When life flashes before your eyes...

Just before the fire consumed her, Song Xiao Lin felt a deep anguish, pain and regret.

It really is true when they say that life flashes before your eyes just before you die. As Song Xiao Lin begins to fade in and out of consciousness, she begins to remember her life that so many people envy leading up to now.

Song Xiao Lin was the daughter to loving parents who owned the worlds largest pharmaceutical company. Being trained to take over the company, Song Xiao Lin was educated in both Western and Eastern pharmaceuticals. Being home schooled also allowed her the time and freedom to pursue in traditional arts such as calligraphy, dance, instruments and many foreign languages. She truly was a gifted and favoured child compared to her elder brother. She was naturally adept at business making decisions, not to mention extremely creative and innovative with cosmetic and beauty products which was used to expand their pharmaceutical brand. However, this all changed when her mother discovered that she had stomach cancer. It was so ironic, despite owning the largest pharmaceutical company in the world, nothing could save her. The cancer was aggressive and her health declined fast. Both Western and Eastern medicine taught Song Xiao Lin that a plant based diet would slow down the Cancer and is also the best diet to follow for prevention of cancer and many other diseases. So from that moment on, Song Xiao Lin became a vegetarian and learnt how to create many delicious and nutritious foods for her family. She naturally didn't forget to use this opportunity to expand a new line of supplements in the pharmaceutical world which would dominate the market.

Sadly, her mother didn't have long to live and died when Song Xiao Lin was 25. After that, her father fell into a depression and left all the business in the hands of her elder brother Song Xiao Han. This was the moment where things started going downhill for Song Xiao Lin. Her brother was extremely competitive and wary of their fathers favourtism. To avoid letting Song Xiao Lin inherit the company, Song Xiao Han arranged for her to marry his friend Huang Jian Jie, who is also the sole heir to a property tycoon. As the alliance would also bring huge benefits to both companies, nobody opposed. Unbeknownst to everyone, Huang Jian Jie, who has been with his girlfriend Kai Di since they were in university, continues his affair with Kai Di even after he marries Song Xiao Lin.

Song Xiao Lin thinks back to her bitter wedding night. She only got through the ceremony as she was naive enough to believe her brother and trust her fathers decision. She never knew Huang Jian Jie well. Sure he was handsome, rich and smart - but she barely knew him, let alone wanting to marry him. She really wished her mum was there with her that day.

"I really miss you mum..." tears were beginning to well up in her eyes as memories of her mum rose.

BANG! Song Xiao Lin jumped as the doors to her bedroom suddenly slammed open.

"Why are you not asleep yet?" Huang Jian Jie's eyes narrowed at her as he shuffles in drunk.

"I was just about to... I just finished up in the shower. Should I help you get your clothes whilst you clean up?" Song Xiao Lin has never been in a relationship before and wasn't sure what to do.

"From now on, you aren't allowed in this room. There is another masters bedroom on the east wing. Move your things in there tomorrow." Huang Jian Jie sat on the bed next to Song Xiao Lin.

"Oh, sure... I'll go right now." Song Xiao Lin got up and was about to pack up her belongings when Huang Jian Jie pulled her wrists hard and flung her roughly on the bed. "We still have to consummate so that the marriage is recognised. It's a good thing you inherited your mothers figure. It would definitely make tonight more enjoyable." Huang Jian Jie's breath reeked of alcohol as he pressed her down underneath him.

"What are you..." Song Xiao Lin couldn't even finish her sentence as Huang Jian Jie's lips came down hard on hers. The rest of the night was a nightmarish blur as she recalls him ripping off her clothes and roughly groping and sucking all over her. It was not the gentle first night she had imagined and she woke up sore, bruised and bloody all over the next day. Since that night, Huang Jian Jie never touched her again and they barely spoke to each other. Song Xiao Lin was totally fine with this arrangement as the traumatic experience had scarred her. Everyday she was depressed and thought of ways to escape this marriage. That was her life until she found out that she had fallen pregnant with their son Dou Dou.

Dou Dou was the sole reason her life became better. He became her whole world and she put all her focus on this cute little boy. Even though there was no love shared between her and Huang Jian Jie, they both pampered and doted on their only child.

When Dou Dou reached the age of four, Song Xiao Lin used the excuse to escape the marriage by raising him abroad at an international school. She spent the next few years living in Australia with Dou Dou in bliss and only returning to China for big events and special occasions.

As Song Xiao Lin thought of Dou Dou, she became desperate and heartbroken. She hugged the limp figure in her arms tightly. "Dou Dou, mummy is so sorry... mummy is useless. This is all my fault!" Song Xiao Lin sobbed hard as she gasped for breath. Earlier when they returned back to their home in China, Dou Dou insisted on making a cake for his dads birthday. So as soon as they returned home, they went straight to the butlers pantry to start mixing the cake batter. When Song Xiao Lin wanted to open the door out of the pantry to the kitchen to get some fresh fruit, she discovered that the door had been locked from the outside. Within minutes, smoke started seeping into the butlers pantry and suffocating both mother and son. With no windows and other escape route, Dou Dou and Song Xiao Lin were trapped with no oxygen to breathe.

"Please open the door!! Kai Di, is that you? Please, I will promise anything... we will never return to China again! Dou Dou is only 7 years old... please, at least let him go?!" Song Xiao Lin used her last ounce of energy to plea.

"You should never have come back. Even if you promise to never return, Dou Dou would still be the eldest heir. Without you both gone, my youth is just withering away and I have no standing as the third person. I'm truly sorry, but you both have to go" Kai Di finally replied. "I will offer some incense for you both at Fo Shan mountain to pray that you have a good afterlife."

Those were the last words that Song Xiao Lin heard in her lifetime before her eyes closed forever...