Chapter 2
When I looked up, that familiar face was right there.
Lorenzo's icy, stern gaze was just as before.
For a split second, it felt like he had walked straight out of time itself, overlapping with my memories.
But the trace of mockery in his eyes jolted me back to reality.
Lorenzo took Monica's hand and comforted her.
"It's fine. If your dress is dirty, just forget about it. I'll get you a new one later," he said.
Monica pouted and buried herself in Lorenzo's arms.
"Lorenzo, you have to teach this fish girl a lesson. She just told me to scram." Monica whined.
With that, Monica gave me a smug look.
Lorenzo leaned in and kissed Monica on the cheek, making sure I saw every second of it.
"Relax. She had the nerve to bully you right in front of me? She needs to be taught a lesson," he said.
Lorenzo shot me a look like I was nothing but garbage, then beckoned his crew over.
"You seriously don't know this is my turf? Are you trying to get yourself killed?
"Wreck her stall. Now," he ordered.
His crew swarmed in and kicked my stall over like it was nothing.
The live fish in the baskets went flying everywhere, flopping around, looking half-dead.
My heart felt like it was being stabbed, but I just stood there, frozen, letting them wreck my stall.
Lorenzo gave me a cold, mocking grin.
"Jazmine, it's been five years, and you still haven't learned a thing.
"Guess you're doomed to sell fish here forever," he sneered.
I met his gaze, completely unfazed.
"You done? Good. Now let's see who really owes whom," I said.
Lorenzo shot a wary glance at the knife in my hand.
But all I did was bend down in front of everyone and start picking up the scattered change.
I looked so pathetic that Monica snickered at my sorry state.
"I thought you were something special. Look at you, freaking out over pocket change," she sneered.
Lorenzo shot me a mocking look.
"Pathetic. This is what happens when you're so nasty," he said.
I let out a cold laugh. Anyone in this world could call me vicious, for all I cared.
Of all people, Lorenzo had no right to call me that.
If it weren't for how ruthless I was, Lorenzo wouldn't even be standing here today.
I turned around, straightening my back.
"Three hundred for the stall, ten for the busted scale. You owe me three hundred and ten.
"Pay up, or I'm calling the cops," I said.
Lorenzo burst out laughing and tossed a black card right at my face.
"Jazmine, I never thought you'd fallen this low.
"There's three thousand on this card. Apologize to Monica, and I'll give you another three thousand," he sneered.
I stuffed the card into my pocket and stood up.
"Fine. Sorry, I didn't mean to mess up your dress," I said.
The mockery in Lorenzo's eyes grew even sharper as he tossed a bill at me.
"Nope. Only if you get on your knees and beg will you get the three thousand. Just saying sorry? That's only worth 30," he sneered.
"Is an apology really worth that much?" I said.
Lorenzo's expression faltered for a moment, and he was just about to say something.
But before he could, I drove the very fish knife that had saved his life countless times straight into his gut.
Lorenzo was startled, but his face instantly twisted with fury. He kicked me hard in the gut.
I staggered back a few steps, but Lorenzo didn't let up. He smashed his fist right into my face.
My mind started to go fuzzy, past and present blurring together.
If an apology was really that important, then Lorenzo owed me one, too.
When I came to, I was lying in a hospital bed.
Instinctively, I fished out the cash from my pocket and started counting every bill.
The door swung open, and Lorenzo walked in, catching me red-handed.
"Jazmine, I never realized you were so obsessed with money. Even on your deathbed, you're still counting your cash," he sneered.
Hearing that, my gaze flickered with a hint of anxiety as I looked at him.
He might already have found out I was sick.
Lorenzo sat down on the bed opposite mine. He said, "You're so fragile now. One punch and you're barely hanging on."
My gaze returned to calm as I kept counting the money in my hand.
When I didn't say anything for a while, Lorenzo frowned.
"Hey, why aren't you saying anything? Don't tell me you're actually dying?" he said.
I replied, "When I'm gone, just dump my ashes in the ocean."
Lorenzo just scoffed, looking totally unimpressed.
"People like you? Your name's gonna stink for ages. You think dying is that easy? Don't even think about dragging me down with you," he shot back.
"There you go again, someone like me. Seriously, what kind of person am I, Lorenzo?" I pressed.
Lorenzo couldn't handle my stare and quickly looked away, clearly uncomfortable.
"Honestly, isn't this all because you're jealous of Monica? I was just teaching you a lesson, hoping you'd learn something," Lorenzo said.
"You really think I'd still be jealous of her?" I replied.
I cut in, my words sharp and frosty.
"Can't believe after all these years, you're still so damn arrogant," I said.
Lorenzo was about to argue, but Monica walked in from the hallway.
"Lorenzo, come on, let's go. The old folks found out you got hurt and now they're all showing up at the hospital to see you," Monica said.
Lorenzo gave me a hard glare, then pulled Monica close and left.