The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1438 I'd Rather Be Dead

After listening to Felix's explanation through the phone, Leila realized that all pieces of evidence were destroyed. This information left her feeling relieved.

"All right. You've done very well," Leila said. Deep down, regret was eating her. She was disappointed for not being able to kill Sheryl successfully. But she consoled herself thinking they were lucky for not being in trouble. If things went well, then she might get another chance to take revenge in the future. This hopeful thought lifted her spirit. Just when she was calm, Felix began to speak.

"Now it is time to talk about my payment. I know we didn't succeed in this mission, but you have to remember that I put myself in such a huge risk. Don't you think I deserve a reward for it?" he demanded. There was a tone of authority in his voice.

Leila felt anger surge through her body as she heard his words. Her face distorted and depicted the disgust she was feeling inside. 'Look at his audacity! After everything he has done, he dares to ask me for the payment. He screwed everything up and had us all worried. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have had to go through such a big risk, ' Leila thought to herself.

'If it was up to me, I wouldn't pay him a penny!' her mind screamed.

However, she didn't want to make Felix angry at that moment, so she said, "I know that you've handled a lot of stress throughout this mission. However, business is business. You didn't give me what I wanted. Instead, you created a mess. Do you actually think you deserve the money you asked for?"

Felix couldn't believe his own ears. 'So I won't be paid? Is she trying to imply that all my efforts have gone in vain?' he wondered anxiously. He couldn't bear this thought anymore.

"Leila, you are crossing your line! I took up a job in which I could have gotten myself killed! Don't expect a free service from me!"

Felix roared through the phone.

"Calm down, Felix. Don't jump to conclusions now. How about we both step back a little? I will pay you but only half of what was promised. How do you feel about it?" Leila reasoned calmly.

At this crucial moment, Leila couldn't afford to take any risks. If she continued to argue, Felix could betray her. Therefore, her only option was to comfort him.

Felix, on the other hand, realized that if he insisted on getting all the money, he might end up getting nothing. So he decided to settle for what was being given to him.

"All right. I will agree with half of the payment. But I can't stand any delays. Transfer the money to my account as soon as possible. I need it today!" Felix declared with an undertone of rage. No matter what, he just couldn't bring himself to talk to Leila in a friendly manner. Every time he thought of the other half of his payment, a fierce emotion of anger overtook him. 'Half of my payment vanished!' he thought furiously. "Okay, I'll transfer the money immediately. I hope you understand that our deal has come to an end. After this, we will never try to contact each other. Do you get it?" Leila said in a professional tone. "You don't need to point it out! I have no desire to contact you!" he barked. This was an agreement they had already discussed. He was more than happy to cut all ties with Leila. 'She knows about the crime I have committed. I want nothing to do with her, ' he thought to himself. His plan was to stay as far away from Leila as he could.

As soon as Felix got the money, he began deleting all the contact information and chatting records between the two of them. He wanted to erase it all and succeeded in removing it from his phone. Unfortunately, the memories remained etched in his mind with vivid clarity.

There was a part of Felix that feared he would never get a sound sleep again. Those terrors were imprinted in his heart. Perhaps, they would stay there forever. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed impossible to ever forget it. Maybe those memories would haunt him in his sleep. He might have to experience the horrible things all over again.

After Leila dealt with Felix's issue, she went back to her house feeling fatigued.

As soon as she opened the door, her eyes fell on the mess that was piling up in her small and clustered room. Just the mere sight of this shabby room was enough to put her into a sour mood. She had a sudden urge to vent her anger by screaming out loud.

She had never lived in such an ugly room before. She was used to rich and elegant lifestyle. But then she was stuck there without even a decent bed. This small room wasn't big enough for her. She was compelled to sleep in a bed which wasn't even a proper bed. Some wooden boards were assembled together and given the name of bed. Every night, she would stay awake and think about her plush spring bed. She always woke up with an aching body the next morning. She would throw boundless curses at Sheryl because she held her responsible for all her misery.

Noises of two people quarreling brought her back from her reverie. 'Argh! Stupid house without even a proper soundproofing structure,' she thought with annoyance. She figured it was a couple having an argument.

Just when she thought she was going to have a breakdown, her phone rang.

She picked up the phone and the voice on the other line spoke.

"Leila, this is Jim. I want to meet you," the man said. It was with great difficulty that Jim had managed to gain prison guard's permission to make a phone call. He wasn't here to share pleasantries hence he went straight to the point and asked Leila to meet him.

If Leila didn't hear his voice so clearly from the phone, she wouldn't have remembered Jim. But his hoarse voice brought back all the terrible and disgusting memories. There was a part of her that wanted to refuse his request. But she knew such a rash decision would bring doom to her life. Jim knew something about her that could spoil her life.

However, she knew that one day, she would never be troubled by him, because at that time, he would not be a problem to her anymore. Hence she made up her mind to deal with this problem properly. 'But why would Jim want to meet me now? I'm sure he must have a legit reason for doing so. I don't think he wants to see me because he misses me. After all, I am the reason why he is behind the bars,' Leila thought.

And Leila was right. Jim had no desire of seeing her. He called her only because he had no other options. She brought him nothing but humiliation.

However, desperate times call for desperate measures. He was brutally bullied and humiliated in the prison. At the beginning, he tolerated it all, hoping it would stop. Unfortunately, it became even more serious. He had tried various methods to escape it, but nothing seemed to work. And then it had reached a point where he couldn't bear this anymore.

As a last resort, he decided to take Leila's help to get out of this misery.

On the other end of the line, Leila wasn't giving a response. Anxiety clutched him and he said, "Leila, are you listening to me? You have to come and meet me immediately."

'In spite of being in prison, he is speaking like he has the upper hand here, ' Leila thought with fury. Now she felt no pity for him. Instead, she wanted to sneer at him in person.

"Alright, I will meet you tomorrow morning," she answered in a nonchalant tone. Without bothering to hear his reply, she hung up the phone.

After Jim got her answer, relief washed over him. In the prison, they were allotted only five minutes to use the phone. Hence he had to rush aswell. Under the watch of the prison guards, he took slow steps towards his cell. It seemed like he was dragging his legs.

Just the mere thought of being beaten up again made him want to halt. He prayed that the trip back to his cell could be longer.

Leila, on the other hand, laid in the bed, but sleep wouldn't come to her. She stared at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts.