Zachary gave Irene a puzzled look. "What are you getting nervous about?""Am I?" Irene asked in return, denying it."Don't you think so?" Zachary retorted, staring closely at her. "You're hiding something from me, aren't you?"Irene averted her eyes again. "What would I hide from you? Honestly…"Even so, Zachary had noticed that she was always being evasive around him.He just wanted to ask what it was, and her reactions only made it more puzzling!Zachary pondered then, but it was clear that her reaction was from guilt.But guilt from what? His gaze turning serious, he said, "You asked me if I liked children. Could it be—""Could it be what?" Irene quickly cut him short and changed the subject. "Don't you think Isaac is in danger? I'm so worried."Zachary grabbed her arm then. "Don't try to change the subject, Irene. Look into my eyes and tell me—is Lulu's child actually mine?"He had been to New Kent, and as he searched his memory, he remembered seeing Lulu on a certain n
Irene was silent for a moment before she replied, "I'll leave if he doesn't love me.""Could you do so without tears? Without regrets?" Zachary pressed. Irene was silent. She had no idea, and the answer was probably not.After all, once a person falls in love, any parting would break their heart."Don't worry. I hear you—I'll let her go for the sake of her happiness." Zachary pursed his lips in a smile. "Do you know why two people in love still have to part?" "External factors," Irene replied.It was certainly the case for Zachary and Lulu. So much had happened between them that they were driven apart. In fact, even if Lulu turned around and accepted him again, things might not return to the way they had been for them.A relationship is a fragile object. Once shattered, it would never be the way it was, no matter what is done."Did you watch Garfield?" Zachary suddenly asked.Irene shook her head—she did not have the luxury of watching cartoons as a child.As such, Zach
Marie quickly asked, "What did you see?" Thomas promptly barked at her to stop! "This is a vineyard, that's all! What would he have seen? Just bunches of ripe grapes!"However, Isaac sharply caught the point from what Marie blurted.She was concerned about what he saw, and that meant there was something here that must never be seen.It was likely that this vineyard was just a front, but the couple were not bad people—he would be dead if they were."I'm grateful that you saved me," Isaac said. "If you need my help, I won't be stingy."However, Marie did not dare to speak anymore and only gingerly tugged at Thomas' sleeve, as if tacitly telling him that they could take a chance on Isaac.Even so, Thomas was not as trusting as she was, and he was considerably more prudent.He shot her look that told her to be as much, and he picked up his basket. "Come with me."He was not worried about Isaac escaping—one being that this place was too isolated and difficult to leave, the other
The clear, familiar voice left Irene's face falling.She felt delight, excitement, and an indescribable urgency all at once. "Isaac?!"Still, her voice soon became careful, "Isaac, is that you?""Yeah," he replied. "I'm fine over here."Irene felt as if she was drained right then, and she had to lean limply against the wall beside her as she smiled with tears in her eyes.Still, working hard to keep herself calm, she asked, "Where are you? I'll come to you right now."Beside her, Zachary and Stan had leaned closer to listen to the conversation.Isaac paused for a moment before saying, "I'm a little busy here. I just called so that you won't worry."Irene frowned, but Isaac hung up before she could say anything else.Irene became flustered and quickly dialed the number!The call got through, but it was hung up from the other end. She was going to try again when Zachary caught her wrist. "Don't.""Why?" Irene asked."It's obvious Isaac is constrained at the moment," he said
However, Isaac stayed calm and composed so that he did not appear to be in a hurry to leave, even if he felt that way inside."You can ask me for anything," he told Thomas, knowing that Thomas still had his doubts about him.There was a flash in Thomas's eyes even as he looked at Isaac, but he still refrained from asking Isaac to save his son Michael.This was very serious, and Thomas was concerned that Isaac would fail. If they were exposed, his family would be hurt instead.That was why he did not want to take the risk.He was helping Isaac escape because he felt that Isaac was not a bad person, and that alone. "I would rather you forget everything here," the man said. That would be far better for either of them.Isaac stayed silent.-The terrain around the vineyard was bad, and trying to leave would take at least a couple days, though driving would be much quicker.Thomas had Marie prepare him some food and water.Once that was done, Marie handed him the backpack cont
Thomas became wary immediately. "Really?""Yeah," Isaac replied assuredly. "How does it benefit me if I lie to you?"Isaac could tell that Thomas was scared of those people and that they were no angels.That was why he warned Thomas, so that Thomas would be more careful.Moreover, he understood that he would be in worse danger if they were found.Thomas stayed silent and listened, but he could not hear anything aside from the breeze, the rustling trees, and the occasional bird's cry.However, it was said that those who could not see would hear better, and Thomas believed Isaac."Should we stop?" he suggested, thinking those men would probably drive away soon. It was why he had picked this moment to leave with Isaac—his employers would not be coming back after they had just left, making right now the safest window of opportunity. "Sure," Isaac said. However, there were only tall weeds everywhere, and they did not have a place to sit."There's a river up ahead," Thomas said
Thomas could not care less if Isaac could actually help him just then, and he told Isaac everything."They have my son Michael," Thomas explained. "My wife and I were forced to work for them, and they'll find the bodies soon. I need to go back and save my wife, so you contact your family and ask them to save you."Thomas was quite sharp too—worried that Isaac could not see and tap on the right numbers, he redialed the number Isaac called the last time."Be safe," he said and left with the gun.As soon as he was gone, Irene was calling out urgently from the other end, "Isaac? Isaac?"Isaac raised the phone to his ear and spoke with composure, "Calm down and listen to me, Irene. Ask James to track the location of this phone before coming. Don't come alone—things might get dangerous around here, so be very prepared.""There's no need to worry, though. I'm fine," he added to assure Irene.-Irene grabbed Stan, who was sitting right next to her, and relayed Isaac's message."Hurry!
Once James answered, Stan told him everything and said, "We're heading there right now, but it might be dangerous, so bring more people if you can. I'm giving you the location now—hurry!""Got it," James replied.Once he hung up, Stan started to search the web for details about that location, but it turned out to be an isolated location without anyone around."Could Mr. Jefferson be captured by bandits?" he mused. Zachary rolled his eyes. "What year is it? Also, Dunesia is a safe country. There won't be any bandits.""Why don't you take a look?" Stan scoffed. "Mr. Jefferson was calling from up in the mountains, and the phone wasn't his either. Who do you think those people would be? Savages?'Zachary ignored him, realizing just then why Isaac kept James around while leaving Stan in Franconia for some time.The man's head was empty! Stan had no idea what Zachary was thinking, and he actually clapped Zachary on the shoulder, saying, "Why are you being quiet?"Zachary kept his