Natalie woke up to the sound of the alarm.
Sebastian stretched himself and rubbed his eyes.It was bright outside, and the howling wind from the previous night had blown the leaves from the trees, scattering them to the ground.
Natalie glanced at Sebastian and remembered what had happened last night.She had heard what Sebastian asked her last night.
Natalie had pretended to be asleep to buy time from answering his question.She felt an inexplicable void and unease in her heart, so she couldn’t give him an answer now.
But to her utter surprise, she had really fallen asleep.
“Why don’t you sleep longer? It’s Sunday.” Sebastian turned over and wrapped his arms around her.
The sunlight seemed to sharpen his chiseled features.But despite that, Sebastian looked gentle.He pulled Natalie closer to him.
“Today is Sunday? Oh, Gosh.I almost forgot. can’t sleep.I have something important to do.”
Natalie wriggled out of his hold and avoided meeting his eyes.Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she ran into the bathroom.
“What’s the matter?” Sebastian followed her.His jet black hair was sticking on end.His messy hair and the sleep lines on his face somehow made him look more handsome.
Natalie averted her gaze.
“I’m planning to visit Hannah.I haven’t seen her after she got discharged from the hospital.” “All right.Let’s go together.I’m free today.”
Sebastian squeezed the toothpaste onto the brush and handed it to her.
Hannah lived in the countryside. The village was surrounded by mountains.
They had to traverse the bumpy terrains to reach her house.
Sebastian got out of the bus and walked behind Natalie with bags of fruits and health drinks. Natalie led the way.
After they turned a corner, she smiled and pointed at an old house.
“That’s her house.We arrived on time.Hannah is probably making lunch.I could give her a hand.”
Sebastian looked at the small tile-roofed house in the distance — it was simpler than he had thought.
However, there was a small yard outside with a giant osmanthus tree that had begun to bloom.He could see clusters of pale yellow flowers from afar.
The sweet scent of flowers wafted in the air, making the yard look like a paradise on earth.
“I used to sit under that Osmanthus tree and do my homework.The flowers have just started to bloom. We should come back in
two weeks and see when they’re in full blossom.When I was little, we didn’t have much money.Hannah would often make sweet treats for me using the flowers.” Natalie smiled at the memory.
Seeing Sebastian stare at the tree with great interest, she wanted to share snippets of her childhood with him.
Natalie’s bright smile made his heart stutter.Sebastian was never fond of the countryside.He had lived there with his mother before.
However, the memories of the impoverished place only depressed him.The two chatted as they walked to the small yard.
Natalie smiled and pulled the gate open.
“Hannah, I’m back!” However, there was no response.Sounds of tableware shattering reverberated from the house, followed by Hannah’s cries.
“Damn it! You old bitch! You have signed the damn document! Give me the money!” “Damn it! If you don’t pay the money, I’ll take away your old, shabby house!”
“Break all her things! This is what happens if you fail to pay your dues!”
Hearing that, Natalie rushed into the house and saw a group of burly men surrounding Hannah with bats or clubs in their hands. It looked like they had broken in while she was cooking.
“I don’t have so much money.Please try to understand.”
Hannah scooted back beside the stove, still holding knife and vegetable scattered all over the ground.She looked terrified.
Natalie could only see Hannah’s grey hair and the side of her haggard face from where she was standing.
Hannah staggered backward, grabbed the knife tight with her shaking hands, and pointed it at herself.
“If you keep forcing me, I will have to die!”
“Okay, we won’t force you, you old bitch.”
A muscular man with a scar between his brows spat on the floor and glared at her.
“Your neighbor told me that you have a granddaughter.She lives in the city, right? I heard she is pretty. We want to see her.I’m sure she will visit you if you have trouble, won’t she?”
With that, the man took out his mobile from his pocket and knocked the stove with a wooden club.
“Hurry up! Call your granddaughter and ask her to pay your debt.” Hannah’s face reddened with fear, and her wrinkles grew prominent.
.. Lwon’t.” “Damn it! You won’t call her? Fine! Break this old bitch’s leg!” the strong man bellowed his orders.
He put a cigarette in his mouth as the other men surrounded Hannah.
“I’m here.What’s going on?” asked a cald voice of a woman.
The men unanimously turned around and saw Natalie’s pretty face and met her icy gaze.Natalie walked over and stood in front of Hannah.
“We are here to collect debts. This old woman owes us three hundred thousand dollars.”
The strong man glared down at Natalie.His plump face looked fierce as his lips curled up in disdain. Natalie’s brows furrowed as she glanced at Hannah, who was staring at the floor.
“What money? Why does Hannah owe you money?”
“Wow, Hannah.It looks like you haven’t told your family about your debt yet.” The man grinned, revealing his yellow teeth.
“This woman here, she…”
“Shut up!”
Hannah shouted, interrupting the man as she looked at Natalie with guilty eyes.
“What are you doing here, Natalie? You better leave. This doesn’t concern you.”
“Damn it! Don’t you dare leave today!”
The men surrounded Natalie and stopped her.
“Hannah borrowed money from us to buy medicines and health care products.She owes three hundred thousand dollars to us.If she doesn’t have money, you better pay her debts for her.”
The muscular man patted his hand with the club.His lips curled up as he looked at Natalie.
“Well, I accept repayments through sexual favors also.My friend owns a nightclub. Women like you are popular there.” “Borrow money? Do you have any evidence? What kind of health care products would be that expensive?”. Natalie frowned.
She only had little money now and wouldn’t be able to afford even thirty thousand dollars, let alone three hundred thousand. Natalie felt helpless, but more than that, she was surprised to know that Hannah owed a huge sum.
After all, she was a frugal woman who never spent money unless necessary. There was no way she would have spent three hundred thousand dollars on healthcare products.
“Give me the document!” the muscular man ordered his subordinate.
The man immediately handed over a nie.He glanced at the papers and threw the file on the floor.
“See for yourself! Everything is clearly mentioned in the documents.”
Natalie picked up the file from the floor and read the documents consisting of several pages of incomprehensible, complicated text.She couldn’t understand the gist.
However, the papers indeed contained Hannah’s signature and fingerprint
“What does it say?” Sebastian asked as he walked in with a stick in his hand.He was wearing a thin black shirt, and his tall frame almost blocked the entire doorframe.
Sebastian almost stood a foot taller than those men.The wind made his shirt stick to his body, revealing his chiseled muscles.
