CHAPTER 131: CHAPTER 130: FINAL WORDS

"Phoebe... you’re here."

In the moment Phoebe Lyle answered the phone, all his thousands of words transformed into the simplest phrase.

He couldn’t face Phoebe Lyle; he started to regret his actions.

Before meeting Phoebe Lyle again, he had been a ruthless person, never caring about the victims, and even found dragging others into the abyss a pleasure.

But after meeting Phoebe Lyle, it was as if he had found his own hope and sunshine, a hand reaching out from the darkness pulling him towards the light, the softest part of his youth, the direction of his heart.

He started trying to become better, planning to dissolve the online lending company after completing the last month of engagements and then turn over a new leaf, living a good life with the person he loved most.

All this was his dream, a presumptuous dream.

"Hmm, are you... alright?" Phoebe Lyle’s tone was flat, her eyes revealing indifference, as if they had never known each other.

When John Shaw saw the look in the eye of the person he loved, he knew everything was impossible, but he cherished this moment very much, wanting to hear more of her voice.

"Phoebe, I’m good, and you, are you doing well? Phoebe, I’m just a scumbag, you shouldn’t be sad for me, you should be happy, you know? I love to see you smile, you look beautiful when you smile."

The gentle voice carried all his love and excitement.

Phoebe Lyle stared at the man through the glass, unable to speak for a moment, as if the glass was the most distant distance between them.

"Phoebe, could you smile for me one more time? I... want to see you smile, is that okay?"

After his words fell, there was a deathly silence, both of them looking into each other’s eyes, filled with anticipation, sadness, and... unmoved.

Just as John Shaw thought about giving up, about speaking again, Phoebe Lyle forced a smile, her smile growing stronger.

The teary eyes filled with all her love for the man, and then this love flowed down her cheeks along with her tears, falling to the ground, stained with dust, becoming increasingly murky.

Perhaps because John Shaw had never seen Phoebe Lyle cry, he was a bit at a loss, flustered, and quickly comforted her: "Phoebe, don’t cry, don’t cry... don’t cry."

Perhaps these were the only three words he could say, but every effort he made was within them.

After Phoebe Lyle cried, she was completely calm. She slowly spoke: "John, did you know? One of the people who came to your company for a loan is a friend of mine. She has disappeared."

"... Phoebe, I’m sorry..."

"Where did you take her? She has not been home for three years, do you know that?" Phoebe’s question was like a complaint.

Perhaps Phoebe’s acting was not good, or maybe these were Luna’s prepared lines; John realized that Phoebe wasn’t there to see him, but to ask questions.

Even though he saw through it, he still didn’t expose it, only gently asking: "Phoebe, what is her name, was the account cleared or not?"

"Her name is Nancy, and it shows that the account was cleared." Phoebe did not continue according to Luna’s script; she understood the man’s meaning, the two of them almost being of one mind.

No matter for whom Phoebe was there to question him, as long as it was Phoebe asking, he would answer one by one.

Wanting to know the name was just to confirm if it was a man or a woman. The name Nancy, to be honest, he had some vague impression of it; perhaps because Nancy was a bit special, her character and appearance

somewhat resembled someone.

But he didn’t know the specific details afterward, only being able to determine from the account being cleared rather than not cleared.

Cleared accounts were people they sold to debt collection companies or nightclubs, those sold to debt collection companies were originally cleared, those sold to nightclubs couldn’t pay it back.

And he only remembered selling Nancy to a nightclub to earn money to pay back the debt.

And a girl like Nancy, with her temperament and aloof arrogance, surprisingly cleared the debt with interest within just three days.

But he didn’t know which specific nightclub it was.

"Can you tell me approximately where?"

John Shaw shook his head: "Just in South City, I don’t know anything more specific."

What Luna had asked her to inquire about was almost effortlessly gleaned, in fact, it was all said by John Shaw himself.

After asking these questions, Phoebe Lyle sighed, then said to the man: "Be good, admit your mistakes, keep a good attitude, and live well when you come out; call me if you’re in trouble."

After saying this, Phoebe Lyle was about to hang up the phone.

"Phoebe!"

The man’s call made her pause, but then she still put the phone back to her ear.

"Tell me, I’m listening."

His eyes were red and moist, his hand holding the phone shaking, his tone was quite emotional: "Phoebe, I don’t expect you to forgive me, but you must live well, start your life anew, start your future, I will sincerely confess."

"I hope you..." he hesitated for a long time, finally relieved, as if he had let go of everything, slowly saying: "Forget me."

And Phoebe Lyle was stunned in front of the man for a long time, her lips moving several times but no sound came out.

"Phoebe, forget me, I’m not a good person, I’ve added wounds to your life for no reason, I’m sorry..."

"Alright."

As soon as the words fell, it was accompanied by a loud slam, the sound of the phone being put back in place, but it was so urgent that it made such a loud noise.

This one simple word was already a farewell, despite the reluctance, despite that their love was not wrong, but from this moment on, everything was completely over.

She left quickly, and unsteadily.

John Shaw watched as his beloved left, holding the phone tightly, he finally spoke one last time.

"Phoebe, I love you, I love you..."

However, this sentence was only heard by himself, only by the police.

John Shaw’s goodness was only for Phoebe Lyle, but when he walked the path of crime, he was already sorry to everyone.

...

--- At the door of the meeting room.

Galen Collins stood outside, listening to the entire conversation inside clearly, then saw Phoebe Lyle come out, almost not standing steadily.

He supported her slightly, asking: "Are you alright?"

"I’m fine, Captain Collins, please take me out."

Luna, sitting outside, waited patiently, standing up as soon as the two of them came out.

"Captain Collins, I’m taking my friend back, you can go back to your business."

"Hmm, take it slow on the road."

In the car, Luna teased: "You’re not suited for lying at all, just opening your mouth makes it obvious."

"Sorry."

Seeing that Phoebe Lyle was completely dispirited, she sighed softly, then continued: "Didn’t he say to live well? Why are you so downcast, with no energy at all?"

"Hmm, you’re right," Phoebe Lyle straightened her fringe, then said, "About Nancy’s whereabouts, John Shaw said he doesn’t know the specifics, only that she was sent to a nightclub, probably in South City."

There are thousands of nightclubs in South City; it’ll take a lot of effort to track her down, especially since John Shaw didn’t record any of this.

But knowing something is better than knowing nothing.

So she said: "Got it, I’ll get the recording from Galen Collins later, and I’ll know the specifics of your conversation, you must be tired, take a rest, it’s a long road, three hours."

"Hmm."