Chapter 9
779words
Though it was only about a hundred meters from the most prosperous pedestrian street in the city center, it was like a completely different world. Quiet and peaceful.
I hadn't really come to my senses yet, still sitting motionless in the passenger seat, feeling as if all the strength had been drained from my body.
Olivia was still that strong woman who remained composed even if Mount Tai collapsed before her. She opened my car door, unbuckled my seatbelt, and pulled me out.
She led me quickly into the alley. Actually, the alley wasn't gloomy or dark, it's just that the buildings were too close together, with the sunlight blocked outside by the nearly touching structures, making the passageway appear less bright.
This was the last affordable residential area in the city center. It was densely populated, mostly the first choice of residence for young people like me who had just arrived in the big city to make a living.
However, we didn't plan to settle here.
Olivia led me to the middle of the alley, where there was an electrical box densely packed with electricity meters for the entire rental building.
She reached in to feel around. The electrical box was mounted quite high, making it impossible to see its bottom, so she could only reach in blindly. I instantly felt a sense of embarrassment, imagining myself as an electricity thief, unconsciously touching the back of my neck with my right hand while awkwardly looking around.
"Found it!" Olivia exclaimed happily, waving a car key that she had grabbed inside.
Although I wasn't clear about the entire plan, I believed we were close to victory.
"Alright, let's go."
Just as we were about to exit the alley, a familiar child's laughter suddenly came from behind.
I couldn't help but look back. It was Elaine Blackwood. Beside her were my, no, her two children, happily lowering their heads as they ate ice cream.
She was clearly startled when she saw me, but didn't make a scene. After regaining her composure, she ushered the children to walk in the opposite direction.
"Everyone has their own path to follow. It's time to go," Olivia said, following my line of sight. She understood why I had stopped.
"Yes, let's go," I continued on my way as well.
At the other end of the alley stood a completely black jeep.
The vehicle was quite tall, and since I'm rather short, I climbed in with some difficulty.
Once seated in the jeep, both of us let out a long sigh simultaneously. We knew this was the final step.
Once again, Olivia was driving, since I didn't know how, and Lawrence Sullivan had never allowed me to learn.
"How did you meet this person? How did you know she would be willing to help you? Most people wouldn't dare to mess with Lawrence Sullivan." Olivia finally couldn't help but voice the questions that had been weighing on her mind.
"She's Tanisha. I've known her for a long time. The first time we met was right after I married Sullivan. In the makeup room at our wedding hotel." She leaned her head against the chair back, her thoughts drifting to the past. "Back then, she warned me to stay away from him, but I didn't take it seriously. She left me her phone number, just saying I could contact her if I needed help. I never expected that after all these years, she would still remember me and be willing to help."
"Who is she?" Olivia still couldn't understand. "When I contacted her for you, she just said 'You finally came to your senses.' But besides this plan, she didn't say anything else."
"I only found out later. She's from country R, and she's a prominent figure there. Sullivan grew up and went to school in country R from a young age, attending an elite school where he was classmates with her brother. Later the two had a conflict, and that madman killed someone and ran back here. I only recently remembered that perhaps Tanisha could help me. And his reach doesn't extend there."
"We're here."
While I was still lost in memories, Olivia reminded me that we had arrived at the final checkpoint.
The car stopped in the underground parking garage of the Sullivan Group.
"Do you really trust her?" Olivia turned to ask me.
"Either flee far away or take a leap of faith. Either way, I won't be caged again."
I opened the car door, got out, and walked into the elevator with determined steps.
