Chapter 33: Chance

"Really? That's good ! What are you waiting for? Hurry, pack up your things and go to London!" Olivia said who looked more excited than Lucia who was still hesitating about her decision.

"You think so? Wouldn't it be better if I just stayed in this town?"

"Oh my God, Lucia! What are you looking for in this city? There's nothing here! If you have a chance to change your destiny in a big city, don't even think about wasting that opportunity!"

"You're right! But working with Bryan, I don't think so!"

"Why not? He has a lot of big companies. Do you know how rich he and his family are? Haven't you read the news in the magazines? The Walters family is on the list of the 10 richest people in the world and now Bryan is the head of the group of companies!"

"Tch, he's really that rich, huh? Just give goosebumps! It feels like he lives in a different world!"

"You who have known him since childhood still don't believe it, let alone me who I'm not even sure he still remembers me!"

"You know? It's a bit of fun not being remembered by him! He's very cocky and arrogant too. He has a rough mouth and always acts like he's in charge!"

"Is that true?"

"Of course! You can judge that too, right?"

"Uhm... I don't know, I don't think he's like that!"

"What do you mean? You want to say he's kind, generous and not arrogant? Tsk, come on Olivia! Don't make me laugh!"

"No, I'm serious! Bryan is famous for being very kind and generous!"

"Huh? You must be crazy!"

"Maybe you don't know because you haven't been back in town for a long time. But everyone in this town knows that Bryan Ferdinand Walter was very kind and generous. You know that orphanage near Rosemary Hill? Bryan is a regular benefactor. If he doesn't donate money every month, maybe the orphanage will close soon!" Olivia said it very seriously, so that Lucia could no longer deny her words.

The Orphanage on Rosemary Hill, Lucia still clearly remembered the orphanage. An old building that was used as an orphanage because many parents abandoned their children. A kind priest decided to take care of and raise the children in the orphanage.

In the past, they often went to Rosemary Hill and played with the children at the orphanage. From the top of the hill, the view of the sky at night is very beautiful, especially in the winter.

"I really didn't know he could do good either!"

"When the church burned down, Bryan also contributed to the cost of the church renovation. He never gave up on what he had given, but everyone in this town knows. That's why he is so respected here!"

"Yeah, that's good then! Everyone has a good side too, right?"

"But Leo, I feel so scared of him!"

"Scared? What's wrong with him? He might look like a thug, but he's really nice guy!"

"Maybe, but ever since he got out of prison and keeps causing trouble. He's been hated by the people of this town!" Olivia said looking nervous. Lucia was shocked, hearing that Leo had been to prison. How could something so improbable happen to him?

"P-prison? What do you mean?"

"I'm not surprised you don't know this, it must be because no one has ever told you. But Leo was in prison for three years for murdering his father!"

Lucia fell silent, she felt a huge hammer hit her head very hard. Leo, the boy who always laughed had killed his father. It seems so hard to believe.

"Olive, you're kidding, right?"

"Why am I kidding? It's an open secret. A month after graduating from high school, a shocking news broke out in this town. Leo had a fight with his father, the fight that night sounded awful. The neighbors already had a feeling something bad was going to happen. But no body who dared to intervene. But a moments later, Leo came out with a knife and a body covered in blood. He asked his neighbors to call the police because he had killed his father!"

"Oh Lord...!" Lucia's body trembled. She felt very weak now. Leo killed his father, it's really unbelievable.

"B-but there must be a reason why Leo would do that. Since childhood he has always been physically and mentally abused by his father, that's why I'm sure he didn't mean to kill his father!"

"Everyone thought so too! Before the police came to arrest him, he still had time to take a shower and change his clothes. He looked very calm even though his grandmother was crying hysterically. It's hard to know what really happened on the night of the murder, but since you left, Leo changed a lot. At school, he was always causing trouble. Fights, wild races and he rarely went to school. He and Bryan also got into a lot of fights!"

"They fight it's normal!"

"It wasn't just a small fight, but it got to the point of physical fights that had to be separated because they were already injured. I don't know how they got close again, but I'm sure since that fight they weren't really as close as they used to be!"

Lucia was dumbfounded, she didn't really know what the relationship between Bryan and Leo was like right now because by the side of the two of them, there were always Pierre and Chris. However, if she look back, they never got into a physical fight when she was with them, let alone got hurt.

"I really didn't know-"

"At Leo's trial, Bryan never came. Only Pierre and Chris were always with him!"

"How was the trial then? Was Leo found guilty?"

"Although several witnesses said that Leo did intend to kill his father out of revenge, but because it started with an argument, it became an accidental murder because at that time, his father grabbed a broken beer bottle and hit Leo's head with the bottle!"

Lucia's eyes started to water, she felt very sick imagining what had happened that night. Lucia knows very well, since childhood Leo has suffered, but what makes Lucia feel very sick is the expression on his face that always looks cheerful.

"Is that why you and the people of this town are afraid of him?"

"Not only that, but his current job is also very dangerous because it involves the mafia!"

"What? Mafia? What does that mean? Doesn't Leo work as a private pilot?"

"Actually I don't really know what his real job is, but rumors say that Leo works as a casino jockey. There are also those who say that Leo is an assassin. However, there are also rumors that he is having an affair with a rich socialite who already has a husband and children!”

Lucia's eyes widened, she could no longer digest the information Olivia had given her. It all sounds so shocking and really hard to believe. Her chest started to feel tight, she couldn't imagine what kind of life her friends were actually living.

"That's enough, Olive! I don't want to hear any more for now! My chest hurts so bad, I can't take it all yet!"

"Okay, I get it! I just wanted you to know, there's so much going on when you weren't here. To be honest, I used to really admire the friendship of the five of you. Especially when I heard that you've been friends since the age of five. Looking at you so close to each other, it makes me very jealous and at the same time very touched. When you left, their condition were very different and I know that because they miss you so much!"

"Really?"

"Yes, I think so!"

"Olive!"

"Hmm?"

"Why don't you go with me to London too? We can rent an apartment together. I'll get Bryan to give you a job! Oh no! I'll ask Pierre or Chris, I'm sure they can help!"

"That would be fun, wouldn't it? I've always wanted to be close to you. However, since you rarely hang out with girls, I don't dare to approach you!"

"So what are you waiting for? Let's go together!"

"Sorry, Lucia! But I can't!"

"Why?"

"If I could, I might have done it a long time ago. Work and live in London!"

"Why not?"

"My mom is sick, there is no one to take care of her! I purposely stayed to work at the convenience store because it is close to my house. So, I can keep an eye on my mom!"

"Is that so? I understand!"

"That's why you shouldn't waste the opportunity you have now! You have friends who care about you, so don't waste them!"

Lucia smiled gently, somehow she felt very sorry why when they were still in school the two of them rarely talked?

"Olive, thank you very much! I'm glad that you're the first friend I met when I returned to this city. I hope you also get the happiness you deserve!"

"Yes, my happiness is taking care of my mom. I'm happy with my life!"

"Thank goodness! All right, tonight I'm going to call Bryan and tell him, I'll take the offer!"

***