“No!” Vincent shook his head, “I didn’t know about that back then!”
Leila trembled, no wonder he smiled so brightly like that back then, “So you found out later, and didn’t really love my sister when you were dating her?”
“Yes!”
“Okay, I understand!” Leila nodded and paused briefly. She then said coldly, “Can I get out of the car now?”
Vincent tensed up and didn’t reply. After a brief pause, he opened the car door.
Leila felt uneasy and she grasped the hem of her skirt. She was speechless.
“You can ask your father and he will admit to everything. Please ask him to allow me to have a proper brawl with him!” said Vincent coldly.
Leila closed her slightly opened mouth. Her sight blurred and she got out of the car.
Vincent grabbed on to the steering wheel tightly. His wound reopened and Leila saw blood seeping through his bandage the moment she closed the door. The car made a screeching noise and left abruptly. Leila wanted to chase after it for a moment.
But she couldn’t move, as if her legs turned into tree roots and had submerged into the ground.
The car turned around a corner and vanished.
At the Taekwondo gym.
Leila couldn’t calm down. She couldn’t remember the moves that Coach Koby taught her. As she was practising her kicks it was turning dark, she looked up unintentionally and suddenly saw Arthur standing in front of her. He had the white uniform on and had a black belt. He looked valiant and Leila was astonished, she said in a soft voice, “Arthur!”
“You won’t accomplish anything so half-heartedly!” said Arthur as he laughed. He walked over to her and said, “Go home for today, you’re not in a good condition! I told Coach Koby to let you rest for the day!”
A warm sensation engulfed Leila and she felt like crying.
He could always read her emotions.
Arthur's heart throbbed seeing her shock and hesitant look. She was in a daze and looked dejected, he felt sorry for her. He went up and gave her a hug, “Silly girl, everything’s going to be okay. I’m here for you!”
She felt better after being hugged by him and her tears started to fall. She needed to vent and be comforted, she was grateful for his concern but she was also exhausted to no end at this point. She suddenly remembered what happened last night and raised her head abruptly, “Nothing happened to you last night, right?”
She was talking about his chin.
She quickly rubbed away her tears, trying to hide her vulnerability.
“Nope, I’m fine! But you don’t look fine!”
“I’m fine!” Leila shook her head. “I, I’ll be taking my leave!”
She wanted to go to her father and find out the truth. But what if it was true that Vincent’s father killed himself because of her father’s intentional actions?
“Yeah, go on. I’m not going to see you off to avoid rumours from brewing!” said Arthur as he laughed.
Leila was grateful. She nodded her head and went to change.
At the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Municipal Government.
Brian was about to leave after a meeting, and he saw Leila.
He paused briefly and stopped organizing the documents in his hands. He signalled Leila to sit down, “Close the door!”
Leila bit her lips. She looked up after mustering a lot of courage and stared straight into Brian’s eyes, “Dad, did Vincent’s father really kill himself because of you?”
Brian's hands trembled and his eyes darkened. He looked at Leila profoundly and his eyes were a bottomless pit. After a while, he nodded.
“Yes, because of me!”
“You really made Seth halted the documents that were coming from above?”
“No!” Brian shook his head.
“No?”
“No.”
“But Vincent said you did! You also admitted to the previous fault.”
“He did kill himself because of me, but I didn’t halt the document. I am also still investigating into that matter,” said Brian as he grimaced. But he then smiled and said, “He finally told you!”
“Dad, what’s going on? I need to know!” Leila didn’t understand why could her father still smile after all that happened.
“His father died because of me and that was the truth. Vincent hated me, and you should help me shoulder some responsibility as my daughter!”
“That’s your mistake, not mine!” Leila was agitated, “Why am I involved in you guys’ dispute? Dad, do you know that I’m suffering?”
“I know!” Brian wasn’t making any excuse, “Do you wish to see me destroy Vincent then? You’re the only one that can mediate our conflict. Do you want to see the White Group perish, see Vincent fall and get sent to jail?”
“Dad…” Leila was dumbfounded.
“This is your life! Do your best to mediate our conflict if you don’t want to see him fall!”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: A Moment in Destiny
the writing is quite childish, but maybe it's just the translations...