At that moment, Johanna suddenly felt a surge of courage.
She nodded firmly, her voice clear and resolute. “I’ll go with you!”
The two quickly packed their things. Archie quietly sneaked into the director’s office and stole 500 dollars. Meanwhile, Johanna went to the kitchen, stole some food, and stuffed it into a backpack
The two youngsters slipped out of the house under the cover of night, scaled the wall, and escaped into an uncertain future. The years of wandering were just as difficult.
At first, the 500 dollars they stole was enough to prevent them from starving, but once the money ran out, it was hard to put food on the table. They occasionally had to starve.
They even had to sleep under bridges, where they were often driven away by other homeless people.
At that time, Johanna and Archie collected discarded mineral water bottles for a week They rummaged through trash cans without care for cleanliness because those bottles could be exchanged for money. Once they had filled a large sack, they would sell it for a few dollars, which was enough to buy them some food. Countless days and nights passed like this. Life was harsh but also sweet.
Compared to the orphanage, Johanna preferred those years of wandering because of the sweet taste of freedom. But good times didn’t last.
One day, a group of young thugs came into their area. They targeted Johanna, and their provocations grew more and more excessive. To protect her, Archie fought with the thugs. In the end, he dragged his injured body back to the bridge where they were staying.
One of the thugs had his leg broken by Archie. They wouldn’t let it slide, and it was only a matter of time before they came after them.
The two
two of them gave up the “home” they had made do with for so long and left the city, traveling from place to place until they arrived at Seldvale. After that, things developed further.
In Seldvale, a dazzling and prosperous city filled with skyscrapers, the two youngsters who had never seen the world were deeply shocked.
That night, the moon was mostly covered by dark clouds, and the surroundings were dim. But the ambition and brilliance in Archie’s eyes burned bright. Johanna looked up at Archile.
His gaze was fixed on the bustling scene in the distance as he said, “We won’t live like this forever. Johanna, trust me. I’ll keep climbing upward, no matter what it takes! I don’t want to just survive like some helpless ant that anyone can crush. I want to stand at a height that no one else can reach. I want those who once Inumiliated us to beg us for mercy!
“I want to stand in the clouds and watch others struggle in vain! I want money, I want power, and I want everyone to bow down before me!
Eventually, Archie exhausted every possible method until he managed to make a connection that brought him into the Russell family as one of the lowest–ranking subordinates. His ambition was soaring, but reality kept spitting in his face.
The height he dreamed of seemed too far, like a pipe dream
To take a shortcut, he chose to take a different path. He set his sights on Imogen, the daughter of the Russell family, even though Imogen was over a decade older thin him.
He succeeded.
He intentionally staged an accident to get Imogen to fall into the water and appeared just in time to rescue her. Later, he repeatedly approached her, deliberately making her fall into his carefully woven wrb of affection.
And now, it had all come back to bite him.
johanna trembled as she held onto Archie’s body, her tears flowing uncontrollably like a ruptured dam. Her voice was choked with sobs as she said, “I regret it, Archile. I regret it..”
Their days back then had been so beautiful.
semblance of
They had depended on each other and found joy in hardship. Though life had been tough, with time and experience, they managed to live with some se dignity.
But now, just what had become of them? How did things spiral into this mess?
