Chapter 18: Sunset

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

I stood barefoot on the carpet and let the tears fall. I didn’t understand why my mom had chosen to go back to that cage.

Ravi walked into my room and saw me weeping alone. He walked over and gave me a warm hug. He patted my back gently and didn’t say anything.

“My mother’s gone,” I said with a sob.

“Yes.”

“She said she wanted to go back.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t understand why.”

“That is her choice.”

“I don’t want her to get hurt.”

“She’ll protect herself, just like she protected you.”

I looked up at Ravi with tears in my eyes. He gave me a look that reassured me, and I gradually stopped crying.

“I want to drink,” I told Ravi between sobs.

“Even though you’re not twenty-one, the Mafia never does anything legal.” He wiped the tears from my face with his thumb and then gave my cheeks a gentle squeeze.

I laughed, even though the tears in my eyes weren’t dry yet.

Ravi called room service, and within a few minutes, the waiter wheeled in a cart with two bottles of wine. Before that, I had never drunk before, because in my memory, everyone who was drunk was unusually unhinged and violent. I didn’t want to become the type of person I hated.

But today, I was in a terrible mood. The person I lost and found had left me again, and I had no ability to make her stay. I knew that even if my mom didn’t go back, she couldn’t live with me. I was just one of Ravi’s many women. Perhaps in a month or two, Ravi would lose interest in me. When that time came, I would be homeless myself, so how could I take care of my mom? I hated myself, and I hated myself for being unable to do anything about my situation or my mom’s situation.

Ravi poured a glass of wine and handed it to me. I took a sip. It was a little sweet. I drank it all. I poured a glass for Ravi too. He carried the glass out to the terrace and looked at the setting sun on the beach.

“The setting sun is so beautiful,” I exclaimed. I sat on the deck chair with the red wine and finished another glass.

“You’re even more beautiful.” Ravi turned to look at me and took a sip of his wine. “When I met your mom, I thought I saw a version of you in twenty years. You two look so similar.”

“Yes. My eyes are very like hers.”

“I can tell she loves you very much. She came to Miami with my men without a word.”

“But I don’t understand why she wants to go back.” I poured myself another drink.

“That is her life.”

“Yes. She has her life. I have mine. I have to walk my own path in the future.”

“I’ll be with you.”

“Thank you, Ravi. Thank you for showing up in my life.” I looked into Ravi’s dreamy blue eyes and raised my glass.

“It’s my honor to be in your life.” Ravi raises his glass as well. Our glasses clinked together and we both drank.

Ravi looked at the distant sunset, which was only half set. His eyes looked empty.

“What are you thinking about?” I stood up with my glass in my hand and walked closer to him.

“I’m thinking about my mother.”

I patted Ravi on the shoulder and gave him a reassuring look.

“Three years ago, when I was eighteen, my mom and I were about to come to Miami for a vacation. The night before we left, my mom suddenly disappeared. Two days later, a floating corpse was found in the sea, and it was confirmed to be my mother.”

“How did she die?”

“Suicide, but I don’t believe it.”

“I don’t believe it either.”

“You’ve never seen her before. How are you so sure?”

“Because she loves you very much. She wouldn’t end her life for no reason.”

“That’s why I haven’t given up on searching for the truth.”

“You’re going to find out the truth.” I looked toward the distant sky. Most of the sun had set.

“Would you like to watch the sunset with me every day?” Ravi turned to look at me.

“I don’t think you lack women who are willing to watch the sunset with you.”

“I was asking you.”

“I don’t know.” I kept my eyes on the spot where the sea met the sky. In my peripheral vision, I saw Ravi watching me.

“Look at me,” Ravi said to me in a commanding tone. I turned my head to look at his handsome face and involuntarily reached out to touch his face. Ravi grabbed my hand and kissed my palm gently before wrapping his arm around my waist and placing a soft kiss on my lips. My heart fluttered. “I want to kiss you like this every day. Do you want to?”

“I do.” I felt myself blush and I smiled back shyly.

“So you’re willing to let me kiss you every day but unwilling to watch the sunset with me every day?” Ravi raised his eyebrows and smiled evilly. I was suddenly so embarrassed that I didn’t know what to do. “What is going on in your head?” He pressed the tip of his nose against mine. I ducked back and he took the opportunity to kiss my nose..