Never Late, Never Away (Vivian and Finnick)
Chapter 2251

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 2251

It was evident to Caspian that Jessica shone most radiantly when she was in Larry's presence.

Mournfully, Caspian could only take consolation in the fact that Jessica was, at the very least, happy.

"Caspian, Larry and I are heading out to eat. We'll be back in a while. Don't worry about us! Call me if you need anything. We'll be back soon," Jessica called.

Both she and Larry were already halfway out the door. With a casual wave of her hand, Jessica was gone. The room was empty again, save for Caspian lying alone on his hospital bed.

Resigned, Caspian looked down at the meatloaf. It looked sodden and unappetizing. When Caspian took a half-hearted bite, it tasted like sawdust in his mouth.

There was nothing else for Caspian to do but sleep and hope that this was nothing but a nightmare.

Caspian pulled the covers over his head and shut his eyes as if that could shut out the world around him.

"Mr. Norton, may I ask what you'll be interested in having?" Outside, Jessica asked with exaggerated courtesy.

"Up to you," Larry replied shortly.

"All right, I'll decide then!" Jessica exclaimed joyously.

"Jessica, don't you think that Caspian is a very dependable man?" Larry abruptly took on a serious tone as he gazed at Jessica.

Jessica nodded mutely. She did not, however, volunteer any further opinion.

Larry looked at her expectantly. If only Jessica would return Caspian's affections! he agonized. It would be the best thing that could happen to both of them.

"Here we are, Mr. Norton! I racked my brains to think of somewhere good to bring you. Eat as much as you want," Jessica announced in relish as they stopped before an unassuming restaurant. "Sure!" Larry agreed warmly. He was rather charmed by Jessica's generosity.

When they had taken their seats inside, Larry looked at Jessica soberly. "Is something troubling you?"

"I want to reorganize the Zimmer family's enterprise and start anew," Jessica explained, briefly outlining her entrepreneurial plans for Larry.

Larry heartily approved of Jessica's ideas. It was, after all, a chance for the Zimmer family to jostle for a place in the market.

"What's the trouble, then?" Larry asked again.

Jessica suddenly looked modest. She took a sip of the wine before her, then cleared her throat. As if emboldened by the spirit coursing through her veins, she continued, "Larry, I need your help. You know that I don't have that many friends here, as I was overseas up until recently. Besides, most of the people I know aren't reliable at all.”

Larry felt a strange sense of relief at hearing Jessica admit this.

Having witnessed the cruelty of men's hearts, Larry was firm in his opinion that human nature was the most fickle, impossible thing to understand. One could be friends today and enemies the next. The same mouth from which compliments poured could be spewing venomous words of hatred the very next day.

Larry had always felt that Jessica, due to her time spent overseas, had lacked the keenness to sniff out the shadiness that colored all business deals here. Not even friends or family members were exempt from suspicion. It would serve any businessman well to be wary of anyone he dealt with.

"All right, I know what you're trying to say. Don't worry, Jessica. As long as you need me, I'll be right here. Even if everyone else turns their back on you, Caspian and I will be there to support you. Your father served Norton Corporation faithfully in his lifetime, and I'm not one to neglect a debt of gratitude. Your father may have terminated his contract in the end, but I believe he had his own reasons for that..."

Larry continued and Jessica could sense that every word was heartfelt. She was rather moved by his touching remembrance of her father, a vast contrast to that of her own relatives' memorialization of his money.

Larry had anticipated Jessica's needs before she even opened her mouth, relieving her of the difficulty of having to ask him for money. Jessica felt affirmed in her belief that Larry was someone she could count

on.

I'll do it, then! I won't let anyone down, Jessica pledged solemnly to herself.

"Thank you, Mr. Norton. I can't thank you enough for your understanding. If there's anything you need my help with, please don't hesitate to ask," Jessica answered briefly.

Larry gave Jessica an odd look, surprised by her sudden change in tone. Just what is she up to now? He wondered.

Jessica's terse formality had left Larry somewhat bewildered. It seemed as if they had gone from being friends to discussing professional business transactions in a blink.

"All right, enough of that. We can discuss this in-depth in the future. Let's have a good meal today," Larry said in a blustering voice, attempting to lighten the mood.