A Dream Life With You

Chapter 56: Make The Same Choice.

Before she knew it, someone hugged her. Victoria saw Jan who never cried in front of her look like that and she felt bad for making it happen. 

" I am sorry! It was all my fault." Victoria apologised while the others were unable to react. 

Victoria was already like an idol to them that they thought they may reach one day. But after that incident, they realized a fact that Victoria was a person on a whole new level. She was someone so high that even if they could fly, they would never be able to reach the place where she belongs. She was a heaven-sent person.

In a cafe near the office.

Everyone was silently sitting there. Meg, Eren and Alexa didn't dare to breathe loudly. Meanwhile, Hailey and Jan were staring at Victoria so sharply that their eyes were getting red. 

" Uhm. What should I bring you all?" The waiter noticed the strange atmosphere and asked. Victoria looked at everyone and coughed lightly to lighten up the atmosphere.

" Cough... 5 servings of Mango shake and pudding. Also, one cold coffee, please."

" O-Okay." The waiter wondered if Victoria was alright. It was snowing outside and she wants a cold coffee. But he had to obey the orders.

No one talked or moved even after the pudding and shake arrived. Eren and Meg felt very awkward. They wanted to eat but couldn't because the atmosphere was so weird.

Victoria felt helpless. She took a long breath and finally said. 

" Come on. Eat. We have to go back to work soon. This is my treat. I will treat you all to a proper feast tomorrow."

Alexa picked up her glass and started drinking the juice. Following her suit, Meg and Eren also eat. However, Hailey and Jan didn't blink their eyes. 

" Come on guys, eat,"

Victoria said helplessly. Hailey and Jan's eyes shook a little. Something about Victoria was very different. She has the same face but she doesn't look like the same person. Is this really Victoria? She looked so positive that it felt like she is not. 

" Explain. Please explain why everything that's happened has happened. Why the lawyer instead of the investigator investigated and why the hell was she captured? Ah! Maybe not captured but went there herself! What should I say? Is it something like she got abducted but she did so willingly so what could anyone say."

Victoria was left dumbfounded. It was Jan. She was speaking. For all the time that Victoria have known Jan, she had never even raised her voice in front of Victoria. It wasb't like she was a mild person, rather she was a very short tempered. But Victoria was the only one who never saw the slightest bit of wrath in her. So she was left dumbfounded.

" J-Jan! That-thats not it. Listen to me. I... "

" Hhe! Please stop okay! Sister Victoria, the whole world knows about it. What was it then? Did you... Did you not think about us? What about the people who needed you? What about the victims who needed someone like you? Or... Or do you really think I am such a great lawyer? Do you know how  many cases I've lost! I am not like you. I cannot be like you! You are the one who was needed the most! How could you... How could you do that to us... " 

This time, Victoria really didn't know what to say. Hailey had never looked at her so furiously. She had never talked to her this way. She was so mild and sweet that Victoria didn't know she can be angry too.

" I-I am sorry guys. Listen to me, okay?!" Victoria said worriedly.

" Sis Victoria, do you know what happened the day you got abducted?" Hailey asked in a devastating tone. Her eyes were red and tears were almost spilling out.

" Well... " Victoria cautiously glanced at them. She didn't want to agitate them any further.

" You don't know! How would you know! We slept peacefully throughout the night. The next day we came to the office but you were nowhere. We thought you must be out as you've been for the past few days. But then you know, a week later, in the news that we watched everyday which also reported the miraculous and brave escape of the abducted women, we heard... We heard your name... " Hailey cried as she spoke.

" I felt so horrible that day... I asked repeatedly. Was someone like you who saved others deserved this? Was someone who understood others deserved this? Would God really allow someone like you to go through something like this? Again and again! Again and again I asked and asked! But you know what?! A while later, it showed on the news that you actually... Actually got yourself abducted... "

" Who do you think you are?! Are you God?! Only God can save everyone! We are humans for goodness sake! Why would you do that?! WHY?!"

" Sorry Hailey! Sorry Jan! Please don't cry! It was all my fault okay?! I-I apologise! I won't do this again. Pleae stop crying okay?!"

" You shouldn't have done that. Why did you hire me, an investigator if you wanted to do this alone. I didn't know you were this reckless. I was wrong about you. Maybe I should just resign... " 

Jan stared at Victoria with red and teary eyes. Her eyes held so much disappointment. 

Hailey was crying badly while Jan consoled her. They were disappointed in her. They were sad because of her. She made a decision in which she helped the outsiders but ended up hurting the people around her. 

Victoria's eyes were teary. She closed her eyes and a tear fell. Finally, Victoria calmed herself down and spoke as she stared at them.

" You are all right. I was reckless. I was wrong. I was selfish. I have no excuses. But I can't turn back the time. And... Even if I can, I would still make the same decision... "

Hailey and Jan stared at her. Victoria continued.

" Do you both remember the situation at that time? I was investigating. Going from one bar to another, one place to another as I kept investigating. Then one day, I got a tip. It wasn't accurate. But I couldn't not take the risk just to be save. Becaus then I could have potentially lost the only chance to save them."

Jan and Hailey silently listened. They wanted to hear her and try to understand her. Because if not, they wouldn't be able to forgive her. 

" All this time, I worked my ass off to give justice to the victims. But Jan, Hailey! My heart bled everytime I met a victim. Everytime I heard their story. What I desperately wanted to do, what I become what I did for was never to bring them justice. Not for a single moment had I been working to bring them justice. From the start, since always, all I ever wanted was to prevent those unfair things. That's all! That was really all! I know I hurt you all. But can it really compare to what they have gone through?"

" But it would've been worse had you not woken up."

" But I did! That's the truth." 

" But you will make the same decision if you encountered the same situation. What are we all supposed to do then?!"

" Such things don't happen so occasionally. But if... Maybe if such thing happened again, I would really make the same choice and I would feel honoured until the very last moments of my life. For God has chosen me to help those he wanted to save. They said God fulfil our wishes through others. If I was the 'others' here, I am glad. I am happy! I am content with this life. Of course, to all those who cared about me and to whom I've hurted, I will receive my punishment for it one day. After all, I did something that I should feel guilty about."

" If you are guilty then why did you do it?!"

" I told you. I couldn't not do it. This is me. Hailey. All of you know now that being with me can hurt. If you want to leave, I won't stop you because I know I deserve this."