1 CHAPTER 1: Ms. ZHAO

I was pretty excited to come back to my country after spending a four years abroad. I could not wait to meet the love of my life, Zhang Wei, to whom I would be getting married very soon. I told my father about my love last week and after much persuasion he agreed to meet Zhang Wei. I have always had a sheltered life, but meeting Zhang Wei was like freedom to me. Even with my sassy attitude, he treated me with utmost respect and love. I met him during my college days, while I was doing my degree in Fashion and he was earning is master's in business. His simple nature and smooth talking made me fall head over heels in love with him. We were completing our third year anniversary this weekend. I am lucky to get a humble and loving person like Zhang Wei.

I went to Zhang Wei's apartment directly from the airport. I was so excited to tell him about my father's approval. I reached the reception desk and the security let me in since they have already seen me more times than I can count. I went into his apartment and found a trail of roses leading to the living area. I was overwhelmed seeing such a beautiful set up with vanilla scented candles and a dinner table for two in the balcony overseeing the city lights. I could smell the delicious pasta and tea. I wanted to surprise him with my early arrival and tip toed towards his room. Oh how I wished I had never done that. Inside his bedroom, the whole place was decorated with rose petals and candles. Any girl would have fallen in love again with such a sweet gesture, but not me. On the bed was my supposed boyfriend of three years with another girl, naked and unaware of my presence. The girl on the bed was not just any girl, but the girl who hated me with passion during my college and also his so called cousin sister. My whole world titled on it axis.

Suddenly, Zhang Wei noticed me amidst of his throes of passion. With wide eyes, he sprang out of the bed and said "It is not what it looks like, I can explain".

I stayed mute and looked at the pathetic excuse of a man and woman. I chuckled sarcastically and said "Wow! Zhang Wei, a classic cheater dialogue. I am not impressed and expected more from a businessman like you. Now, let me hear about your explanation on how it's not what it looks like."

Zhang Wei stuttered like an absolute fool. I said "What more explanation can you give for having sex with your so called cousin sister."

The woman on the bed took that moment to open her mouth, exclaiming "We are not cousins!"

Glaring at her, I said "Shut the fuck up, you bitch!"

Zhang Wei tried to convince me by telling it was a mistake and it won't happen again. But I was through with all the betrayal from past three years.

"Fool me once, shame on you and fool me twice shame on me. I don't take lightly on being made a fool. I was naïve and trusted you. But you are nothing but a bastard."

"We were going behind your back for three years and we love each other. Zhang Wei was just pretending with you" yelled the bitch.

I looked at her as if I was bored and said "Don't you think I have figured that out Captain Obvious. And by the way, you two sluts deserve each other. See you both in hell for I surely would not forget this humiliation"

I ran out of the room before I let a tear fall down my cheek. Those bastards did not deserve my tears. You are stronger than this Suyin. Zhang Wei ran after me naked. But I was faster and reached the elevator, closing the door on face and leaving him naked in the hallway.

The lobby was buzzing with people coming in just after their work. I tried to push past them towards the exit. I saw my car in the entrance and climbed without looking back.

The driver did not start the car and so I yelled at him to start driving home. I could not look at anyone's face because I didn't want them to see my pathetic heart broken state.

I looked out of the window at the passing city lights. Suddenly, I saw a reflection of a man staring at the back of my head. I screamed loudly startling the driver, who applied the brakes at once, causing us to lurch forward.

As the car came to a stop, I looked at the man seated beside me in the car. He looked like a businessman sorts and had a very serious expression on his face. I asked him, "Who are you? and what are you doing in my car?".

He looked at me incredulously and said" I don't know what are you talking Miss. But this is my car."

I looked at the driver to tell this crazy man that the car was mine not his, only to be shocked to see that it was not my driver.

I got out of the car to check the car number, only to realize that I had in fact boarded the wrong car as it was similar to my car. Instead of apologizing to the man, I said " It is all your fault. Could you tell me sooner that I was in the wrong car?"

The man whose name I still don't know said " You looked like your whole world has fallen apart when you climbed the car, so forgive me for throwing a distraught girl out of my car."

Then suddenly I remembered what had transpired few minutes before. He was right, my whole world has fallen apart. Unknowingly, I let out a sob, which turns into more sobs. Before I know it, I am sobbing like a fool in front of a stranger.

The stranger is baffled like he did not expect me to cry in front of him. He says "Look Miss, people will get a wrong idea if you are sobbing in front of me. Please do get in the car and I will drop you home."

He looks around the road, where the passer-by are giving him the stink eye. He gently holds my shoulders and guides me back into the car.

Turning to me, he asks, "Miss, can you please tell your address, so I can drop you home?"

"I don't want to go home", I say.

"If not home, then where do you want to go?" he asks.

" I don't know. Take me somewhere, anywhere but away from here. Please.", I plead.

He stares at me for a minute with a unreadable look in his eyes and directs his driver to take us to a place.

I stay quiet the whole rid, staring out of the window. After a short ride, the car comes to a halt. I step out and smell the salty air first. I remove my shoes to feel the grains of sand beneath my feet.

The ocean breeze calms me and I sit down on the sand. After a while I see someone plop down next to me.

I turn to the mystery man and say "Thank you for bringing me here. I am Zhao Suyin" and extend my hand.

He takes my hand and replies, " I am Wang Li Ming"