Chapter 32: Owen Perez, Her Savior


    Her attackers kicked her for ten minutes until she stopped moving. They nced at each other and


    then quickly left the scene.


    Alvera was left on the beach like a discarded rag.


    She was still conscious, but she had no more strength left to struggle.


    After the beating stopped, shey there for half an hour before lifting her aching arms and removing the


    sack from her head.


    Then she copsed on the ground, unable to move.


    She fumbled around for her phone and tried to call Samuel, but he did not answer his phone.


    She was in so much pain.


    The only other person she knew could save her was... Rnd Francois.


    She took a deep breath, found Rnd''s number and called him, her hands trembling in pain.


    After a while, Rnd''s cold voice came from the other end of the phone, "What''s the matter?"


    "Sa..."


    Before she could finish, she heard Andrina''s voice from the other end of the phone. "Rnd, who''s


    that?"


    Alvera froze as her hopes crumbled.


    Not a lot of people in this city wanted her dead, but the two people over the phone were amongst them.


    ...


    Sheughed scornfully at herself and hung up.


    She would rather die than ask him for help.


    She must have lost her mind just now.


    Rnd frowned at the call hung up suddenly. "What does this woman want?" he thought.


    Her voice didn''t sound right to him.


    He looked up at the time. It was nine o''clock.


    "Rnd?"


    Rnd came back to his senses and looked at Andrina, "What''s wrong?"


    "You''re not listening to me," Andrina said coquettishly. "Here, I peeled a banana for you."


    "You can have it. I have no appetite."


    "Who called you just now? Why did you hang up so quickly?"


    "It was a wrong number," Rnd said, his expression unchanging.


    "Your phone number is so different, how can anyone have your number?"


    Rnd raised his eyebrows and said, "Women be annoying if they are too suspicious."


    Andrina paused for a moment before smiling and said, "I am not suspicious of you. I''m just wondering


    who could have had your number and call you mistakenly. If you don''t want the banana, I''ll eat it."


    "Go ahead." He stood up. "Well, it''s gettingte. I should go back."


    Andrina grabbed his wrist and said, "Rnd, can you... stay with me tonight?"


    "This is a hospital," Rnd said. "I can''t sleep here. I have important work to deal with tomorrow."


    Andrina pouted. "But..."


    "Don''t be unreasonable. I''ve told you, a woman who is unreasonable is hardly a woman of great


    elegance."


    "Alright." Andrina let go of his hand, even though she didn''t want to. "You''lle to see me tomorrow,


    right?"


    ...


    "We''ll see how." With these words, Rnd turned around and walked out of the room.


    Andrina smiled, satisfied with herself. "See, Alvera Earhart," she thought gleefully. "He still loves me."


    Alvera wasn''t sure how much time had passed when she suddenly saw a tall figure approaching her.


    "Miss, Miss, are you alright?"


    "This voice... it''s so beautiful," she thought to herself.


    She nced at him dazedly, but her eyesight was blurry. "Help... Help me."


    She used up all her remaining strength in those two words and fainted.


    When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a hospital ward.


    The man sitting next to her was wearing a navy blue suit. His handsome features were a work of art in


    and of itself.


    "Miss, how are you feeling?" He asked when he saw her wake up.


    She forced out a smile. "It''s you."


    Before the liver transnt, she had been jogging every morning.


    One day, it had rained heavily while she was out jogging, so she took shelter in one of her neighbour''s


    porch not too far from her home.


    ...


    A few minutester, she saw him running towards the house as well.


    They both nodded to each other politely.


    She had thought that he was taking shelter from the rain as well, but he opened the door with a key,


    much to her surprise.


    ...


    She moved away from the door awkwardly.


    "Miss, I don''t think the rain will stop any time soon," he told her politely. "Do you want toe inside?"


    She shook her head quickly. "No, it''s fine, I can just stay out here. Thanks."


    "Okay... I''ll head on in, then."


    She nodded.


    After that, they would nod at each other whenever they met when they were out jogging.


    It was him who saved her tonight.


    The saying was true, a close neighbour is better than a rtive afar. She believed it now.


    The man smiled elegantly. "I don''t know if I should say ''nice to meet you'' under these circumstances,


    because you almost died tonight."


    She nodded. "Thank you for saving me."


    "You''re wee. You also live in Floral Vi, right?"


    She nodded again. "I live right next to you."


    He smiled gracefully. "My guess was right then, we''re neighbours. Not a lot of people live around there.


    Let me introduce myself. My name is Owen Perez, nice to meet you."


    Alvera thought that the name was fitting for an elegant man like him.


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Perez. I''m Alvera Earhart."


    Suddenly, the door of to ward was pushed open from the outside. Samuel rushed in.


    Alvera was relieved to see him.


    He went to the side of the bed and held her hand. "D*mn it, who did this? I''ll f*cking kill them!"


    Alvera pursed her lips. "Don''t be like this. It doesn''t hurt anymore. Why are you here?"


    "I was busy when you called me. I didn''t have my phone with me. When I called you back, a stranger


    picked up and told me you were hospitalized."


    Alvera looked at Owen. "Thanks, Mr Perez."


    Samuel nced at Owen, finally noticing him, and he was surprised. "Mr Perez?


    Owen looked at Samuel. "Samuel, long time no see."


    "Samuel, do you know Mr. Perez?" Alvera asked in surprise.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    "Yes, we work together sometimes," Samuel replied. "Mr. Perez, are you the one who saved Alvera


    today? Thank you so much."


    "It looks like Ms Alvera is your girlfriend," Owen said, elegant as ever.


    "She''s my childhood friend. We grew up together, so we''re closer than siblings. Anyway, thank you."


    Owen''s eyebrow twitched imperceptibly. "No need to be so polite. Since Samuel is here, I''ll take my


    leave now. I have some stuff to deal with."


    Alvera tried to get up and walk him to the door, but she couldn''t.


    "It''s okay, don''t get up," Owen said. "Take care of yourself. Samuel, Alvera needs to have another X-ray


    takenter, don''t forget."


    "Okay, I''ll see you off."


    Samuel headed towards the door with Owen.


    Suddenly, Alvera''s phone rang.


    She turned and nced at the phone, then lifted her handbouriously to reject the call and turn off her


    phone.


    In his car, Rnd felt a flicker of irritation when he saw that his call was rejected.


    He called again, but this time, her phone was turned off.


    He looked at the driver coldly and said, "Go to Floral Vi."


    The driver turned the car around and drove to the vi.


    Rnd got out of the car and looked at the dark house.


    Was there nobody home, or was she just pretending to be asleep to avoid him?


    He found the spare key, opened the door, and turned on the light. He looked around the house, but


    Alvera was nowhere to be found. Her car was still parked outside, though.


    Where could she have gone at this hour?


    Rnd''s irritation turned into worry when he could not find her.


    He turned around, walked out of the vi, and called Terry. "Find out the whereabouts of Alvera Earhart


    now. Start with Samuel Lambert."


    "Yes, Boss."


    In the hospital, Samuel had returned and sat by her bed. "Do you know who did this?"


    "They covered my head, so I couldn''t see, but I think it has something to do with Earhart family."


    Looking at the bruises on her face, Samuel clenched his fist. "How could they do this to you? Are they


    trying to kill you?"


    Alveraughed. "They want to kill me, they never hid their intentions. Don''t be so angry, that''s what


    they want to see."


    "Why are you so calm? I can''t believe you''re not angry."


    Her expression was calm. "Angry? No, I''m not angry, I''m just plotting for revenge."


    Samuel frowned, seeing the vicious look in her eyes, "What are you going to do?"


    Alvera raised her eyebrows. "It''s none of your business. I have a n."


    "I''ll help you do whatever it is."


    "I''m not going to involve you in this."


    "D*mn it, am I an outsider to you?" Samuel said angrily. "Do you know how sad it is to see you beaten


    up like this? Mr Perez told me you could''ve died if he hadn''t found you in time."


    "They were trying to kill me. It''s all thanks to Mr Perez I''m still alive right now."


    "Oh, by the way, speaking about Mr Perez, keep away from him," Samuel said.


    "Why?"


    "He is good and sessful in his business, but he is unlucky in marriage. He had two wives, but both


    died."


    Alvera rolled her eyes at him. "We''re just neighbours. You''re thinking too much."


    "You''re just neighbours now, but who knows?" Samuel teased. "You might be attracted to a handsome,


    mature man like him. If you get with him, I''ll have to worry about you."


    Alvera red at him and said, "That''s enough. Stop talking nonsense."


    "I''m telling you the truth. He knows he''s unlucky too, so he doesn''t live with his daughter. A lot ofdies


    still want to be with him, though. He hasplicated rtionships. Just listen to me. Come on, I have


    to bring you for another checkup."


    Samuel stepped forward and helped her to her feet. She gasped in pain, breaking out in cold sweat as


    she stood up.


    "What''s wrong? What''s wrong?" Samuel asked anxiously.


    "It hurts."


    "What should I do, then?"


    "Go ask the nurse for a wheelchair. I''ll move over there slowly."


    Her entire body was bruised badly. It hurt too much to walk.


    Samuel nodded and went out to get a wheelchair.


    Not long after he left, the door of the ward was pushed open again.


    "That''s..." She stopped mid-sentence. The man standing at the door was not Samuel, but Rnd, the


    very person she did not want to see right now.