As Jiang Xiangru made his way to the lawyer"s office,he kept thinking of all the ways in which he would be able to maximize his gains.Not once did it occur to him that something could be wrong with the scenario.He reached the office in high spirits and waited for the lawyer to come.Though the lawyer was as amoral as Jiang Xiangru,he was smarter than him.The lawyer could smell trouble.He had used all his contacts within the court and outside to get to know the details about the plaintiffs but met a dead end.Combined with the way the decision of the court had been abruptly blocked last time and now the closed mouths,it indicated someone powerful.He warned Jiang Xiangru over and over again to be careful.When the two people reached there,and opened the office to enter,they realized that the other party had yet to arrive.They were early by five minutes and sowould have to wait.Jiang Xiangru harrumphed at this as he felt that since the other party wanted something from him they should have been here earlier.But Mr Ting was now getting more worried.His sixth sense warned him that something was not right.And in the next instant he was proved right.
At dot 10.00 am,the appointed hour,the door to the office opened and the first person to enter the office was Attorney Zheng.Once the Attorney was inside,the door closed and no one came in.Jiang Xiangru neered and looked at the lady lawyer.Ha!Such a delicate looking lawyer was going to negotiate with them.The lawyer however had lost his tongue.He recognized Attorney Zheng Mi Rae.Though she did not have her company"s backing anymore,she was a formidable lawyer,feared amongst her peers.Whoever these people were who had hired her must be rich and powerful!
After sitting down,Attorney Zheng did not even bother ot look at Jiang Xiangru and addressed the lawyer,"Mr Ting,my offer is very simple.My clients wish to adopt baby Zhao Xin as their daughter.For this Mr Jiang who is their half uncle needs to relinquish his rights to the baby as well as any property left by her parents.Additionally,they will be fostering his nephew,Zhao Min.Here are the papers for you to sign.."
Mr TIng meekly took the papers but Jiang Xiangry was getting angry by the minute!Who did they think they were to order him to do that!Hehuffed and said,"Look miss,I have no intention of giving those children to you without a suitable compensation!And I need to look at the financial statements of these people who want to take these children.I must know that they are financially sound.Just because we are very poor doesn"t mean that the rich can bully us!Also I will not leave my brother"s property!If you want the children you can take them but the property is the last memory my brother left,that would remain with me.I will not sign anything!"
Mi Rae smiled lethally and said,"Giving the children?Paying a compensation?Mr Jiang,you must be thankful that we are willing to let you off and not throwing you behind the bars.And you would give the children,if you had them!They are already in my client"s care."
Mr Ting was astounded at this sentence.What did she mean that the children were already with them?Had they kidnapped them?Jiang Xiangru stared at the woman and then looked at his lawyer for support.He was in the right!He needed compensation for selling the children!Or he wasn"t going to sign anything!
Mi Rae smiled at the shocked lawyer and commented,"Tsk tsk,Mr Jiang.The first rule of any case is you should not hide anything from your lawyer-big or small.And you hid such a major thing that the Zhao Min ran away with his little sister!"
Mr Ting looked at his client in rage and astonishment!No wonder the warning bells in his head had been ringing non stop!But a client was a client and he would be paid well only if the client gets what it wants.So subduing his rage,he said to Mi Rae,"Attorney Zheng.I understand that my client is at fault here for not informing anyone that the children had gone missing from under his care.He must have been worried that he would be refused guardians.h.i.+p once the court realized what was happening.Please be understanding and once he has met the children a.s.suring they are safe,he will be more agreeable to sign the giving away rights."
Before the lawyer could say anything more to weasel it out,the door to the court office was banged open and a powerful figure strode in.The atmosphere dropped drastically,causing Mi Rae also to suffer.This man was none other than Ryu Long.Clad in a grey custom made suit,the man made his way to the center of the table and sat on the rickety chair.The chairs were all old furniture but the moment Ryu Long sat there it felt as if he was sitting on a throne.This man"s entrance caused Jiang Xiangru and the lawyer to lose their minds.One would have to live under a rock to not recognize Ryu Long!Even then there were chances that they should know the person.
Jiang Xiangru"s mind was now in a whirl.This man!This man wanted his neice and nephew!Bl**dy brats had found him a jade mine!He was so ecstatic that one could almost see the dollar signs in his eyes!Mi Rae was also a bit shocked.When Alicia had told her about this caseshe had thought that it would be a straight forward matter but Brother Ryu"s presence here meant that something was different.She turned to him to take her cue but he was staring at Jiang Xiangru or rather his hands..
After a moment,Ryu very weirdly commented,"Mr Jiang,you are not wearing any gloves in this cold weather.Are you not worried about cold?"
Jiang Xianru was amazed that this man would show even a little concern to him.He gloated on the inside and said,"Sir,I am a poor man!Sometimes even the most basic needs are luxuries to us.I wanted to save all my money for the children"s needs so I chose not to buy any gloves this season."
"I...see.",was the reply.After this there was an awkward silence in the room.The two other men were wondering what to say when Ryu once again said,"Mr Jiang,why don"t you sign the papers and we can see what compensation to give you."
Jiang Xiangru was very happy with this offer.It meant that they were willing to give whatever he wanted.He picked up the papers and read through them.There was no talk of compensation and he was asked to relinquish all rights.He held the pen in his left hand and brought it to the paper.But then stopped at the last moment!His beady eyes looked at the money machine in front of himand he said,"Mr Long,though I trust you are a man of your word,I would still like to receive some token before I sign this.Also though I relinquish the rights I want the right to be ableto visit them occa.s.sionally as their uncle-their only living blood relative!"
Ryu"s eyes narrowed at this and then he picked up his cell phone and made a call,"Bring it in."
After finis.h.i.+ng his call,he looked at Jiang Xiangru and said,"Do not worry,Mr Jiang,I promise you will get what you deserve."He then turned to Mi Rae and said,"Attorney Zheng.I would like a moment to speak to Mr Jiang.Would you mind?"
Mi Rae shook her head and excused herself.As she went outside to wait,a.s.sistant Kim was bringing in a big packed box.He bowed to Mi Rae on the way and then went inside after a perfunctory knock.But there was something Mi Rae jut realized as she waited outside, the usually busy corridoor was empty!And the box!Why was a.s.sistant Kim wearing thick gloves when he went inside?She would know the answer soon enough!
a.s.sistant Kim went inside and placed the box in front of Jiang Xiangru.After this he left the room but stood outside the door like a guard.Mi Rae stared at him and wanted to ask but she refrained.a.s.sistant Kim looked especially unapproachable!
Inside the room:
Ryu got up from his chair and stood in front of Jiang Xiangru. Then picking up Jiang Xiangru"s bare hand with his own thickly gloved placed it on the lid of the box.In a silky voice,he said,"This is what I am going to give you for the children.So go ahead and sign it."
Jiang Xiangru was in a dilemma now.He wanted to sign but also wanted to see the contents of the box!What of he was shortchanged.The lawyer who had become a mere spectator wanted to escape.Like earlier,he was getting bad vibes.Jiang Xiangru, in his greed could not read the warning signals and boldly demanded,"Let me see what is inside the box."
Ryu"s eyebrows shot up and he said,"Are you sure,you will be able to hold it?"
Jiang Xuangru nodded and wondered how precious could the thing be that he would be afraid to hold it!
Ryu,whose hand was still on the other man"s,lifted the said hand and the lid of the box with the other.The next moment,terrifying screams could be heard outside the room and inside was the acrid smell of burning flesh.MiRae was about to rush inside but was blocked by a.s.sistant Kim.Now she understood why the corridor was empty.Inside,Mr Ting was frozen in shock while Jiang Xiangru tried to get his hand out of Ryu Long"s grip to avail.Finally,when Ryu decided was enough,he let the man pull his hand away and said,"Sign the papers or you will loose the other hand as well."Jiang Xiangru clutched his charred hand to his chest and looked horrified and in great pain. Ryu Long the lunatic had placed and held his hand on burning coals!Finally Mr Ting came our of his stupor and tried to protest and call for help but the door was locked from outside.He knew then,that no one would be able to help them as long as Ryu Long did not wish it.He stood trembling in his shoes with nowhere to go.
Jiang Xiangru quickly signed the doc.u.ments with his other hand and Ryu,after checking the papers,let him leave the room.a.s.sistant Kim opened the door when he heard a singular knock by his master.
jiang Xiangru ran out of the room and ran straight towards the hospital pledging to get revenge.Mi Rae who stood outside saw only a glimpse of that but when Ryu Long came out,she saw that the tips of his gloves were charred.He nodded to Mi Rae and said,"The papers are signed.Please complete the formalities."
Unfortunately for Jiang Xiangru,his plans were to never come to fruition because he met with an accident when running wildly on the road and became another statistic in the road accident cases.