Love's Labyrinth

Chapter 4: A weekend of evil encounters

Upon returning to my original residence, it was almost 2 a.m. I paid the taxi fare and headed towards my building. I wasn't particularly anxious, it was the weekend after all, and being a bit late wouldn't matter. However, I was bothered by the $4016 I owed her; even if I were to sell myself, I wouldn't get that much money.

As I arrived at my building, I was shocked to find my luggage moved to the corridor. Some of it, too large for the corridor, had been exposed to the rain, including a pair of black leather shoes that Jenny had given me a long time ago.

I dropped the umbrella, took out the keys from my pocket, and hurried upstairs with a determined pace.

The keys opened the lock, and with a forceful kick, I burst into the apartment. Standing in the living room, I angrily shouted, "Come out!"

I yelled three times, but there was no response. I kicked open the door of her room, but it was empty.

Looking at the neatly arranged room, I remembered my luggage getting soaked in the rain outside. The anger inside me intensified, and I raised my hand to throw her bedspread on the floor. Not satisfied, I even overturned the mattress, pillows, and blankets, leaving chaos behind.

After a hysterical outburst, I stood in Betsy's room, lit a cigarette, and eased my anger.

Betsy, who knows when, stood outside the room holding a mop and a convenient bag with various household items, probably from a recent supermarket trip.

She glared at me. I grabbed her clothes at the chest, dragging her into the room with such force that she dropped the bag and mop, scattering its contents. The previously immaculate room became a mess due to my anger.

Dragging her to the window, I opened it and made her look at my luggage in the rain. "Are you crazy? Why did you throw my luggage in the rain?"

Betsy broke free, speaking coldly, "You didn't come, so I found someone to help you move out. Any problem?"

"Other things delayed me. What's wrong with coming a bit late?"

"Promise a time and stick to it," Betsy said firmly, refusing to budge.

"You're unreasonable!" I became even angrier, making a motion to slap her.

I thought she would instinctively dodge or close her eyes, but she continued to look at me coldly, not blinking.

I lowered my raised hand, squinting at her. "You move my things up exactly as they are, and I'll pretend this never happened."

"I won't go." Betsy, with teary eyes, said resolutely.

I nodded. "You won't go, huh?..."

As I spoke, I threw the bedspread and blanket out of the window, enjoying a sense of release and revenge. In the wind and rain, the falling items looked helpless, like scars being ruthlessly exposed, which made me feel a bit lost and regretful. I shouldn't have been so impulsive, shouldn't have treated this stubborn woman like that. Perhaps it was the sight of the black leather shoes in the rain that stimulated me. My heart twitched, and in the lingering raindrops on the black shoes, I seemed to see the dead love between me and Jenny.

The bedspread and blanket finally fell to the ground after alternating up and down. Feeling somewhat guilty, I said to Betsy, "Now we're even!"

After my words, tears fell from Betsy's fair face, biting her lip and staring at me.

Looking at the devastated room, a sudden wave of guilt filled my heart, but I still stared at her and said, "I know you despise me, look down on me. Yes, I'm poor and useless, but that's no reason for you to disrespect me and my luggage. You're a woman. Today, I'll show some gentlemanly manners to you. I threw only your bedspread and blanket. Next time, I'll throw you along with them!"

After saying this, I took out the bank card she gave me yesterday from my wallet and placed it on the table. "I withdrew a total of $4016 from the card. I don't have the money to repay you now, but I will find a way to pay you back as soon as possible."

Tears welled up in Betsy's eyes. "Bastard, all of you are promise-breakers, bastards!"

I looked at her unexpectedly, unable to describe the feeling in my heart. After a while, I said, "I'm leaving. I'll repay the money I owe you. Although I'm late in fulfilling my promise, it doesn't mean I'm as untrustworthy as you think."

Betsy didn't respond, still looking at me with resentment.

I left. I didn't know if Betsy was still crying, but I knew it must be tough staying in

that messy room. However, just as she scolded me before, I was indeed scum, the beast in Isabella Hartfield's words, acting recklessly and impulsively.

Hailing a taxi, I moved my luggage to a sheltered pavilion by the roadside. I didn't know where to go next; my remaining money wasn't enough to rent a place, and contacting my only friend willing to lend me money,Morton Cowper was currently difficult due to my actions yesterday. Yes, for the past few years, I had only borrowed money from Morton Cowper, considering him a trusted friend to whom I could show my embarrassment and destitution. As for others, I wouldn't. Suddenly, it felt like the world had abandoned me.

I lit a cigarette, sitting on a stone bench in the pavilion, watching the passing vehicles, lost in thought.

My life shouldn't be like this, but for the past two years, I had been living like those silent and standing buildings in the city—lonely, helpless. It all originated from that woman. I knew very well that I would never have a chance to hold her hand again in this lifetime, yet I stubbornly couldn't break free, unable to let go of her tenderness.

The wind made me feel cold, and I found a scarf in the woven bag, wrapping it around myself to block the incessant cold breeze.

For the next hour, I sat in the pavilion, alternating between daydreaming and smoking, until it got dark, and a feeling of longing for rescue finally emerged.

The sudden ringing of my phone startled me. Wiping my face, I took out my phone from my pocket. It was a call from the Board Dad.

Board Dad was my father. He was conservative and reserved, working in the purchasing department of a small state-owned enterprise for 15 years. In the first year, he became the deputy director, and 15 years later, astonishingly, he still couldn't remove the 'deputy' from his title. Not only that, but he miraculously maintained a spotless record, never accepting a gift or bribe in a department known for its corrupt practices. Due to this unwavering integrity, his colleagues affectionately called him Board Dad, and he finally managed to drop the 'deputy' title. So, since the age of 17, I modernly called him Board Dad, but he mistakenly thought I was saying "My Dad."

I answered the call, hearing Board Dad's emotionless voice. He told me, "Adrian Sterling, I'm arriving in Suzhou now. I have an exhibition to attend tomorrow morning. I'll stay at your place tonight."

I felt helpless; this weekend seemed to be cursed, and whatever I feared most came true. I couldn't let Board Dad know about my current situation; he might get angry.

In a hurry, I said, "Board Dad, why don't you find a hotel near the station to stay? I have dinner plans with colleagues tonight, and it won't end quickly."

"Eat your meal. Didn't you leave the keys under the doormat? I can get in."

"Lots of thieves around. I didn't leave them."

Board Dad insisted, "Then I'll wait for you. After dinner, don't go crazy and come back soon."

"Board Dad, you've been on the road for a while, and it's rush hour now. Take a cab nearby. You're reluctant to take a cab, and it's rush hour. Your arms and legs won't withstand the crowding on the bus."

Board Dad persisted. "I'll wait for you. Don't play around after dinner. Come back early."

"Board Dad, considering you've been on the road for so long, why not find a hotel nearby? You can come to my place tomorrow morning."

Board Dad, unmoved, said, "Your mom knitted a sweater for you. I'll bring it to you."

After the call ended with a "beep," I was stunned for a moment and then immediately shouldered the luggage bag, dragging the suitcase to the roadside. I looked around, waiting for a taxi. That night, I would have to stay in that apartment that now belonged to Betsy, whether she liked it or not. I couldn't let Board Dad find out about my current predicament; he might explode.