n the screen of her phone a

their convers

t to her. The cherry on her cigarette glowed in the sha

th since she last saw him. She wondered what ki

hat both would be nece

hrough the parking lot. Norman, James, and t

s. It made its debut a year ago at the International Motor Show. Watching them arrive with the window down, Ma

ant got in the driver's seat, and drov

d at Maria. "Did you have anything to do with the wound on Miss Qin's forehead?"

burning to the end, Maria didn

your usu

lightly. "Just a warning," she explained indifferently. Sh

? She told me to stay aw

erity to try and boss me around? You've gotten too big

ar. She had already gotten out. Norman rolled down the window and said, "Now everyone in H City knows y

ked her hair behind her ear and

more animated

atching Maria enter the four-star hotel,

his hotel room. It was more than 50 square meters, at less than 90 dollars

aundry services made staying in the hotel better than rent

a glass of liquor and sat in front of the French window. Staring

ia Song is b

e hotel in street clothes after c

the hotel, it was almost ten o'clock at night. Everyone else would be get

ate of a villa. She put her hands on the bars of bronze and

leaves, mulched flowerbeds, seeded lawns, trimmed trees and bushes, not to mention keeping the trim on the

w minutes. Then she took out her phone and dialed a number. "

for James as his personal butler. He had watched James

was silent for a moment befor

Thanks in advance, John." Her attitude towards the old butler was as full of respect as it ever was, b

ng for. Instead, he answered, "Sorry, Ms. Song, b

ow," she sa

HL

are meters, was lavishly decorated. A dark gray wood desk with

n-proof glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, and his eyes were focused on the documents in

ting James, the loyal butle

, Maria received his reply. "Ms. Son

ot, passing the original message from

don't deser

erly. "Thanks all

e right away, but before that, John Zhou add

up afterward, M

back. But she didn't expect to be so unwan

te, Maria kept staring at that one

es and her. After they moved in, James only stayed there eve

ought. Yes, this place used to be her paradise, but it als

. In a trance, she could still hear the babbling and m

hen. He also knew how to say "Daddy," but he was more familiar with

eep three or four hours a day. Besides, their marriage was not based on love, so Ja

in Maria's mind. His lovely peals

e he had a chance to experience everything life had to off

n rent asunder by an invisible devil's claws. Every time she thought a

and went to work. The older denizens gathered in community parks to get some exercise, practicing Tai Chi, group dancing, and working out. Parents tried to rouse

hone on the way to the gym. One of the messages was from John

when James read the text. He clicked back to c

her message from John Zhou. "Mr. Xi, the cemetery staff