Chapter 9: Kindred Souls in Hard Times

Words : 2063 Updated : Aug 14th, 2025

"Take one more step and I'll jump." Elijah Quinny stood still, his eyes fixed on the figure beyond the rail. He caught only a pale glimpse of the young woman's profile. She couldn't have been much past twenty. Her features were finely chiseled, and even standing on the brink, her beauty remained striking. How had someone like her been driven to this point? "Some things don't make sense now, but they'll pass," Elijah said gently. He kept his tone steady, hoping some calm would rub off on her. She didn't move, silent as a stone. By then, agents from the Peacekeeping Bureau had arrived. A few young officers began pushing the crowd back and setting up a perimeter. The man whose phone had been smashed earlier grabbed one of them, yelling for an explanation. The squad leader shot him a look and waved him off impatiently. "Quit making a scene. Everyone else, back up. We're taking over." Elijah didn't put much faith in the Bureau's presence. He knew they cared more about protocol and liability than the raw act of saving a life. "Miss, whatever you're going through, it's not worth giving up your life." He took a careful step forward as he spoke. "Don't come closer!" she warned, her body taut like a drawn wire. "One more step and I'll jump!" A few officers moved in to block Elijah. "Peacekeeping Bureau-official business. Step aside." He ignored them, his gaze locked on the woman, his body coiled and ready to act. When two officers reached to push him back, Elijah's voice cracked like a whip. "Out of my way!" The force of his presence made them flinch and instinctively step back. He took another step forward, softening his voice. "Life gets hard. If you give up every time, you're only hurting yourself." The words struck a chord. She shivered and finally turned her face toward him. She was pale as chalk, but doubt flickered in her eyes. Her beauty held both fragility and a stubborn edge. "I know it's hard to hold on." Elijah's voice dropped, grief shadowing his expression. "I've known despair too. I drifted for years. When I finally came back, I learned my only daughter was gone. No trace of her anywhere… and still, I didn't break." "Your daughter?" she asked, incredulous. "You don't look old enough to have a daughter that age." Elijah smiled faintly and let it pass. "What I'm saying is, no matter how cruel the world gets, there's someone out there who can't bear to lose you. If you go, the pain you leave behind will never heal." With that, he sat down beside her, shoulder to shoulder, both of them staring at the river snarling under the bridge. The officers exchanged glances but said nothing. She kept her gaze on the water. "Aren't you afraid I'll drag you over with me?" she murmured. "Maybe I've just been waiting for someone to die with me." "If you still want to jump after hearing me out, I'll go with you," Elijah said. His eyes held hers, steady and calm. "But I can tell. You're wavering." She stared at him, stunned, and stayed silent for a long time. "My name is Marlee Casson." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but every word was clear. "Thank you for saying all this… but my life is already dark. If I go, at least this time, I get to choose. Otherwise, I'll be forced to marry a man I don't even like." Her voice was heavy with helplessness and despair. Elijah watched her quietly, sympathy softening his expression. They sat together in silence, each wrapped in their own sorrow. The Peacekeeping Bureau officers shifted uneasily. A young officer leaned in to the squad leader and muttered, "Boss, that's the Cassons' eldest daughter..." The leader's face changed. He hissed back, "You think I don't know? Are the arrangements ready? If anything happens to her here, we're done for." The younger officer nodded repeatedly, fear draining the color from his face. They knew the power the Casson family wielded. If their heiress died under the Bureau's watch, careers-and perhaps lives-would be over. They alerted the Casson family immediately and scrambled to execute a rescue plan. Marlee watched the activity below. A twisted smile ghosted across her lips, her eyes dull and empty. Elijah noted her expression, suspicion stirring. The scale of the operation for one woman hinted at an extraordinary background. Family ties, alliances, a marriage deal-the pieces began to fall into place. Just then, a low rumble grew in the distance as a convoy of black luxury cars approached. A black SUV led the way, with a stretched luxury van in the center. The vehicles came to a stop. Several bodyguards in black suits stepped out and sealed the area off. Marlee didn't flinch, as if she had predicted every moment. The van door opened, and a middle-aged man with a commanding presence stepped out. His sharp, clean-cut features and the weight of authority in his movements left no doubt that he was used to giving orders. Surrounded by bodyguards, he headed straight for Marlee. The Bureau's squad leader hurried to intercept him, speaking quickly. "Mr. Casson, everything's set up. Miss Casson won't be in danger." "Mm." The man gave a curt nod, brushed past him, and fixed his eyes on Marlee. Marlee's voice rose sharply. "Take one more step and I'll jump!" "Marlee, enough. You're not a child. Stop throwing a tantrum." His tone was cold, like a superior chastising an underling. Watching him, Elijah doubted this was a father. He seemed more like a cold operator who only thought in terms of profit and loss. Marlee let out a bitter laugh. "Third Uncle, my life has never been mine. Whatever you decide, I have to obey. Do I really have no choice?" "Your choice is to come back with me and marry Ronald Zorn." Mario Casson's voice was flat, devoid of emotion. Elijah couldn't stay silent. "Mr. Casson, no one faults an uncle for wanting the best for his niece. But shouldn't her wishes matter in a marriage?" Mario's sharp gaze cut to Elijah like a blade. "Young man, this is none of your concern." Before the words fully left his mouth, the air seemed to shift. Something was about to go very wrong.

Chapter 9: Kindred Souls in Hard Times

Comments (0)