Chapter 185: Find a Well-Paying Job

Chapter 185: Find a Well-Paying Job

Aviah's POV

"Do you have insurance?"

Mason panicked even more, his expression said it all.

The car owner sneered, "You're paying for this today!"

"Can we settle this privately? I'll pay you back slowly. Please, I'm working three jobs a day right now. I can't lose my place to live."

The car owner just said coldly, "The police are on their way."

I knew that if he lost his place to live, he'd lose his jobs too. Without work, he'd end up homeless.

In a few years, he'd probably die on the streets.

I stood up and stepped in front of Mason. "I'll pay for the damages."

Just then the light turned green, and cars behind us started honking. I could only say, "Let me move my car first."

After that, I pulled my car to the side.

Then I came back.

The car owner looked me over, his eyes stopping on my car.

It was a company car, quite expensive.

Probably figuring I could afford to pay, his attitude immediately softened. "Let me get a quote from a repair shop."

I nodded. Soon, in less than half an hour, the price came back - eight thousand dollars.

Mason gasped just hearing it.

I didn't know much about these things, but I didn't want to be scammed either, so I called Cameron and asked him to find someone to help me check.

I sent him a video of the car.

In less than ten minutes, he confirmed the price was accurate.

Seeing the car owner wasn't cheating me, I paid on the spot and settled it.

After the car owner drove away, I turned to look at Mason.

He kept his head down, his fingers nervously rubbing the corner of his shirt.

"Thank you. I'll pay you back."

I shook my head, not dwelling on that. We exchanged contact information. I looked at his motorcycle - it was completely wrecked from the crash, definitely not drivable.

I pointed at the motorcycle, "Do you have money to fix it?"

Mason looked even more dejected and shook his head.

I sighed, "You work three jobs. How much do you make?"

Mason slowly held up two fingers, "Twenty-five hundred dollars a month."

"Do you know how much it costs to fix this bike?"

Mason thought for a moment, "About two thousand dollars."

"Do you have the money?"

Mason shook his head again.

I called Cameron and asked him to find someone to take the bike back for repairs.

"Where do you live? I'll give you a ride."

"You don't need to trouble yourself."

"I said I'll take you." My tone left no room for argument.

Mason looked at me and finally nodded.

He lived in Windmill Village, in an old apartment building.

I followed him upstairs. The narrow stairwell smelled musty.

When he opened the door, what I saw inside made my heart tighten.

A tiny studio apartment with basic furniture and delivery boxes piled in the corner.

The only decent thing was an old TV.

"Sorry, it's a bit messy." Mason looked embarrassed. "I live alone and don't really clean up much."

I didn't say anything, just looked at him.

He looked exactly like Kevin, but lived like this.

Maybe it was guilt over Kevin, or longing for him.

At that moment, Scarlett couldn't have been lying to me, so the one who had protected me all along was Kevin.

Come to think of it, without him, with Scarlett's scheming nature, I probably would have been in danger long ago.

I never heard about Kevin's body back then, didn't even know where he was buried. Now thinking about it, there was definitely more to the story.

But that fire - even if he escaped, how could he not have burn scars?

Scars?

My eyes lit up. I suddenly remembered - Kevin had a very obvious birthmark on his waist, shaped like an arrow pointing straight up.

We used to play together, swim together, so Scarlett, August, and I all knew about this birthmark.

"On your waist," I bit my lip, "do you have a birthmark on your waist?"

Mason froze. "How do you know?"

My heart skipped a beat. Instinctively I said, "Let me see."

He hesitated for a few seconds, then lifted the hem of his shirt.

On the left side of his waist was a light brown birthmark.

Shaped like an arrow, pointing straight up.

It really was Kevin!

My mind almost crashed. It was really him?

Tears fell from my eyes.

"You're Kevin." My voice was shaking. "You didn't die. You're alive."

Mason looked at me, his eyes still confused. "Kevin? Is that my name? I really don't remember what happened in the past."

I cried tears of joy, but soon I became puzzled.

Something wasn't right. His face was so distinctive - if I could recognize him right away, how could Ralph and the others not find him?

Then I thought about where he lived, and it made sense.

Right, he lived in Windmill Village, Ralph lived in Mistvale District - separated by a river. Plus this was a slum. The Westerfield family would never set foot in a place like this.

And he was supposed to have burned to death back then, not escaped.

To Ralph, Kevin was dead.

What exactly happened back then?

How did Kevin escape?

Did anyone actually die in that fire?

But what's the point of thinking about this now?

The Westerfield family and I - we're completely done.

I looked at him. "Let me find you a job that pays better."