Chapter Sixteen

Anna observed the interior of the house, it was so luxurious yet simple. It was just like Dylan, this was definitely his place.

The walls were painted a dark blue, everything was neatly arranged in the living room.

The expensive looking leather couch was the only thing that looked out of place, it was covered in ice cream and so was the little girl on it. The little girl giggled after she noticed everyone's gaze, her smile was contagious Anna realized, the child was freaking adorable!

"Ah! Ella, what did you do?" Shola ran into the kitchen to get tissues and Anna stared in a daze as Su Chen ran to hug the girl.

Her cute dark green eyes sparkled when she saw him, she smiled brightly as she ran towards him. "Ella darling!" Su Chen hugged the girl not caring about the fact that he was going to have ice cream all over him as well. He giggled with the child making him seem like a five-year-old himself but yet the image brought warmth to Anna.

"Fun Chen!" Ella smiled as she tries to pinch Su Chen's cheeks with her small chubby fingers. "I missed you so much!"

"..." Anna watched the two 'children' roll on the ground happily and her lips couldn't help but curve, the girl was really cute and Su Chen looked like he was really good with children, something she never expected.

"Wow Ella, you really made a mess" Dylan walked into the living room, he turned around and realized everyone was looking at him weirdly.

Although Anna felt relived when she saw him, seeing his face made her realize that she didn't overreact by worrying so much.

"Dylan, what happened to your face?" Anna wheeled over to his side and observed the bruises on his face. His eyes stared into hers making her gaze waver. She was worried but with the way he was staring…

Dylan squatted down, smiling slightly at her "These? Nothing happened. I just got into a bit of trouble that's all" Dylan's voice was so soft that she almost believed him. But the bruises on his face were just too much to say that it was 'a bit of trouble'. He looked like he had been beaten up really badly. She subconsciously directed her gaze towards his knuckles and her heart ached when she saw them. They were red, scratched and cut open….Anna sighs and looks back up at Dylan.

"Really?"

Anna raised her eyebrows, Dylan laughed. It had been so long since someone was actually this concerned about him, it made him feel all warm which was a feeling he hadn't experienced for a long, long time.

"I really am fine, you should see the other guy" He tries to joke but Anna's worried expression was still there. I'm sure I must have worried you guys. I only went to bring Sholana and Ella over"

Dylan explained before sitting down, on the couch that wasn't covered with ice cream. Sholana winced when she saw just how messed up the other couch was.

"Dylan, sorry about Ella's mess" Sholana apologized as she began to clean the mess the child had made.

"No problem" Dylan turned his attention to Anna "How was your first day?, did you settle in well?" Dylan asks, he was interested in her but he also wanted to avoid questions that he didn't want to answer.

Anna didn't know why but her heart felt really heavy seeing those bruises on his face, she wondered how strong his opponent might have been to be able to land so many blows on a skilled person like him.

"Are your face and knuckles the only parts that's hurt?" Anna stretched her hand to touch his face but stooped it midway. She put her hand down before anyone would notice, ignoring his question and waiting for an answer to her's.

"I really am fine, nothing to worry about" Dylan assured again, of course he was lying but, he still wasn't used to this kind of care. He'd rather keep his pain to himself like he normally did than worry the people around him, he had gotten used to doing that.

"Uh.....why do I feel we have been forgotten?" Su Chen asked staring at the little girl in his arms.

Ella blinked cutely "I feel the same way"

Su Chen chuckled at the girls response and tapped her nose lightly. "You're the only one who understands me you cute ice cream covered child"

Ella giggles and wiggles out of his embrace and walks towards her mother.

Shola held Ella's hand "Lets go get cleaned up"

Anna turned her attention back to Shola, she looked at Ella and noticed the resemblance between them. Both mother and daughter were breathtaking, beautiful in their own ways.

'Is she Dylan's daughter?....why do I even care?'

The question still rang in her head even though she tried to silence it.

Still she wanted to satisfy her curiosity before it killed her

"Is Ella your....err daughter?"

There was utter silence then came a choked sound….it soon turned into hysterical laughter. Su Chen clutched his stomach and laughed hard.

Dylan coughs awkwardly and scratches his chin while Sholana has a look of freight on her face.

Anna raised her eyebrows at Su Chen, why was he laughing so hard?

"Uh....what even brought about that thought?" Li Chen couldn't help but ask, he was waiting for an answer but couldn't really hear anything other than his brother's laughter.

Li Chen glared at his brother and it immediately shut him up, but it didn't stop Su Chen from giggling.

"No...Ella is Shola's and brother Mu's daughter" Dylan said clearing up the misunderstanding.

Anna nodded slightly embarrassed and confused, did she just get.....jealous?

'Nah...Nah, impossible!' Anna convinced herself and took deep breaths.

Shola gave an apologetic look to Dylan before carrying Ella in her arms and taking her away.

"Anna, you haven't answered my question" Dylan reminded

"How was it?, what did Jason say?" He asked again, Anna smiled dismissing all of her stupid thoughts.

She only felt this way because of how Dylan was so nice to her, nothing else. She prefers to deny what was going on in her head and heart than to accept the fact that she knew deep down she liked him.

As those words crossed her mind and his eyes bore into hers, she shuddered and her heart beat accelerated.

"I might be able use my legs in 6months if I work hard" Anna said with a huge smile on her face, apart from trying to mask the way his stare and attention affected her, of course she was happy, when she got stronger she could finally prove to everyone that she wasn't a weak person.

"That's good news!" Su Chen said as he held Anna's hands.

"Yeah, that's great!" Li Chen smiled but didn't move a step. He stared longingly at the hand his twin brother hold into and began to wonder why he couldn't do such an action.

"We should definitely celebrate, Dylan lets not have any training today!" Su Chen grinned.

Dylan raised his eyebrows, what a stupid excuse "That's not happening"

He said before looking at Li Chen with a serious expression.

"Yesterday…when I left so suddenly….Brother Mu contacted me yesterday"

Li Chen had a look of surprise on his face, it had been almost a year since they last heard from him. Which means whatever he called for must've been important. Brother Mu is never the type to ask for help either but seeing the state Dylan was in the fact that his wife and daughter was here then something must've definitely happened.

"I should probably leave you guys to talk" Anna said not wanting to intrude, she was new there and it will probably not be appropriate for her to be there or listen in on their conversation as it seemed important.

"No, stay Anna" Li Chen said, Dylan's expression changed

Li Chen nodded secretly with pleading eyes, it wasn't like she could be a threat or anything. He knew Dylan was wary of people because of the spy that has been on the loose but he also knew that they could trust Anna.

"Ok, sure Anna. Stay" Dylan forced out, he wasn't actually against her staying there he just felt a bit uncomfortable with her there, although he himself didn't know why.

He always feels strange when he's around her sometimes.

He didn't want her to hear about all the things he had to do…the things he does. He didn't want to taint his image in her eyes but then again it wouldn't be hidden for long.