Chapter 13
Although the road ahead was uncertain, life here was calm and fulfilling.
But this afternoon, uninvited guests arrived, shattering the peace.
Outside the vineyard, a black SUV pulled up, and several menacing-looking men stepped out.
They came specifically asking for me. Jasmine and the others gathered around me protectively, while Chloe, holding a sharp knife, walked up to the men.
“What is it?” Chloe’s voice remained cold and steady.
The man in charge looked under thirty, with a neck tattoo that made him look like trouble.
He took off his sunglasses, sizing up Chloe for a long time. “I’m looking for the punk named Asher. Who are you, interfering?”
As he spoke, a few men behind him pulled out collapsible batons and swung them a few times.
Even though I was terrified, at that moment, I wanted to rush forward and stand in front of her, but Jasmine and the others held me back tightly.
Chloe glanced back at me, then said to the man, “He’s *my* person. Why can’t I interfere?”
At her words, all the women looked at me.
I was Chloe’s person?
“Oh?”
The tattooed man’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me, a sneer curling his lips.
“Didn’t realize you liked to rob the cradle.”
“If he’s your person, then you can pay the money he owes us!”
*The money *I* owe?* They were my mom’s creditors!
They actually tracked me down here!
Chloe glanced back at me, showing no sign of backing down.
“He doesn’t owe the money. You’ve got the wrong person.”
“A mother’s debt is her child’s responsibility, it’s just how it is!”
The tattooed man was clearly impatient and tried to walk towards me directly. “Since we can’t find his mom, I’ll just take him!”
I instinctively retreated, backing up. This was the first time I felt so "in demand."
But these two kidnappings definitely weren't the same. If *they* took me, I might actually end up missing an arm or a leg.
“Wait!”
Chloe reached out and stopped them, the knife in her hand flashing with a cold, silver gleam.
My heart skipped a beat. Chloe was protecting me? She was actually sticking up for me?
“If you’re going by that logic, I’m also his creditor. You’re not taking him until I get my money back.”
Chloe’s voice was firm, as cold as my heart felt right then.
*Of course.* She was only keeping me for the money.
The tattooed man stared at Chloe for a while, then said in a threatening tone, “Are you sure you want to stop me?”
As he spoke, several men behind him also stepped forward.
The pressure was intense.
Chloe took a deep breath, calmly stating, “You want to compare numbers?”
I glanced at the women around me, feeling confused.
Soon, I heard the sound of motorcycles approaching, seven or eight bikes finally pulling up, each with two riders.
They held butcher knives, and some even had bloodstains on their clothes, looking like a real rough crowd.
They surrounded the men in suits, staring at them menacingly.
Jasmine told me these were all Chloe’s friends, who ran a cattle and sheep slaughterhouse business.
No wonder they had such an intense, almost murderous aura. You’d think they’d killed people.
“Leave now, and I’ll pretend you were never here. Otherwise…”
Chloe’s words made the tattooed man’s face darken. He looked around at the menacing group, then finally showed a look of suppressed anger.
“I’m not going to argue with a woman. You just wait!”
After dropping a final threat, he turned and got into his car, speeding away.
That night, Chloe and I ate beef noodles at home, silent.
I hesitated, then spoke. “I’m sorry. I caused you trouble.”
I hadn’t expected those creditors to find me here. Chloe must be so angry.
Chloe shook her head, saying nothing.
I pulled something from my pocket and placed it in front of her. She looked at it, confused.
“Jasmine and the others said it’s your birthday today.”
Chloe didn’t care about birthdays; her friends always remembered and gave her gifts.
“You know how to braid bracelets?” Chloe asked, a little amused, but her hands were already playfully fiddling with it.
Jasmine and the others had taught me how to braid this bracelet out of dried grapevines. It took me half a day to get it right.
“Of course! I’m very handy!”