| October 2, 2023 – 12:10 PM
Lin's phone buzzed on the kitchen counter for the third time in five minutes.
She didn't need to check the screen—she already knew.
Olivia Chen.
Lin sighed, picking it up with the slow patience of someone who would rather be doing literally anything else.
"Olivia."
"Lin, finally! Why are you ignoring me?" Olivia's voice was sweet on the surface, but underneath? Frustration. Entitlement. Like she expected Lin to drop everything.
Lin leaned against the counter, twirling a pen between her fingers."Because I don't want to talk to you?"
Olivia huffed."You're so dramatic. I just called to update you."
Lin smirked. "That implies I wanted an update."
"Nathan quit his job."
Lin paused.
Olivia pounced on the silence."And guess what? He's on a cruise. A six-month one. His friends said he needed to 'find himself' after what you did to him."
Lin blinked, then started laughing.
Olivia snapped."Lin, it's not funny!"
Lin wiped a fake tear."No, no, it is. Let me get this straight—you're telling me that Nathan, a grown man, got so upset about a breakup that he quit his job and ran away to sea?"
Olivia clicked her tongue."You're being cruel."
Lin's smile sharpened."No, Olivia. You and Nathan were cruel. I'm just entertained."
Silence.
Then—"Whatever," Olivia said, voice icy. "I was trying to be nice."
Lin tilted her head, voice smooth."Olivia, we both know you don't do 'nice.'"
Another silence. This time longer.
Then—Olivia scoffed. "You'll regret this."
Lin smirked. "Maybe. But I doubt it."
She hung up before Olivia could say another word.
The phone buzzed again a second later.
Lin turned it over, ignoring it completely.
Nathan could go "find himself."
She had better things to do.
| October 2, 2023 – 12:45 PM
Lin had barely processed Olivia's nonsense about Nathan vanishing to sea when Lilly dropped the same bomb on her.
"Speaking of vanishing," Lilly continued, completely unaware of Lin's growing headache. "My mom wants me to go on a six-month cruise around the world with her."
Lin blinked, deadpan."A cruise?"
"Yeah. All-inclusive, fancy as hell. She thinks it's the perfect 'mother-daughter bonding experience.'" Lilly sighed dramatically. "She already booked my ticket, Lin. I think she's staging a kidnapping."
Lin rubbed her temple."Lilly, you do realize Olivia just called me to say Nathan quit his job and is also on a cruise, right?"
Lilly snorted."Wait—Nathan Liu? That Nathan?"
"Yes, that Nathan."
There was a pause.
Then Lilly burst into laughter."Oh my god. That's amazing. What if you all end up on the same boat? Like some bad reality show?"
Lin groaned."Don't even joke about that."
Lilly wiped away fake tears."Okay, but seriously—should I go?"
Lin leaned against the railing, watching Ethan's crew move in and out of the hotel. A six-month cruise.
On one hand, Lilly would be far away from whatever storm was coming. On the other hand, she'd be completely cut off. No news, no updates, no quick escape.
Too isolated. Too vulnerable.
Lin exhaled. "Depends. Do you trust your mom's vacation planning?"
Lilly groaned."Not even a little. She thinks 'remote islands' are charming. I think they sound like the start of a horror movie."
Lin smirked."Then good luck with that."
Lilly huffed."You're no help."
Lin just chuckled, but inside? She was already thinking.
If Lilly left, she'd be safe—at least for a while.
But if she stayed? Lin wasn't sure she could guarantee that.
| October 2, 2023 – 1:00 PM
Lin had just hung up, still turning over the conversation in her head, when Richard walked up, wiping his hands on an old rag.
"You free for a drive?" he asked casually.
Lin raised an eyebrow."Depends. What are we picking up?"
Richard smirked."A secondhand tow truck. Three towns over. Decent condition, good price."
Lin paused, considering."A tow truck?"
Richard chuckled."I'm being practical. We're setting up an auto shop, and out here? A tow truck's a necessity. Closest tow service is an hour away. You think people are gonna wait that long if they break down?"
Lin exhaled, nodding."Fair point. How's the engine?"
"Good shape. Tires need replacing, but that's cheap. Got a hydraulic winch, steel flatbed. Older model, but reliable."
Lin smirked."And the price?"
Richard grinned."Let's just say it's an investment."
Lin rolled her eyes."I swear to god, this family's going to turn that into a motto."
Richard tossed her the truck keys."Come on, Zhang. Let's go buy a tow truck."
Lin caught the keys with one hand, smirking as she followed him toward the truck.
One more piece of the plan falling into place.