Chapter 6
But I was no longer that Helen from the Red River Compound, the girl so insignificant she could have been swept away with the dust.
I hailed a taxi.
For the first time in seven years, I found myself in a ride this clean and comfortable.
In my awkward English, I gave the driver the address from the slip of paper.
The driver was a friendly Indorian man.
Seeing that I was alone with two kids, he made sure to drive more slowly for us.
Outside the window, the bustling streets of Harbor City blurred past.
But I couldn't bring myself to enjoy the view.
I was a bundle of nerves, anxiety twisting in my chest.
Soon, the taxi pulled up in front of a grand skyscraper.
Union Bank Tower.
I paid the fare and got out, holding the kids close.
Standing outside the Union Bank Tower, I tilted my head back and stared up at its soaring height.
The glass walls flashed with harsh sunlight, sending sharp reflections everywhere.
The glare made my head spin.
I took a deep breath, hugged the kids tighter, and stepped inside.
The lobby was freezing, the air conditioning blasting.
White-collar workers in tailored suits and high heels rushed by, their steps brisk and determined.
Everyone wore an air of confidence and professionalism.
I was still the odd one out here, the misfit who didn't belong.
But I wasn't feeling as small or panicked as I had yesterday.
I told myself I was here to get things done.
I approached the front desk and asked where Chapman & Partners Law Firm was.
The receptionist was all business, but she smiled and pointed me in the right direction.
I took the elevator up to the 32nd floor.
There it was, the office with the sign that read [Chapman & Partners Law Firm].
I pushed open the glass door and stepped inside.
A young assistant greeted me with a warm smile.
"Do you have an appointment?" she asked, her tone polite and professional.
I shook my head. "I'm here to see Mr. Chapman. It was William who told me to come."
His name hung in the air.
The assistant froze for a moment, then her expression shifted, becoming noticeably more attentive. "Please wait a moment."
She led me and the kids to the waiting area, and even brought over some water for us, which was really thoughtful.
Then she turned and walked into the private office.
Soon, a man in his fifties, dressed in a sharp suit and gold-rimmed glasses, stepped out of the office.
When he saw me and the twins in my arms, his eyes flickered with a mix of emotions.
Surprise, sympathy, and a hint of understanding.
He reached out his hand. "You must be Ms. Norris, right?
"Hello, I'm David, William's attorney."
I froze.
How does he know my name?
I hesitated, then shook his hand. "Hello, Mr. Chapman."
He led me into his office. "Please, come with me."
The office was big, with a solid and impressive feel.
Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, you could see all the glitz and bustle of Harbor City right outside.
He motioned for me to sit down, then pulled a sealed envelope from his safe. "Mr. Grant asked me to keep this safe for him a month ago.
"He instructed me that if, after a month, a woman named Helen came to see me with twins, a boy and a girl, I should hand this over to her.
"If it was anyone else, or if he came in person, I was supposed to destroy it."
David slid the envelope across the desk to me.
My hands were shaking.
William.
He'd seen all of this coming a month ago.
He knew The Compound was doomed.
He knew he might not survive.
So he'd set everything up for me and the kids.
I opened the envelope.
Inside were three brand-new passports.
One was mine. The photo showed me as I looked seven years ago, but the name was Helen Linwood.
A gentle, ordinary name.
The other two passports belonged to Andrew and Rachel.
Now, their names were Andrew Linwood and Rachel Linwood.
They'd be carrying my last name from now on.
Along with the passports, there were a few bank cards and a thick trust document.
Andrew and Rachel were listed as the beneficiaries of the trust.
The amount inside was mind-blowing, way more than I could ever have imagined.
It was enough to guarantee Andrew and Rachel would never have to worry about money and could go to the best schools.
At the very bottom of the envelope, a letter was tucked away.
There was no sender's name on the envelope.
I opened it up. Inside, only a handful of words.
The handwriting was unmistakably William's. [Helen, forget about me. Take care of the kids and live well. Don't tell them they have a father like me. I don't deserve it.]
As I read those words, the tears finally broke free.
This was the devil who had beaten me, cursed me, and tormented me for seven years.
But he was also the one who, when I was at my lowest, gave me a glimmer of hope.
In his own way, he'd given me and the kids what he called a clean future.
He was a bastard, a criminal, a total piece of shit.
But he was also Andrew and Rachel's father.
At that moment, the hatred I'd held onto for seven years vanished like smoke.
I clutched the envelope, its contents heavy in my hands, and walked out of Union Bank Tower.
Behind me was the cold air conditioning and the world of the elite.
Ahead of me was the hot, humid sunlight of Harbor City, thick with the buzz of everyday life.
Holding Andrew and Rachel close, for the first time in this strange city, I finally felt like I had my feet on solid ground.