Emily and her friends chose a quaint restaurant nestled in a small alley in the city center's bustling commercial street. Compact in size, it barely accommodated five tables and was a favorite among many regulars. Without a reservation, securing a spot was nearly impossible.
Emily had called two days in advance, carefully selecting their favorite dishes for the occasion.
It had been half a year since their last gathering, and the trio had much to catch up on. Engrossed in conversation and frequently toasting, they inadvertently drank more than intended.
When Murray's call came through, Emily glanced at her phone, her eyes already slightly unfocused.
Holding her phone unsteadily, she fumbled with the screen several times before answering, her words slurred, "Hello, who's this?"
Murray, frowning, asked, "Where are you?"
Recognizing his voice, Emily swayed to he
"You hit someone and won't get out of the car, just hiding inside like a turtle retracting into its shell? What's this about?""Think driving a luxury car makes you so special, huh? Hit someone and just ignore it?""If you don't get out, we're coming in."Suddenly, as if emerging from thin air, seven or eight people, relatives of the injured, surrounded the car, hurling insults incessantly.Such organized and disciplined street blockading signaled they were dealing with a professional scam team.Murray massaged his temples, his hand slamming the horn forcefully, momentarily silencing the outside clamor.His brows furrowed darkly, "How much do you want? Name your price."The few outside exchanged glances, inwardly rejoicing for finding an easy mark."First, get out and see the condition of the person. Don't accuse us of extortion later." The middle-aged woman negotiating by the car smiled amicably.Murray didn't even spar
Ten minutes later, a nanny's car pulled up outside the villa. Emily, excited, hopped off the swing and hurried towards the gate. Reaching the ornamental rockery at the entrance, she was greeted by two familiar figures — Sandy and Donna. Emily rushed forward, embracing them enthusiastically, "How come you're here?" Sandy and Donna exchanged glances, replying in unison, "Didn't you invite us?" Sandy handed her phone to Emily. Perusing the chat history, she saw that Sandy and Donna had sent over thirty voice messages in their group chat after she left last night. Emily randomly played one, hearing their drunken wails and rants. The gist was a tirade against the wealthy for separating them, mixed with curses and nonsensical rambles. The latest message from this morning was from Sandy, asking if Emily was alright after leaving abruptly. Emily had replied, inviting them to dinner at her place, even sending a location pin and asking them to come earl
Cornelius unlocked his tablet, tapped a few times, and brought up the guest list. "Matthew from KJL Bank, Oswald from Hogbridge, and Zechariah from the Rhein Group…"At the mention of Ford Zechariah's name, Murray paused. There were no recent business dealings between Bucapital and the Zechariah family.Murray frowned, "Ford Zechariah?""I'm sorry, boss. It was an oversight on my part."Murray gave him a sharp look, then flicked half of his cigarette into the trash. "You weren't being careless. You were being too clever for your own good."Cornelius felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. He knew well that the boss despised those who couldn't distinguish between personal and professional matters. They were discussing business here, and he had foolishly brought up personal sentiments—specifically, his boss's.Cornelius hung his head, holding
Georgia Adelaide was suddenly brought into the conversation amidst this gathering of influential ladies, and she was cautious not to say anything amiss. With a nervous smile, she replied, "As for our Murray, with the guidance of the old man, he's sure to find a suitable girl."The topic of Murray's marriage led a familiar lady to chime in, "Isn't your Murray already betrothed to a girl from the Zechariah family?"Decades ago, the Gibson and Zechariah families had a close business partnership, and their families interacted frequently. Back then, Murray, like a shadow, followed Stacey Zechariah everywhere, listening only to her. This sparked a jest among the adults that only a Zechariah girl could handle Murray. They were destined for each other and might as well fix their marriage as children.This jest somehow became a rumor that the two families had arranged a child's wedding.As the business partne
Veronica Isaac exclaimed in surprise, "You know that girl?"Georgia Adelaide sighed and nodded in acknowledgment."Is there something wrong with the girl's character?" Apart from this, Veronica Isaac couldn't understand why Georgia Adelaide would want to separate Murray and the girl.Georgia Adelaide lowered her head, her hands clasped together, fingers nervously entwined, before she finally murmured, "I asked Murray. The girl's parents are no longer with us, and she's alone ... her circumstances aren't very good."Hearing this from Georgia Adelaide, Veronica Isaac simply couldn't comprehend, her brow involuntarily furrowing. She wanted to speak her mind but felt inappropriate in front of the younger generation.Glancing at Erica, she spoke gently, "Why don't you take your sister to see your grandfather? I need to talk with your aunt."Erica obediently nodded
Murray's father, Bruce Gibson, the second son of the elder Gibson, was a man of integrity and modesty, excellent in all aspects but lacking the shrewdness essential for business.The elder Gibson, who adored this son the most, sought to compensate for his shortcomings by choosing a well-matched bride. However, Bruce firmly disagreed and swiftly married his beloved, Georgia Adelaide, in a foreign land, keeping it a secret from his family.Though marriage is a momentous affair, the elder Gibson must accept it once it is done.After their marriage, Bruce Gibson and Georgia Adelaide shared a profound love. The following year, Murray was born.Bruce owned several companies and held shares in the group. While not as flashy as his brothers, he and his wife were content.Life was thought to be uneventfully happy until a financial storm hit.Bruce, not adept at busine
Emerging from the tea restaurant, Emily was somewhat annoyed with herself.She had intended to remain composed, yet here she was, easily provoked and losing her temper at a few words.After standing pensively by the roadside for a moment, she remembered someone else she needed to deal with.Pulling out her phone, Emily called Ronald Richardson. As soon as the call connected, she didn't give him a chance to speak, launching into a tirade."Have you lost your mind, going around telling people I'm your girlfriend? What do you gain from this? Or are you doing this to spite me, making others believe I'm desperately climbing the social ladder?""If you're bored, find a factory job or something. I have much to do and no time to entertain your antics.""If I see you again, expect trouble each time!"Having said so much in one breath, Emily paused
After hanging up the phone, he dared not look back at the stands. Standing still, he shouted to Cathy, "Mom, I'm leaving first."In a blink, he ran off, vanishing without a trace.Cathy sighed deeply. If only the boy had half the steadiness of the Gibsons' Murray, his father might not look down on him.Always acting recklessly, without ambition, content to drift aimlessly through life."Ah," Cathy exhaled, picking up the items Ronald Richardson had left behind.The basketball gym was nearly empty now, save for a few couples lingering, whispering sweet nothings, heads close together in intimate conversation.Cathy watched these young lovers, feeling a pang of nostalgia for youth.She sat down, pulling out her phone to browse a photo in her gallery. It was a group picture of two couples. On the left, the woman's thick brows and dense lashes