Chapter 61: Hello, Mrs. Sullivan
The old house wasn’t far from “Lucky’s Diner,” a ten–minute cab ride at most. Sonya hopped out at the alleyway entrance. It was past lunchtime; the food stalls were packed up, the usual midday bustle replaced by the quiet rustle of autumn leaves under a hazy afternoon sun. She strolled slowly, enjoying the tranquility. A tall, heavily intoxicated man lurched down the alley. Sonya initially ignored him, but he stumbled right in front of her. “Hey, beautiful,
drink?” he slurred, grinning leeringly.
wanna… wanna
Sonya frowned, trying to sidestep him.
have
a
“Hey, don’t go! Give a guy a break,” he mumbled, blocking her path and reaching for her.“I’ll… I’ll pay you.” He patted his pockets.
Sonya pulled her coat tighter, hurrying around him. He pursued her. Just as she considered calling 911, she heard a yelp. She turned to see the man sprawled on the ground, kicked there by a man she recognized – Jay.
—
“Damn drunk bastard! Don’t let me see you around the docks again. I’ll beat you every time!” Jay delivered another kick.
The drunkard, clearly recognizing Jay, groveled apologies, promising never to repeat his actions. Jay grunted, lit a cigarette, and strode toward Lucky’s Diner, never once glancing at Sonya. It seemed less like a rescue and more like a random act of justice.
“Ella Ge, thank you,” Sonya called, hurrying to catch up.
He ignored her, continuing his brisk pace. This was their second encounter, and from their first meeting, he seemed to dislike her intensely. She hadn’t done anything to provoke him, so why? The question puzzled her as she followed.
Lucky’s was nearly empty. Simon and his wife, Mrs. Sterling, were cleaning up. Seeing them arrive, Mrs. Sterling, ignoring Jay, warmly greeted Sonya.
Jay sat at a table outside and yelled inside, “Boss, one egg fried rice.”
Mrs. Sterling yelled back, “A rooster needs a hen to hatch chicks; no chicks, no eggs! Where’s the egg fried rice gonna come from?”
Jay mumbled, “Beef fried rice.”
“Even cows find partners, work the fields together… you…”
“Mrs. Sterling, I haven’t eaten lunch,” Sonya interrupted.
Mrs. Sterling, abandoning her lecture of Jay, pulled Sonya inside.“What do you want? Let Brother Sterling make it for you.”
The ground floor was greasy, so Mrs. Sterling led Sonya upstairs to a clean, bright three–bedroom
apartment.
“Where’s Mia?” Sonya asked.’
Mrs. Sterling poured her a cup of hot water.“My mother–in–law’s here from the country. She took Mia to the little plaza outside Cloud University.”
“That’s a relief for you.”
“It is! No more carrying the baby while serving customers.” Then, remembering Jay, she
49.2
continued, “My mother in law at its a childhood found she makes
me wh
vegetables. Her daughter’s a weacher same age as Jay 32. My mother in bar suggest thing them up – at least a meeting or exchanging WhatsApp Bur Say dosturaly of Toys schoolteachers more than anything
Sonya chuckled He mu se been a
“Simon says he never passed a single rem, from elementary is middle sind Mus beting laughed, recounting their par Simon and Jay were childhood buddies. They fried son of middle school and came to Cloud Cry to work. Then for me in Smut
Mentioning John Smith, Mrs Sterling sighed When I was with Simam hn was stil dive Tal handsome, cool, but he had a great smule and was so loyal. He was the for wind FearTHET TE ran away, but he was rushing to his night shits, as he le Sims sake care of him? Her eyes welled up
“His sister was sick. Didn’t you all know? Sonya akei
form
“Ah, Simon’s family had problems then We went back to our hometown Jay we ate an apprentice, coming back only every ten days or so. Henry was done, he was only fiffe probably thought he could handle it, so he didn’t say anything”
“So, when John died, Henry felt quilty and responsible If he’d been home, Jasmine Smiths surgery fees would have been covered, and John wouldn’t have had to rest
measures.
degene
“After John’s death, Henry came home to get money for his siner’s cremation? “Yes,” Mrs. Sterling sighed. After that, he matured, understood his parens sacrifices. He to care of Jasmine Smith’s tuition and Irving expenses, even after going abroad he often came back to see her…
She stopped abruptly ‘Oh dear, I got carried away. You must be starving Let me go chec downstairs.
She hurried downstairs.
Sonya remembered the old piano at her house; Henry said they pooled money to buy it for John Smith’s sister. But when she asked John Smith’s sister’s name, he said he barely knew he didn’t even remember her name.
Impossible. Someone he visited regularly even after going abroad, he couldn’t remember her name? He was lying!
Why?
After a while, Mrs. Sterling brought her a plate of beef dumplings.
Sonya casually asked, “Where is John Smith’s sister now?”
‘Oh, she… she was in a car accident. She’s gone.”
Sonya was shocked. Jasmine Smith was dead.
That evening, Sonya had dinner at the Reynolds family’s old house. Afterward, she intended to go for a walk with Benjamin, but Jason Reynolds dragged her off to play Mahjong. “Three short, need a fourth, Aunt! Emergency!*
The mahjong game was in a sunroom, huge glass windows showcasing the autumn scenery.
Chapter 61: Hello, Mrs. Sullivan
Mer
*This stunning beauty is my aunt, Sonya,” Jason Reynolds introduced her to the other players. Sonya looked at them: a man in a blue leisure suit, very pale and made–up, somewhat effeminate. “Hello, Aunt Ella. Call me Xiao Olivor,” the man said, extending a hand with a delicate flourish. Sonya shook his hand.“Hello.”
The other player wore a wool coat, long curly hair, and exquisite makeup. She was strikingly beautiful and elegant.
“That’s Rose White. You haven’t met her, but you’ve heard of her,” Jason Reynolds said.
Rose White?
the queen of detective novels, a bestselling author with Of course, she knew the name – numerous international awards. But her mind immediately flashed back to Luna Stone’s words: Even Rose White rejected Henry.*
Sonya smiled, extending her hand.“Ms. White, hello.”
Rose
at White looked
“Hello, Mrs. Sullivan.”
her intently, then leaned forward, shaking her hand.
Chapter 62 Loser Does the Dog impr
