C321 A Favour Returned

Jack remained silent for a moment, studying Ben carefully. “You mentioned that your sister has joined your rivals,” he said slowly. “But I don't remember you ever telling me that you had a sister.” Ben immediately frowned. “What are you talking about, Jack? Stop going around in circles. What exactly do you want?” Jack leaned back in his chair and cleared his throat. “You remember that my uncle tried to purchase Lucia Goods, don't you?”

Ben nodded. “Yes, I remember. You told me about it before.” Jack smiled faintly. “Then you also know that he was very interested in the company.” “I know,” Ben replied. “But what does that have to do with my sister?” Jack folded his hands on the table. “You just told me that your sister has become friends with the people running Lucia Goods. If she is close to them, perhaps she can help us.” Ben's expression immediately changed. “Help you with what?” Jack leaned closer. “Convince them to sell the company.” Ben stared at him. “What?”

Jack remained calm. “Think about it. My uncle has already tried to purchase Lucia Goods, but they refused. If your sister is close to the directors, perhaps she can persuade them to reconsider.” Ben shook his head. “I don't know if that will work.” “You don't have to know,” Jack replied. “Just let me try.” Ben remained silent. Jack continued. “Lucia Goods is more valuable than you think. They manufacture electronics and distribute their products across several countries. My uncle has been planning to expand into that market for a long time.”

Ben listened carefully. “He even spoke with some of his contacts in South America. They are willing to pay almost any price for the company.” Ben frowned. “Why is your family so interested in Lucia Goods?” Jack smiled. “Money, Ben. Nothing more complicated than that.” Ben leaned back. “I still don't know if my sister will help you.” Jack immediately asked, “Then give me her number.” Ben looked at him. “You want to call her yourself?” “Yes.” Jack smiled. “If she refuses, then at least we will know we tried. And if she helps us, my uncle will make sure she is rewarded.”

Ben hesitated. He knew Sarah well enough to understand that she was not someone who could easily be pressured into doing something she did not want to do. “My sister is stubborn,” Ben finally said. “Very stubborn. If she decides she doesn't want to do something, nobody can force her.” Jack laughed softly. “Then I suppose I will have to convince her.” Ben stared at him for several seconds. There was something about Jack's request that made him uncomfortable, but he couldn't immediately explain why.

Still, Jack had helped him several times before. And he had already promised to repay the favours. “Fine,” he finally said. “I owe you a favour anyway.” He took out his phone and sent Sarah's number to Jack. Jack looked down at his phone and smiled when the message arrived. “Thank you, my friend.” Ben nodded. “But don't expect much. Sarah is already close to the people running Lucia Goods. She may refuse to get involved.” Jack stood up. “Then I will find out myself.”

He adjusted his jacket before looking back at Ben. “We have been sitting here for quite some time. You should go back and focus on your bar.” Ben nodded. “I will.” Jack smiled. “And remember, Ben, you still owe me another favour.” Ben gave him a strange look. “I haven't forgotten.” “Good.” Jack walked away. Ben remained seated for a moment, watching him disappear through the restaurant entrance.

Something about the conversation continued to bother him. He couldn't explain why. Perhaps it was simply because Jack had suddenly become interested in Sarah. Or perhaps it was because everything surrounding Jack seemed to be becoming more complicated by the day. Ben finally stood up and left the restaurant. At Nova Blaze, Laura had just finished reviewing the latest jewellery designs when she glanced at the clock. Only thirty minutes remained before the end of her working day. She slowly closed the file and leaned back in her chair.

For a few seconds, she simply stared at the designs in front of her. Her mind wasn't really on work anymore. It was on everything that had happened over the past few days. The friendship. The reunion. Mike and Alicia. Sarah and Chris. And, most importantly, the danger surrounding all of them. Laura finally stood up and walked toward the door. Before leaving, she picked up her phone and called Portia. “Portia?” “Yes, Chief?” “Please inform the Director that I have a few errands to run. I should be back within an hour or two.” Portia nodded. “Of course.”

Laura ended the call and left the office. As she drove toward Lucia Goods, however, her thoughts became heavier. Is this friendship really worth it? She tightened her grip on the steering wheel. From the outside, everything looked perfect. They laughed together. They joked with one another. They went out together. But Laura knew there was something much darker happening beneath all of that. Dangerous people were moving against Mike and Alicia. The Maguire family had been killed. There were armed men hunting Mike.

Nobody knew exactly how far the Harris family was willing to go. Laura sighed. “What if they come after my in-laws?” She immediately remembered that Gomez family had security. But then another thought entered her mind. Her father. He lived alone. “What if they attack my father?” Laura's expression changed. She had always considered herself independent. She had always believed that she could handle her own problems. But this was different. These were people who were willing to kill entire families.

She slowed the car slightly. "What if being close to Mike and Alicia puts everyone around me in danger?" For a moment, she considered turning around. "Maybe it would be safer to stay away." "Friendship isn't n't worth risking my family's lives. But then she remembered what Mike had said. Being friends with them did not mean that everyone had to fight. They had made that clear. Nobody was being forced to sign a contract. Nobody was being forced to enter the conflict.

And yet Laura couldn't shake another thought. "If I learn how to defend myself, wouldn't that make me stronger?" She thought about it carefully. "If I remained weak, I would always have to depend on someone else whenever danger came." "But if I train... If I learned how to protect myself..." "Maybe I could protect the people I care about as well." A faint smile appeared on her face. “Perhaps I don't need to stay away.” She continued driving. Then, unexpectedly, her thoughts returned to Mike.

She remembered the time they had spent together. The mistakes. The arguments. The testimony. And the way everything had ended. Laura lowered her eyes for a moment before focusing on the road again. “Mike...” Her voice was barely audible. “I couldn't protect you when we were together.” She paused. “But perhaps I can do something now.” Her expression became more determined. “If I become stronger, I can protect the people I care about.” She smiled faintly. “I can fight alongside you.” Then she remembered Alicia.

Laura's smile became softer. “No... not just you.” She shook her head. “Alongside Alicia too.” She remembered how Alicia had accepted her despite everything that had happened in the past. There had been no bitterness in her words. No attempt to humiliate her. Instead, Alicia had simply opened the door and allowed her to move forward. Laura took a deep breath. “I am really sorry for what happened between us, Mike.” She looked ahead. “But from now on, I won't live in the past.”

Her hands tightened around the steering wheel. “If danger comes, I will stand beside the people I care about.” She smiled. “Not because I want to interfere with your marriage.” She laughed softly at herself. “And definitely not because I still have feelings for you.” Her expression became serious again. “I just want to become someone who can help.” The buildings surrounding Lucia Goods soon came into view.