1 Guilt

Lilian stepped out of a black and handsome Audi, with her suit case in tow and her gorgeous blonde hair swaying gently with the passing wind.

Today was the mark of her new life. A life she was not sure, she wanted or not.

"Lilian lets go!  Your father is waiting for us. Im sure he would be delighted to meet you darling. " Her mother suddenly called out to her with her usual gentle voice. Her mother was a ravishing beauty herself.  Her features were sharp and intimidating however she brought forth a comfortable and warm feeling that most men would be easily attracted to. She once also felt that her mother was deserving to be every person's envy and desire but that was before she saw her mother's mask fall from her peerless face, revealing her cold and scheming facade.

She suddenly shivered with her mother's call but she netherless followed after her in a slow and uneven pace. Her expression only becoming forlorne with each step that she took. Was this really the right thing to do?

Although she asked that to herself, she knew that it was not. It would never be right.

Walking along the stone path leading towards a tall and handsome gate, the blinding and dazzling sight of luxury unraveled before their eyes.

Fountains complimented by golden statues, Vases exceeding a person's worth and value. These incited a bursting delight in her mother's eyes and in Lilian's heart;  distress , guilt and contemplations.

After a couple of seconds they finally reached the gate, enveloped by strange vines that bore flowers. Her heart couldnt stop thumping as he suddenly saw an old caucasian man dressed in a butler uniform, making his way towards them with a handful of similarly dressed men in tow. She was perceptive enough to see the contempt in the old man's eyes when he saw their group. Her mother,  however,  was basking in the feeling of joy and satisfaction too much to care for anything else.

The gate opened and the obsolete butler bowed respectfuly towards them, he was polite in his gestures, fanning the scorching vanity in her mother's heart.

"Master ordered this servant to lead the way towards the hall. The residence's foreground is designed complicatedly by the late Patriarch so it would be easy to get lost. "

Her mother smiles became deeper hearing the old servant's servile tone.

"Well, we dont want hubby to wait for much longer! Go on then, lead the way. "

The butler's face showed a subtle frown but it reverted back to its indeffirent state before anyone else noticed. He waved for the other servants behind him to take their suitcases before leading them forward.

It didnt take long before they reached the entrance of the monumental mansion. By then,  Lilia's face had grown more ashen than before. Her blue crystal eyes darted nervously around the interior of the mansion when they entered. She couldnt help but feel a sliver of admiration when she looked at the tantalizing chandelier, twinkling like starts in a quite and lonely night. She also noticed some chinese apliances and decorations incorporated with the western themed interior. Landscape paintings and chinese calligraphy. She also saw a sheathed katana looking very intimidating in the wall.

This was more inlined to what she expected when she alighted from the airport.

"Lilian what are you zoning out there for?  Hurry up, your father must be tired of waiting. "

Lilia realized that she became too absorbed with looking at the decorations. She looked towards the butler and she saw him staring at her with unconceiled disdain. Her face turned red in shame before she docilely bowed her head towards the ground, steadily following behind her mother, who was already walking in an impatient pace.

"Robert, darling!" They arrived at the main living room when her mother suddenly tossed herself towards an exceedingly handsome man. He was smiling gently and his eyes that were similar to her's melted with the sight of her mother. His hair however wasnt blond like his mother's or her's,  they were as dark as the imperceptable night.

"Sia,  Come here. " He chuckled as he looked towards her mother with overflowing gentleness and love.

The two were eventually intangled in a tight embrace, giving out an expression of two love birds reuniting with each other after seperating for too long.

Lilia suddenly felt her stomache turn. Not out of disgust but guilt.

How can they act like this even after what they have done to her?

'Robert',his father, suddenly directed his gaze towards her. His eyes flashed with various and complex emotions. He opened up his embrace leaving room for another.

"Come here my love. I havent seen you for too long. " Seeing his eyes brimming with  expectation, she strengthened her heart before dashing towards him,  joining in in their warm and fuzzy embrace.

Her mother laughed heartedly and so did her father. Lilia suddenly felt warm inside. No matter what, they were still  her family afterall and she loved them whole heartedly.  A subtle smile formed on her face and she put her worries to rest, indulging herself in the warmth of the complete family she has always yearned for for years. 

She hoped that things wouldnt be as bad as she expected. However,  deep inside her heart she knew that this was wrong; everything in this moment shouldnt be.

A happiness born from other's despair. A pleasure that resulted from other's pain and suffering. She was still humane enough to not want this kind of joy.

A/N: I feel like my style in writing changed considerably after reading Danielle Steel's books. I find it really hard to write fun and happy stories anymore after reading her book, Remembrance. I always feel myself endlessly engulfed by this depressing feeling when writing... I really dont know if this is a good thing or not.