Extra Characters:(1) Trinette Dubios Li - grandmother of LJ
(2) Francine Tan - chosen wife by Grandma Li
(3) w.a.n.g Yiren - Li Hong"s wife
(4) Tiffany Li - daughter of Li Hong and w.a.n.g Yiren / LJ"s half-sister
(5) Vivian Li - LJ"s cousin / bride of Tang Qi
(6) Anthony Chen - LJ"s cousin
(7) Julia Chen - wife of Anthony Chen
(8) Karlie Chen - LJ"s cousin
============================
July 12, 20xx
Kotor, Montenegro
Trinette"s forehead puckered due to this statement and probed suspiciously "What do you mean?"
From what the two told them, they met in Beijing 6 months ago and started a long distance relations.h.i.+p before getting married in the beginning of July when Blythe decided to move to France with him.
But there was no mention of Karlie introducing them. Trinette was certain, Li Jie will not miss out that important detail.
The subtle pinching from her brother made Karlie realized she said something wrong.
Putting on the dazzling smile she uses on the runway, she answered in a matter of fact tone "I meant to say, because I kept badgering Blythe to date Nick, now they are together. In the beginning, she was skeptical of him."
Sounding unconvinced, she spoke "Is that the truth?"
"Of course grandma." she said and took her grandmother"s hand.
"How did the two of you meet?" Grandma asked.
"My bag got s.n.a.t.c.hed and she took it back for me."
Grandma"s face softened. "When was this?"
It was Yan s.h.i.+ who answered. "A year ago."
Under the table, Yan s.h.i.+ was pinching a part of her skin to stop herself from stuttering.
"That"s dangerous. You should never run after a robber." Trinette commented.
Then Vivian said something which diverted the other woman"s attention.
Yan s.h.i.+ heaved a low sigh. Luckily, Karlie was quick albeit the impulsiveness and Vivian for being helpful.
If not, the loophole in their story will be known.
******
"Taste it." Li Jie urged his grandmother when he took the bajadera from the fridge.
Trinette eyed the piece he sliced and her mouth watered. She loves this and Nick makes them perfectly.
Taking a bite, she savored the combination of different nuts and chocolates. The taste was great however, she found something odd. Normally, he makes them extra sweet. But today, it was moderate. It was so similar to her mother"s recipe. She ate another one and it"s really the same.
"Did you make it?"
Instead of answering, Li Jie asked "Is it good?"
"Hm- It"s different."
"I made it. Nick said today is your birthday." Yan s.h.i.+ said with worry.
"You have a good heart." Grandpa commented with a smile. "Isn"t she sweet?" he asked his wife.
For Trinette, this was the best gift. It"s been so long since she got a taste of her mother"s nougat dessert. It felt nostalgic. She made a mental note to ask for the proportions she followed.
"Thank you for the thought Blythe." Trinette said with sincerity.
Yan s.h.i.+ simply smiled and happy that it pa.s.sed her strict palate.
*
An hour later, Francine and Tiffany left to check out the mall for swimming clothes.
"When is your husband arriving?" Trinette threw up the question to w.a.n.g Yi Ren who had been quiet for the whole time.
"He will be flying after that deal will be signed this evening."
Trinette nodded. When it comes to Li Group, she never bothers herself with the details.
There was a quick flash of worry on Li Jie but it disappeared shortly after coming up with a plan.
"Have you finalized the plan to move your headquarters to Beijing Nick?" It was Chairman Li who opened up. His grandson started NL Industries 7 years ago. He made a name for himself without relying to the Li family.
Li Jie glanced at his wife first, before answering.
"Everything has already been set up but I"m letting Gavin to be in-charged. I"m taking 3 months break."
There was surprise on their faces. Gavin had been hiding out in a private island ever since his accident and never showed up no matter how much prodding they did. For him to agree with Nick"s arrangement, it must be a good sign.
"That"s good if he finally decided to let go." Trinette conveyed her gladness. She"s very worried of Gavin.
"He"s not." Li Jie revealed shortly.
"Then why?"
"Regardless of the whys, it"s a good tactic to pull him out of the prison he build around himself." Grandpa Li voiced out.
Everyone understood what the old man meant. It was time for him to move on. He has chances of walking again if he really wanted to, but he rejects everything.
Subconsciously, talking about Gavin dampens the mood of everyone.
Noticing this, Julia diverted the topic "What are you going to do for three months? I thought your life revolved on your work."
"I am married now. I need time for my wife, don"t I?" he joked but was looking at Yan s.h.i.+.
Yan s.h.i.+ ignored him.
Answering Karlie"s question, "I"ll be accompanying my wife, wherever she wants to go."
Deep inside Yan s.h.i.+, the feeling of being loved slowly seeped in.
*******
July 12, 20xx
Adriatic Sea
Late in the afternoon, Yan s.h.i.+ stood on the yacht"s top deck watching as the sun sets in the horizon. That crimson orange added color to the bluish dark hues of the sky. After leaving the Li residence in Kotor, they returned to the hotel after lunch and packed up.
Now, the yacht is heading east to Albania.
------
She recalled the conversation at lunch.
The Li matriarch invited them to join in the cruise as they continue the journey to Athens, Greece. Because of the stabbing incident, for safety reasons the Li"s will no longer stop in Albania for 2 days.
Yan s.h.i.+ gathered there were a few family members who weren"t present making the Trinette unhappy. She thought, it must the other reason for the old lady"s unhappiness and unpleasant mood especially upon learning that the two of them will go separately.
Grandpa Li thought he could appease the woman by suggesting she could organize Li Jie and Yan s.h.i.+"s future wedding and have everyone attend. However, her lips were pressed thinly and gave no expression of agreeing. Except for her appreciation of her craft, Trinette stayed the same.
The first time she mentioned, Li Jie ignored. But the second time Trinette Li insisted, he refused instantly with a naughty question that even his eyes glinted with humor "Are you certain you want to hear my wife screaming at the top of her lungs in the middle of the night?"
"Nicholas!" Grandma Li voice sounded scandalized.
Though it was a lie, Yan s.h.i.+ immediately turned scarlet and pinched the man on the side with force.
"Ouch" he hollered.
Vivian and Julia was unable to hold their laughter in front of the table and they giggled incessantly.
Trinette glared at them.
"You"re forgetting your manners children." she reprimanded.
"Loud is good. Don"t you agree? " his grandpa said with a wink. Shortly after, Trinette blushed too.
Everyone"s laugh echoed in the dining room.
------
Till now, her face still felt warm of today"s embarra.s.sment.
"It his fault. "
Although, Trinette remained placid and civil to her the entire time they were at the villa but she understood where she was coming from. You can see how much she loved her grandchildren most especially Li Jie. She cared so much about him.
Observing the happy interaction, it provoked the longing for a family in her.
"I want one too." she wished.
As dusk slowly sets in the sky, she was in deep contemplation.
With Vivian"s wedding scheduled on the 19th, it meant, she has 7 days left before she will tell him everything about her illness.
A part of her wanted to blurt it out now, to stop herself from the torment but a larger portion doesn"t agree.
Albeit his constant badgering, she really likes him.
The problem is, what will happen if he won"t accept a sick person like her?
"What are you thinking?" a man"s voice landed to her ears. He hugged her from behind and bathed himself with her fragrance.
"Let go." she warned.
"I don"t want to." he refused in a child like tone.
"Why are you ignoring every single thing we agreed on?"
"That stupid contract will never stop me from bedding you, don"t you know? " he asked with a hint of laughter.
That is true. She"s well aware of that now.
"You are zoning out again. " he noticed when she stopped squirming.
Instead of answering, Yan s.h.i.+ just put her weight on him and murmur in a barely audible voice "Let me be selfish for a few days."