I looked up at him. I spread open my hands, leaned back, and motioned for him to look at me. “It’s like this. I'm alone now, and people will threaten me from time to time. I don't even dare to keep my children by my side anymore.”
He looked at me. Despite the smile on his lips, it did not reach his eyes. Instead, it looked a little deep. “There’s so much more to your words, Miss Lane. You seem to have been married but are now divorced. You took the children with you, but your ex-husband doesn’t seem willing to let you go. He even sent someone to threaten you. Just like that group from before, yes?”
While it was not the same, it was more or less accurate.
I was too lazy to explain further, so I just nodded. “More or less.”
“I didn't expect your experience to be more worthy of sympathy than mine.” After saying that, Neil abruptly realized that he had said something wrong and quickly waved his hand. “That... I didn't mean that, I meant…”
Seeing him flustered like a child, I smiled. “It’s alright. I get what you mean.”
“Good.” Neil heaved a sigh of relief at my response. “It’s unusual we ended up confiding in one another. Let’s have a toast.”
He did not wait for me to answer after he said that and got up. He went to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses. He walked back over and poured two glasses of wine. “We're both unfortunate individuals who have come to sympathize with one another. A toast, Miss Lane?”
Red wine did not cause drunkenness.
So, I accepted. I raised my glass to make a toast with him. “Alright.”
Upon downing the glass, I felt pretty good.
It was my first time meeting this stranger, but our conversations were quite soothing.
“You deserve someone better, Miss Lane.”
Someone better…
I lowered my head and gently shook it. “I insist you call me by my name, Mr. Hendersohn.”
“You’re right. We are, after all, two individuals who have confided in one another. Call me by my name too, then. It’s my honor to have met a friend like you.”
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