The Wedding

The door opened, Zhang Han turns to see the advancing figure of his gorgeous bride. He felt his heart pounding in his chest. And he wondered, he did make through this day. Years ago! the wedding he had promised her once when they were kids.

Fortunately, this time, she didn't leave him. But he didn't know why he felt somewhat scared. Sometimes it feels too much happiness is a myth and life can't be this perfect he couldn't gather his joy as she always drew him on the edge of pain and joy.

With the sun setting in the horizon of the sea line, the sky is colored in mild orange-red canvas. The sound of the waves crashing mixed with the wedding music made the air filled with a romantic and sentimental ambiance.

Everything was perfect just the way it was planned.

With her arm hooked on to her father's, the beautiful bride walked the path filled with rose petals as she also wore that regular sweet smile on her lips.

Coming down the aisle, they stopped at the end and the bride's father hesitated to give his daughter.

Displeased, Zhang Han looked up to see his father-in-law when the old man said, "Zhang Han, promise me you'll always take care of her as you did in the past. She's the most precious life I've left..." The bride felt her eyes sting as her vision blurred out.

Restless, Zhang Han took the hold of her other hand in his before he assured her father, "I promise. I will. I have and will always." He never thought her father would hesitate to hand over his bride to him that he considered he will snatch her if needed.

" Promise, you won't leave her, ever. No matter whatever the circumstances would be...you won't break her heart." her father urged.

"Impossible.That won't happen. Never." only then did her father hand over his daughter before he kissed her temples and blessed her.

Anxious, Zhang Han squeezed her hands as she came to stand before him.

On the dice, they looked like a match made in the heavens.

Perfect!

The wedding began.

The wedding ceremony went on as the pair stood before the priest. Exchanging pleasantries and taking the vows before changing the couple rings. First, they were pronounced as husband and wife. Second, the kiss.

Zhang Han peeked on her lips like usually he did and kissed her forehead lovingly.

After the wedding, the guest left. Boarding the cruise ship, only the couple was left alone on the decorated huge villa.

Waving goodbye to her family on the deck from the shore the newly wedded bride's eyes welled up with tears.

She shrieked when suddenly, Zhang Han scooped up and took her inside the house. She clung to his neck burying her head in his nape. Zhang Han left Mei Lein in the bedroom to freshen up. She showered and dressed beautifully and then headed in search of her husband. Her eyes widened with shock and gasped at what she witnessed.

Behind the villa, near the shores, a bonfire was blazing between a candlelight table filled with mouth-watering dishes.

"Zhang Han..." Mei Lein sighed.

"Yes, wifey." Zhang Han turned and smiled softly.

She shook her head in disbelief and unintentionally rushed straight into his arms.

Stunned by her burst of emotions, Zhang Han hugged her and tighten his grip around her. He rubbed her back and let her cry like a baby. Even though, He couldn't understand why is she crying so much?

It took a little extra effort to coax her until she smile. He then led her towards the table, pulled out the chair before placing a kiss on the top of the forehead. They had dinner while the mild soothing music played in the background and the couple didn't realize when time flew by.

Resting in Zhang Han's arms as he held her. She asked in a heavy uncertain tone, "Zhang Han?"

"Hm?" he hummed in response, as she asked. "If I die somehow...w-what would you do? " instantly his body became stiff, as he paused. "Why did you ask? are we playing some emotional game." She gave him a dead stare, a smile broke on his face.

"What would I do on this planet without you? We just took the oath for this lifetime and I plan to spend my eternity with you, you can't ditch me in the middle of it!?" he hugged her tight.

Hearing his reply her hopes crashed into pieces as she asked numbly. " And what... if I leave you someday?"

"What nonsense, you can not leave now. We are married." his heart ached. " A-And if you try, I'll lock you in my room. Forever. You heard me? " he murmured, more like repeating to himself and warning her and he turned her around to face him, her face held an unwavering look of the cold-blooded resolution, panic flashes across Zhang Han's eyes, "Mei Xing, you won't leave! Never...ever"

"Zhang Han, but..." she froze in the middle when he cupped her jaw, leaned down, and kissed softly. "Shut it! No more nonsense please..."

She gulps down the words. 'But... she already left you forever!'

Mei Lein wished she dared to tell him the truth but she dared not proceed further, neither did she want to lose him forever.

Mei Lein was in love with Zhang Han yet he never responded back to her feelings. Although she knows aside from their appearance, she and Mei Xing were the two sides of the one coin, same in color and value but with a different aspect. But when one was loved by everyone and had the life, the other one wished for, jealousy was bound to follow. And Mei Lein wasn't an angel not to feel any envy or jealousy.

And now Mei Xing is dead! Mei Lein doesn't know why but somewhere deep inside, her heart ached to lose that person.

Circling her arms around his nape, Mei Lein leaned into his embrace. By this time, he was completely lost to his cravings as they made love near the seashores, under the wide sky studded with endless stars with the bonfire made the crackling sound and waves crashed in the distance.

Versailles Manor:

At Dawn, Li Na woke up inside a lavish bedroom her head hurt and she was so exhausted that her whole body ache. She turns to grab a glass of water when she saw a nurse sleeping on the chair with a book in her hands.

Noiselessly, Li Na pulled the sheets over her body as she tried to set her footing on the floor but the next instant sliped.

Flustered by a thud, the nurse woke up and helped her to stand.

The nurse helped her to walk to the bathroom after which she helped her prepare a hot bath.

After a month of bedridden numbness, it was painful and torturing to walk with weak leg muscles.

Li Na soaked herself in warm water, taking deep breaths as she relaxed her mind and body.

It looked more difficult not only to adopt the mindset but also to foster this weak body. Stressing too deep, thinking hard and remembering the past makes her brain collapse easily. It happened thrice till now as she realized one thing clearly, she needs to train her body and disciplined her mind.

It doesn't matter, how it was damaged in the past, the point is to heal again. To be strong mentally and physically, because there's no way she can survive with a weak brain and addicted body.

Having the bath, afterward with maids help Li Na wore a dress in a peach-colored A-line skirt with a plain and simple white blouse, her ash brown hair tied up in a clean ponytail. She looked fresh and radiant.

Standing in front of a full-length mirror, she observed the new avatar of herself. Between Li Na and Mei-Xing, she found only one similarity in appearance. Their dark brown eyes. Even she and her twin sister, Mei Lein had a different shade of eyes. But it exactly matches with Li Na under any set of lights.

Lu Jianjun's car entered the gates. Rolling in front of the entrance door, a chauffeur pulled out the door and bowed as he stepped out.

Lu Jianjun walked towards the polished wooden double-staircases covered with the rich maroon carpet. He had just placed a foot on the staircase, when all of a sudden, his steps ceased from climbing the stairs. He looked up in the master bedroom's direction with the disheartened ambiguity in his gaze.

His one hand was on the rails as he remembered the call from Lu Junhui telling him that they have shifted Li Na to Versailles Manor.

His eyes closed for a fraction and then he turned around sharply. Definitely not ready to live with her under the same roof as his lifelong internal conflict arose where his mind says he has done the right thing but his heart won't compromise. It doesn't stand with the thought of Li Na sharing the same bedroom with him significantly, in the Versailles Manor! But a lucid part of him still believes he should have bought Li Na home a few years back. Well, being late is better than never.

With the suddenly increased heaviness of his heart hammering crazily in panic, Lu Jianjun walked towards the Eastside garden where he yanked the coat and handed it over to one of the passing housemaids. Yet the feeling of suffocation didn't settle his one hand balled up in trousers, when he tugged his tie to lose a bit and unfastened the top button of the white shirt while walking the wooden board with an aisle of flowers on both sides, his errant nerves gradually calming down.