My Heart Was Wounded Deep
Chapter 84's

There is a money game here. That answered at least one of Kikan's questions, why Via was willing to do this. Kikan was almost certain Via was addicted to drugs. Maybe his income is not enough. Maybe this is the only way he can make some extra money. Addicts are known to like to rob minimarkets to earn money.

"He doesn't even have a job" Rey said. But the attention of Lori's family was too riveted that it did not react to hearing the statement.

"I think you owe us a few minutes longer" Lori's mother told Via.

Rey waited until Via focused on her. Then he said, "Do you know a man named Roni Lin?"

"That's my ex-husband's name" he said.

"Then we agree on one thing. Roni is your ex. You married her for almost ten years. Is that true?"

Kikan had no idea where Rey would take this conversation. Rey told him when they were washing the dishes last night that Roni was not giving her what she wanted.

"What's that important?" said Via. "We haven't been together for a long time. He's old history."

Lori's family and Rey's parents were so shocked that they gaped.

" You got officially divorced four years ago" Rey continued. "But your marriage was broken long before. From what he told me, you guys are constantly fighting because of your drug habit."

Via looked stunned and puzzled to hear Rey know so much. "No.." he argued.

" I checked your background" Rey said.

Via blinked his eyes. "And that means.... what?"

" I have a police record to prove it. You've been arrested for trying to hit Roni with your car, hit him with a punch, and trying to burn down your own house. Once you've been arrested for running down the street, so stoned that you don't know who you are or where you are, and...."

" I want to go" Via began to cry.

Kikan could barely hear because his heart was beating so hard. What is Rey doing?

" What kind of drugs are you taking?" ask Rey. "Because you haven't stopped yet."

" It's none of your business. It has nothing to do with my habits or my marriage or anything else."

" Obviously all this has to do with your habits" Rey said. "You came here for money right?"

" No." Via shook his head but it seemed obvious he was lying. "I'm suffering from depression, so. so I took medicine for it. But many people suffer from depression."

Rey clicked her tongue. "It's a little different. Roni told me things could get so bad that you disappear once in a while for a week. Said you were haunted by a terrible tragedy that happened when High School, said you couldn't get out of that memory."

Via waved his hand, which was shown to everyone in the room. "Are we not all haunted by Lori's death? I was in a vehicle that crashed and killed another human!"

Rey lowered her voice but she spoke as if there was no doubt in the truth of her words. "Because you took the steering wheel."

He blinked his eyes many times. "No. And if Roni says it, he's lying! He doesn't know what's going on 'cause he's not there."

" But you told him, didn't you? When you're teller or sad or unable to forget, you tell me your dark secret."

" Five million?" ask Kikan. "Is that all it takes to judge and hurt me?"

" How could anyone hurt you now? You're out, aren't you? there's nothing more they can do to you. I have to take my money."

Lori's mother pressed her hands to the neck as if she needed to get rid of the blockage inside." Really true?" she stuttered. "What did Rey say?"

With a worried face, Lori's father stood up and placed his hand on his wife's shoulder.

" Don't listen to him, ma'am" said Logan. "It's all because of Kikan trying to confuse us. He did this..."

" Hilarious!" hatch Rey. "You brought Via here! And now when we have a chance to talk to him, I want to know the truth. If you don't want to. or can't accept that you're wrong, please get out."

Tears began to flow down Via's face. "I didn't do it."

" Why then did your ex-husband say you did that?"

Via reveals a fear that reminds Kikan of a cornered animal. "He's cynical, angry. He's just an ex-husband, for God's sake. Some ex will do anything to get their previous partner back."

" He doesn't look cynical in my opinion" Rey said. "He told me some of him would always love you, that you needed help. That you've fallen too deep, he doesn't know if you'll ever get up again."

Closing her eyes, Via covered her face, but her tears kept flowing. Kikan could see it dripping from his chin.

" Tell me the truth" Rey said unyieldingly, and kept pressing." For once in your life, tell me the truth!"

Via started shaking. "I didn't mean to hurt him," he whispered through the fingers. "God knows I didn't mean to hurt anyone. That's. it was an accident. No one should be punished for an accident."

Kikan was so shocked Via finally admitted his mistake that it took him a moment to absorb it. He looked at Rey to see if the man heard her too. Then he looked around the room and saw that everyone there was equally glued.

" Then you make things worse by letting innocent people accept the consequences" Rey said. "For such an accident, which is not accompanied by ill intentions, perhaps you are only sentenced to five years. But you let everyone believe that Kikan tried to run over Lori, and you let her stay in jail for seventeen years. She lost time raising her child, and she had to go home to face the anger of those who believed she had killed their family members."

" I know!" snapped Via." But I can't fix it now! That's the past." Via collapsed onto the carpet, crying so hard that they did not understand what he was saying. It sounds like, "I never meant to hurt anyone. It's just for fun."

As Via curled up like a fetus, Kikan stood up to approach him. He's not sure what he's feeling. He does not forgive, for it takes much longer. Kikan felt so sad that even though he was serving a prison sentence, Via was not spared from any other punishment. The lies he told destroyed everything he deserved to admire.

" Come on." Kikan pulled up Via's arm to help him stand up. "It looks like you won't get the five million you hoped for. But Rey and I will take you to the airport."

♪

After that, when they are on their way home, then Kikan can ask Rey about Roni. "You said Roni didn't tell you that Via took the steering wheel."

Rey glanced at him while continuing to drive. "No, but he doesn't know that."

" You tricked him into admitting the truth?" exclaim Kikan.

Rey tucked Kikan's hair behind her ears while throwing the smile that the woman had always dreamed of for seventeen years. "It was just a bluff. But I hope we can make him willing to sign a statement to accept responsibility." They've been trying, but when Rey gets the idea on their way to the airport and they stop to buy paper, Via has been able to control emotions and refuses to make statements. They sat without talking all the way to the airport. Then the woman got out of the car, slammed the door, and walked away haughtily without saying anything.