Overcome with emotion, Ethan shed tears and embraced Alfie, expressing heartfelt gratitude. "Thank you so much, Alfie. I cannot fathom what I would have done or where I would be without you. I am grateful for the day we became friends." Alfie was rendered speechless. After ten minutes, Ethan picked up his phone, and as he began to dial a number, Alfie quickly stopped him. "Whom do you wish to call?" Alfie asked promptly. "I intend to call Angela to inform her of what has transpired," Ethan responded. "I do not believe that is a prudent idea," Alfie advised. "Hmm, I do not understand. Why do you say that?" Ethan countered. "Well, you mentioned that Harper indicated the individual who hacked your computer was close to you, and we have yet to ascertain who that is. . ." Alfie began, but Ethan interrupted. "Are you suggesting that Angela is responsible, or what?" Ethan queried. "I did not imply that. Please do not misunderstand me; I merely wished for you to remain on the safe si
"Do you trust him?" Harper asked. "I cannot say definitively, but he is a good and caring person," Ethan replied. "How well do you know this Steven?" Harper inquired further. "Not very well, although he seems to be quite close to me," Ethan admitted. Alfie interjected with a thought, "What if Steven is the one responsible for this?" "That is absurd; Steven would not do such a thing to me. While we may have been rivals in the past, we are now good friends who support one another," Ethan asserted. "Do not jump to conclusions just yet. The individual who committed this act is someone close to you and has had access to your computer. Thus, it could be anyone," Harper advised. After twenty minutes of silence, Ethan contemplated the possibility of Steven being the culprit, but he remained uncertain, as Angela also had access to his computer, though he believed she would not do anything of that nature. Ultimately, he chose not to disclose Angela's access to his computer. "I have cons
Ethan promptly wrote down Charlotte's number and handed it to Harper. "Where shall we convene?" Harper inquired. "We shall meet here at precisely 7:30 a.m., before she departs for work, as you know she is a lawyer," Ethan asserted. Harper took a deep breath and replied, "In that case, I must take my leave now to rest and prepare for our significant day tomorrow." "Thank you, Harper; you are indeed a true friend," Ethan replied. Harper smiled and departed. Alfie turned to Ethan and offered him a friendly smile. "I genuinely appreciate that individual. In any case, I shall rest now. See you in the morning," Alfie said as he left. Ethan felt a pang of guilt for not informing Angela about the unfolding events, but he believed it was for the best. The following day, precisely at 7:30 a.m., they gathered. Ethan was filled with excitement upon seeing Harper. "Greetings, Harper! I am so pleased you could make it," Ethan exclaimed. "I am delighted to be here," Harper replied cheerf
"Yes," Ethan confirmed. "Well, the Steven I know was never asthmatic," Charlotte replied. Ethan was taken aback. "How certain are you of that?" Ethan asked. "Well, during our time in school, we all underwent tests to determine any existing health conditions, and he had none. However, if you doubt my word, you may inquire with his parents," Charlotte replied. Ethan struggled to comprehend the information. "Do you know where his parents reside?" Ethan asked eagerly. "Yes," Charlotte said, providing Ethan with Steven's parents' address. "I appreciate your assistance," Ethan expressed his gratitude. "You are welcome," Charlotte replied. "One last request: I would like this conversation to remain confidential. I do not wish for Steven to be informed about it," Ethan pleaded. "Do not worry; you have nothing to fear. Steven and I are not particularly close friends, and I do not possess his contact information or know where he lives. Thus, this conversation is secure with me," Char
I retrieved from his desk was the one he used at work," Ethan elaborated. At this juncture, Alfie interjected, "This entire narrative is rather peculiar." "Indeed, it is. I have one final question regarding Steven," Harper remarked. "Please proceed," Ethan encouraged. "What actions did he take after he regained his normal breathing?" Harper queried. "He returned to his office to resume his work. However, before he departed, he made a statement that left me astonished," Ethan revealed. "And what was that statement?" Harper inquired. "He said, 'See you on the other side,' and then he left," Ethan replied. A silence lingered for five minutes before Harper said, "That will suffice for now; however, we require further information about Steven." "Absolutely," Alfie agreed. "Very well, let us arrange to gather more information from his parents today," Ethan proposed. "Calm down, Ethan. As I mentioned yesterday, we need to disguise ourselves, and we should formulate a plan. I sugge
As he spoke, Ethan's legs trembled, for he was not adept at lying and disliked keeping secrets from Angela, but felt it was necessary to fulfil their mission. "Very well, I understand now. Nonetheless, do call me when it is convenient for you," Angela instructed. Ethan smiled and replied, "Of course, I will." Angela noticed that Ethan's response was unusually prompt. "Hmm, is there something you wish to disclose?" she asked immediately. "Not at all, everything is perfectly fine. Please take care of yourself," Ethan assured her. "Very well then, goodbye. We shall speak at another time," Angela said before ending the call. Cynthia’s was present with her, and she quickly inquired "Dear friend, are you well?" "No, I am not," Angela responded with a note of sadness. "Did you just speak to Ethan on the phone?" Cynthia asked. "Yes, naturally. Who else would I speak to on the phone if not him?" Angela replied rather curtly. "If that is the case, why are you upset? Please tell me Eth
and he may not have the funds to spare. The Ethan I know would not part with his money without some form of collateral. If you have anything to offer as collateral, do let me know," Angela fabricated. Cynthia inhaled deeply and replied, "I do not possess any assets that could serve as collateral." Angela exhaled and stated, "That is the only feasible solution. Nonetheless, I can assist you with a sum of two hundred thousand pounds, and I would prefer not to be repaid." Cynthia expressed her heartfelt gratitude, saying, "I am truly thankful; you are exceedingly kind." Angela replied, "It is nothing. What are friends for if not to support one another? I apologise for not being able to provide the full amount you required, but this is all I can offer at present, and I hope you will accept it wholeheartedly." Cynthia smiled, tears of joy streaming down her face as she embraced Angela, exclaiming, "You are incredible! With this money you have given me, the doctor can begin treatment f
perfectly healthy and robust, and the only ailment he occasionally experiences is a fever. Furthermore, his genotype is AA, and his blood group is O positive." "Madam, I kindly urge you to remain calm; it is possible that there has been some misunderstanding. Nevertheless, I am pleased to hear that your son is in good health," Harper stated. "Very well, will he be offered the position?" Mrs. Elizabeth inquired. "Yes, Madam, I can assure you of that," Alfie replied. Ethan was visibly anxious, perspiring heavily and fidgeting. "Well, we must take our leave now. Thank you for your time, Madam," Harper expressed his gratitude. He subtly signalled to Ethan and Alfie, and they exited. However, once they had distanced themselves, Mrs. Elizabeth called her son, Steven. "Hello, my son," Mrs. Elizabeth said. "Good day, Mother," Steven responded. "Um, my son, three gentlemen visited and departed not long ago. They claimed to represent the Department of Health and Social Care and asked m
from me," Steven mused to himself. Meanwhile, Angela, intrigued, immediately asked, "My love, what did Steven say he wanted this time?" "Actually, he called me yesterday regarding an issue with his bank manager, and I encouraged him to apologise," Ethan replied. "Hmm, I do not wish to know the specifics of his issue with the bank manager; whatever predicament he finds himself in, he undoubtedly deserves it," Angela remarked. Ethan smiled and said, "My love, please remain calm. I am aware you have a dislike for Steven, and he has indeed received his just desserts. I only wish he would encounter further difficulties at work." "You can say that again," Angela concurred. "Let us take a nap; I am quite exhausted," Ethan suggested. "With pleasure," Angela replied happily. Conversely, Steven remained profoundly distressed, as he aspired to secure a promotion that the bank manager was reluctant to grant. Furthermore, he contemplated ways to dispose of the manager but realised he could
"My love, ignoring her calls will not resolve anything. Simply answer and ascertain the reason for her call, and act as though everything is normal," Angela urged. When Olivia called again, Ethan finally answered. "Hello, dear sister," Ethan greeted. "Good day, big brother. I have been attempting to reach you, but you have not been responding," Olivia retorted. "I apologise for that; I was occupied," Ethan replied. "It has been a while since I heard from you, and you seldom call, so I decided to reach out today to see how you are faring," Olivia said. "I am doing well. And you?" Ethan inquired. "I am faring well, and I am reaching out to you as I require financial assistance for my tuition fees and monthly expenses. I spoke with Father, and he informed me that he has yet to receive his salary, insisting that I contact you," Olivia explained. Upon hearing this, Ethan was taken aback, while Angela subtly encouraged him to continue the conversation. "Um, how much do you
which is why I have chosen to withdraw. Since that time, I have been apprehensive about entering another relationship, as I am uncertain of the behaviour the next woman I date may exhibit, and I am unwilling to subject my parents or relatives to further humiliation," Alfie elucidated. "I understand your sentiments, but do not dismiss the possibility that you have yet to encounter the right woman. It is not obligatory to marry anyone you date; take the time to truly understand her before making such a commitment. Moreover, why the urgency to marry?" Ethan inquired. "Ethan, how long should one date a woman before proposing marriage? I was in a relationship with Gloria for a year and with Lucy for eight months. Ultimately, it seems inconsequential. I have come to realise that neither was truly compatible with me, which is why I adhere to the adage, 'Man proposes, God disposes.' However, as I am now in my thirties, I seek companionship and someone to call my own. This is why I desired t
indicating that we would depart at dawn. When I asked why we could not take an evening flight, he mentioned he was expecting someone, to which I agreed and then retired to my room to rest,” Alfie continued. “Please, go on. I am all ears,” Ethan encouraged. The following morning, which was two days prior to my wedding, I awoke and awaited his arrival to call me so we could board our flight back. However, he did not come. Nonetheless, I chose not to disturb him, as I was under the impression that we would be departing from Vancouver that day. Consequently, I picked up my phone and call my fiancée, Lucy, who informed me that she was en route home with her friends. Shortly thereafter, Calvin knocked on my door, expressing a desire to speak with me," Alfie recounted. "What did he say? I trust he has not changed his mind about being your best man?" Ethan inquired eagerly. "Not at all, he had a different matter to discuss," Alfie responded with a laugh. "Very well, what was the nature
other four friends arrived and inquired why I had injured Levi, I explained the situation, and when they asked who my fiancée was, I stated it was Gloria. Can you guess what happened next?" Alfie continued his narrative. “What!” Ethan exclaimed. The group erupted into laughter, and one of them named Mike asserted that Levi was indeed correct, claiming he could attest to this because he had been intimate with her on multiple occasions. The other three concurred, laughing heartily as Mike informed me that they all had been involved with her, thereby justifying Levi's label of her as promiscuous, which Alfie recounted with evident sorrow. “Oh my goodness, that is quite troubling. Did you confront her about it?” Ethan inquired. “Indeed, I did, but she denied everything,” Alfie replied. “They will invariably deny such allegations. What actions did you take next?” Ethan pressed. “Well, I informed my friends that they were lying. Mike then reassured me, stating that he would invite her
to teach her a lesson," Angela replied. "Consider this: what if, in your anger, you accidentally harmed her, and she collapsed? What would be the consequence for you?" Ethan asked. Angela rolled her eyes and muttered, "Whatever." Subsequently, she ascended the staircase, visibly irate. Meanwhile, Ethan scrutinised his reflection and shook his head in sorrow. At that moment, Alfie descended the stairs and inquired, "What happened mate? I could hear Angela’s voice." "Indeed, we were subjected to an unpleasant encounter at the market by a vendor, and Angela is upset because I did not permit her to confront the seller directly," Ethan explained as he took a seat slowly. "Hmm, may I ask why a vendor would treat you both so poorly? What circumstances led to such an altercation?" Alfie queried. "That is an insightful question. Angela and I had gone there to purchase some groceries, and the vendor claimed that the prices had increased. Angela retorted, pointing out that she had bought
not want me to accompany her at first, but she changed her mind after I mentioned I would feel unwell if I remained at home longer," Ethan expounded. "Alright, and what were her reasons for not wanting you to accompany her initially?" Alfie questioned. "She told me to go inside and rest," Ethan replied. "Ah, I understand; please take a moment to freshen up, and do so promptly. We can discuss matters further when you return," Alfie remarked. Ethan proceeded to freshen himself up, and fifteen minutes later, he was prepared to leave. He hurried downstairs, only to find that Angela had already departed. Calling out her name loudly twice elicited no response, and at that moment, he felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he sat down, visibly disappointed. "Despite my entreaties, she still had the audacity to go to the market without me. I had hoped today would be different for us after this past month. How foolish I am to think that Angela would still care for me and not feel ash
to take naps regularly, as you require it now more than ever. You have noticeably lost weight," Alfie suggested.Ethan's expression grew somber as he replied, "Alfie, how can I possibly relax when my peers are out there striving? I cannot reconcile the fact that I have nothing to contribute; I feel utterly useless at this moment.""Hmm, Ethan, it is essential that you practice self-compassion. You have previously conveyed to me that life is filled with challenges, and you have also encouraged me to persevere regardless of the circumstances I encounter. I have heeded your counsel and am currently in a better place, so let go of the past and concentrate on your future. I firmly believe that God has significant plans for you," Alfie advised.Ethan nodded and inhaled deeply.Alfie then discreetly signalled to Angela, who approached Ethan to offer her guidance."My dear, it is imperative that you take it easy on yourself; your life does not culminate here. Let the past remain in the past,
as I was not vigilant and ignored your advice about exercising caution with Steven. Look at the situation it has led me to; had I known is the brother of Mr. Late," Ethan lamented. "Calm down, my love. Such is life, and you cannot alter what has already transpired; rather, you must learn from it and exercise caution in the future. Alfie was indeed correct in his note when he stated that you require rest and a soothing massage. So, lie down and allow me to massage you; by the time I finish, you will feel much better," Angela instructed. Ethan smiled, and as Angela began to massage him, he soon drifted off to sleep. Ethan slumbered soundly until evening, remaining asleep when Alfie returned. "Indeed, he must have received an exceptional massage from my massage team," Alfie remarked to himself, before gently patting Ethan, which roused him from his slumber. "Woah, Alfie, you're back! Welcome," Ethan exclaimed. "Yes, I have returned. Thank you," Alfie expressed his gratitude. "When