Chapter Sixty-Six: A New Beginning

Chapter Sixty-Six: A New Beginning

D*mn it! Where the hell had that idiot gone? Aaron King angrily hung up the phone. This was the fifth call, and even if something unexpected had come up, she should have answered by now. From what he knew of her, Lydia Moore would never miss such an important audition. Could something have happened to her? Unease gnawed at him, and his brow furrowed in deep concern.

James Taylor walked over to him, his voice low and clearly irritated. "What's she playing at? Why isn't she here yet?" His displeasure was evident in his tone. If she weren't the actress he had in mind for the lead role, he would never have waited half an hour for her. But that didn't mean his patience would last much longer. He had his principles and wasn't about to bend them for anyone.

Aaron King didn't respond, dialing her number again, the digits long memorized, but the only sound greeting him was the relentless ringing of an unanswered call. Frustrated, he raked his hand through his hair.

As James Taylor moved away, the seated executives began murmuring among themselves, their expressions growing increasingly angry. Soon, it seemed they had reached a consensus, and they all stood up in unison. One of the executives stepped forward and addressed James Taylor, "I'm sorry, Mr. Taylor, but we don't have time to wait any longer. Delar doesn't need a model who can't respect time. If she doesn't take this audition seriously, then we're leaving." With that, he and the other executives began to head toward the door.

James Taylor's cold, dark eyes grew even darker. In his experience, Lydia Moore had always been a responsible person, never late without reason. But the fact remained—she was late, and there was no excuse he could offer. His tightly pressed lips parted as he prepared to say something, but before he could speak, a tall figure moved to block the executives' path.

James Taylor turned in surprise—Aaron King! With an imposing presence, Aaron extended his right arm, barring their way. The executives exchanged glances of surprise and confusion.

"Give her another half hour. She'll be here," Aaron King said firmly, his tone brooking no argument. His dark eyes were sharp and icy, and his gaze alone made the lead executive take an involuntary step back, a flicker of fear passing through him. Yet, to maintain Delar's dignity, they tried to push past Aaron's arm, determined to leave. But Aaron remained in their way, his stance unyielding. The executives hesitated, caught between their professional pride and the intimidation they felt.

After a long moment, Aaron King slowly closed his eyes, his voice dropping as he said, "Please, wait just half an hour." This was the first time in his life he had ever uttered the word "please" to someone else. He didn't know why he was willing to compromise his most prized sense of pride for her, but the only thought in his mind right now was that he couldn't let her miss this opportunity.

The room fell into stunned silence. No one could believe what they had just heard. Aaron King, the proud and notoriously arrogant heir of Kingston Group, known for his defiance across political, financial, and fashion circles, had actually said "please" for the sake of a girl. Was she really that important to him? Touched by his rare humility, the executives exchanged a few glances before returning to their seats.

Aaron King's long arm dropped limply to his side, his hand slowly curling into a fist. Would she really show up in half an hour? The brilliant lights outside the window seemed to dim in his eyes, shadowed by doubt.

The night at the school campus was steeped in deep silence. The once noisy playground was now void of any sound, the only light coming from two lonely street lamps casting a faint yellow glow. A cold night wind swept through, making the tall trees rustle their bare branches, creating an eerie, hollow sound. In the corner of the campus, a small, hunched figure sat curled up, silently crying.

Jenny Lin had lost track of how long she had been hiding there, how many tears she had shed, or even if she was afraid. The incident from that afternoon replayed over and over in her mind. They had insulted her, mocked her, called her a murderer, a curse. She had fought back, repeatedly shouting that she wasn't a murderer, only to be pushed to the ground again and again.

Lydia Moore had told her that Uncle Luo's death wasn't her fault, but… Uncle Luo had died saving her. The image of him drowning three years ago played vividly in her mind, and Jenny Lin sobbed aloud, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Hearing the faint sound of crying, Julian Reed and Lydia Moore followed it and found Jenny Lin huddled in the corner of the wall. At that moment, the tension they had been carrying finally eased, but seeing Jenny Lin's pale face streaked with tears brought a deep sadness to their hearts. Lydia Moore knelt beside her, gently wiping away her tears, her own heart aching with compassion. Julian Reed remained silent, his eyes filled with a deep sorrow. It had been three years, and Jenny Lin still couldn't escape the shadows of the past. What could he do to help her return to being the sweet, innocent little sister she once was?

"Jenny Lin, trust me, everything is over now, really. Uncle Luo has gone to a place called heaven, where there are many, many angels who are pure and kind, so he'll definitely be very happy there. It's a beautiful world. And we, the ones left behind, should live our lives with joy and work hard for our dreams. That way, when we die, we can become angels too."

Lydia Moore continued to gently wipe the tears and dirt from Jenny Lin's face, her voice soft and tender as she smiled, "So Jenny Lin, you have to work really hard to become an angel. That way, someday, you'll be able to see Uncle Luo again in heaven, and you can become his special angel, always by his side, taking care of him. From now on, let's promise each other to work hard, okay?" Lydia held out her pinky finger, her bright eyes shining as she looked at Jenny, her lips curving into a small, sweet smile, revealing her tiny, adorable canine teeth.

Jenny Lin's throat tightened as she swallowed her tears, her eyes filled with both hope and lingering worry. Slowly, she raised her arm. Julian Reed held his breath, feeling a soft wave of emotion wash over him. Finally, under the gentle yellow light, their pinkies hooked together, sealing their promise with the purest smile, like a jasmine flower blooming suddenly in the night, filling the air with its sweet fragrance.

Lydia Moore pulled Jenny Lin's frail body into her arms and turned to smile at Julian Reed, her face radiant and full of warmth.

The bright headlights of the car pierced through the darkness and cold of the night as the white Mercedes drove off, its speed gradually returning to a steady pace.