There were ten stacks of crisp $100 bills neatly arranged inside the bag-$100,000 in total.
Josephine stared at the money, her eyes wide with shock.
"Well, that''s quite a sum," Alex remarked casually. "Looks like they regretted their actions."
Josephine snapped the bag shut and thrust it back toward him.
"We can''t ept this."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"
"Because it''s dirty money!" she eximed.
"They earned it by selling drugs, extorting innocent people, forcing others out of their homes. Who knows what other terrible things they''ve done? I won''t have any part of it."
Alex studied her resolute expression.
Despite her obvious need, her principles remained unshaken. "Maybe we should ask the olddy inside. She might have some advice."
Inside the modest house, Ruth, the elderly woman in the wheelchair, eyed the money spread out on the table.
"I''m sorry, Alex," she said softly. "We can''t ept this kind of money."
"Why not?" Alex frowned. "Money itself isn''t evil. Politicians and businessmen use funds like this all the time and livefortably. The children here desperately need help."
But both Josephine and Ruth stood firm.
Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Alright then, let''s look at it differently-the money isn''t for you or the orphanage, at least not directly."
Josephine looked puzzled. "What do you
mean?"
"It''s a payment to me," he exined. "Compensation for my time and effort in dealing with their boss."
He gathered all ten stacks from the table, his gaze turning serious. "I''m a good citizen. I served my country, pay my taxes, and try to do the right thing. When I make mistakes, I seek forgiveness. So, I''m a decent person."
+25 BONOS
Josephine and Ruth exchanged a nce, taken aback by his self-justification.
"So, I''d like to donate $80,000 of this money to the orphanage," Alex continued. "Coming from someone like me, there''s no reason to turn it down, right?"
They looked at each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes.
After a long pause, Ruth finally nodded. "Alright."
Josephine eyed the remaining $20,000 in Alex''s hand. "And what about those two stacks?"
A sly smile yed on his lips. "Consider it a processing f*e. Dirty money in, clean money out. Even good deedse with expenses."
She red at him, her voiceced with disdain. "You''re shameless."
With that, she turned on her heel and left the room.
Alex watched her go, then turned to Ruth. "Do you think she hates me now?"
Ruth chuckled softly. "On the contrary, I think she might be starting to like you." “Really?” He arched an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
"Come here," she said, opening her frail arms. "It''s been so long since Ist saw you. Over a decade, isn''t it? You''ve grown into quite the man."
"You remember me?" Alex moved closer, embracing her gently.
"How could I forget one of my own?" she replied, her eyes misting. "How is the master who adopted you? Is he well?"
He let out a lightugh. "That old rascal? Still as stubborn as ever.
11
She reached up and touched his cheek tenderly. "Have you told Josephine who you are?"
Alex hesitated. “Not yet. She doesn''t seem to recognize me."
"Could you keep it that way?" Ruth asked gently.
"Why?"
"She holds a lot of resentment toward you," Ruth exined. "She believes you abandoned her
11
He looked away, guilt flickering across his face.
"She waited for you, you know," Ruth continued softly. "For ten years, she you''d return and take her
// Dedy
But you never came back."
+25 BONOS
"I got caught up in the war," he said quietly. "It was chaotic. I couldn''t return until now."
"And it was just a childhood promise, wasn''t it?" Ruth looked at him knowingly.
He sighed, recalling that distant memory-their shared words, the innocence of youth. "I didn''t realize how much it meant to her.
"To her, it meant everything," Ruth said. "I tried to help her move on, to let go of the hope that was holding her back."
"But I''m here now," he whispered.
"Yes, the promises of childhood are written in water, but the scars they leave are carved in stone." she
acknowledged, "but she''s ed.
The wedding is in a few months."
"Engaged?" Alex shocked. (1
"Don''t hold it against her," Ruth said, squeezing his hand.
"Carlo is a good man, the mine owner''s son. He''s been a great help to the orphanage. Josephine feels indebted to him. That''s why she
epted his proposal."
She paused. “If she knew you were back, it would onlyplicate things for her."
Alex nodded slowly. "I understand."
"Thank you," Ruth said, relief evident in her eyes.
"Now, would you mind pushing me to my room? There''s something I''ve been
keeping for you all these years."
He guided her wheelchair down the narrow hallway to an old room.
Ruth retrieved a small iron box, carefully unlocking it. From inside, she drew out a
faded postcard with worn edges.
She handed it to him. "This has the address of the person who first brought you to
the orphanage. He can tell you about your past."
Alex studied the postcard, emotions swirling within him.
As he stepped outside, the evening sun cast a warm glow over the yard.
Josephine stood by the doorway, arms crossed. "Leaving already?"
He slipped the postcard into his pocket, offering a faint smile.
"Actually, I think I''ll stick around for a few days. Might as well make good use of
my money."
She rolled her eyes, but a subtle smile tugged at her lips. "Suit yourself."
+25 BONOS
"Don''t miss me too much," he teased.
"Jerk," she shot back, but there was a softness in her gaze that hadn''t been there
before.