Beyond the Divorce

The two people in front of me were a handsome man and a beautiful girl.

They were dressed differently. Loak wore a set of black sportswear, looking more upright. Perhaps the food here was good, as he seemed to have filled out slightly, and he wore a pair of nice matching sports shoes. He looked entirely different now.

As for Anya, she had changed out of her tight-fitting dress into sportswear, which was a shade of girly pink. She also wore matching sports shoes, and her bronze skin looked a little brighter. Her hair was tied into a ponytail, which made her look youthful. The girl was beautiful, and I liked her even more.

Before I could speak, Loak suddenly pulled Anya down with him and knelt in front of us with a thud.

That startled me, and I quickly grabbed Anya, trying to make her stand up.

But Loak said something to Atlas. He was expressing something in a torrent of words. Atlas's expression remained calm but serious. He looked at Loak and said something to him in an unwavering tone.

I turned to the translator who was with them.

He immediately understood what I wanted and quickly translated, "Mr. Atlas told Loak that he didn't need to perform that grand gesture. A man should repay his debt with loyalty and hard work, not this."

After hearing Atlas's words, Loak looked at him reverently. He was serious as he assured Atlas, "I will be loyal to you, but I must perform this gesture. On behalf of my parents, I'd like to thank you for saving me and my sister."

With that, Loak bowed to Atlas while still kneeling on the ground. Anya did the same.

I thought about the young Atlas and wondered if he had performed

ache as though it

helped Loak to his feet. I quickly did the

engaged him in conversation. I didn't want to interrupt

Anya couldn't understand my

so gestured to the

convey my feelings. She was clever and blinked her big eyes as she looked up at the sky. But she was on edge and nervous as though she felt like she

translator over to help

respectfully by

asked Anya, "Do you like it here? Is the food to your

words to her, and she

one scolds me. They even bought me beautiful new clothes, and there's so

fidgeted with her clothes as she spoke and appeared to be