Chapter 307

Hadwin Stephenson withdrew a crumpled yellow piece of paper from his chest pocket. Written on it were the words, “I’m sorry. I have to leave first.” It was the note she had left years ago; he’d carried it all this time. Several times, in anger, he’d crumpled and discarded it, only to retrieve it from the trash. The paper was a thorn in his heart, impossible and unwanted to remove. It was the only thing she had left him; without it, he would have nothing of hers. But now… now he had found her!

“Lina… Lina Sweeney…” He murmured her name repeatedly, his thin lips kissing the paper. His attachment was palpable.

Lina Sweeney, seated in Jason’s car with Grace, quickly gave them her address. Grace, still worried, asked, “That Hadwin Stephenson didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

“He just made me sit and stare at him for three hours,” Lina replied. “I wanted to call you, but he took my phone, so I couldn’t…”

Speaking of her phone, she remembered it was still with Hadwin! It contained important work information. The thought stressed her. Should she approach him to retrieve it, or simply consider it lost?

“What’s wrong?” Grace asked.

“Nothing,” Lina said, shaking her head and glancing at Jason, who was driving. She marveled at being in his car, knowing Grace’s intervention had secured her rescue. “Sorry I worried you.” She looked at her friend with guilt.

“What matters is you’re alright,” Grace reassured her.

As the car reached Lina’s neighborhood gate, she exited. Grace, taking the passenger seat, said to Jason, “Thank you.”

He turned to her. Moonlight illuminated her face, serene as still water. Earlier, she’d been frantic for Lina, willing to sacrifice almost anything—even her dignity—for her friend. Was Lina her lifeline?

“If I were in danger one day, would you kneel to save me?” Jason asked softly.

His slightly hoarse voice sent a tremor through her. Their eyes met, and for a moment she almost instinctively wanted to say yes. Reason, however, intervened. What was wrong with her? Would someone like Jason ever be in such danger?