No Way Back by Anna Mac

whether I did the right thing or not, I’ll leave it to the heavens to decide.”

Jane felt more at peace after praying.

She thought to herself, “Alright, I’ll leave it to fate. As long as I have a clear conscience and I know that

I’m on the right. path, it’s good enough for me.”

Other people’s judgment had nothing to do with her. As long as the people that she cared about still

believed in her, it was good enough.

After praying, Jane walked out of the church. Levi was waiting for her outside.

“Where’s Troy?”

“Just now, the photographer came over and took him away to take photos.”

Jane glanced at the photographer who was not far away and said, “Mr. Croft, you should remind the

parents of these

children to take better care of them. If anything happens to them here, it would be terrible.”

Levi glanced at Jane and said calmly, “Miss Fowler… It seems you’re not as cold as the rumors say.”

“Mr. Croft, you’ve heard rumors about me. What kind of person do you think I am?”

If it were anyone else, Jane wouldn’t care what they thought or how they viewed her.

However, the person in front of her was Hugh’s father.

Even if Hugh said this did not bother him anymore, Jane knew better as she came from a similar

background. Hugh still cared a lot about his father.

Even though Levi might have never given Hugh the fatherly love and warmth that he deserved.

It was still inevitable that Jane and Levi would have to meet one day, as she now shared a relationship

with him too.

At the same time, Levi was very different from what Jane had imagined.

He was nothing like what Hugh had described.

Jane felt curious about Levi.

“Only *********people will judge others casually. Comparatively, wise people will only live their own lives

and admire the strengths of others.”

Levi suddenly said such wise words.

Jane was slightly stunned.

She thought to herself, “Why does Levi Croft seem so different from what I heard? His words are so wise

and profound.”

“Do you know why I haven’t fully devoted myself to a religious life? It’s because the priest told me that my

mortal ties are still intact, and he refused to accept me as an apprentice. Without a choice, I can only

come here shamelessly every day and hope that he changes his mind.”

After saying that, Levi walked towards his small wooden house.

Jane followed him obediently.

After years of adding bricks and tiles to the construction, the small wooden house was starting to take

shape.

When Jane entered the house, she could smell the fragrance of flowers.

She spotted a few pots that Levi had placed beside the window.

As she looked out of the window, she saw the vast expanse of the mountain, the blue sky, the

fluffy*********, and birds flying freely.

There was a teapot beside a stove that was used to boil water. There were also a few paintings hanging

on the wall. There was a curtain, a small bed, and some antique decorations. If Jane did not know any

better, she would have believed that this was the residence of a person who chose to live in seclusion.

“Have a seat. I’ll boil some water. The spring water around Santio Church is very sweet.”

Levi filled the kettle with water and put it on the stove. Soon, the water was boiling. His fingers moved

deftly, and soon, a hot cup of tea appeared before Jane.

Jane picked up her cup of tea and took a deep breath. “It’s Hibiscus tea.”

Levi’s eyes lit up. “You can tell just from the smell? Miss Fowler, are you very knowledgeable about tea?”

“Hibiscus tea is rich in antioxidants, and its fragrance is so refreshing. The taste is mellow and sweel.”

Jane pointed at the other tea box on the table. She opened it and grabbed a small handful of its

contents.

“I see, this is jasmine tea. Jasmine tea is known to have a calming effect, and it performs wonders in

boosting one’s immune system and digestion. It is also high in antioxidant.”

“Good jasmine tea is not easy to find. But for you, who was born into the Croft family, it must not be a

rare sight.”

“That’s all in the past… It doesn’t matter anymore. But I can never deny the fact that I still have the

Croft’s family blood running through my veins. I was once the fourth heir of the family, and I am my

father’s son. That much, I can never deny. You’re right to say that about me.”

Levi took a sip of the Hibiscus tea and tasted the fragrance. His lips curled into a bitter smile.

“In the past, I didn’t like these things. Unfortunately, my wife, the love of my life, died in labor. She was

Hugh’s mother. To avoid this inescapable sadness, I went everywhere and learned a lot about random

things.”

“Eventually, I accumulated enough knowledge. Even the priest of Santio Church likes my tea leaves and

often comes to my place to drink tea. I. begged him a few times, but he still refused to accept me as an

apprentice.”

“After that, I got used to this kind of life. When I had nothing to do, I would go to Santio Church and

watch the flowers bloom and wither. I would drink tea and chat with some close friends in the church. I

would be far away from Croft family and the hustle and bustle of the mortal world. I would no longer have

to think too much about the past. I felt relieved.”

Jane pursed her lips and drank the tea in one gulp. She looked at Levi solemnly. “Mr. Croft, you are

completely different from what I had heard about you from Hugh and the rest of the family. What

happened?”