"Hey Jian.." She started but then lost the words and her nerve and stared at her hands."Yeah?" He stood opposite her the wind whipping his white shirt and hair. He stood tall and proudly, one hand holding onto the lines by his head.
"I-" Chang choked off her words.
"Can I bear it if he says that I"m not his only woman. What if He was right, and I am just a fling for now. Jian said he cares, but that"s not the same as love, and I know he has duties to his family.."
"Chang." One of his warm hands covered both of hers squeezing them. "You can tell me anything."
Liang Jian Amal saw the doubt, uncertainty, and sadness showing up in her face like yesterday. He wanted to ease that, but he couldn"t until she told him what was eating away at her. He cupped his other hand under her chin drawing her eyes to him and placed a lingering kiss on her soft sweet lips.
She looked up at him and reached one of her hands into the top of her scoop necked dress and pulled out some photos, and held them to her chest her eyes closed.
"What are those?"
Keeping her eyes closed, her lips tight she handed the bundle to him.
Liang Jian Amal looked at every picture, his brow drawing tighter, the pictures had been taken at times when Miss Yan had appeared unexpectedly over the past few days. A few he noticed were from the night he had met Chang. His father had arranged the group of affluent women for him to wine and dine with, Miss Yan included. He now knew why that pejorative woman had been there at every turn over the last few days. It had all been orchestrated to Liang Ju-long"s will.
"That old snake.."
"Chang." He hardened his voice to draw her misty wavering eyes up to him. Her nervousness apparent as he held up the photos. He then started to shred them into little bits, scattering the sc.r.a.ps to the wind in front of her astonished eyes. "Those women dont mean anything."
"What about that one, you seem to be fairly close. She was really pretty and you two seemed to be a good match.." Chang started to mumble, just because he"d torn up the evidence didnt mean it still wasn"t true.
"Are you jealous?" Chang bit her lip looking away.
Liang Jian Amal tacked the sail up and dropped the anchor, here was as good a place as any, they were a fair distance out, far from any prying eyes.
He came back to stand before her, and kneeled in front of her, clasping her hands.
"Other women dont matter, they never have, especially women like Miss Yan that you saw. From the day I met you, you have been the only one in my eyes."
Chang looked up hearing those words.
"Is that true?"
"Havent you realized yet, my heart was captured by you that day, I have been yours since."
"Meaning?" She could feel her heart coming up in her throat the pressure rising to her ears. Her hands started to tighten around his, antic.i.p.ating his answer.
"I nevet imagined that life could be such a bright and beautiful existence, so enjoyable until I met you.
"You have changed my life.
"I was drowning in air without even knowing it.
"Before I met you I went through the darkness never knowing the difference, but your spark, your pa.s.sion for life drew me to you, and you lit up the darkness of my life. When you disappeared I realized what I had been missing in my life, and what I needed.
"Chang I see only you. You are the light of my life.
"I love you."
Chang had never imagined how happy those three words could make her. It made her heart swell in her chest suffusing her entire being in a warm glow. A couple tears leaked out of the corner of her eyes unbidden. It felt like he smile would break her cheeks.
"I gave this to you a long time ago, but you left it behind. I had it altered just slightly."
Liang Jian Amal reached into the pocket of his pants and pulled out the small box he had brought from the locked drawer in his study. One of the surprises he had brought for her.