Afra chuckled, "Don't think of yourself as too important, we're just insignificant pawns. Besides, what's the point of the so-called election? Whether it's left or right, I don't see much of a difference."
John revealed a curious look, "Are there any other inside stories? I want to hear more."
John shrugged as if he remembered something, "Assistant team leader Luke, why didn't Detective Marcus come?"
Luke said, "He has something very important today."
"More important than the American election?"
"Exactly, to Marcus, the American election is trivial compared to the matters of tonight."
The T-bone Steak Restaurant.
It was after eight in the evening, the restaurant was closing.
The staff members from the restaurant were also leaving one by one.
Julian bid farewell to her colleagues and, carrying a small cross-body bag, left the restaurant and headed towards the parking lot on the east side.
By then, it was already dark, and the street lights on either side were somewhat dim.
Julian faintly heard footsteps behind her and turned her head to look, but saw no one.
She continued on her way, only this time with a sense of unease, quickening her pace.
"Tap, tap..." The faster she walked, the more hurried the footsteps behind her became.
She felt she was being followed and reached into her bag with her right hand, pulling out a spray bottle.
Then, she turned around abruptly and indeed saw a man not far behind her, standing in the shadow with his back to the light, making his face indiscernible, but he looked somewhat familiar.
"Julian, don't be nervous, it's me." Marcus emerged from the shadow.
Julian had just breathed a sigh of relief when she frowned again, "Marcus, what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see how you were doing."
"Thanks for your concern, but we've already broken up, you don't have to go out of your way to see me."
Marcus surveyed her, especially staring at Julian's belly, "Uh... I want to talk to you."
"We've got nothing left to talk about." Julian turned to leave.
"Hey... are you pregnant?" Little Black asked with a quiver in his voice.
Julian sighed, "Did Detective Chief Luke tell you?"
Little Black corrected, "Assistant team leader."
Julian was somewhat bemused, "Does it matter?"
"You're right, the most important thing today is to figure out whether you're pregnant or not. I want to hear it from you."
Julian eyed Little Black and nodded, "Yes, I'm pregnant."
Though he had guessed the outcome, hearing Julian say it made Little Black feel a sense of powerlessness.
"Uh, I know it's kind of an asshole thing to ask but... I still want to know, is it my child?"
"Yes, you're the father of the child. But you don't need to worry, I don't need you to take responsibility. I've decided to be a single mother." Julian caressed her belly, "I can afford to take care of her."
Little Black was frazzled, "This isn't about taking responsibility or not. If I am the child's father, why didn't you tell me from the start? I have a right to know."
"Excuse, you should have told me."
"You're right, I should have told you. I'd like to know, what would you do if I did tell you? Do you even want this child?"
"Julian, I can understand how you feel... but, I think we're not in a position to take care of a child right now."
"So, what will you do?"
"I'd suggest you terminate the pregnancy."
"I knew it, I knew you'd say that. But I don't want to terminate the pregnancy; she's a little life, I can feel her in my belly. That's why I didn't tell you, because there was no need.
Let me repeat, I'll raise her on my own."
"Do you know how hard it is to raise a child? Do you know what I just went through with a case? I've seen too many children from single-parent families... they often end up unhappy.
I like children, too, but I want to bring them happiness, not suffering."
Julian asserted firmly, "I won't let my child suffer. We're done here; you can go."
Little Black shouted somewhat helplessly, "Julian, you're making a mistake, and it's not fair to me."
Julian retorted, "Then what do you want?"
Little Black looked at Julian's belly, opened his mouth, but didn't really know what he wanted.
Terminate the pregnancy? Julian would definitely not agree.
Take on the responsibility of being a father?
He didn't even know if he had the courage.
In the end, he could only watch as Julian walked away, lamenting, "Julian, take care of yourself."
"I will, if only for the sake of the child." Julian left a final word and strode off confidently.
Little Black watched Julian leave, feeling an urge to cry at that moment.
He missed his mother.
A slender Latin beauty with bags in hand walked out of the supermarket, her striking looks and sexy figure drawing the eyes of many.
The beauty approached a white Toyota car, placed her bags in the passenger seat, and then drove away from the supermarket.
However, just after turning two streets, a police car followed.
The sirens blared and the lights flashed.
Then a voice came from the loudspeaker, "White Toyota car ahead, pull over and prepare for inspection."
The Latin beauty sighed, somewhat resigned, yet had no choice but to stop her car at the roadside.
The police car behind her also stopped, and two officers emerged, a middle-aged white police officer and a black female cop.