CHAPTER 42

Mr. Ben and Hannah heaved sighs of relief as the tension in the diner eased substantially. Gratitude shown brightly on their faces as they looked at Adrian, their savior. Hannah didn’t hesitate, she got to her feet and rushed towards him. “You saved us.” she reached out and squeezed Adrian’s hands tightly. “Thank you so much.”

Mr. Ben, still affected by the throbbing pain in his nose, rose a bit slower, swaying slightly. He placed a hand against the wall to steady himself before slowly walking toward Adrian. “Thank you, again, Adrian,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity. “My wife and I will be indebted to you for the rest of our lives.”

Adrian offered them a smile. “It’s no problem at all. I’ll do it again if I can.” he paused for a moment as a thought crossed his mind. “Mr. Ben, I remember telling you that I’d give you $20,000 to take care of your family’s needs until I find a suitable job for you.”

Mr. Ben nodded in confirmation. “Yes, that’s true, Adrian.”

With that, A