45. The Winner

“Consider it as a replacement for your lost money. Because it might take a while to find the boy who stole it. You can use it first until your money is found.”

The old woman still shook her head. “I don't want to. Please don't make me owe you more,” she shook her head as she handed the envelope to Jason.

Ashley stepped forward to mediate between them. She took the envelope from the old woman’s hand and gave it to Jason. “Then, I'll make sure that the thief is caught soon, okay? And as for your cart, don't think about it. I'll bring it here tomorrow. You must stay at home, Grandma. The doctor said you need to rest for a few days.”

The old woman nodded. Her face still portrayed a collection of awkwardness and guilt for troubling so many people, although she also did not deny that she was overwhelmed by worry and confusion because all her savings had disappeared.

“We're saying goodbye, aren't we, Grandma?” Ashley then looked at her grandson who was quietly staring at her, “can you take us out?” she asked as gently as possible.

Ashley smiled as the little boy put down his spoon and stood up. She held out his hand and joined the boy as they walked out, with Jason and Mr. Kwak following behind.

After reaching near the fence, Ashley asked the little boy, “What's your name?”

“Minu.”

“Okay, Minu, today is your birthday. So, you deserve a present, right? Do you want a present?” Ashley baited him carefully.

But the little boy named Minu seemed to be too scared to even nod or say 'yes'. Whereas a child would normally scream with excitement when they knew they were going to get a present.

“You deserve it,” Ashley made a statement to strengthen Minu's confidence, ‘And I'll give you a present, okay?’ She then took out her wallet and gave four banknotes of fifty thousand won—all that was left in her wallet. “It's not much, so you don't have to be afraid to accept it. Just make sure you use it well for yourself and your grandmother, okay?”

Minu nodded and accepted it with a polite gesture.

Ashley then actually said goodbye and left.

“I didn't expect that woman to actually reject it, especially after seeing the amount of money in it,” Jason grumbled.

Ashley, who was sitting next to him, smiled with satisfaction. “That's because she's a good person. Otherwise, she would've been blabbering about asking for compensation and so on since we were still in the hospital earlier. But she didn't say anything. All she did was thank us and keep blaming herself.”

“But it still cost her. Her money was stolen. Then what will she do to survive under those conditions?”

“I think tomorrow I'll give her some money with a scenario.” Ashley takes a glance at Jason.

“What does that mean?” Jason frowned, not understanding what scenario Ashley was referring to, “She clearly refused earlier. Do you think one night can make her change her mind?”

Ashley's crisp laughter was heard, “It's not about ‘when’. I just need to tell her that the thief has been caught and tell her that the money I'm carrying is her lost money. Because it seems like a hassle to have to take care of this and that just to catch a boy whose identity is unknown and whose features I don't even remember. Simple, right? Case closed.”

“Wow.” Jason sighed, feeling amazed at the girl's way of thinking. “I can't believe you intended to lie to that old woman.”

“Lying for good, I guess it's okay. After all, no one is harmed.”

Jason nodded in agreement.

They drove for almost thirty minutes until they reached the basement of Ashley's apartment.

“Slow down,” after Mr. Kwak opened the door for Ashley, Jason burst in and helped her out of the car and walked slowly.

“I guess this is it. You don't have to take me upstairs.”

“Why?” Jason automatically asked, “I should at least help explain to your husband about how you got into this condition.”

“You don’t need to do that, really,” she quickly shook her head, ”I'll explain myself.”

Ashley is just worried that Josh isn't home right now. If Jason found out, she didn't know what other excuse she could come up with that would make sense. It was already late at night. There was no way she would say that Josh might be out buying something or taking care of something important. It made no sense, and could raise suspicion for Jason.

So she preferred to avoid the uncertainty.

“Are you sure you can walk alone well?”

Ashley nodded firmly, “Of course. I just need to get into the elevator and hang on for a while until I reach my floor.”

“Then I'll help you until you get into the elevator. How about it?” Jason was a little worried because there was no backrest that the girl could lean on to get to the inside of the apartment building.

Ashley felt that she had nothing to lose by accepting the offer, because she also admitted that her burden would definitely be lighter when she got a hand. After she said she was willing, Jason began to lead Ashley until the girl got into the elevator and leaned against one of its walls.

“Thank you,” Ashley smiled before the elevator doors closed.

When the elevator doors opened, Ashley was already feeling very tired and in pain holding her weight on just one healthy leg. So as much as possible she tried to walk a little faster to get down the corridor while leaning and holding on along the wall. Once in front of her house, she pressed the door code, entered, and leaned against the back of the door. Intending to take a breath and rest for a while, before walking again so that she could fully settle down in her bedroom.

Josh, who was originally sitting in the living room, after hearing the sound of the door opening, immediately moved to the corridor that was directly connected to the main door. From where he stood, a few meters away from Ashley, he could only see that the girl leaned against the door and did not immediately go inside—without being able to catch the presence of wounds which was the only reason why she stayed there for a long time.