Sapphire_Lake

Halle has a café running now. With her sick mom, she has to work extra hard for a successful operation. After 5 years she was able to put back her tragic past and move forward focussing on her mother and the café. With two of her friends' help she's been progressing through her life alone. Now that things were going well there is a new problem. The person who ruined her name and brought chaos into her life is back in her life. And he's coming back for revenge. Will she be able to handle it and take care of her mom?

Will you leave me alone? I don't have time for you anymore!

They walked to a nearby building with a payphone. Pace looked at Halle like: you really want me to do this?


            Halle shrugged. "It's either you or Arien who's gotta do it."


            "He freaking remembered my voice after five years. You really want me to call?"


            "How did you find that the bottle was toxic?"


            Arien scratched his head. "Terrible incident, do not want to talk about that."


            "Hello, is this Juniper?" Pace asked.


            "Oh, hi. Is Juniper there?"


            "Oh, hey Juniper!" said Pace with fake cheerfulness. "Yes, it's been a long time, you may not remember me."


            Halle went near Pace and signalled her to hand over the receiver.


            "Can you please move a bit away from your husband, I need to talk about something important!"


            "She's going to cut the call," Halle muttered. "You're scaring her."


            Arien placed a finger to his lips and shook his head.


            "It's about your mom!" said Pace. "Please don't shout."


            *What the hell is going on?*


            Pace handed the phone over and signalled her to take it.


            Halle hesitantly took it. "Hello?"


            "You." Juniper spat with disdain. "I should have known. You and all your drama."


            "It's been more than a year since we had any real conversation Juniper and I'll cut to the chase." said Halle. "Mom's unwell, she's been this way since dad died and you know it. I've lost most of my money in dad's debt. I need your help for mum's operation. I don't want to lose her."


            "I don't have any money." hissed Juniper.


            "Yes, I know." Halle said angrily. "But . . ."


            Arien mouthed: Court, lawyer, money.


            "As I said, I can't give any." said Juniper over the phone.


            Her eyes widened. "If you don't give me, we need to go to court. You didn't help me with dad's debt and I let it go. She's the only one left for me. You don't help me, then I'm filing a complaint and you pay me in the court. You do know what they'll do if mum testifies that you didn't help us financially in any way after getting married to a well-off fella, right?"


            Juniper gritted her teeth. "I'll call you later to the same number."


            "No, you need to call to my number."


            "That's . . . not possible." Juniper said quietly.


            "You don't have any other number? Or any friend of yours? What about the one who spoke to me now?"


            "I don't want to risk anyone's safety."


            "What do you mean?" asked Juniper. "I'm not gonna do anything to them!"


            "The number you're talking in now. Is this yours or Elric's?"


            "He took the call yesterday and I couldn't talk—"


            "What!" Juniper almost screamed. "Fine!" she hissed. "How the hell do I contact you?"


Chapter 29