Secrets of the Cactus Men
20| The Loser's Decision

Philip laid Flores' body on the bed. This is a new chapter in her marriage to Flores.

“Flores, forgive me.” Philip sat down by the head of the bed. Gently stroked Flores' head that was sound asleep.

Philip was hurt to see Flores come home like this. He felt like he had failed at being a husband.

“I've let you both down, Flo.” Philip muttered softly. He kept on looking at his wife's pale face. “I'm not firmly into a man.”

In the middle of his focus, Flores' phone suddenly rang. Spam messages into his phone. Philip hurriedly grabbed Flores' bag and took out a cell phone to check the incoming messages.

“Mommy?” Philip frowned as he glanced at Flores beside him.

Philip opened the message.

Elisha's with. Don'worry.

Philip gave a rough sigh. He rubbed his face for ignoring Elisha today. His daughter must be confused.

Have fun with Marc.

Now Philip frowned. His face changed instantly. He made a look of disbelief when he found that Myah continued to be involved in his household.

I'll book you a fancy hotel if you ask to stay with Marc tonight.

Philip gave a rough sigh. He couldn't bear to read the messages from Myah, so he decided to close Flores' phone. But the message came back. The ringing of the cell phone cornered Philip's comfort.

Don't gohome. Let your husband take care of the divorce papers immediately.

Don't be afraid if he accuses you of cheating, Flo. He did it first.

You deserve to be happy.

Philip threw away his sight. His patience is tested. Myah has crossed her limits.

“I have to teach him a lesson,” Philip said as he began replying to messages from Myah. However, his fingers stopped moving when one sentence appeared as the last message from Myah tonight.

Lottie Harlow's stock has been sold for half to pay off debts. Remember, you can't survive without Marc.

Philip removed the maki curse that was about to be thrown at Myah through the short message.

“Lottie Harlow Shares?” Philip whirring. He looked at his wife again. “If half of it has been sold, Flores will definitely go bankrupt soon?”

Flores has lied to Philip again. Last time, the woman said that everything was still in her control. Only Flores' decision can determine the fate of Lottie Harlow's company. However, Flores is lying.

“That's worse ‘is your financial condition, Honey?” Philip put Flores' phone back on the table.

The man rubbed Flores' cold cheeks. “Why didn't you tell me that your problem didn't just come from this affair?”

Philip almost cursed himself. So far he can't make Flores happy. He allowed his wife to keep working hard and withstood the insults thrown at him.

“Why aren't you honest, Flo?” Philip whined like a baby. “I didn't even expect all the problems would be this fast.”

Flores suddenly squirms. “I don't want to lose Lottie Harlow,” muttered Flores in the middle of her sleep.

Philip frowned. “Honey?” He made sure by patting Flores on the shoulder. However, his wife did not react much.

“I love Lottie like I love Elisa.”

Philip gave a long sigh. “You are delirious apparently,” said Philip while smiling wryly. “You must be exhausted.”

Philip pulled out a blanket to warm Flores' body. He tidied up the pillow by his wife's side and kissed Flores on the forehead. He looked at the woman with sadness. “Sleep quietly, Honey.”

Flores suddenly blocked Philip's wrist leaving her husband shocked. When Philip turned his head, he only found Flores still asleep.

Philip smiled as he let go of Flores' hand. “You have to rest, Mrs boss,” said Philip again kissed Flores' forehead. After that he went out of his room.

In the backyard, Philip pulled out a cigarette and a lighter. Burning the tip of the cigarette and then sucked with full enjoyment. Smoke billowed through the air, several times exhaled from Philip's nostrils and mouth.

Philip is a man. If not for his promise to Flores, he would have used violence to fight violence. However, his love and promise had weakened Philip.

Philip's phone rang. As soon as possible the man reached into his blue jeans pocket.

“New number?” Philip frowned. He did not think long, directly opening the incoming message. Philip was used to this kind of foreign number, perhaps a new customer from his workshop.

I know you're there, Philip.

Philip frowned again. “Crazy wrong number again?” Philip wondered. The message he got was so strange.

I knew you'd need us.

Philip's focus was only on his phone screen. The more messages that came in, the more curious he became.

Call me if you need any help, Philip.

“He knows my name?” Philip began to think, considering who could potentially send him such a strange message. “Black Joe?”

Black Joe is your home.

It was the last message before the sender no longer sent the message.

Philip was silent for a moment. He thinks pretty hard. Black Joe has a great power. Either as big and as strong as he is, but Philip's belief is that Black Joe can take Lottie Harlow back and solve her domestic problems.

With hesitation, Philip made a voice call. The ringing of the phone sounded faintly from across the phone. He waited, long enough.

“Why not lift?” murmured Philip while playing a cigarette on his finger clasp. “They are not serious?”

Philip kept the phone away from his ear. Look at the screen that is still trying to call the number. Just as Philip was about to disconnect his call, suddenly someone answered his call.

“Halo?” Philip started. “Hellena?”

The voice of a woman muttered. Philip's guess is right, he's Hellena.

“You contacted me, Philip.” Hellena chuckles.

Philip sighed. “I want to go back to Black Joe. Send me the address.”

Hellena was silent for a moment.

“I'm serious! I want ...”

“If you go back to Black Joe, you can't go back as Philip Sherburne Flores' husband and Elisa's father.”

Philip was silent.

“You will be Philip Sherburne, the Storm from the east.” Hellena gave an affirmation. “How, are you ready?”

Philip loved Flores and Elisha. But .....

Next.