Disclaimer: Princess Stand In is the property of Taiwanese TV

Fate's Answer

Part One

Despite the excited chatter around her, Jin Da Hua was silent as a stone. Considering the long line, she would be waiting awhile to board her flight to Australia. It was her own fault, taking so long to go to the boarding gate. It was worth it, being able to spend the time with Brother Guan Jun made it so. He was so sweet sometimes, it was almost enough to make her forget his betrayal, but only almost. It had been months, and though the edge had worn off her anger, she doubted that she would ever be able to completely forgive him. One person's actions could affect many lives around them- because of his lie, she had badly hurt someone else. She could forgive his deception to her, but that Terry had been hurt because of it made it unforgiveable.

Terry…

Even now she longed to text him, to ask him if she could be his bride again. She didn't for the same reason she hadn't the night before. She had to let fate decide, it was the only way she would be able to trust that they belonged together. Not because he saw Laing Yan in her, not because she was lonely and sad, but because they were meant to be. Even now, after three months, she still felt so confused. It wasn't fair, having so much to figure out at one time. How could one possibly untie all the knots when they were so bunched together, each one connected to the other so closely? Terry wasn't the only person she had hurt.

Her last conversation with Chairman Du the afternoon before was still fresh in her mind. Too fresh.

"If you can't I'll have to understand." Chairman Du's face looked so sad that Da Hua had to turn away from him.

"You've already given me so much by forgiving me, I would feel like I was taking too much that I don't deserve."

He looked at her for a minute and then sighed before turning his face away.

"You've rejected Terry as well."

Her heart thumped hard at the mention of his name. She had hoped it wouldn't come up. Terry was supposed to marry his daughter after all, not her. If not for the ugliness of fate, they would have been living happily as man and wife now.

"Why is it you think that Jin Da Hua doesn't deserve to have a happy life?"

Her head jerked up and she turned to gape at him, her tongue trying to give an answer that became a stutter as it passed her lips.

"I…I..." She swallowed deeply, trying to remove the lump in her throat and the confusion in her mind at the same time. "It's not…"

"You won't be my goddaughter, you won't see Terry, despite your deep feelings for him. These things could make you happy, yet you shove them away from you with both hands."

"I want to be happy!" She protested, perhaps a little too vehemently.

"Why are you going to Australia tomorrow? If you love this Lin Guan Jun, why aren't you staying here to be with him?"

"After what he's done, I don't think I can trust him anymore."

"Do you still love him?"

Silence, stretching on until it became nearly uncomfortable. How did she answer? How could she explain that her feelings for Brother Guan Jun had changed since finding out the truth? She loved him, of course she did, but it didn't feel the same.

"I can't tell you what to do, how dare I when I can't even make you answer my questions? But I urge you to think carefully about what I've said. Terry loves you, and I can't bear to see him lose his chance at happiness again."

She hadn't thought about anything else since, and she still had no answer for his questions. Did she really, maybe deep down, think she had no right to be happy? Maybe she was punishing herself for all she had done. Lying to her family, to everyone at Sheng Da, to Ah Xi. Was she rejecting Chairman Du's offer and Terry to punish herself?

"Miss?" The man behind her poked her shoulder softly. "Are you going to board?"

Da Hua turned and looked at him blankly, then realized she was next in line.

She turned back and gave the attendant her boarding pass, trying to clear the foggy state she had fallen into. If she didn't pay attention she might end up in the North Pole or something.

Da Hua laughed a little to herself, forcing herself into a better mood. She was on the cusp of a great adventure, taking a huge leap into the unknown. She pushed her mind out of her visit the day before and to the days to come, picturing herself in a vast field of strawberries, the warm Australian sun warming her back. She would have to be careful to protect her face, after all the doctor's hard work, it would be a shame to let the freckles come back.

Lost in the strawberry field, Da Hua missed the small bump in the floor and nearly fell to her face, her new Unbearable Bear from Brother Guan Jun flying from her hand to somersault down the aisle between the seats.

"Sorry," She said, smiling to the woman in front of her that she nearly took down with her, then hurried down the aisle to collect her bear.

"Thank you," she said absently, reaching her hand out to take it from the man. Then her eyes slid to his face.

"Terry!"

Their eyes were wide while they took each other in. He looked the same, still so handsome and his smile warming her to her toes.

He paused for a second, then his smile went wide. In that instant, he could have no doubts about who she was. Her eyes may be shaped like Laing Yan's, but the look was hers, the lips were the same as Laing Yan's, but the smile belonged to her.

"Da Hua!"

'I'll leave it to fate to decide'

'I'll leave it to fate to decide'

Fate, it appeared, had answered.

To be continued….