Chapter 63

For the first time, Carroll fell asleep earlier than me. His breathing became steady.  Lying beside him, I became sleepless.  Whenever I closed my eyes, the image of Orva lying on the bed appeared in my mind. She, who had been beautiful and charming, was pale and helpless now.  As fragile as a withered white rose. Without Abdi that day, wouldn't it be me lying in the hospital now? There was a quilt over my body, but the chill on my spine was still piercing.  I was lucky. Thanks to the title of Mrs. Brown, I could slap Joson without hesitation. I leaned over and looked at the sleeping Carroll in the dim light. My fingers drew his exquisite profile by brushing past his browbone and nose. It was this man who gave me the confidence to hold my head high. Carroll seemed to be awakened by me. He pulled me into his arms, "Are you scared?" I nodded on his chest, "No, I just feel that the world is unfair." "This world is unfair. It is alright for one to be beautiful or poor. There will be a problem if one is both beautiful and poor." Carroll sounded tired.  His breathing was on my forehead, and then I felt a kiss on my forehead, "The problem will be solved properly. Don't worry." Carroll's great insight impressed me.  After a nod, I huddled up in his arms. I didn't fall asleep till I let my imagination run wild for a while. I woke up late the next morning. After one glance at the time on my phone, I got up and washed up. "Up?" Carroll put down the bracelet in his hand when I appeared in the living room.  "I got up too late. I am worried about Orva." Muttering, I picked up one piece of bread and stuffed it into my mouth. Rose came over and patted me on the back for fear that I would choke on the bread. "Madam, you will go to Phoenix Village rather than the hospital today." "Phoenix Village? Not to the hospital?" I swallowed the bread with great effort, blinking. I gulped down a lot of water and asked, "Why?" Today, Carroll didn't wear a suit, but a black T-shirt and a pair of black jeans. He looked like to have a trip.  Frowning, Carroll glared at me. "Can't you slow down? I will have to buy a coffin if you choke to death." "I am worried! Joson was terrible yesterday. I am afraid that he will stop paying Orva's medical bills," I answered honestly. "I've sent my men over to protect your friend. You don't need to go to the hospital for the time being. She will have legal aid." Carroll got up, went to the cloakroom, and brought me a bag. I didn't know what was inside the bag, and it seemed heavy in Carroll's hand. I finally relaxed. After a long silence, I said, "Thank you." "This crime happened on Cultural Tourism Street, so the Brown Group should be responsible for it." This explanation took my guilt away.  After a quick breakfast, I followed Carroll to the parking lot. A bright yellow roadster stopped there, and Carroll opened the door for me. "Get in." Obedient, I sat in the passenger seat, watched Carroll get in the car, and smacked my lips. "So flamboyant." "Shouldn't we when we go to Phoenix Village?" Carroll put on his cap. "Let's go. I'll help you get YELLOW back." "What? Really?" I instantly became excited. "Can I keep YELLOW?" "Why not? Isn't the house spacious? If it's not, let's move back to Bamboo Pavilion." Carroll drove with one hand and said something arrogant casually.  I sighed, "Sometimes I think you are showing off. How can you say something haughty so calmly?" "Kelly, I feel that you're cursing me." Carroll took my hand with a smile and placed it on the stick shift of the roadster. "Come on! I'm praising you." I stuck my tongue out, feeling the warmth from his palm. Phoenix Village was 200 kilometers south of Costsley. It was one of the most poorest district around Costsley. Its neighboring villages had become a resort while Phoenix Village was still in its primitive state. The reason was simple. Led by Laura, its villagers demanded more than they deserved, so the developers abandoned Phoenix Village. Carroll parked the car. Staring at the shabby house at the end of the alley, he asked, "Did you live here?" "To be precise, no." I took his hand, walked into the alley, and then pointed to the wooden shed by the house. "This is where I lived." Compared with the house, the woodshed was in a sorry state. Carroll looked unhappy, and a faint coldness appeared in his eyes. Right then, from the courtyard came the curses of Laura and the miserable scream of YELLOW. "Sell it to a butcher. It always reminds me of that little bit*h." "Aren't you good with that little bit*h? Why doesn't she take you to the city? Bark! Bark! Bark! So annoying!" "Yes, sell it!" Elaine was an ally to Laura. Then, my uncle said, "It has helped us guard the door for many years. How can you be so heartless?" "Why not? Do you know what we suffered yesterday? How embarrassing that we were driven home late at night! I will vent my anger today!" Speaking, Elaine shed tears.  My hands became two fists. When I wanted to push the door open, Carroll stopped me.  Carroll waved his hand. The bodyguard strode over and kicked the iron gate open. "Oh, the bandits are here!" Laura screamed when she recognized the bodyguard.  She was in astonishment when Carroll and I, hand in hand, appeared with more than a dozen sturdy men behind us. "Girl, you're back?" My uncle saw me, and his eyes turned red in an instant. "Yes." Looking at my aged uncle, I felt sad. However, I didn't dare to show my care for him, so I said indifferently, "I'm here to take YELLOW away." "Why? It belongs to us. You can't take it away at will. Don't you think so, Laura?" Speaking, Elaine winked at Laura. "Don't waste our time with them. Money." Carroll was impatient. Hearing this, Jason handed me my bag and said, "Madam, this is the money." Did Carroll stuff money into my bag in the morning? I felt touched. "Tell me, how much do you want?" "One, no, fifty thousand dollars!" Laura stretched out one hand. "This dog is our servant, and we like it. We won't sell if one cent is short." "Call the butcher," Carroll said coldly. "Who are you? Why are you holding hands with a widow? Did she learn to raise a gigolo?" Laura became excited because she thought that she got the goods on me.