Chapter 3

Maya looked conflicted.

She bit her lip and said guiltily,

“Ethan, wait here. I’ll be right back.”

“He’s been afraid of the dark since he was a kid. I’ll go take a look with him.”

Before I could respond, she hurriedly threw on her coat and ran outside.

The door opened, and Liam pretended to be embarrassed as he said,

“Maya, I came to bother you this late at night. Ethan won’t be angry, will he?”

Maya replied softly,

“Forget about him.”

Her voice was very quiet, but I still heard her.

A bitter ache spread through my heart as I silently watched her back.

She didn’t look back at me even once, while Liam stared at me through the gap in the door with a smug smile.

Just as I expected, Maya didn’t come back all night.

Early the next morning, she tiptoed into the house and jumped when she saw me eating breakfast.

She stammered,

“You’re up so early today.”

“What are you having for breakfast? Let me try some too.”

I didn’t answer. I stuffed the last bun into my mouth.

She froze for a moment, then gave an awkward laugh.

When she saw that I was about to leave, she quickly picked up her bag and followed behind me.

“I don’t have to go to work for a while. You don’t need to take me so early.”

I stopped when I heard that, turned around, and said coldly,

“I never said I was taking you. From now on, get to work and back on your own. I have other things to do.”

Without paying any attention to her astonished expression, I turned around and left.

When I reached town, I set up my stall and called out loudly to attract customers.

A wealthy businessman who often visited my stall came over with a large wallet tucked under his arm, sat down on the stool, and asked curiously,

“Why did you close up so early yesterday? I came looking for you, but I couldn’t find you.”

I forced a stiff smile and answered helplessly,

“Something came up at home.”

He glanced around and lowered his voice.

“I heard you used to work at the steel mill?”

I nodded in surprise and sighed.

“That’s right.”

He looked disappointed.

“You had a perfectly good job. Why did you quit and start shining shoes?”

I didn’t answer. I simply polished his leather shoes in silence.

He seemed to figure out most of the story and said,

“To be honest, I own a steel mill too.”

“I’m short-staffed right now. You seem like a good young man. Would you be interested in giving it a try?”

“If you’re willing, come find me at Hayes Steelworks.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Maya appeared from nowhere and loudly objected,

“We’re not interested!”

She walked over to me and put on a concerned expression.

“Ethan, have you forgotten?”

“The doctor said you were suffering from exhaustion and needed plenty of rest.”

“And your... your leg still has an old injury. You can’t stand for too long.”

At that, Maya lowered her head guiltily.

That was because my leg had been injured when those thugs came to have their shoes shined.

If she had been willing to call the police and save me, perhaps everything would have turned out differently.

The businessman patted my shoulder regretfully.

“I see. That’s a real shame.”

With that, he left some cash behind and walked away.

Maya snatched up the money before I could and said awkwardly,

“Ethan, I know you might get angry, but I still have to tell you.”

“Liam accidentally injured someone at the steel mill. If he doesn’t pay compensation, the man is going to call the police.”

“He doesn’t have that much money, so I have to help him.”