Find Me In Your Labyrinth novel Chapter 1654

"We'd been dating for about six months. During that time, I scrimped and saved, even quit smoking, all to stash away enough cash with an eye on buying a house in J City and marrying her. But it wasn't long before the boss's son returned from overseas and took a shine to my girl. He set me up, accusing me of stealing steel from the factory, and had the cops haul me away. That night, I was with my girlfriend. All she had to do was testify that I was with her, and I'd have an alibi to clear my name. But she didn't. She just sat in the courtroom, watching me take the fall, without uttering a single word. I was sentenced to three years. When I got out, I went looking for her right away, only to see her leaving the factory, all decked out in designer clothes, stepping into a Mercedes-Benz. I found out later that she'd married the boss's son and was now the company's business manager. I despised her then, wanted to find a way to get back at her. I used to think that there was some sort of karma in the world. I'd been an honest decent man, and yet I ended up with nothing, a jailbird with a criminal record, too ashamed to go home, unable to find work. Meanwhile, those two, they got to live high off the hog!"

Xavier asked, "So, did you get your revenge?"

Damian took a swig of his beer, his face set in grim lines. He shook his head slowly. "No! The day I confronted her, I held a knife to her throat, and she cried, snot and tears mingling. She said that her mother had been ill at the time and she needed money. The boss's son had told her he'd pay for the treatment, as long as she didn't testify for me. After I was sent away, she couldn't resist the boss's son's advances, and eventually, they ended up together. She cried as she told me that she loved me, but we were too poor. Even if we worked in the factory our whole lives, we'd never be able to afford a house in J City.” She also said, "When I was sent away, she discovered that she was pregnant, carrying my child, but she lost it. She begged me to spare her, for the sake of the child we almost had. And so, in the end, I couldn't do it."

Xavier clinked his beer bottle against Damian's. "You did the right thing, man. A woman like that is not worth throwing away the rest of your life over."

Damian nodded. "True. In hindsight, I'm kind of glad. Even more glad that I met you, who gave me a chance to live a decent life again."

Xavier laughed. "Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden, especially on a holiday? Forget about it, let the past stay in the past. You should focus on finding a good woman and settling down."

"We'll see. I'm good for now." Damian gave a nonchalant smile. "Let's go to the lobby and join the others for a drink."

Xavier shook his head. "You guys go ahead. I need some alone time."

Damian joked, "What're you gonna do, moon over someone?"

Xavier looked up, half-serious, half-joking. "Just watch the moon."