Chapter 13 Running Away
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As soon as she got home, she immediately pulled out a cheap suitcase from under her bed and swiftly packed her few belongings. I must flee. Otherwise, he’ll come after me! He surely wouldn’t let me off the hook since he hates me to the core! I must leave
right note!
Determined to survive, Mabel knew she couldn’t afford to waste any more time dealing with Xavier. There were still so many things left undone.
As night enveloped the sky, she limped away from the low–cost houses of Northbury Residences.
Directly across from the residential area stood an ATM. She inserted her bank card and watched the deposit amount flash on the screen. Gritting her teeth, she withdrew two thousand.
Clutching the cash, she hailed a taxi. “Take me to… she began, but as she settled into the back seat, she realized that, despite her desperation to escape, she hadn’t decided where to go.
“Where to?” The taxi driver asked, growing impatient.
Her mind went blank for a moment; it felt as though she had nowhere to turn, even with the vast world around her.
“Have you made up your mind? If not, get out. I have more business to attend to.” The driver snapped, knitting his brows as he shot her a disdainful glance. He couldn’t help but find her presence a nuisance, convinced she would bring him bad luck. for the day.
“I–I’m sorry, I haven’t decided where to go yet,” Mabel said slowly. Confronted by the irritable taxi driver, she didn’t argue or resist; instead, she offered a humble apology. At that moment, a profound sense of weakness washed over her, leaving her feeling utterly vulnerable.
People often exploit kindness, and the taxi driver, sensing her timidity, grew increasingly aggressive. Frustrated from a losing streak at poker, he unleashed his anger on Mabel.
“How could you flag down my cab without even knowing where you want to go? Are you messing with me on purpose? How did your parents raise you? Have you no shame? Get out! Get out of my cab right now! Don’t hold me up from making money. What rotten luck to have crossed paths with someone like you today!”
Mabel felt utterly humiliated. Though upset, the three years of imprisonment had stripped her of any temper she once had.
Lowering her gaze, she finally spoke. “I’m sorry, I’ll get out of the car now.”
her
Deep down, all she wanted was a moment to think about her next destination, but the driver showed no interest in giving h
that time.
Taken aback by her meekness, he had never encountered such a submissive passenger in his decade–long career. When Mabel hesitated to open the door, he abruptly raised his hand toward her.
“Ah! Mabel exclaimed all of a sudden. “Please don’t hit mel
His expression shifted to disbelief as he stared at the woman curled up in the passenger seat, her arms wrapped tightly around her head. “Are you crazy? I was just opening the door! Can’t believe I bumped into a madwoman today. Just my luck!”
As he spoke, the driver reached out to open the car door, sneering, “Get lost!” Whether it was his frustration from losing money or the fact that he saw Mabel as an easy target, his rudeness escalated. He felt emboldened to hurl such harsh words at her.
Mabel took her time getting out of the car, prompting another round of his tirade. “Stop dawdling! Hurry up! Are you a cripple or what?”
A jolt shot through Mabel’s heart at the insul. With newfound determination, she lifted her head to meet the driver’s gaze, correcting him with a firm voice, “I’m just slow; not a cripple.”
The driver froze for a moment before unleashing his irritation. “What a crazy woman! Get out of my sight right now! Running into you today is just my bad luck. No wonder nothing’s gone right for me today, even a simple game of cards ended in disaster.
It was clear that he was just looking for someone to vent his frustrations on, projecting his misfortunes onto her.
10:06 AM
Chapter 13 Running Away
washed over Mabel’s face. “Hand over what?” she asked.
“Money!”
“But I didn’t take your taxi, did I?” Mabel was even more confused.
+8 Pearls
The driver rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated. “You’ve been sitting in my car, haven’t you? You bring such bad luck; now I’ll have to clean it. Do you think car washes are free?”
Mabel was rendered speechless.
When he noticed Mabel still sitting there, he furrowed his brows and snapped. “Hurry up! Stop wasting my time! You’re really getting on my 1
“But L…”
“Just give me a hundred bucks. Quick!” the driver demanded.
Mabel’s face turned pale at his words. How she wished she could retort, accusing him of daylight robbery, but three years in prison had dulled her once fiery spirit.
The pride she once held as a daughter of the Jennings family, the dignity she once possessed, had all but vanished.
Suddenly, Mabel’s attention was drawn to the glaring headlights approaching from the left. She instinctively looked up and saw four black Audi A6s advancing side by side, heading straight toward her.
The license plates of the cars were intriguing, with four vehicles displaying sequential numbers from one to four. A fleeting flash from a streetlight illuminated the windshield of the leading car, momentarily revealing the taxi driver’s face. Mabel narrowed her eyes, trying to discern
