Chapter 8: UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

Hailee really wanted to hit Ian for his unkind jokes, but in the end she gave up and sighed in frustration. "Okay, okay ... I'm not in a position to choose."

Ian burst out laughing when he heard Hailee's grumbled mutter. "At least then, you will remember me." Ian rubbed the top of Hailee's head slowly before he sat back down and continued eating.

There was a story behind the name 'Wolfe' and that story was only known to Ian and Hailee, therefore they often make fun using this word.

"Tomorrow you have to leave early in the morning from here to catch the bus at seven so you can get to city A before your flight out of this country," Ian explained Hailee's schedule for tomorrow.

Previously, during the past two days, even though Hailee knew she had to leave this northern state, she hadn't really thought about leaving till now.

It wasn't until she had all the documents she needed and that she would truly leave her homeland, from the city where she had grown up, did Hailee feel a little sentimental.

Who knew when she would be able to return and more over, she would not be able to visit the graves of her parents during this escape.

A tear fell down onto her plate as she cried silently. However, Ian saw that and immediately put down the spoon and fork in his hands, walked around the table to sit next to Hailee.

Ian then pulled Hailee's body into his arms and rubbed her back gently without saying anything, because there were no words that would be able to relieve Hailee's sadness at this time.

Let her cry for now, because that alone could help her a little to untie the tight bonds of sadness, anger, hatred and all other unfair feelings that Hailee was feeling right now.

But, after that, Hailee will rebuild her life and wouldn't let this get her down.

She didn't know when, or whether it would take years or decades, but Hailee was determined that one day she would return and repay what Aileen had done to her. Sh would return to take over all the inheritance of her parents which were hers right in the first place.

Hailee was determined to do it all, and therefore, she had to save herself first at this point.

***

This morning, it was so cold when Hailee came out of Ian's house, wrapping herself in Ian's jacket while carrying a backpack containing several pieces of clothing and things Hailee would need later. She must not forget any valuable documents.

Ian actually wanted to buy a new jacket for Hailee, but the girl refused and asked for the money instead. Well, Hailee needs money more than a jacket, after all by wearing Ian's jacket, Hailee feels a little less lonely.

In the end, Ian gave Hailee some money which he was going to give her later even if she didn't ask for it.

However, Hailee returned half of the money Ian placed in the envelope.

"You need this for your sister's medical expenses," Hailee forced Ian to accept his money back. Even though Ian refused at first, but by hearing the name of his younger sister melted down his resolve and he took the money back.

His younger sister who was sick and being hospitalized required a lot of money.

But, even being able to help Hailee was something Ian considered a must. Only Hailee was the one whom Ian could think of close to a family, someone whose kindness Ian would never forget in his life.

Because only Hailee was willing to help him when he was really down, at his lowest point of life while feeling desperate, not knowing what else to do.

However, Hailee came forward reaching her hand out and helped Ian get up. From then on, Ian vowed not to forget what Hailee did to him and treated her as his sister genuinely.

Therefore, Ian was quite flattered when Hailee came looking for him when she was in a big trouble, even though this was all Ian could do.

"Okay, looks like it's a goodbye then," Hailee turned around and her eyes had already turned red from the tears she was trying to hold back.

"Don't you want me to take you to the terminal?" asked Ian, hugging Hailee's tiny body tightly.

Ian was willing to take Hailee to the bus terminal or airport, but Hailee insisted she would go alone.

"No need," Hailee hugged back Ian's big body. "You will be the first person I will contact once I settled down."

The road was still deserted as the two friends hugged each other and said their final goodbyes as a taxi waited to take Hailee to her destination.

"Make sure to call me," Ian gave Hailee a big hug before letting her go and opening the passenger door for her.

Hailee wiped her tears that were continuously flowing down and waved at Ian from behind the open window.

"Give my greetings to Ciara," Hailee tried to smile even though the tears wouldn't stop falling.

Ian nodded, he rubbed Hailee's head and ruffled her hair, "Take good care of yourself."

And after a few words and smiles, the taxi took Hailee away, leaving behind a city where Hailee had held many memories of her life.

***

Hailee arrived at the bus terminal on time and continued the journey from city R to city A by bus which took about four hours.

Even during the few hours of long journey, Hailee could not close her eyes for even a second, her mind wandered thinking about what she would do in the Southern Country, where she had no relatives or acquaintances.

However, the point of her escape itself was that she couldn't be found, so it wouldn't do any good if she knew someone there.

Because in the end, Hailee would never be able to meet them.

She had never felt so lonely as she felt today.

After four hours of traveling, Hailee finally reached town A and from there, it only took her about ten minutes to take a taxi and after that she would take her first flight to the southern states.

Who knew how many years she would take to be able to come back here, even Hailee did not know the latest news about Roland Dimatrio, which she believed, would be in the headlines for the last two days.

Hailee purposely didn't watch television or read the news, because that would only make her even more scared.

However, something far more terrifying appeared before her, before Hailee could cross the street and hail a taxi, she saw the figure of Alex, Roland Dimatrio's bodyguard, in the distance.