Chapter 79

Raymond looked at Allen. Paul? He still remembered that person. He had seen him and Joa...Allen at the restaurant that day. He remembered getting angry that day. He was feeling really frustrated. That day, he had been able to convince himself that it was because that stupid woman taunted him about his wife being with someone else that made him angry. But now he knew that she wasn't Joanna. She was Allen. But somehow, he still felt angry when he thought of that man with Allen. He felt angry thinking that she might be close with that person when she was trying so hard to avoid him. Why was he feeling like this?
Raymond shook his head trying to bring his mind back to the present and what was happening right now. He really needed to get to the bottom of this. So it seems that this Paul was involved in all of this. He had to find out, what the hell happened to Joanna. She definitely did not run away. That was for sure! "Tell me everything that you know Allen. How did you come to pretend to be Joanna? Since when have she been missing? When did all of this begin? Tell me everything that you know" Raymond said. His voice was threatening...he felt that it was the only way she won't be lying to him.
Allen sighed. Since it had already come to this then there was no reason for her to hide anything. She was just going to tell him everything that happened. Maybe if she begs him, he will let her go? Her grandmother already woke up. She was sure that as long as he let her go,she would be able to think of a way to pay Paul back the surgery money. "Well, I've never really met Joanna before. I met Paul at the bar where I used to work. The first time we met he said that I looked like someone he knew but I did not pay attention to it. One day, he came to me and gave me an offer. He said that I should pretend to be Joanna for six months. Just until he finds her and brings her back. I really did not want to do it but my grandmother was sick. She was dying and I did not have the money for her surgery. He promised to help me if I did it. He told me that Joanna ran away because she did not want to be married to you. I really don't know anything else" Allen said. This man was do frightening. Just speaking to him was enough to make her sweat herself out.
Raymond looked at Allen again. Something kept telling him that she wasn't lying and that she was telling the truth. Maybe it was because she mentioned that her grandmother was sick and she did it to save her life? He was suddenly feeling sorry for her. He knew how it felt to lose a family member. Back then, even with all the money that they had, his parents still passed away. He could not save them. The only family that he had left was his grandfather and he was ready to do anything...even get married to save his life. So he understood what she was probably feeling. The fear of losing a family member.
His instinct kept telling him that she was telling him the truth. She really did not know anything and that she was just used. But he still wanted to confirm. He wanted to make sure that she wasn't lying to him. "How am I supposed to believe you right now? You tell me that you've never met Joanna before and that you are only doing this because of your grandmother. How do I know that you are not lying? For all that I know you could be putting on a show! You look exactly like Joanna, how do you explain that? You probably got plastic surgery to look like her so you can get married to a rich man and live her life! You probably made her disappear" Raymond said. His words were harsh but he wanted to test something.
Allen could not hold back the tears anymore. They were flowing freely now. Why does everyone keep thinking that she is responsible for this? Why do they all keep thinking that she planned all this and that she hurt Joanna? She really did not hurt anyone! She did not have any intentions of hurting anyone! If not for the fact that her grandmother was sick and that there was no way that she could get the money immediately, she would not have agreed to such a crazy plan! It was because she did not have a choice and because she found herself stuck! Why won't anyone believe her? Why do they keep making her out to be the bad person?
And why on Earth do they keep saying that she had plastic surgery to look like Joanna? She really did not do that! She did not do anything like that! Why would she need to resort to having plastic surgery? It isn't something that she would do! She doesn't even have the money for that! "I really did not do that! I did not have plastic surgery and I did not harm Joanna so that I can take her place. I didn't even know Joanna before all of this. I don't even have enough money to get by daily, how could I afford a plastic surgery. I was also supprised to find out that there was someone who looked exactly like me" Allen said. She was almost choking on her words now because of her tears.
Raymond suddenly felt bad for throwing those harsh words at her. Looking at her crying like this, he was suddenly reminded of a scene that happened a long time ago, when he was still living in that small town, when they going girl was still around.
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April was running around Raymond that day. He was sitting down, reading a book, trying very hard ignore the annoying girl that won't stop running around and disturbing him. He really wanted her to be gone, but she did not understand that concept and she kept annoying him. Suddenly, she fell down.
Raymond raised his eye brows. Serves her right. He told her to stop running but she won't listen to him. This would teach her a lesson. She broke out and started crying. He glared at her. He really could not stand people crying in front of him! Damn! He could not even concentrate on the book that he was reading right now! She had just ruined his concentration! What does this girl really want from him? Why does she have to keep making a scene in front of him like this? He turned around and was leaving but he heard her call out, "You are mean! I'm hurt so had and you are just going to leave! You are mean, really mean!" The girl said. Raymond looked back, he was lost. What was he supposed to do?
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