saw that something wasn’t right and got off the car as well. He stood next to her and asked, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Jenny did not reply. All she could see was Harold, because he was looking at her as well.
Those eyes, it seemed like he knew something.
“Oh, that’s my sister, you remember? You have met her before.” Torah immediately took Harold’s arm, as if to mark her territory, and said softly, “You’ll be her future brother in-law. Take good care of her!”
Harold was quiet, and Sean Andrews quickly took word, “I think it’s better to leave it, we shouldn’t burden Harold. I have tried to talk to her multiple times about her personality, but she never listened. You see, she’s hanging out with god knows what kind of a man again.”
Sean Andrews gave Jenny a cold look, turned on his heels and entered the Andrews’ house.
“Harold, I am so sorry, I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable, it wasn’t my intention.”
“It’s alright.” Harold took his eyes off Jenny, and went into the house with Torah.
Not far from them, Jenny bit her lips with her head lowered.
“That’s your sister?”
“Yeah.”
“She seems to… treat you alright.” James didn’t hear their conversation, only saw that Torah gave Jenny a smile, she must be treating her sister quite good.
“Yeah.” Jenny didn’t want to explain anything to James, she only wanted to bury her secrets in her heart, no one should ever know.
James patted her on the shoulders. “Don’t forget what I told you today. You need to have faith in yourself. I’ll get going, got another nightshift later.”
Jenny nodded her head and waved at him. She watched his car drive away until she couldn’t see him anymore.
She didn’t want to go back to the Andrews’ house, so she decided to go to the hospital and have a chat with her mom.
Jenny hasn’t even moved her feet yet, when her phone rang. Torah sent her a message.
“Tonight at 10pm go to Harold’s house again. I just transferred 10 grand to your account. Don’t bargain with me. If you can get pregnant and give birth to the child, I will send you one million at once, and help you to get a green card to leave China.”