Jun and Ricki had just left because Troy was already on his way home when James suddenly appeared at Troy's house. The man's face was pale. Carol instantly felt her heart being squeezed. Her father. Something must have happened.
"What is it? Did something happen to Papa?" chased Carol as soon as they entered Troy's house.
"Master Harlan is in critical condition," said James.
Carol's legs went limp. She had to hold on to the sofa to stay standing.
"I… I have to go. I have to accompany Papa." Carol stepped to the door, but James held her back.
"Young Lady, you can't go there in this state!" snapped James. "Right now, they must be trying hard to find you to get rid of you for good. Before Master Harlan dies, you must also disappear. That's what they expected, Young Lady."
Carol slapped James' hand roughly. "Then you're asking me to stay here while I might not be able to be with Papa in his final moments?"
"We just have to hope Master Harlan gets past his critical period tonight," James tried to comfort her.
Carol shook her head. "If Papa goes like this, I will never be able to forgive myself."
"Master Harlan also definitely doesn't want you to risk your life by going back to that house!" snapped James. "Young Lady, please…"
Carol snorted disdainfully at James. "Are you going to separate me from Papa now? After what you did to Mama…"
"I'll figure out a way to get you to Master Harlan," James coaxed. "I promise. Therefore, please stay here. I will find out and I will try to get you to Master Harlan safely. So please… whatever news you hears about Master Harlan in the media, don't believe it. I just came here to tell you that, Young Lady."
Carol was stunned. "Don't tell me, they…"
"Currently Master Harlan's condition is critical, but the media reports in a terrible way. They've already mentioned about the company's heirs. I believe, it was their plan to lure you, Young Lady. Right now, they are desperate to find you and will do whatever it takes to find you, to get rid of you, Young Lady."
Carol clenched her fists in anger. She hated her current helplessness. She couldn't go to see her father, and she couldn't do anything against those people.
***
When James came out of Troy's house, he looked up at the night sky and took a deep breath. The night was so quiet and dark. Instantly reminded James of a terrible incident ten years ago.
James was just about to continue when he was suddenly grabbed from behind and pulled into the narrow lane beside Troy's house. As James continued to fight back, he heard his assailant speak,
"It's me."
Troy.
As soon as Troy let go, James immediately turned around, shocked and panicked to see Troy there. Did he hear everything?
"So he didn't lose his memory?" Troy's voice sounded dangerous.
"Troy, I'm really sorry. I have to do this to protect him," said James. "That girl …"
"How do you know her?" demanded Troy. His voice sounded unfriendly.
"She … I know her parents. I used to be her family's doctor," said James.
Troy frowned. "Doctor … of her family?"
James nodded. "And the person responsible for her mother's death."
"What?"
James sighed. "Therefore, I have to make sure Young Lady is safe. Right now, her life was in danger. She is alone, having to face people who want her death. I can't leave her alone, Troy. Therefore, I forced her to stay with you. Because I know, here is the only place where she is safe."
Troy's eyes narrowed disapprovingly. "In other words, she's using me to survive?"
"Young Lady Carol has no other choice! Her father was dying and could die at any time. She can't even meet and accompany her father at this time. Because if she came back, those people would kill her straight away. The only way for her to survive is her father's death. Isn't that too cruel for that girl?" James said.
Troy snorted sarcastically. "After what you did to her mother, you can still say that?"
James looked down, shook his head. "I… I can't even come up with any defense on that."
"How did you kill her mother?" demanded Troy. "Does she know?"
James shook his head. "If Young Lady finds out, she will probably blame herself."
Troy frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Ten years ago, I released Young Lady's mother, telling her to run away. But she didn't want to run away and forced me to kill her, with the promise that I would take care of her daughter in exchange for her life," said James. "When I let go, the woman killed herself in front of me. She gave her life to protect her daughter's life. How can I tell that to that girl?"
Troy frowned and looked away harshly.
"I know you're angry, but please…. I won't ask for anything more, Troy. Only the girl. Protect her," James pleaded.
Troy snorted. "After she tricked me and took advantage of me?"
James frowned anxiously. "Are you… going to avenge that girl?"
Troy didn't answer.
"You can do anything to me, but not to that girl, Troy. If you ask for my life, I will give it. But, please… not that girl. She was forced to stay alive by her parents at the cost of their lives . Even today, she is quite devastated by the fact that she could only live if her father died," said James sadly.
"I'll think about what to do with the girl," Troy said coldly.
"Troy..."
"Until then, that girl isn't going anywhere," Troy decided. "If you try to take her away or hide her from me, that very second you and that girl will die by my hands."
James was silent.
"And don't tell the girl if I already know," Troy said.
"About his family?"
"About her lying to me."
After saying that, Troy left James. James stared at Troy's back as it drifted away in the darkness and couldn't help but sigh. At least Troy wouldn't kill Carol.
Because, if that was what he was going to do, James would be lying here lifeless by now.
***
When Troy walked into his house, Carol greeted him cheerfully.
"I was just about to follow you again because you didn't come either," said the girl.
"Never leave the house alone, especially at night," Troy reminded her.
Carol just smiled and nodded. Troy saw no trace of sadness in her eyes. Even after what the girl had heard from James earlier about her father's condition…
"You are okay, right?" Troy couldn't help but ask.
Carol frowned. "What about me? Of course I'm okay."
Troy snorted inwardly. This girl is really good at acting. Because of that, she managed to trick Troy. Troy had faced a lot of fake people in front of him and he could tell right away if someone was lying to him. However, how could he be fooled by this girl?
No. At one point, Troy might have realized, something this girl was hiding from him. However, Troy chose to ignore it. Troy willingly believes this girl's lie. Troy had unconsciously let the girl take advantage of him. Why?
Because if Troy admitted that she was hiding something from him, lying to him, taking advantage of him, like now, Troy didn't know what to do. If only Troy could kill this girl right now, it might be easier for him.
However, how could he take back the second life he had given her?
***