* * *
"Mr. Mo wouldn't get anything if he killed us. I believe we will be safe here if it's true that Vicky is trying to get us killed. His men mentioned we're supposed to be witnesses. It wouldn't be good if he tries to eliminate his witnesses, right?"
"Remi, you are so innocent. Mo Family is powerful. Do you really believe he would need us just to eliminate that bitch? We can't be so sure. I grew up only trusting myself. If I see a chance I will escape from here, do you want to come with me?" Ethan said whilst he tried if he could get the window open and surprisingly it did.
"Bingo!" He whispered sticking his head out. His eyes scanned any possible routes for his escape. When he finished, he draws back his head and looks around the room.
"Ethan, that's three stories down and you're not okay. What if something happens?! Let's just stay here and hear what Mr. Mo have say. You already know he's a difficult enemy, even if you manage to escape, he will still find you. He is that powerful." Remi convinced. Ethan chuckled slightly and pinched his friend's nose.
"You have always been like this, Remi. Where is the adventure in you!? Don't tell me all those years you still haven't learned how to have fun?" Ethan countered playfully, he walked towards the bed and happy to find out the bed had multiple sheets he could use for his escape.
"This is not having fun, Ethan! This is serious! Our lives are at stake. This is different from when we were younger. What will happen to your little sister and brothers if Mr. Mo gets angry at you? Please, think about it!!" Remi insisted. At the mention of his siblings, Ethan slightly tensed up. If there is anyone Ethan cared for the most in the world, it would definitely be his mother and siblings. That is why he had always been careful not to set as a bad example to his little sister and brothers. He didn't want them to copy what he's doing because he knew how dangerous it was.
He is far from being a good guy. The money he used to support them was from doing illegal things and all these years he had been pretending he had been working part-time jobs here and there just to support their everyday need because he didn't want to make them feel bad. He didn't want them to think that he had become who he was now because he needed to support them. He chose to be like this.
For him, it didn't really matter where the money came from as long as it could support his family well. As long as it could give them normal lives. it didn't matter what happened to him as long as they're safe and sound. But right now, if his impulsiveness brings them harm, he will not forgive himself.
It is obvious he would not want to put his family in danger. If he had a choice, he would always want to sacrifice himself for them.
"Fuck! Okay!" He rumbled giving Remi a sigh.
"I know it's hard to believe it now but I believe Mr. Mo will not do us any bad," Remi assured. She was not sure herself but seeing how she had been taken care of quite well since she arrived, she knew Mo Laotian had something he needed from them.
They might be a prisoner now but maybe not for long. It's her gut telling her not to be afraid although she was. That's no secret.
"Okay. I'll listen to you since you have always been good at judgment. But as soon as I see something wrong here, I will definitely escape and I'll leave you behind if you don't want to come." Ethan hissed. He kinda wants to punch himself for always attempting to escape when things got complicated. It's a bad habit he developed after working in a dangerous world for so many years. If he had a chance, escape is his only salvation.
Maybe it's also the reason why he somehow manage to escape death as well. One could say he was a coward but for Ethan Morris, it's his way of survival. No need to get involved when you have a chance not to get involved. It's as simple as that.
"Okay, fair enough... Uhm, anyway... so Vicky and you, got back together?" Remi asked awkwardly, even though Ethan hated Veronica now. It does not mean they didn't get together before since she got pregnant.
Remi fidgeted on her clothes, it's her deepest darkest secret that Ethan Morris is her crush since they were younger. But she knew she was not pretty enough like Veronica so she tried to be at least his good friend. She even supported his relationship with Veronica before since the three of them were childhood friends, and when Veronica left Ethan, Remi honestly felt heartbroken for him too.
But no words she could say then to comfort Ethan. Added the fact that Ethan's father had just died then, the man distanced himself from them. This was actually their first time meeting since they separated years ago.
"Tch. Got back!? No way, that bitch just used me because that Mo Hanlu doesn't want anything to do with her." Ethan spat bitterly as if he had not been so in love with the actress just recently. The day when something happened to them, he remembered Veronica was drunk. They met accidentally while he was on his way back from his business and somehow they ended up doing it.
He could still vividly remember how Veronica was that night. That night he was kinda upset that the actress kept mumbling a different man's name while he was with her.
Although she kept cursing at the name Mo Hanlu, it was obvious she was upset that this Mo Hanlu was not giving her attention.
"Oh... so uhmm, what are you going to do with your baby??"
"I'm going to take it of course. That woman's a monster, she wanted to abort our baby at first. I tried to stop her but I couldn't. I couldn't even get close to her. Later on, for some reason, she changed her mind and now I found out she's trying to let another man take responsibility! No way I'm gonna leave my baby with her." Ethan replied almost immediately. Remi, on the other hand, thought it would be for the best since her friend was not fond of children.
She was afraid the future of the baby wouldn't be with a loving a caring mother. Of course, there's a possibility that Veronica would change towards her own child but for now, with the actress' desire to be a star. Remi was afraid she wouldn't want anything to do with a baby, maybe at least for now.
"I'm so sorry. Vicky actually doesn't like kids." Remi replied remembering the times when the actress had to act with babies or children before. Veronica would always say that they're annoying.
And for some reason, kids also didn't like her. It's like they sensed her displeasure because kids and babies wouldn't get close to her or they always cry when she tried to act nicely. When kids act this way towards her, Veronica's displeasure would then worsen and the taping would get delayed because she doesn't know how to get along with children.
Since then, as long as there are children involved they would either have to use a stunt double, bribe the kid, maybe use some CGI, or simply declining a script with scenes involving kids especially infants since babies can't be bribed.
"I know. It's a fact I've known since before. I don't even know why I fell for such a bitch?!" When they were younger, it's always been Veronica's habit to share her displeasure with her siblings. And when Ethan and Veronica got together, Veronica revealed to him that she doesn't want to do anything involving children. That her dreams were big and there was no time for having a baby.
Back then Ethan felt disappointed since he like children, and of course, he dreamed of having a baby with the woman he loved. But now it's different. His love for the actress had died the night when he was supposed to be dead.
"Isn't it because she's pretty!?" Remi taunted playfully hoping that the mood would lighten a bit. Unfortunately, Ethan had been so deep with his hatred for Veronica that he suddenly snapped again.
"Tch. Pretty?! There's nothing pretty about that bitch!! I swear I'll kill her with my own hands. I'll plant a bullet in her head after I get my child." Ethan mumbled darkly that made Remi looked at him uncomfortably.
"Ethan, please don't say that. Even if Vicky tried to kill you, you don't have to kill her too. There are police who can punish her. Besides, you'll go to jail if someone finds out. She's a movie star and she had a lot of fans, it won't be a good idea to do something like that to her." Remi reasoned out. It's very difficult since both are her friends.
"A-And m-maybe she's now regretting it. I don't know how it felt---"
"Shut up! Regret? I've seen no regret in that woman's face." Ethan shouted shocking Remi as he remembered Veronica earlier today. He had seen no regret in her, it's clear she had wanted him dead.
"And Yes Remi, you don't know how I feel! You don't know how it feels to be shot in the head. This bullet that remained in my head is painful as hell. I crawl out of my grave just to survive, bet you don't know how that feels either. When that woman told me who had asked her to kill me, my heart broke again and again. My hatred towards that bitch runs deep Remi! Even if I have to go to jail, I won't regret as long as I could kill her." Ethan replied bitterly turning away from Remi. Remi listened, she clenched on her chest and felt pain seeing Ethan feeling this way.
It was clear Veronica had hurt him so much. She had hurt him again like she did years ago.
"I-I'm sorry. It was not my place to say such things." Remi uttered. Ethan walks towards the bed. They were once again fell into silence until Ethan released a deep sigh. He massages his temples and glanced at Remi who's still standing at her spot since earlier.
"I'm sorry. I have not been the same since I woke up from the coma." Ethan apologized. Remi just smiled and nodded saying that she understood. The air between them once again fell awkwardly silent. Fortunately, someone came in to break the ice.
"I am guessing Ms. Long and Mr. Morris had talked?" The man asked. Remi nodded silently while Ethan glared suspiciously at the man.
"Well then, shall I bring the two of you to meet our boss?" The man said. Ethan thought for a while and then stood.
"Okay! Bring us to meet your boss." Ethan replied. Now that he had calmed down a little, he wanted to know what this Mr. Mo wanted to happen. He wanted to know what the man wants that he even took the liberty of securing Remi and him and even his siblings. He was very much sure it was not as simple as becoming a witness to put Veronica in prison.
Additionally, he wondered why this situation had become so complicated when the only problem was Veronica lying about her pregnancy. If they were truly a powerful family, surely putting out an insignificant actress like Veronica Chime was as simple as snapping their fingers.
Something tells Ethan there was something deeper into it. Even though he was just a small-time drug courier, his clients were sometimes big shots. He worked in the world of dangers for so many years that he developed a talent for sensing danger, so even though he didn't have much courage to kill someone before, he also had a talent for escaping. He was really good at it that he manage to stay alive for so long.
He always trusted his instincts. And this time, it's telling him something dangerous will happen. Honestly, if it was before he would have wanted to escape like he though earlier. Thankfully Remi had reminded him of his purpose. This time in order to get his revenge he will need to toughen up.
"Alright then, Please come with me. Our boss will arrive soon."