If Fitz could withstand this ultimate test, then Sandra would have no qualms with making him the number two member of the Banks Family. But if Fitz were to fail this test, then he would never be allowed to lay his hands on any of the family’s assets ever again.
Sandra was searching for a completely trustworthy and loyal subordinate for Zara, and he couldn’t risk any potential danger posed by his candidate. If Fitz showed even the slightest inclination of giving up on the pilgrimage, he would be immediately disqualified.
Deana and Zara were blissfully unaware of Sandra’s true intentions.
When they heard that Sandra was willing to give Fitz a second chance, they could barely contain their excitement. They desperately hoped that Fitz would agree to the situation.
Fitz hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Mr. Wade, I appreciate your kindness, but I am determined to finish this pilgrimage.”
Sandra warned him, “The path ahead will be much more difficult. You will enter the mountains, cross the plateau, venture into no-man’s land, and even climb several peaks with altitudes of four to five kilometers…”
“You will be far removed from the modern comforts of civilization and enter a primitive world, teeming with dangerous environments and wild beasts. Ordinary altitude sickness could kill you.”
Fitz nodded solemnly and replied, “I know that the road ahead will be challenging, but I refuse to give up halfway. To be honest, I didn’t have any faith or conviction before this journey, but these months of experiences have instilled in me a newfound belief, not in religion, but in the power of perseverance…”
“I hope to possess the character of never giving up, and this pilgrimage is my first step in developing that trait. If I give up now, I know I may never have another chance in the future.”
Sandra couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration for Fitz. His words showed that he hadn’t wasted the past six months on this pilgrimage.
So, Sandra nodded in approval and said, “Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t say much. Just know that there’s still a long and difficult road ahead. If you feel overwhelmed at any point during this journey, you’re free to quit. I won’t hold it against you, nor will I stop you.”
Fitz respectfully bowed and replied, “Understood, Mr. Wade.”
Sandra added, “However, if you choose to quit, be aware that there won’t be any opportunities to rest midway through the next leg of the journey. You’ll have to walk all the way to the end. When you arrive at the Temple, I’ll arrange for a helicopter to pick you up.”
“Very well,” Fitz replied without hesitation, “Rest assured, Mr. Wade. I will arrive at the Temple without fail.”
Sandra nodded in approval, rising from his seat.
Turning to Deana, he remarked, “Auntie, I won’t intrude on your family reunion any longer. I’ll come to visit another day.”
Deana was taken aback by Sandra’s sudden departure, but in that moment, she realized the true reason for his visit.
“Sandra came here today not just to pay a casual visit,” she thought. “He came to test Fitz and see what choice he would make when given the chance to quit. Now that Fitz has made his decision, Sandra is ready to leave…”
Understanding Sandra’s deeper purpose, Deana couldn’t help but feel a sense of joy.
She stood up and politely offered to see him off, saying, “Allow me to walk you out.”
Zara was caught off guard by Sandra’s abrupt departure and asked, “Mr. Wade, you only just sat down a moment ago.”
Sandra smiled faintly and replied, “I won’t be sitting any longer. Let’s do this again another day.” With that, he rose from his seat and exited the room.
Deana followed Sandra out, accompanied by Zara and Fitz.
After Sandra had climbed into his car and driven away, Deana breathed a sigh of relief. Turning to Fitz, she said, “It seems that you’ve passed Sandra’s test!”
