The swimming pool was cool and inviting, its clear water shimmering under the sun. A sense of refreshing chill was always present here. Adjacent to the pool were lounge chairs and sunshades, and a few large trees were not too far off. It was a typical setup for a luxury villa.
"So... what's the problem?" Luke Prescott walked over to the pool, peering into the water, then turned to Joseph and Jason, spreading his hands. "I see no issues here. The water is clean; you can see to the bottom of the pool. What's the problem?"
He repeated his question, his dissatisfaction apparent. It seemed to him that this Chinese man, Jason, was a swindler. It was a mistake to invite him over. If even the psychics couldn't solve this problem, how could he?
Joseph glanced at Jason, slightly embarrassed. He trusted Jason, having witnessed his uncanny abilities, but with Jason yet to provide a definitive answer, he couldn't convince Luke Prescott. All he could do was shrug.
Jason was unperturbed. He was used to dealing with various types of people when he offered his services. His inner peace wouldn't allow him to be frustrated over such matters.
"Here—" Jason pointed toward the center of the pool, "Dig here, and you'll find the answer. The woman you're seeing is not your wife, but someone else..."
"What kind of nonsense is that?" Luke Prescott snapped. "What could possibly be wrong with this? Why should I excavate my pool just because of what you say? That's madness..." He rubbed his temples in frustration.
"Hey, Jason, is the problem really here?" Joseph couldn't help but ask.
The swimming pool seemed perfect. But when he saw Jason nodding confidently, Joseph turned to Luke Prescott, saying, "I believe Jason. He's never been wrong before with other clients I've referred to him."
Luke Prescott shook his head, disbelief written on his face. "Alright, buddy, I'll take your word for it. He's never been wrong before, but he's only human. Humans make mistakes, don't they?"
"I don't make mistakes, Mr. Prescott. Even without payment, I would still say the same. I never make mistakes—I am a professional." With that, Jason turned and walked away.
He was not one to take Luke Prescott's comments to heart, but he also wouldn't help those who didn't trust him. So, Jason left, not wanting to spend another moment there.
"Hey, Jason, wait... What's going on?" Joseph hurried after him.
Luke Prescott slapped his thigh in frustration, shouting after them, "Hey, Joseph, what the hell is this? What the hell is happening?" He followed them, still shouting.
Jason said nothing, too disinterested to engage with Luke. He got in his car and motioned for Joseph to get in.
Joseph turned to Luke Prescott, shrugging, "Hold on, Luke. We're leaving, but... I must tell you, Jason has never been wrong in these matters. If you trust him, do as he says, and pay us the agreed price afterwards...That's it." With that, he climbed into Jason's car.
As Jason drove away, Luke Prescott waved his hand and shook his head, "Goddamn, what a morning. Dig up my pool? Impossible. Crazy. He's crazy!"
Now, the 'crazy' man was back at his wooden cabin. As he stepped out of his car, he looked at Joseph, "Sorry, Joseph. Today... was my mistake." His voice was filled with remorse as he walked towards his balcony.
"Hey, Jason, it's not your fault. You gave him fair warning, but he didn't believe you. Trust is crucial in these matters," Joseph followed Jason onto the balcony, "I thought he might trust me, but... it's clear I overestimated our friendship."
"So?" Jason stopped, smiling, "Yes, this is not our problem." Taking a seat, Joseph joined him.
"What's in the center of the pool?" Joseph couldn't resist his curiosity.
"A body," Jason nodded, "a woman's body. And it's been there for many years. The body was there first, and then they built the pool on top of it."
"Oh. My God—" Joseph trusted Jason, so when he heard this, his eyes widened in shock, "So, what will happen?"
"He will see that woman every day... and he'll mistake her for his wife. His vitality will gradually be drained, and he won't live more than two years if this continues without intervention. I guess the previous owner of the villa didn't inform him about this when he sold it." "Oh, God..." Joseph couldn't help but exclaim before standing up. "No, Jason, listen. This time I need to convince him. Regardless of his disbelief, I'm still his friend. Our friendship isn't over, and... even if it was... I should still tell him the truth."
"Truth is only truth to those who believe it, isn't it?" Jason shook his head. "Of course... I won't deter you. That's your right, your prerogative. But... Joseph, why not go tomorrow?"
"Go tomorrow?" Joseph was taken aback before breaking into laughter. "Right, he still has two years to live, so... delaying for a day won't make things much worse. I highly agree with you."
Perhaps, delaying it by a day could lead to a significantly different outcome.
Harold Town was approximately a mile away from the bus station. Elizabeth's house was a bit further from the town, and Lisa's even farther. So, if they wanted to make it to the town before the guy trying to impress with his cool demeanor, they couldn't outrun his sports car.
So they stood, watching as he sauntered over, whistling nonchalantly. He finally reached Elizabeth, who had stepped forward to hide Lisa behind her.
"Listen..." Elizabeth began.
"No, no, no, I don't want to hear any of this—'Listen, David Augustine; get out of my way, David Augustine...' I don't want to hear such nonsense. I despise it. Dear Elizabeth!" David Augustine shook his head, mimicking her tone.
"Damn it, you shouldn't treat me like this!" David Augustine suddenly exploded in rage, a hint of embarrassment tinting his words. "Do you realize how much this hurts me? My God, all the girls were watching us today, but you rejected me. You humiliated me."
Elizabeth took a deep breath and said, "If I made you feel embarrassed, then I owe you an apology. I'm sorry, David Augustine, I shouldn't have..."
"No, no, Elizabeth. I think it's a bit too late for you to be saying that now, isn't it?" David Augustine shook his head. "Now, I'm in charge here. Either you come party with us, and I promise to treat you well, making you feel the intensity of my love for you."
Elizabeth stepped back, pulling Lisa back with her. She glared at David Augustine, "Don't try to provoke me. I know you're tough, but you're not the only one around..." She gave Lisa a soft nudge. "Wait for me over there. This will be over soon."
Lisa gave her a small nod, moving obediently to the side. Two guys tried to block her, but she pushed them away. "Look, fellas, why don't you go and watch your boss get beaten by Elizabeth? Then maybe you'll think twice before you block anyone's path again."
The two guys were shoved aside, and Lisa sat at the edge of the platform. She hugged her bag and watched the unfolding scene with ease, not worrying at all.
"Catch, Lisa!" Elizabeth tossed her coat and backpack to Lisa, who caught them. Elizabeth then settled into a fighting stance, took a few steps back, and beckoned to David Augustine. "Hey, Augustine, if you lose, are you going to drop your act?"
David Augustine paused, looking at Elizabeth's stance. He sneered, "I bet you didn't know that I'm a fifth-degree black belt in Taekwondo... But who in school doesn't know that?"
"No, at least I didn't!" Elizabeth beckoned him. "Enough talk, come on, Augustine. You're not scared of losing, are you?"