Wanda couldn’t help softening at Gerard’s pleading gaze. “If you insist on getting the check<b>, </b><b>you </b>may do so, Mr. Zahn.”


    Jenny sat down in quiet reluctance.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Gerard gave Wanda a grateful look and returned to his seat.


    He pulled out his phone and said with a sigh, “I’ve been so busy these days that I forgot to invite Carlisle to join us for a meal. How about I give him a call right now and you can have an impromptu get–together?” He decided to use Carlisle as his safety. Surely Carlisle’s presence would make Wanda and the others more amiable.


    Wanda saw through Gerard’s motives but did not stop him. She figured this was a <b>good </b>chance to assess if Carlisle was on good terms with him and Maria. If they were close, Wanda wouldn’t mind going easy on the terms of the loan.


    Ten minutes ago elsewhere, Carlisle sat with Daniel, Francis, and Olivia at a table set up outside A1 Seafood Restaurant.


    Shane had yet to arrive, and the dishes had yet to be served.


    Olivia had told everyone the story of how she and Shane became a couple. As it turned out, they came from the same vige.


    Their parents also worked in the same quarry, but there was a terrible rockslide six years ago. Instead of taking ountability, the owner of the quarry ran off without offering any bereavement payouts to the families of those affected by the incident.


    Shane’s grandparents were so heartbroken by the loss of his parents that they ended up passing away from grief themselves. Shane had raised himself since then, making a living by tending to his family’s orchard.


    Olivia’s father was a good–for–nothing phnderer who didn’t bother looking for a job in the vige. Her grandparents probably died out of anger and disappointment in him.


    Olivia’s mother, on the other hand, had to do all sorts of odd jobs to make ends meet. However, her measly ie was barely enough to put food on the table.


    When it came to harvest season, Olivia and Shane would take days off from school just to toil away on the farnds and orchards. They would work through the day and study in the evenings by candlelight.


    Shane had managed to get into Rivend University through his excellent grades and discipline, Olivia got into a second–rate university.


    while


    Just as Olivia thought things were looking up for her, her mother was diagnosed with uremia. She thought her life was falling apart the moment she read theb report.


    When she begged her father on her knees to save her mother, <b>he </b>beat <b>her </b>up and threw <b>both </b><b>mother </b>daughter out of the house.


    Burdened by astronomical medical bills and the expenses that came with lifelong dialysis, Olivia’s <b>mother </b>had attempted to take her own life on a few asions.


    Shane took them both in before they were ovee with devastation, and he even brought Olivia’s mother for her treatments. It was then that Olivia learned Shane had <b>sold </b>his family’s orchard, the source <b>of </b>his livelihood<b>.</b>


    He had only just turned 18 then. Having lost his only source of ie, he worked through the summer toe up with his and Olivia’s college tuition that year.


    Daniel’s eyes were filled with surprise as he asked, “You’re telling me that he made ten grand in two months? How did he do it?”


    Olivia said through sobs, “He never told me, but I saw needle marks on his arms. I suspect he might have sold pints of his blood toe up with that money.”


    Daniel handed her a couple of tissues. “I don’t think so. He must have done something else toe up with that money, blood isn’t worth that much.”


    Olivia wiped her tears with the tissues <b>and </b>said, “I don’t know. Whatever it is he did, it couldn’t have been


    anything illegal. He’s too good for that.”


    “Carlisle, Dan!”


    Shane walked up to them at that moment. When he saw Olivia at the table, he was taken aback. “Olivia?”


    Olivia looked up at him and her tears fell even more rapidly down her cheeks.


    Francis rose to his feet and gave up his seat for Shane, who took it and asked, “Olivia, what are you doing


    here?”


    She couldn’t help it anymore. She threw herself into Shane’s arms and sobbed. “Shane!”


    Just then, Carlisle’s phone rang with a call from an unknown number. He put it through and asked politely, “Hello, who’s this?”


    “Carl, it’s me–your Uncle Gerard,” came the warm reply from the other line.


    “Is there something I can help you with?” Carlisle asked tly.


    Gerard chastised good–naturedly, “Why didn’t you tell me you were studying in Rivend? You could have at least given me a call after all this time.”


    One might think they were on good terms if one didn’t know better.


    However, Carlisle put all such conjectures to rest when he sneered, “Stop beating around the ush or I’ll hang up.”