Free Web NovelChapter 39: One Phone Call Was Enough
In a quiet corner of Rage Quit Café, Maya stood with effortless grace, the warm lights overhead casting a soft glow across her fair skin.
Liam’s words had been simpleYet somehow, they lingered in her mind.Owning an internet café wasn’t that remarkable by itself. Over the years, she’d met plenty of successful
entrepreneurs through her husband and the school.
But Liam was different.He was only eighteen.
Most boys his age were worried weekend parties, or scraping together enough money for drugs and fast food. Some still depended entirely on their parents.
Meanwhile, this young man had quietly purchased a failing business, renovated it from the ground up, and transformed it into one of the most impressive gaming cafés anywhere near Westbridge University.
It almost didn’t feel real.I really misjudged him.the realization stirred complicated emotions inside her.
When Liam had been one of Ben’s students, she had seen him as nothing more than a quiet, polite boy from a struggling
single-parent family.Now, every encounter seemed to reveal another side of him.
He spoke fluent French. earned money through his own abilities.
And somehow.. he carried himself with a confidence that even many grown men lacked.
The image she once had of him was quietly falling apart, piece by piece.
A faint smile curved Maya’s lips.
"I’ll probably stop by more often when I have some free time," she said softly. "I’m in this part of town quite a bit anyway."
Liam returned the smile with an easy nod.
"You’re always welcome here."
"If you ever need somewhere to unwind after work or just want a quiet place to relax drop by anytime."
Maya met his eyes for a brief moment before smiling warmly.I’ll remember that.
She found herself looking forward to their next meeting.
She gave the café one last glance before turning toward the exit.After watching her disappear outside, Ethan leaned back in his chair and let out a long, low whistle.
"Man." he muttered. "Maya’s seriously gorgeous."
He shook his head, genuine disbelief written across his face.
"I still can’t believe someone like Ben ended up marrying a woman like her. Life really isn’t fair sometimes."
A mischievous grin slowly spread across his face as another outrageous idea crossed his mind.
Liam, you should make a move."
Liam shot him a flat look.What are you talking about?His voice stayed calm, but there was a trace of seriousness behind it.
"She’s a married woman, Ethan. Don’t joke about something like that."Ethan threw his hands up with a grin.
"Relax, I’m just saying." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Besides, if Ben keeps treating her the way he does, someone else is bound to appreciate her eventually."
He smirked.And let’s be honest... if that someone happened to be you, it’d drive him absolutely crazy.
Liam simply shook his head with a faint smile."You spend way too much time coming up with ridiculous ideas."
Ethan chuckled but didn’t press the issue.
Still, the thought lingered quietly in the back of Liam’s mind.Ben Pike didn’t deserve a woman like Maya.
But n o matter how tempting Ethan made it sound. Some lines weren’t meant to be crossed.Whether that would ever matter... only time would tell.
Later that afternoon, Liam glanced at the time before leaving Rage Quit Café.
Earlier that day, the system had assigned him a new mission, and he had already spent some time gathering information.
[System Notification]
Mission: Help Grace Cole recover her unpaid salary from Bright Horizon Company.
[Reward: $50,000 Cash]
[Bonus Reward: +Reputation boost]
[Time Limit: 24 Hours.]
Before heading to Bright Horizon, Liam had quietly contacted Rachel.After hearing the situation, she immediately recognized the company.
"Bright Horizon?" Rachel had said over the phone. They’re one of Lawson Technologies’ smaller business partners.
That was all Liam needed to hear.If things became complicated, Rachel had more than enough influence to step in.
With that reassurance, Liam set off with a calm expression.He wasn’t walking into unfamiliar territory.
He already had a backup plan.A short while later, he arrived outside Bright Horizon Company’s headquarters.
The modern office building towered above the surrounding businesses, its glass exterior reflecting the afternoon sunlight. Employees in business attire passed through the revolving doors, each hurrying toward their own destination.
Near the entrance, however, one person stood out from everyone else.
A lone woman held a protest banner in both hands.
She stood beneath the blazing sun, attracting curious glances from passing pedestrians and office workers alike. Despite the attention, she remained composed, refusing to lower the sign in her hands.
Liam instinctively slowed his pace.So... that’s Grace Cole.Ethan had mentioned more than once that their former class monitor’s mother was an exceptionally beautiful woman.
But hearing about it.and seeing her with his own eyes.were two completely different things.
Though she was in her forties, Grace possessed a quiet, gentle beauty that time and hardship had failed to erase.
There was kindness in her eyes. Even after everything she had endured, she still carried herself with quiet dignity.
Standing alone outside the office building, holding a protest banner as strangers whispered and stared, she never once lowered her head.
Beside her stood Nathan Cole.
Mom! His face burned red with embarrassment.
"Can you stop making a scene?" he snapped. "You only make five thousand dollars a month! Is it really worth humiliating yourself like this? Everyone’s laughing at us!"
Grace’s grip on the banner tightened.His words struck far deeper than he realized.In an instant, painful memories came flooding back.
Her husband’s arrest.The relatives and friends who had vanished overnight.The countless job interviews that ended the moment employers learned about her family’s situation.
Even her own supervisor had taken advantage of her desperation, withholding months of wages while believing she was too powerless to fight back.
She had swallowed every humiliation.Just to keep food on the table.Tears slowly welled in her eyes.
"Nathan..." Her voice trembled. "We... we really need this money."
Before she could finish.Nathan stormed forward and ripped the banner from her hands.I’ve had enough!
Riiip!
The cloth split cleanly in two.He threw the torn banner onto the sidewalk and crushed them beneath his shoes before turning away.
Without another word.He disappeared into the crowd.Grace stood there in stunned silence.It felt as though something inside her had shattered along with the banner.
A few seconds later, the strength left her legs.She slowly sank onto the curb, staring blankly at the torn pieces scattered across the pavement.
All she wanted.was the salary she had already earned.Money that rightfully belonged to her.Yet instead of justice, she had received humiliation.
Not only from strangers.But from her own son.The pressure she had carried for months finally became too much.Her shoulders trembled.
She reached down to gather the torn banner with shaking hands, tears silently rolling down her cheeks one after another.
A short distance away, Liam watched everything unfold without saying a word.
He let out a quiet breath before walking toward her.
You alright?" He offered her a hand.
Grace looked up in surprise.
Standing before her was a young man she had never met.
There wasn’t an ounce of mockery in his eyes.Only quiet concern.After a brief hesitation, she slowly placed her hand in his.
Liam gently helped her back to her feet.The moment he steadied her, Grace instinctively leaned against him before quickly catching herself.
Realizing how close they were standing, she hurriedly lowered her gaze.
"You... you can let go now," she whispered softly, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
Liam immediately released her."My apologies."
His expression remained calm.
Without another word, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a small pack of tissues, and offered it to her.
Grace accepted it with both hands.Thank you.She dabbed gently at the tears clinging to the corners of her eyes.
Standing barely five-foot-three, she appeared remarkably petite beside Liam’s tall frame.
Her delicate features, tired eyes, and fragile appearance stirred an instinctive desire to help her.
After taking a slow breath, she managed a small, apologetic smile."I’m sorry you had to see something so embarrassing."
She lowered her eyes."Things... haven’t been easy lately."
A moment later, she looked back at him, studying the young man before her a little more carefully.
"You’re one of Nathan’s friends, aren’t you?" she asked softly.
Liam nodded."My name’s Liam Sterling. We’ve met before."Grace searched his face for a moment before giving an apologetic smile.
"I’m sorry... I don’t remember.""That’s alright," Liam replied. "We’ve only crossed paths a few times." His calm confidence made it surprisingly easy to lower her guard.
Liam reached into a nearby vending machine, bought a bottle of water, and handed it to her.
Here."You look like exhausted.Grace accepted it with both hands."Thank you."
After giving her a moment to compose herself, Liam quietly asked a few questions about what had happened.
Who owed her the money.How long the wages had been withheld.Whether she had signed an employment contract. If she still had records of her work.
Grace answered each question honestly.By the time she finished, Liam already understood the situation.He looked at her calmly.
"I’ll help you get your salary back."Grace froze for a second before letting out a bitter laugh.
Liam..."I appreciate your kindness."I really do.
She lowered her eyes."But this isn’t something you should get involved in."
"I’ve filed complaints with the labor department. I’ve contacted every office that was supposed to help."Nothing changed.
"They just keep telling me to wait."A trace of helplessness flashed across her face.I don’t want you getting dragged into my problems.
In her eyes, Liam was still only Nathan’s friend.A thoughtful young man with a kind heart...
She couldn’t imagine someone his age standing up to a company’s management.
Liam simply slipped both hands into his pockets.
His expression remained calm.Leave it to me.He glanced toward the blazing afternoon sun before looking back at her.First, let’s get you out of the heat."
You’ve been standing here long enough.Grace hesitated for only a moment before quietly following him beneath the shade of a large tree nearby.
Liam pulled out his phone and dialed a number.The call connected after only two rings.
Rachel."I need a favor."
"An aquintance of mine, Grace Cole, has had several months of salary withheld by Bright Horizon Company."
I need you to look into it.After exchanging a few brief words, Liam ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
Grace had watched the entire conversation in silence.Part of her wanted to believe him.
After months of disappointment, even the smallest glimmer of hope was hard to ignore.But another part of her reminded her not to be naive.
Could a single phone call.really change anything?As if sensing her unease, Liam handed the bottle of water back to her.
Drink a little more.You’ve already pushed yourself hard enough today.
Grace nodded quietly.No matter what happens," she said softly, "thank you. Even if this doesn’t work... I’ll always remember today."
Liam gave her a reassuring smile.Don’t worry It’ll work.Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the building.
A bald middle-aged man rushed outside, breathing hard.The instant Grace saw him, her expression stiffened.
It was her supervisor.The very man who had ignored every plea she’d made.The moment he reached Liam, his arrogant demeanor disappeared.
"Mr. Sterling... I’m terribly sorry."
He bowed his head before quickly producing a thick envelope.Ms. Cole’s unpaid wages are all here. I’ve also added an extra five thousand dollars as compensation."
I hope you’ll forgive my mistake.Grace stood frozen.She had spent weeks begging for what she had rightfully earned.
Yet one phone call from this young man.had brought her supervisor running with an apology.
Slowly, Grace turned toward Liam.
The young man stood with one hand pinching his balls, completely unfazed.
[Mission Completed]
Reward: $50,000 deposited.
[Bonus Reward: +500 Reputation]
