Ten Million Dollars Mission

c.82- The foolish desire

At the reception area,

L sat on the chesterfield sofa with a phone in her grasp. One by one, she checked the orphanages. In order to leave everything behind with the best lie, she desperately looked for the perfect veil. "Sorry, it took a bit longer than I thought" Caleb approached the woman.

Causing her to turn the phone off right away. "Oh, no, not at all" L stood up. "Shall we return?" The man's lips formed into a smile. This time, he would ask her to dine with him. "Actually, is it okay if I head back home?" But the response dragged Caleb's smile off along with hopes.

He furrowed his brows slightly. Why was she always withdrawing whenever he tried to catch her? He did not like this feeling at all. It stirred an ounce of gloom within him. "Is there any matter to attend?" Caleb threw a query while managing another beam.

L only smiled, "Please?" She persisted. And the man could not afford to force her. He nodded. "Thank you. I will come get the clothes and heels tomorrow" L promptly grabbed her purse, ready to leave the place. It panicked Caleb wholly. "Are you returning on your own?"

He scowled.

He thought he was supposed to drive her back to house. How come she was eager to leave on her own? "How else can I?" L tilted her head. Her reply grasped the man's heart. Was he a mere inconvenience for her so that he never crossed her mind? "I can drive you back"

Caleb suggested. It was when the woman gasped. "No, I cannot bother you" She waved her hand, refusing to take up on the opportunity. "I have never thought of you as a bother, Lilith" The man denied, his voice slowly trembling. It turned out he was in one-sided love story.

The woman did not seem to share the same feelings at all. Strangely, L let out a soft chuckle, which put the man in confusion. "I approached you forcefully and put you in this situation, yet you claim I have never been a bother to you. Aren't you being too kind?"

The silence conquered. Words stuck in Caleb's throat. His brows twitched as he attempted to understand the meaning behind her question. Did he happen to step over the boundaries? Did he make her uncomfortable? Was he in the wrong? He only saw himself as disruption.

L gulped.

She said it. The whole time, she had been wondering; why was he so kind? Wasn't he a bit too easy to be preyed on in this cruel world? "Shall we head back?" L broke the silence when she realized this would result in her loss. Caleb's eyes widened slightly. "We?" He asked.

"Mhm, we. You are driving me back, aren't you?" She flashed a beam, which brought a grin on the man's lips. "Yes" The two went out. No one uttered a word. Caleb's mind wandered while L thought of the best way to disappear. "It is a bit far, ain't it?" L tore the awkwardness.

"Sort of" If only she knew Caleb was the one who chose the farthest route. He wished for traffic. He did not want to let go of her. He had a gut feeling of losing her in a blink of an eye. "Thank you for today. I never expected one of my wishes to come true" L continued.

She could not lose track of this conversation. The atmosphere seemed fit for this type of chat. She must keep drowning him in the trap. "You don't have to mention. I am the one to thank you for giving me the opportunity to fulfill someone's wishes. You fulfilled my wish, actually"

Caleb stole a glance.

L smiled; "It is a miracle we met. You wanted to help people in need, and I needed help. You know, if we had met earlier, I would have fallen in love with a generous person like you" Leaning back, she let out a sigh. It was the moment Caleb's grip on steering wheel tightened.

Love sure is a beautiful thing to exist, and yet can be cruel. His heart crumpled into pieces as he could not utter a word. Maybe the best choice was to remain silent and let her go when death knocked on the door. But his heart could not endure the sorrow anymore. It was a plain torture.

"Time is not a barrier for us if you wish to fall in love" Looking to the front, Caleb declared. Hushing down the woman. Her eyes embraced an ounce of guilt. He fell to his knees quickly. It seemed the end was approaching quicker than she thought. Did she want this to end?

A query crossed her mind. L looked down, a sigh escaping between her lips. What a foolish desire. He was a simple character in a system. She should never forget her goal. Money matters the most, not love. "I am afraid you are wrong" L's lips curved up into a smile.

Caleb's jaw clenched.

It pained him to realize that he could not do anything. What sin had he ever committed to receive this punishment? "Oh, we have arrived! That was quick" The perfect excuse to slink out of the situation came up. "Ah, I didn't notice" The man gulped. "See you later then!"

L held onto her purse as she held the door handle, ready to step out. "You will come tomorrow, right?" But the question ceased her. She pursed her lips; did he figure out something? She pondered. Forcing a smile, L turned to look at the man who had a concerned frown on face.

"Of course, I will pay visit until I cannot" She assured, and a rush of sadness flooded within Caleb. "Bye!" When the man did not respond a word, L just left the car. She waved, heading inside the house. "Awn, man, I feel so bad" L threw her purse on the couch, ruffling her hair.

"No!" L slapped her cheeks, several times. "Five million. Focus on the mission. Who cares if he dies of despair? I did not do anything wrong. I am only accomplishing the task given to me. Don't feel bad, L. You got this! See the positive side, pretty baby!" She reminded.

"Now, shall we?"

L went out to observe someone. She wrapped herself in a load of orphanages list, finding the prey. Although she played the character by faking an illness, she could not pretend to die by the man's side while asking for the money like a fool. She needed a scheme.

The kind of plot full with undeniable circumstances. "Welcome back, Young Master" Amara came to welcome Caleb who had returned finally. "Mhm" "Where is Miss Lilith? Didn't you two leave together?" The woman furrowed her brows when she noticed the absence.

"She left early. Can you keep her things safe? She will be back tomorrow to get them" Caleb's dejected gaze was hard to ignore. Amara could not help but asked out loud; "Did something happen between you two?" She believed it was some sort of couple argument.

The man scoffed, "No, we are doing fine" He lied through his teeth. Lilith might be doing fine but not him. Every second felt like a torture. He was always scared to hear death's calling voice. He did not wish to let go of the woman at all. "I see" Amara slowly nodded.

She did not buy the lie.

"Should I prepare the dinner now?" She added a question while following the man from behind. "What's the point of dining?" A murmur crawled up between Caleb's lips as Amara's eyes widened. Oh, no. Something bad was about to happen. "Young Master, our bodies need food"

She smiled, persuading the man to have meal. And Caleb's steps stopped. He turned to look at the woman; "Does that mean it is easier to die if I refuse to eat?" As if he had found the best solution, Caleb queried. It was when Amara's brows wrinkled in disbelief. NO WAY!

"Young Master, what are you talking about? You have to eat. It is unhealthy for you skip meals almost every day. If you got into argument with Miss Lilith, please try to solve it with words peacefully. This kind of thought is unacceptable" Amara scolded him, causing Caleb to sigh.

"Lilith is going to leave me" The woman quieted down. She blinked, processing the situation in perplexity. "She has leukemia. I am only fulfilling her wishes because she requested me. But I don't think I can let go of her now. What do I do?" Caleb's eyes filled up with tears.

Words stuck in Amara's throat. Her lips quivered. How could this be? Just as her young master seemed to have found the true meaning of a happy life, the world decided to take it away from him. "My, Young Master..." At last, Amara understood everything.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Sympathizing with the couple.