After venting her pent-up frustrations, Lima returned home feeling unburdened. She had finally reached the decision to leave behind a marriage that had drained her of energy and hope.
She was fed up with the endless cycle of despair and the constant fear that enveloped her daily life.
"Lima, we've got McDonald's already. Why do this?" Fowles pleaded, his voice laced with agony.
"Because I can't keep paying back those vampires' interest," Lima shot back. "Because every penny I earn slips away by the end of the month. Because…" She took a deep breath. "Because I see no hope in you, Fowles."
Fowles reached for her, desperation in his eyes. "We can fix this. I can—"
"No," Lima interrupted. "It's too late, Fowles. I'll pay off the debt and move out of here. The house and everything else is yours."
"But I won't divorce you—not now," she added firmly. She needed the identity that came with the marriage, even if the relationship itself was hollow. Fowles, despite his anger, seemed invigorated by the confrontation.
"You can't do this to me!" he bellowed.
"I knew you'd react this way," Lima said coldly. His predictable tantrum sealed her resolve.
Fowles had always been like this—angry, self-pitying, and drowning in alcohol. All the goodness she once saw in him had evaporated long ago. What was left? A life of misery she no longer wanted any part of.
"I'll leave you the McDonald's franchise. That's my last favor to you," she said before heading to pack her belongings.
Fowles stood blocking the doorway, his face dark with anger, as he listened to the sound of the zipper closing on her bag.
Lima emerged with just a leather suitcase, her expression calm but resolute. "Fowles, move out of the way unless you want to make things worse for yourself."
She shoved past him, ignoring his curses.
"Damned bitch!" he yelled after her. "You'll regret this! You'll rot in hell, you ungrateful witch!"
Lima ignored his venomous words as she hailed a taxi and drove away, leaving the chaos of her old life behind. She had no nostalgia for it.
Earlier that day, she had received a $100,000 check at the hotel—enough to pay off her debts and buy an apartment. Lima's future seemed brighter now.
Her plan? Rely on Kim's generosity for the time being. "Maybe I should call him tonight," she mused as the city lights blurred past.
While Lima was charting her path forward, Charlie Lee was managing a different kind of chaos.
"Why were you fighting again?" Charlie asked Eric, who sat across from him.
"They called me a n****r," Eric replied, his voice defiant. His right cheek was swollen and bruised, but he held his head high.
"What happened to the other guy?" Charlie asked, his expression neutral.
"I kicked him in the nuts," Eric said with pride, though a hint of worry crept into his eyes. The other boy had been seriously injured, and Eric knew it might cause trouble.
"Good," Charlie said, surprising Eric. Instead of scolding him, Charlie reached out and tousled his hair affectionately.
"You've got a bit of my style," Charlie chuckled, making Eric smile with relief.
"Go find Andy. I'll take care of the rest," Charlie instructed. Once Eric left, Charlie turned his attention to the teacher who had accompanied the boy.
The teacher, who had been furious when he arrived, now shifted uncomfortably under Charlie's gaze.
"Insulting Eric first was their mistake, wasn't it?" Charlie asked calmly, his hands clasped.
"Yes, yes it was," the teacher stammered, his earlier indignation gone.
"Good. If they have an issue, tell them to come directly to me," Charlie said, leaning back in his chair.
The teacher, eager to escape the conversation, nodded quickly and left the room as fast as his legs could carry him.
Norma, Charlie's assistant, giggled softly. "Mr. Frank always favors the white kids, but he's not all bad."
"That's why I let him off easy," Charlie replied, smirking.
"You scared him," Norma teased.
"No, he scared himself," Charlie corrected. "Go check on Eric. He's probably ready to brag about his 'great victory.'"
Norma smiled and left the room, while Charlie turned his attention to a stack of documents brought in by his secretary.
"Boss, these are updates on PECA, the shipyard, and the A.O. Smith share transfer," the secretary said, handing him the papers.
"So soon?" Charlie asked, flipping through the documents.
"Ben offered a reasonable price, and we managed to secure 62% of the equity," the secretary explained.
"And the remaining shareholders?"
"They're hesitant to sell. They want to transform the business and focus on pressure boilers," the secretary replied, struggling to recall the exact details.
Charlie frowned but remained silent for a moment. "Get the car ready. We're heading to Milwaukee," he finally said.
The drive to Milwaukee was filled with both nostalgia and apprehension for Charlie. The memories of his early days—marked by struggle, fear, and violence—came flooding back.
Arriving at the familiar town, Charlie stepped out of the car and looked around. The barbed wire fences, run-down taverns, and rickety staircases hadn't changed much.
As they approached the factory gates, Charlie's mind drifted to his past. "Brother Dog, do you want to try throwing me over the fence again?" he joked, nudging his old friend Wang Dagou.
"Shut up," Dagou laughed, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder.
The guards at the gate hesitated when they saw the well-dressed group approaching. "What do you want?" one of them asked nervously.
"I'm your new boss," Charlie said simply, walking past them without waiting for a response.
Inside, workers eating lunch whispered among themselves, recognizing Charlie and Dagou from a notorious incident half a year earlier.
"Jerry, those two Chinese guys are back," one worker muttered to another.
Jerry, who had been involved in that earlier confrontation, froze in fear. He wanted to slip away quietly but knew there was no easy escape.
Charlie strode confidently through the factory, his presence commanding attention. When he finally stopped in front of Jerry, the man's face paled.
"Hello, Jerry," Charlie said with a sly smile.
Jerry swallowed hard, unable to hide his unease.
As the day progressed, Charlie handled the business negotiations with the same intensity and precision he brought to all his dealings. For him, every decision—whether personal or professional—was a step toward reclaiming control over his life and destiny.
Milwaukee was just another chapter in the larger story of Charlie Lee: a man who had clawed his way up from the bottom and wasn't about to stop climbing.
For Lima and Charlie, their paths may have diverged, but they were united in their determination to escape the chains of their past and forge a brighter future.