Chapter 48: Successful compromise
“Wretched. Those evil people deserve severe punishment. How could they commit such heinous acts?” Nika gritted his teeth and exclaimed after Erica finished recounting her pain.
While Nika expressed his outrage and indignation based on his personal perspective, Erica sat quietly, bowing her head and looking down at the floor. This is the first time Erica has shared her story with others. Erica had a lot of concerns at first, as well as fear. Fear of being ridiculed, mocked, and, worst of all, pitied. Fortunately, Ansel and Nika turned out to be different. They were kind-hearted and showed a great deal of respect for Erica. Having said all that, Erica felt that her heart was actually comfortable and relieved. Erica seemed to let go of the emotions that had been suppressed for a long time in the last few minutes. Ansel and Nika not only listened attentively to Erica’s story, but they also refrained from passing judgment or criticism, and, most importantly, they showed no pity towards her. This genuine understanding and support from them deeply touched Erica, leaving her immensely grateful.
“It turned out that way.” Ansel came to the conclusion, “That’s truly terrible for you, isn’t it?”
Erica lifted her face and looked into Ansel’s eyes, slowly nodding in confirmation.
“You are incredibly brave, Erica.” Ansel added, “Because not many people can endure what you have been through in a similar situation. I truly admire you.”
Erica felt grateful for Ansel’s words and opened up sincerely, saying, “I was all alone. If I didn’t learn to be strong, I knew I wouldn’t be able to survive in this harsh world. I didn’t want to give up on life easily. I believe that it was just a test for me from above. Once I overcome it, something good will come to me.”
“I really like your mindset. It’s so optimistic and inspiring for others,” Ansel complimented.
“Thank you,” Erica responded with a hint of shyness. She had never received such praise before. She is feeling very happy now.
“Erica, you mentioned the inherited assets. Why did they end up in the hands of those people?” Nika suddenly asked a question. Honestly, while Ansel was talking with Erica, Nika was pondering over the discrepancies in the story Erica had shared. He found it hard to understand, and despite thinking about it for a while, he couldn’t find an answer. That’s why he decided to directly ask Erica.
“I’m also not sure why it turned out that way.” Erica looked at Nika, sharing her heartfelt thoughts. “The second time, when I went to the bank to process my inheritance rights, I was shocked to learn that the bank director had suddenly passed away. A new director took over and refused to address my request. The bank informed me that before his death, my father’s assets had been transferred back to those two women, as approved by the former director.”
“That’s really strange,” Nika remarked. “Everything seems quite coincidental.”
“I feel the same way,” Erica said. “I want to clarify the doubts, but I don’t know where to start.”
“So did you find that woman to talk to?” Nika asked further.
Erica immediately shook her head and explained, “Based on my current situation, I don’t think it would be a wise move. I could be putting myself in danger.”
“Erica, you did the right thing,” Ansel commented. “According to your account, those two women, the despicable man, the lawyer, and some police officers conspired together to seize your inheritance. Therefore, they will surely be on guard if you try to approach them and cause trouble.”
“I know,” Erica acknowledged. “That’s why I’ve been avoiding confronting those people. I need to find the right opportunity to seek justice for myself.”
“Have you found a solution yet?” Nika asked curiously, wanting to know if Erica had a plan.
“To be honest, not yet.” Erica chuckled softly. “I’ve thought about it a lot, but so far, I haven’t come up with an effective solution. I don’t want to act impulsively and risk making things worse.”
As Erica observed the discomfort her somber story brought to the two men, she immediately displayed optimism and a desire to uplift their spirits.
“But I believe that karma has a way of catching up with them, and sooner or later, they will have to pay a high price for their evil actions,” Erica said with a sweet smile. “I just need to patiently wait and see.”
Looking at Erica’s optimistic smile, Ansel also became more positive.
“How is your current life going?” Ansel shifted the conversation, showing some concern for Erica. “Are there many difficulties?”
Erica found it difficult to answer that question. She truly didn’t like delving too deeply into her unhappiness. However, realizing that Ansel wouldn’t give up and that perhaps he had already found out the truth, there was no point in hiding it. Reluctantly, Erica decided to provide an explanation for Ansel.
“To be honest with you, after losing everything and being expelled from university, I had to take on multiple part-time jobs just to cover my living expenses.”
Suddenly, Erica mentioned her goals:
“As well as saving on tuition.”
“Tuition fees?” Ansel exclaimed in surprise. Faced with Ansel’s reaction, Erica suddenly realized that she had been too careless, sharing things that were not really necessary.
“There’s nothing worth mentioning. Just forget about it,” Erica waved her hand, hastily requesting Ansel not to pay attention to the details she accidentally mentioned.
“Don’t hide it from me,” Ansel scolded sternly. “Tell me.”
“What do you mean?” Erica pretended to be naive.
“Don’t play games with me, Erica.” Ansel’s tone turned firm, and he threatened, “I will force you to the end until you tell the truth.”
Looking into Ansel’s eyes, Erica perceived a daunting level of seriousness. Once again, she had to surrender.
“Actually, I intend to apply to a different university,” Erica confessed with timidity. “I can no longer depend on scholarships. Given my unfavorable background, it’s highly unlikely that any institution or university would be willing to sponsor me.”
Pausing for a moment, Erica continued:
“Furthermore, with the excessively high tuition fees in the medical field, I can switch from pursuing a medical degree to studying nursing or becoming a nurse. That way, the costs will be lower.”
“Continue studying to become a doctor. I will sponsor you,” Ansel interrupted with a resolute statement. Erica, who was bowing her head hesitantly, was forced to raise her face and gaze directly at Ansel. She was so surprised that she couldn’t find her voice.
“I will take care of all the expenses,” Ansel added. “So, you can rest assured…”
“Are you joking with me?” Erica blurted out the question that appeared in her mind at that moment. The question expressed a simple yet profound doubt.
“I am serious,” Ansel affirmed. “And please, don’t doubt my sincerity. I have no ulterior motive in making this decision.”
“But this… How can I…” Erica wanted to say something, but the words in her mind suddenly became jumbled. It seemed that Erica was still under the influence of astonishment from Ansel’s statement.
Concerned that Erica might find every reason to decline, Ansel decided to take the lead before Erica had a chance to recover her spirits.
“Listen carefully, Erica. Every year, the JK Corporation offers a fully funded scholarship program for outstanding students. The purpose is to nurture talent for the company specifically and for the country as a whole. I will not allow your talent to fade away or vanish from this world. You are destined to become an excellent doctor. What I am doing is for the greater benefit of humanity, including myself. Therefore, you must not refuse.”
Listening to Ansel’s detailed explanation, Erica felt it was very reasonable and logical. However, she wondered if Ansel’s decision was solely based on that. Sensing Erica’s lingering doubts, Ansel admitted candidly:
“I am partly doing this as a way to repay your kindness. And partly, I am thinking about the future. Everything I have said is true.”
Seeing that Erica still had many concerns, Nika decided to intervene and help Ansel persuade Erica.
“Ansel is right. We are business people. The money we invest is meant to generate returns. And Erica, your talent is worthy of our investment.”
Nika also deliberately reminded Erica, so she wouldn’t think that Ansel and Nika were lying: “JK is also involved in the healthcare industry, providing healthcare services. If you don’t believe it, you can do some research.”
“Are you really serious about this?” Erica wanted to confirm again.
“Absolutely serious.” Ansel immediately affirmed, “As the CEO of AB Company under the JK Corporation, I assure you that it is true.”
“If you want, you can take some time to think it over. But in my opinion, you don’t need to think any further. Just accept the offer,” Nika sincerely said.
“This is so unexpected for me. It feels like a priceless gift,” Erica said through tears. She could no longer control her emotions. “I can’t believe that.” Erica’s voice choked up.
“Because you deserve it,” Ansel declared firmly. “You absolutely deserve it.”
“Thank you.” Erica looked at Ansel with teary eyes. “I will do my best. I promise not to disappoint you.”
“Alright. I trust you,” Ansel replied, giving Erica a warm smile.
Unable to hold it any longer, Erica burst into tears of joy. Despite her crying, a happy smile bloomed on Erica’s face. Seeing this scene, instead of feeling awkward or worried, both Ansel and Nika simultaneously felt a sense of relief.NôvelDrama.Org content rights.