Husband With Benefits
Chapter 312: Poor Kid

Chapter 312: Poor Kid

Erasmi drove through the quiet streets as the sun came up. Fatigue etched across his face as his eyes seemed to be getting heavy with each passing moment. As he looked up at the name of the small town that he had just entered and stopped outside a small rustic cafe, he could not help but frown. So close. He was now so close.

Furtively, he glanced at the many pictures that lay face down on the passenger seat. His hand edged towards the pictures before he forcefully shook his head. Now was not the time. He was already quite late. He needed to grab a cup of coffee and drive to the nearest hotel before he would consider his next step.

Surprisingly, as he entered the cafe, it turned out to be different from the quiet outside with people bustling about. It was not overcrowded but it wasn’t too empty either. His entrance earned him quick looks from the locals while his travel-weary appearance made them discard the reason for his presence, assuming he was a passing traveller.

Tiredly, he found a table in a secluded corner and made his way there, ordering black coffee to chase away his tiredness.

As he waited for the coffee, he leaned back his head tiredly, thinking of the daunting task that lay ahead of him. His determination had brought him here to this place while every fibre of his being urged him to run away like a coward.

"Here is your coffee, young man." Erasmi looked up at the older waitress who had just placed the coffee on his table and murmured a thank you before turning his attention to the coffee. Surprisingly, the older woman did not move away after placing the coffee and continued to stand there, staring at him.

Erasmi tried to avoid the gaze, hoping the woman would get the hint and go away but instead the woman ignored the cues he was sending out and asked directly," Are you from around here? Have you come here earlier?"

"No." Erasmi answered shortly and rudely, hoping that at least this would discourage the woman into leaving but instead the waitress crossed her arms in front of her and stared at him even more intently," But your face looks familiar and I have never forgotten a face. Maybe you visited here as a kid?"

Erasmi stilled before giving a quick shake his head," I’ve never been here and won’t be here for long. Now, I’d like to drink my coffee in peace."

The woman finally took the hint and muttered," Geez. Some people can be really grumpy without their dose of caffeine." and walked away.

Erasmi glared at the woman’s receding back for a moment, before turning to his coffee. The first sip was refreshing and he quickly appreciated the unexpectedly perfect coffee.

Finally feeling a bit more refreshed, his eyes scanned the room, looking around curiously. He would need to ask someone for a local place to stay for a few days. If he’d been using his head instead of the tiredness, he could have asked the chatty waitress but if he tried to initiate a conversation now, she would be proven right about his grumpiness.

He tried to get her attention a few times, pretending to want to order food but was ignored steadily making him grimace. Uhh. He’d not gotten off to a good start in this place.

Just as he was about to bury his pride and go and ask, he heard someone talking behind him, which caught his attention.

"They threatened to expel Caius?, ¹, a woman asked, glee in her voice.

"You should have seen that bi*ch’s face yesterday when the principal outright told her that if the boy got into any more mischief, they might even send him to the juvenile prison," another man continued to tell, a bit of gloating in his voice.

Quietly, Erasmi sipped his almost empty cup, pretending to not pay attention even as he strained to hear what these people had to say.

As expected the woman asked excitedly," You should have made a video. That woman thinks she is above the rest of us. This will show her. In fact, make sure that he does go to the juvenile prison. You are the only one who can instigate that kid. I’d like to see that bi*ch running around from pillar to post, trying to save that boy."

Suddenly, a loud squeal was heard and Erasmi whipped around to see that the woman there was now drenched in water with the waitress standing there with a jug of water in her hand.

"How dare you sit here in my cafe and say something so evil! You are a mother too. How can you wish for something so painful on another mother. That poor child is a good boy. But he has been suffering so much the last few months! And instead of showing him sympathy, you are planning to make his life even more difficult. Get out of my cafe right now!"

"How dare you!" The malicious woman screamed, picked up the decorative piece from the table and raised her hand to hit the older woman.

But before she could make her move, Erasmi swiftly intervened. With a calm yet firm demeanour, he intercepted the enraged woman, disarming her before she could harm the woman. The piece clattered to the floor, its fragments spread on the ground.

As the woman turned to glare at him, his authoritative voice cut through the air," Enough. Step back, miss or else you will regret it."

The drenched woman sent a scathing glance at everyone before marching out, promising to exact her revenge while the man with her also quickly slinked away. The older woman turned to Erasmi with a surprised gaze. She had not expected the rude stranger to be the one to stand up for her and she quickly thanked the person," Thank you, young man."

Erasmi nodded in acknowledgement and made to step out when the older lady stopped him," You’re hurt."

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