A Life Debt Repaid

Everything went smoothly this time.
When Sam and Quinn stepped out, they each carried their divorce certificate.
Ryan walked up to Quinn in crutches, asking, “Is it done?”
“Yeah,” Quinn replied.
She held out the papers, which Ryan hurriedly snatched to read, smiling after he did.
He was worried something unexpected would happen—that was why he followed Quinn here.
If anything, he did not expect things to go this smoothly.
Sam and Quinn did not say a word to each other either, and they were done soon after they got in without dragging their feet.
Did they really feel nothing for each other? Was that why they split up so quickly? Or did something happen between them?
Either way, Ryan was satisfied as long as they were divorced -he could be with
Quinn out in the open now. Moreover, he was confident that Quinn would return to him soon without Sam tying herdown.
As they stepped out of the civil bureau, Ryan even called out to Sam, “Why haven’t you come home lately even after our parents
called? Are you that busy?”
“Yeah,” Sam replied.
“You shouldn’t neglect family even if you are busy-you have to separate work and personal life,” Ryan lectured him right then
with the bearing of seniority.
Sam stayed silent in turn—did Ryan forget that he was the one who did not return home for months or years while working at the
capital, while their parents would not call him for fear that they would disturb him at work?
It seemed to Ryan that everyone was actually idling despite having work to do, with him being the exception because his work
mattered the most.
At the same time, Ryan continued, “Just call ahead of time once you’re free to come home. I’ll have the kitchen cook your
favorites—”

“I’ll be abroad for a while,” Sam said, cutting Ryan short.
Ryan did a double take. “What?”
Sam shrugged. “Didn’t Dad tell you?”
“What are you talking about?” Ryan was totally bemused.
Quinn was staring at Sam as well, and he said nonchalantly,” The new energy car project is booming locally, and Damian Craig
has been insisting that we can expand our market abroad, even establish a branch for Saunderia in Minerva. I’ve told Dad that I’ll
be going.”
Ryan was actually shocked that Sam was going abroad and turned to see that Quinn was unaware as well.
He actually thought she would, only to see that miserable smile on her face. So Sam was so thorough about cutting ties.
Ryan then asked, “What will happen to the company when you go abroad?”
“Dad will take the reins. He’s much better now, and Saunderia’s operations are back on track,” Sam replied. “You could work in
his place if you’ve somehow found your conscience too—he’s of retirement age, after all.”
“I have my own career,” Ryan refused right away. “I’m only on medical leave, and I’ll be back doing my research when I’m better.
My work is different from yours.”
“Yeah, you’re noble,” Sam scoffed, though it somehow sounded selfdeprecating. “The rest of us are all just stinking business
folk.”
“There’s no need to go that far-we simply pursue different things,” Ryan said, quickly changing the subject as he detected Sam’s
hostility. “When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow.”
“What?” Ryan exclaimed in surprise-he thought it would be in a few months, at least. Who would leave the country on a whim?
“My flight’s early tomorrow, in fact,” Sam added. “What’s the hurry?”