—Don’t worry so much, Mom. Everything will be fine. I’m not a kid anymore, you know. I’m a grown man, capable of taking responsibility for my actions and even protecting myself, —James teased, chuckling as he stood in his rugged outdoor gear, playfully ribbing the elderly woman.
—You shouldn’t go out there alone into that wilderness, son. Why do you need to chase after rabbits and boars? Are you short on money? Can’t you just buy what you need? If it’s about that, I’ll chip in from my pension if you’re struggling! —she couldn’t calm her nerves, fretting over her son, who was gearing up to hunt wild game on his snowmobile.
The idea of money troubles seemed especially absurd in this context, as the conversation unfolded in James’s sprawling mansion, where his mother had come to celebrate the New Year with him. They were each other’s only company for this family occasion.
A few years earlier, Catherine, James’s mother, had lost her husband suddenly. Since then, she had lived alone in a sturdy countryside home. Her son, well into his thirties, still hadn’t proposed to any woman, despite his mother’s growing concern. He was terribly picky when it came to choosing a partner. But in other areas, James had not wasted time. Starting as a small-time entrepreneur at the local market, he had risen to become the successful owner of several large home improvement stores.
—You don’t understand hunting, Mom. It’s not about the kill—it’s the process. It’s like fishing. Do you think those guys sit by the lake all day, catching minnows just for the haul? Exactly! Alright, Mom, I’m off. The sooner I leave, the sooner I’ll be back, —James said as he closed the door behind him.
Soon, the roar of his snowmobile echoed from the yard, fading into the snowy silence.
A heavy sense of foreboding lingered with the old woman. Her heart warned her that her son was bound to stumble into some kind of trouble.
James pushed his snowmobile to its maximum speed, aiming to reach a small hunter’s cabin tucked deep in the forest within a couple of hours. From there, he planned to set out for the hunt the next morning. For now, his path ran alongside a busy highway connecting a nearby town to the regional capital.
A couple of miles later, near a bridge over a narrow but turbulent river that never froze, even in the harshest winters, he was supposed to turn right. But suddenly, he slammed on the brakes, unable to believe his eyes. Beyond the bridge’s railing stood a woman, frozen, staring into the dark abyss below as if gathering the courage to act. Nearby, her car was parked. It was as if she had timed her moment perfectly— the highway had gone eerily quiet, with no cars passing by to interrupt her desperate plan. James couldn’t just ride past, watching someone prepare to commit a terrible act. Leaving his snowmobile aside, he sprinted toward the bridge, where the woman seemed ready to let go of the iron railing she clutched.
Tears streamed from Anna’s blue eyes, freezing on her cheeks in the biting cold. It was no mild winter day— a chill so fierce that no sensible person would let their dog out in it. Yet, what had driven this young woman to venture into the middle of nowhere, ready to end the most precious thing she had—her life?
James would soon find out, but for now, he had to save her from disaster before she did something she might regret, even in the afterlife. Anna was about to step into the void when a voice startled her from behind:
—I wouldn’t recommend jumping. The water’s freezing, and I’m afraid there are plenty of rocks down there. Hitting them wouldn’t exactly be pleasant!
Turning, Anna saw a kind-faced, bearded man with strikingly perceptive blue eyes. His gaze somehow snapped her out of her trance, pulling her back to reality. For reasons she couldn’t quite grasp, life no longer seemed so hopeless. She even managed a faint smile as she replied:
—Really? Rocks down there?
—Oh, yes! Lots of them! Trust me, this is not the spot for a swim, even if you’re a polar bear, —James laughed.
—Well, then, I guess I won’t jump. I’d hate to ruin my manicure, though I suppose where I’m headed, it won’t matter much, —she replied with a touch of wistfulness, letting James help her to safety. Overwhelmed, she suddenly burst into tears and fell into the stranger’s arms.
James was stunned. Nothing like this had ever happened to him. Perhaps his hunting trip wasn’t in vain after all—he hadn’t bagged a rabbit or a wolf, but he had saved a human life.
Moments later, they sat warming up in Anna’s car, where she shared what had driven her to such a desperate act.
—You know, you basically saved a convict, —she said with a bitter laugh. —Not long ago, I was, you could say, the happiest person alive. I didn’t have everything I wanted, but I had what mattered most. I was head-over-heels in love with someone I thought was incredible. But he betrayed me, wormed his way into my trust, robbed me blind, and set me up so badly that I was supposed to be arrested today. Instead, I got into this car—which, by the way, isn’t even mine anymore—and drove here. Funny, I’m a car thief now, too, —Anna said with a sad smirk.
—That’s a rough story! But what about your family? How would they feel if you’d taken that one step further? —James asked, genuinely puzzled.
—I don’t have anyone who needs me. Just a sister, and we haven’t spoken in years. She chose a path that doesn’t align with any kind of sense. She tried to poison our father to get his inheritance—he was a businessman. I barely remember my mother; she died giving birth to my sister when I was not even three. Can you imagine a daughter slowly poisoning her own father, all because he didn’t approve of her criminal boyfriend, covered in tattoos?
—That’s horrifying! —James managed to say.
—It’s a good thing I stopped her in time. Now I wonder if we shouldn’t have sent Zoe to prison. The poison she used turned out to be fake. Dad only lived five more years after that and left everything to me. I never visited Zoe in prison, not once. Maybe that’s why I’m being punished—losing everything in an instant and ending up in her shoes, broke and behind bars.
Their conversation might have gone on longer, but it was cut short by police officers who arrived, swiftly handcuffing Anna and taking her away to where “swindlers like her belong.” James was left stunned, watching the police car’s flashing lights disappear into the distance.
He didn’t go hunting that day. Instead, he turned his snowmobile around and headed home, to his mother’s immense relief. He told her nothing of his little adventure, not wanting to worry her. Little did James know the surprise fate had in store for him.
Five years passed.
The courtroom was a grim and somber place, as one might expect. It handled only criminal cases, and acquittals were rare. Judge Thompson, presiding over yet another case of major fraud, was notorious for his harsh and often unfair sentences.
James knew this all too well and had all but given up hope, bracing for the worst. It was a bizarre case: a businessman whose life had seemed to be thriving was now in pre-trial detention for the same reason as the woman he had once saved from a reckless act.
Only in his cell did James realize how eerily similar the circumstances were. Even the woman who had set him up, whom he had loved more than life itself, bore the same name as Anna’s sister, Zoe. A coincidence, of course, but the prison sentence he faced was very real. Thankfully, his mother hadn’t lived to see this day—it would have broken her. She had passed away believing her son had finally found a fiancée, who, in reality, had fabricated documents to frame him as a thief and fraudster.
The prosecutor had already delivered a damning speech, declaring James’s guilt beyond doubt. His lawyer tried to offer a defense but faltered, lacking any mitigating factors.
It was down to Judge Thompson, who was not known for leniency. The verdict seemed inevitable, but just as the judge began to speak, the courtroom door burst open. A disheveled woman stormed in—Anna, the same woman James had saved on the bridge. He had saved her then; now, it seemed, it was her turn to return the favor. Brandishing a thick folder, she shouted:
—You can’t lock him up! He’s innocent, and here’s the proof! This folder has all the documents proving James’s innocence—and mine, too, —she added, tossing the folder onto the judge’s desk, staring him down. It was Judge Thompson who, years ago, had sentenced her to five years in prison without much scrutiny.
The courtroom was stunned, especially James. The judge glanced at the first few pages, abruptly halted the sentencing, and sent the case back for further investigation.
The prosecutor immediately issued an arrest warrant for Zoe and Michael, who were caught off guard when police arrived, handcuffing them just as they were packing to flee the country. They had completed their schemes at home and knew it was too dangerous to stay. Abroad, they could prey on more naive, wealthy victims. Michael, a top economics graduate, had waited for his wife to be released from prison to execute their plans.
Soon, James was released from detention with apologies and compensation—though no amount could erase the days spent behind bars. Anna, too, had endured five years in prison due to her sister’s vengeful scheme, despite being innocent. Had Zoe come to her in peace, Anna would have willingly shared half the inheritance. But greed led to their downfall.
Grateful by nature, Anna’s first act after her release was to thank the hunter who had saved her on the bridge. She knew his address. To her shock, she saw her ex-fiancé at James’s house, arm-in-arm with her sister. That’s when she began to piece things together. Keeping her presence hidden, she dressed in rags and a warm scarf, returning daily to eavesdrop on their conversations.
She learned that five years ago, her sister and her criminal husband had come to town with one goal: revenge. Zoe even “loaned” her husband to Anna for the scheme. Michael, a master manipulator, had so thoroughly charmed Anna that she trusted him completely. Their “chance” meeting at a parking lot—where he’d punctured her tire and offered help—had been orchestrated. He played the perfect gentleman, quickly winning her over.
Within six months, Anna was in prison, and Zoe and Michael had her money and business. They repeated the scheme with James, targeting him after seeing a TV report about the lonely businessman. Michael posed as a wealthy investor, while Zoe played the role of James’s fiancée, framing him just as they had Anna.
Their plan might have succeeded, and they might be lounging in some tropical paradise, had it not been for Anna’s gratitude. Piecing together their conversations, she resisted the urge to confront them, knowing it would harm both her and James. For months, she gathered evidence, learning of a folder in their garage containing proof of their crimes. Using skills she’d picked up in prison, she stole it.
James and Anna couldn’t thank each other enough. They became true friends, rebuilding their businesses together. The fraudsters hadn’t squandered everything, but much had to be restored from scratch. Together, it was easier, and as they say, from friendship to love is just one step.
Fate’s gift was not wasted. They soon married, their hearts untainted by the villains who could hardly be called human. Bound by genuine, radiant love, they were destined to be together forever. The arrival of a child only deepened their joy, a reward for those who truly deserved it.
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