9 Chapter 9

He stayed up all night. He quickly left the party after Jia left. A tear rolled down from his left eye that he abruptly wiped with his arm.

He clutched his glass of whiskey. He'd hurt her once, of course, it was obvious for her to hate him.

"It wasn't your fault, Zhelan," a voice said behind him.

It was his elder brother, Xiang Yong. The first heir of the Xiang Corporate that brought downfall to the company because of his marriage to a drug lord's daughter.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Blame it on me."

"It wasn't your fault. It was fathers. Don't talk nonsense," Zhelan said as he stood up to pour himself another glass of whiskey.

"The Tan's didn't blame you for it, don't feel sorry for what happened," his brother said as he sat down beside him.

"What if dad didn't pull the trigger? Would I still have her, Yong?" Zhelan cried as he buried his face in his palms. "I saw how she looked at me, like, I was something she shouldn't be touching."

Yong remained silent. He couldn't say anything, afraid that it'll hurt his brother even more. He knew how his little brother has been suffering all these years and what he endured to reach the Old Tan's requirements in marrying Jia. Zhelan has always loved her to the point he would willingly sacrifice everything he gained by his blood, sweat, and tears the moment she will ask for it.

His brother was known to be cold and ruthless when it comes to business, but when he's all alone, all ever he thinks of is Jia. The Jia Tan, the demoness of the Tan Industries.

This was the 2nd time he saw Zhelan in this state, normally he'd just drink it away and then go to sleep. The last time he had a mental breakdown like was when Jia left him after her mother died.

When he opened his mouth to comfort his brother, Zhelan stood up.

"Thanks for listening again, Yong. I still have to finish a lot of documents tonight. You should go now," Zhelan said, his voice was cold as ice.

Zhelan was back to his old self, the broken Zhelan.

"Fine. If anything happens, call me," Yong said as he stood up and patted Zhelan at the back. "Don't give up. After all, she loved you. Her love was deep. I believe she'll come around as long as you don't give up on her."

Zhelan smiled at his brother's advice.

"Thanks," he said as he sat down on his desk.

"No problem, I had a lot of experience from being married you know," Yong laughed as he waved his hand before leaving.

Zhelan leaned back on his seat as his eyes wandered on the picture frame beside his desk.

"I'll make sure you won't walk away from me again, love," Zhelan said as he held Jia's photo in his hand.

If only...

If only his dad didn't kill her mother. Would everything be different?

He gently put the picture frame back in its place and closed his eyes to take a short nap before continuing his unfinished paperwork.

...

The next morning, she woke up alone in her apartment. Lucius and Jiangzhe already left for the office. She got out of bed and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee.

After making herself a small breakfast, she proceeded to her office to finish some unfinished paperwork that needed her signature. After 2 hours of working, she leaned back on her chair as her eyes wandered around the room.

'It's kinda boring without Lucius or Jiangzhe around,' she thought.

But her eyes settled on a little box on the top of her cupboard.

'What's this?'

She went to get it and as she opened the box, memories came flowing in. Like the memories that she tried so hard to forget flowed in, her tears came out.

"I tried so hard to forget you, asshole. How dare you come back into my life?" she cried as she looked through the pictures. "Even if there's still chance for us, how could I just forgive a murderer's son so easily?"

'After all, your father killed my mom.'