" Uhuh, sure." He quickly nodded then gave her the phone and watched as she stood up and walked to a far corner where the kids were playing at the river bank.
His thoughts wandered to Clara and he sighed again. After hearing her cries last night on the phone, he couldn't sleep and waited anxiously for the morning to come then quickly got here. ' Carl! ' his expression darkened and he thought back to what happened twenty-three years ago. He was surely responsible for the murder of his cousin and even though it was his fault the heartless boy didn't show any sign of regret.
" Oh my God!."
His eyes snapped to the girl who had suddenly exclaimed and had a hand covering her mouth with a shocked expression.
" Is something wrong?" He quickly went to her and worriedly glanced at where she was looking.
" Y..Your phone, I'm so sorry, " Lily stammered while pointing to the river.
" What!?" Jack's eyes widened and he glanced between her and the river which was running at a very fast speed.
" I'm very sorry, " he heard her whisper again and sighed helplessly.
" It's alright," He smiled softly and watched as she slowly rubbed her hands together and wondered if she was feeling cold despite the heavy coat she was wearing.
" Come, " he said and she slowly followed behind him to his car.
Lily sat down in the passenger's seat and watched him with an indescribable emotion as he went back to the tree and came back with her book and bag.
" What's your name, " he asked after sitting down in the driver's seat while adjusting the car's temperature.
" My name's Lilian, but you can call me Lily, " she answered softly while holding tightly to her bag.
Jack frowned and found the name familiar but quickly shook off the thought. " Lily." he chuckled and started the car, then looked at her and asked, " Do you know any hotel nearby?"
She gazed at him softly and nodded, then gave him the direction.
After some time, they arrived inside the town and he droved through the streets where colorful decorations were hanging in front of the stores and houses.
" Where's your house,? I'll take you back, " he asked as he saw the two-storeyed building ahead which was also glowing with decorations.
" You can drop me here, I'll trek back home," She replied in her soft voice as the car came to a stop.
Jack glanced ahead at the sky which had turned dark then frowned. " Are you sure?"
She slowly nodded with a small smile and got out of the car after he had thanked her, then disappeared into the street which was bustling with different festivities as people go back and forth.
Jack watched the direction she took for a while, then his eyes darted to the small bag of medicine on the passenger seat. He sighed heavily while wondering where he could start looking for Clara, now that he had lost his phone.
*********
Carl sat on a chair in a spacious room, across a man who had been acting weirdly since they started the meeting.
His eyes darted to the small picture across the table which the man had been glancing at now and then and he sighed inside.
Even though he could not see it clearly, he could make out the figures on it and a barely visible smirk appeared on his face.
" S..So about the land. . ., " The mayor said distractedly as his eyes darted between Carl and the picture. It is actually the same person right? But the guy in the picture with his Mira had a different aura from the cold man in front of him.
But what if it's him? No, he couldn't afford to trifle with this dangerous man.
Carl glanced at his wristwatch with a frown and finally gestured to his assistant who was standing behind him.
David sighed in relief, thankful that the meeting will finally come to an end as he also found the guy's behavior weird and wondered what was on the photo. He extended the document which contained the contract in his hand and placed it on the table in front of the crazy guy.
" Oh, " the man came back to his senses and finally averted his eyes from the photo then opened the contract.
" M..Mr. Cha?." His eyes widened at the figures and he looked between Carl and the contract perplexedly then quickly signed it. Wow, this is the greatest deal he had ever made.
" Thank you, thank you, it's so great, collaborating with you, " he said with a wide smile while extending his hands for a handshake.
Carl stood up as David shook the man's hand. Then he suddenly stopped him, still wanting to satisfy his curiosity.
" Uhmm, M..Mr. Cha, are you perhaps, the person in this photo?." He showed him the picture with an expectant look.
Carl looked at it and just as he had guessed, it was his brother who was in the picture with Mira. They seem to be at the market as the place was crowded.
" Mm." He nodded and strode out of the room with David following behind him.
The man sighed in relief as he stared at their backs. He was thankful that he hadn't taken any action after finding out that Mira was seeing another guy. He couldn't afford to fall into any dispute with the dangerous man as his ruthlessness was known across the business world.
He looked down at the contract again and chuckled. All the money he had spent on her was not worth the deal he had just landed.
********
David sighed inside as he glanced now and then through the rearview mirror at his boss who was sitting in the back seat.
And after a while, he said," S..Sir about those emails and the hospital reports__"
" Forget it." Carl cut him off and sighed inside as he knew he was going to hear the same word again.
" You can go back, " he added after a while as they neared the resort where the family had decided to spend the vacation.