Chapter 5: Nobody Owes Anyone.

Matthew's face no longer had the calmness it had before. He wanted to help her regain her sobriety, face reality, find a way to solve it instead of giving up to the point of self-torture.

Anna sat down on the ground, and Matthew pulled her up, making her face him. "Anna, your father taking your mother away is definitely a blessing. He wouldn't dare to do anything. If not... your mother would have passed away a long time ago..."

Matthew's words were the truth, and he successfully hit Anna's sinking psychology, pulling her back. Anna removed Matthew's hand from her shoulder.

"I want to have a cup of coffee, can you buy it for me?"

Suddenly, Anna suggested, and Matthew was a bit embarrassed. She added, "I want to be sober, please help me."

Matthew had nothing else to say. He looked at the bed behind her, "You rest for a while, and I'll be right back."

Anna obediently lay on the bed, gathered her wet hair and spread it on the pillow, and turned her head to look at him, "You can go now, thank you."

After no longer hearing the sound of footsteps going down the stairs, Anna immediately got up. She couldn't wait any longer. Matthew was right, but only in the past. If he had wanted to kill her mother, he had done so a long time ago. He had left a way for her or for himself. Now the house papers were gone, and if she wanted to sell the house, it couldn't be resolved quickly. She didn't know if he was still a human being.

Anna rushed down the stairs, standing in front of the road, looking around to turn left or right. Where could she find her mother?

The sun rose from the foot of the mountain, and the soft light covered the entire forest. Every leaf exposed itself to the sunlight, shedding the layer of morning dew.

Cline opened his eyes, his mind a little foggy. He shook his head twice to make himself more alert. Kenny closed his eyes to rest, but as soon as he heard the sound, he looked up and asked, "Are you okay?"

Celine nodded, the fire had burned out, and he didn't know when the pile of black charcoal remained.

"Let's go." Kenny stood up, brushed off his pants a few times, and the dried leaves and dirt all fell to the ground.

Celine stood up, leaning on his knees. He just noticed that his hand had been bandaged, and there was still greenish water on the outside of the cloth. "Did you go look for medicine?"

Kenny looked at the terrain and guessed which direction to go, he replied: "Yeah, you're feverish, and your infected wound needs some basic treatment. Let's go back to the hospital and have it checked."

Cline didn't know what to say, he followed Kenny silently, stepping on the grassy ground. The surroundings were still gloomy, with the sound of forest birds chirping and flying around the ancient tree branches. Kenny whistled, and the sound echoed back. He smiled and said: "We're going in the right direction. Ahead is a waterfall. We just need to climb over the mountain, and that will be our paradise."

Celine had no doubts at all, and he fully trusted his friend. Kenny warned Cline every time he encountered a dangerous path.

"These bastards dare to trap me. Let me see how they talk." Kenny was furious, thinking about the traitor in his group. If they trusted him, he would do everything for them. But if someone betrayed him and went against his principles, he would never forgive them.

Actually, Celine was very tired, and he didn't want to talk. But seeing Kenny's anger, he hesitantly said: "Let's go back first and investigate the incident thoroughly before jumping to conclusions. We need to avoid stirring up trouble in the forest."

Kenny's temperament was fleeting. He lived with emotional intelligence and was loyal to his brothers. But if someone went against him and acted unethically, he would never forgive them.

Kenny smiled: "You're very suitable to be a leader."

Celine just smiled and didn't reply.

Ahead was a big waterfall, the water flowed down from the source and formed a large lake with the sound of rushing water. Kenny exhaled and used a large leaf to scoop up water and handed it to Celine.

"Drink some. This water is purer than mineral water."

Celine took it and drank a big gulp, feeling much more refreshed.

"Kenny, we can't fight Tom. We need to do legitimate business. Although no one has seen him, his reputation has been heard of. Who do you think can beat him in South Africa?"

Kenny kicked the grass under his feet and pursed his lips. "He's not the only one. We bought this land, and this is our territory. He can't interfere with other people's businesses."

"But..."

Kenny looked at Celine. "Trust me, I won't let you get involved because of me."

Celine let out a sigh. "I've told you before, fame and power mean nothing to me. Don't worry about it."

Kenny glanced at Celine, his eyes forming a curve. "One day, I'll stand behind you and support you, so that no one dares to spy on you anymore."

"Okay."

Anna's phone kept ringing, but she immediately declined the calls. Matthew made another call, holding a cold coffee cup in his hand amidst the clutter of the house, his mind restless with worry.

"I'm sorry."

That was the first thing Anna said to him when she answered the call. Matthew tried to keep his voice calm. "Where are you?"

Amidst the crowded rush of people going to work, Anna was the only one who didn't know where to go.

"I'm sorry, you don't need to care about me. Goodbye."

Anna wanted to hang up, but Matthew's urgent tone made her pause. Even with the phone a few centimeters away from her ear, she could hear his voice clearly: "Don't care? Look at yourself, what can you do like this? If something happens to Jessica, I'm the one who's directly responsible. Do you know that?"

Anna bit her lip. She hoped Make would call, but Matthew kept bothering her. She had to speak up: "Now I'm my mother's guardian, and I suggest that she be discharged from the hospital so that you no longer have any responsibility. Goodbye."

The call was immediately disconnected. Matthew was angry and widened his eyes. He put the coffee cup on the ground and left, worrying that it was too late. He told himself that, but deep down, he was extremely worried about Jessica and Anna's safety. The truth was, if they were subjected to one more shock, they would both be affected psychologically and wouldn't be able to control themselves. He was a doctor, so they needed his help. They needed him, but she refused. Did she know how serious the consequences could be? Escaping reality was just a simple thing that this pressure-filled society created. They wanted to break free from their thoughts, but in their subconscious, they always wanted to wake up and realize what mission they had on this world, and what their duties were. When each person hadn't found their own presence yet, they hastily rejected themselves.

Every day, Matthew witnesses so many hardships, but they don't deserve to live such a stagnant life! Above all, he understands what he needs to do to help those with mental illness be treated in the most useful way for society. First, they must realize that their mental state is unstable and only they can help themselves overcome it. Sometimes, he feels powerless because everything is within the control and words of a doctor with expertise that people ignore.

Matthew returns to the hospital, always thinking about Anna and worried about her safety. He writes his report to the hospital director but can't seem to finish it. He throws his pen on the desk and hastily puts on his coat to leave.

When Anna meets Jessica, it's already evening, and Make directs her to this place. The deserted scene is only a small wooden house abandoned for a long time, with spider webs hanging in every corner of the house. Jessica sits silently with her head down, and Anna sees her mother rush over to hug her, crying without saying a word, "Mom!"

Jessica's face is pale, with dried blood on her mouth. She hides in a corner like a wounded little animal. Anna is heartbroken and questions, "Did he dare to hit my mother?"

Make stands by the front door, sniffing. "She was too loud."

"Did he dare to hit my mother? You bastard, my mother was in distress, and you still dare to hurt her? Are you still human?" Anna rushes over, but Make isn't afraid. He stands confidently by the door, raising his hand, "Hey, you rushing over here to see? Not only can I hit, but I can also kill your mother and you!"

Anna hesitates, grinding her teeth. Indeed, she cannot fight him; he is a person who can do what he says. She cannot let her mother get hurt anymore.

Make laughs, "My daughter is still very smart, ha ha."

Anna bites her lip, clenching her jaw so tightly that the blue veins on her temples become visible in sections, "Let my mother go."

Make sneers, "What do you have to offer me? Did you lose your house papers? Then you can replace that house."

"What do you want?" Anna suspected, staring at him.

He put on the appearance of a good father: "I'll let your mother and you go with the condition that you have to work at my creditor's headquarters. From now on, neither you nor I owe anyone anything."

Anna became angry and burst out laughing, "Headquarters? Sounds fancy, why don't you just say you're selling me as a prostitute? Why use flowery words? Don't you like to live in such an environment? That's why you let your wife and children suffer like this?"

Make clenched his fist and wanted to punch Anna in the face, but he relaxed: "Right, you're my daughter and have some value."

"Do you see me as merchandise? You're my father!" Anna exclaimed.

"If you don't agree, then forget it." Make looked at Jessica, who was cowering in the corner, and shouted loudly, "You, come here!"

Jessica's subconscious instinct was very afraid of Make. Just now, he had hit her until she was bleeding from her mouth. Hearing him shout, she trembled and looked at him with blank eyes.

Anna spread her arms to protect her mother, but Make effortlessly twisted one of Anna's arms behind her back, causing a bone to crack and making Anna cry out in pain, "Ouch, let me go!"

Make didn't care, and shouted at Jessica again, "You, come here!"

Jessica was frightened and put her hands down on the ground, crawling towards him on her knees. Anna closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face. Why did her mother have to endure such humiliation? Oh my god!

Make gritted his teeth, "I'll kill your mother first, then you!"

As he spoke, he lifted his foot and kicked Jessica's head, making her bow down to the ground. With one side of her face pressed against the ground, he used force to make her head stick tighter to the ground.

Anna couldn't bear to watch this anymore and shouted, "I agree, let my mother go. I beg you, don't torture my mother anymore!"

Make laughed satisfied, "Isn't it better to be obedient early?"

He withdrew his foot, and Jessica immediately retreated to the corner, growling like a mad beast.

"Release Anna, her shoulders have no strength left, the pain is coming but she's not moaning, only enduring the hatred in her heart. She swears from now on she won't see him as her father anymore, never!"

Anna suppressed the pain and leaned over to support Jessica, her voice choked up: "I'm taking my mother back to the hospital to keep her safe. I'll follow you, and from now on, we owe nobody anything."

Make felt a tinge of regret in his heart, his lips twitching: "You can rest assured, I won't stand in front of her again."

"Okay, just remember we don't owe you anything."