The Point of No Return Chapter 2

Mindy fell silent.

Just then, her phone rang.

Mindy glanced at the screen but didn’t answer the call.

My phone rang next. It was a number I didn’t recognize.

I answered it, and heard Henry’s low and anxious voice.

“Mr. Graham, it’s Henry Bale here. I know you’re with Mindy right now. May I…have some of your time?”

I switched the call to loudspeaker mode and placed my phone on the table.

“Mr. Graham, it’s all my fault.”

Henry’s voice was solemn, drenched with helplessness and stoicism.

“I was incapable. I couldn't earn enough to cover Yvette’s medical fees. That’s why I shamelessly returned to beg Mindy for help. Mindy was softhearted and pitied the child… Please don’t blame her.

“If you don’t want to see us here, I’ll take Yvette away right now. I promise I won’t bother you, even if it means begging on the streets…”

Suddenly, we heard a child coughing over the phone and Henry anxiously soothing her.

The look on Mindy’s face changed. She grabbed my phone and yelled into it.

“Henry, is Yvette's asthma acting up again? Don’t do anything rash. Her medicine is in the cabinet. I’ll be back very soon!”

Hanging up, Mindy looked anxiously and pleadingly at me.

“Sylvester, Yvette is having an asthma attack and might die from it. I’ve got to go to her… We’ll come back and talk more, okay?”

I looked at the woman before me.

She was expressing her remorse just a second ago, yet now, her mind was completely occupied by a child over the slightest stir.

“Go ahead.”

I leaned back into the chair, looking indifferent.

“But Mindy, just so you know, things are over between us once you leave.”

Mindy froze.

She looked helplessly at me for a moment before saying through gritted teeth, “Sylvester, this is a matter of life and death. I can't leave her in the lurch.”

With that, she left without looking back.

I looked at her back profile and picked up my coffee cup and drained the coffee that had turned cold in one gulp.

The bitterness spread out in my mouth.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Mr. Holmes’ number.

“Shawn, I’m nearby. I’ll come visit you.”

I headed straight to the Holmes’ academic exchange centre in the neighbouring city.

Mr. Holmes was in the midst of supervising research work and didn’t look surprised to see me. He dismissed everyone from his office, leaving just him and me in the room.

“Sylvester, why do you look so grim?”

Mr. Holmes sipped on a cup of tea and surveyed me with those incisive eyes of his.

“You knew about it long ago, didn’t you, Shawn?” I said, cutting to the chase.

“Henry Bale came with his child and lived in the Holmes’ apartment, spending Mindy’s money. You have spies all over the academic world and in Mindy’s social circles. You can’t possibly not know about it.”

Mr. Holmes paused for a moment before letting out a sigh.

“Mindy was foolish and softhearted.”

He put his tea cup down. “I remember that child. She might be illegitimate, but our family’s blood runs in her.

“She isn’t of good health and it’s understandable that Mindy wants to take care of her.”