"My Yueyue wait!"
She looked back at her mother that was now crying, arms opened and suddenly all her sadness, disappointments was all gone.
"Mom.." She hurriedly ran back to her mother's embrace.
"Oh my Yueyue..I am so sorry. So sorry."
They poured out everything in that single embrace.
Prides vanishing in an instant.
Worries dispersed.
Longing was slowly fading.
Letting their love for each other speak for all the unsaid emotions.
Nothing beats a mother's warmth. Easing out all the worries.
She broke from their embrace, cupping her little girl's face into her palms.
Tears were still pouring from the both of them.
Breaking from their hug once again, she wiped her daughters tears their smiles was something they had never seen before. It was a smile of acceptance. A smile of forgiveness.
"I'm so sorry my love. I did not believe in you. I was blinded from keeping everything that we had. Not realising it was you the I was sacrificing. I am so sorry."
"Mom..knowing you believe in me right now is all that matters." she sobbed while savouring her mother's touch. Oh how she missed her mother.
"From now on, I promise to stand by you. I'm so sorry my Yueyue…" hugging her once again.
Yue couldn't hold her tears anymore longer. Sobbing into her mother's arms. Feeling overwhelmed with happiness. She felt a weight has been lifted. She could feel the peace in her heart finally nearing. She silently thanked the heavens as she held on to her mother's embrace in fervour.
Her phone suddenly rang, making them both break from their hug.
"Hi Love."
"Hey..you ready? I'm here by your house gate. Did not want to come in uninvited…"
She laughed at his random ramblings.
"Love..I think you can come in."
"Huh?.. wait why is your voice like that?! Are you crying? Are you okay?!"
"Di.." she giggled upon hearing his sudden anxious state.
"What happened? Where are you now? I'm driving over."
"Di..Relax..I'll meet you by the door." she looked over to her mom who was now smiling while listening to their conversation.
"I'll come with you. I owe someone an apology."
She smiled in glee, kissing her mother's cheeks as they walked hand in hand.
Upon reaching the door, Yue could barely finish her greeting when a worried Dylan came barging in and hugged her.
"Are you okay?! Oh god Yue you cried! Your eyes! What happened?! See. This is what I'm talking about. I shouldn't have left you here alone! " he gasped worriedly. Examining her thoroughly from head to toe as he broke their hug. He pursed his lips upon seeing how swollen her eyes was..wiping the dried remnants of her tears on her cheeks.
"I'm okay, Bao."
"You sure?"
But before she could even reply,
" I guess I really shouldn't be worried with whom did my daughter choose to get married to."
"Mrs. Shen..I;m sorry I did nit mean to trespass. I just thought–"
"No Dylan it's okay."
There was an awkward silence, all three had their own moment on how to continue this conversation till Yue's mom broke their silence first,
"Would you like to have dinner with us? Before you both head back to your house?"
Yue just looked at Dylan for permission. He was still in a state of shock. Trying to think rationally on what was happening till he saw how eager Yue looked like and with that he gave her a nod.
"Great then! Let's declare a feast!" Clasping her hands together
"Ms Ling! Please prepare all Yue's dishes. Henry should be coming in an hour."
"As you wish, Madam."
Yue took this opportunity to give Dylan and her mother a chance to have a private talk.
"Mother, Di, I'll just head over to the kitchen and advise on what dishes to serve to save time.."
"but.."
"I'll be fine Di"
"She loved taking care of the household whenever I was away. She loved organising home and she had an instinct to that you know.."
"Yeah…she started doing it in my penthouse already.." He smiled shyly.
"Will you both be living there or do you plan on moving to another place?"
"We have talked about it.. I guess we are just trying to let everything cool down first. Then we'll make a move definitely. Our family deserves a proper home..'
"Oh that great! Let me know if you both need help with the preparations.."
"Thank you Mrs Shen.."
Silence enfolded them. Both carefully choosing what words to say next.
"Dylan.."
"Yes Mrs Shen?"
"I would like to apologise for how I have treated you. I have seen my mistakes now. I shouldn't have judge you both that early. I should've hear you out. I never did. I am sorry."
"Mrs Shen..it's okay. I understand why you had reacted that way. I knew you loved Yue and your family. You just wanted to protect them as much as possible."
"Protecting them too much lead me to be blinded by what was right and what really mattered. I almost lost Yue again today.."
"We have to lose a person in order to give us a wake up call on what really matters.."
"I am sorry too that never asked for your daughter's hands properly…"
"I've never seen her this happy.. So I guess you are forgiven."
He bowed and smiled in acknowledgement.
"Dylan, thank you. Thank you for making her happy. I missed that joy in her eyes..I never realised I was the cause of it vanishing.."
"Let's start anew. We can all make her the happiest."
She smiled in awe with her son-in-law. Slowly witnessing the love they had for each other was definitely an eye opener for her. "I agree."
"What did I miss?"
Both of them looked at the door and was greeted by Yue's father who clearly just came from work with his suit on.
"Dylan? …Yueyue? What are you guys doing here?"
"Yue dropped by to get her things and Dylan came by to fetch her but then I thought why not have a dinner?"
Giving her a bewildered expression, "Grace..you sure about this?"
She nodded earnestly grabbing his hand after taking off his coat.. squeezing it lightly.
"I talked to Yue and Dylan. I understand now." She smiled at him.
"Very well then. This calls for a celebration. Now where is my princess?" looking around the room in search for Yue.
"I'm here Dad!" Appearing from the kitchen and placing the dish on their dining table. Their house assistants accompanying her.
She then walked over excitedly, hugging him.
"I'm so happy right now, Dad"
"I can see that. I am so happy for you too. Tomorrow, you'll be free my dear. Just one more day!" Cupping her cheeks while smiling at her.
They proceed to be seated at their dining. With Yue's Dad on the centre, her mom on his right while Yue's on the left and Dylan beside Yue.
Grace cleared her throat, indicating of her wanting to say something.
"This is a new beginning for this family. We will strive to understand, respect and protect each other."
She shifted her gaze at Dylan, raising her drink.
"And Dylan, welcome to the family."
Dylan couldn't help but to tear, feeling Yue's hand enveloping his. Letting him know that she understood what she felt.
"A great addition and gift to this family indeed. Dylan, welcome." Her dad raised his as well.
Dylan and Yue obliged and joined in for their first complete family toast.
––––––––––––––––––––
Getting used to the idea that you always succeed in what ever you do can corrupt your mind in so many ways.
Clear sight on the targeted prey. Calculative in every more. Knowing the right pulse…but is it all…adequate..?
Confidence is an advantage howbeit, going over the safe line could lead you a step closer to the cliff.
And when you make a huge mistake, it gives you a scant amount of permitters to work with…
The more constraint, the lesser mistakes to be tolerated. The harder to get back on track….
"Ivan.. she's married."
".. she's married."
"…married."
"married."
He was in state of denial. Hand grappling his hair. Teeth clashing. Nerve on his temples throbbing. Trying to find the sense of this situation. This wasn't happening to him right now. He never thought this was possible at all. Her?! Out of all people? The cautious Shen Yue. The analytical Shen Yue. The composed Shen Yue. The smart Shen Yue. Who was this Shen Yue that got married? How can she get married when she always had told him that marriage was a big deal for her? It wasn't making any sense. Did he forced her to this? How come he never got a hint from them? He had seen him many times. Too many to even be an acceptable instances. There wasn't any sufficient evidences that could suffice the idea of them being married in his head. They weren't seen together at all..No..they…did…
Horrified.
Trembled lips as his mind processed the past events.
Realisation building in him.
There was a reason for that ring-like tattoo.
It was not a coincidental that he was there at the carpark that night.
Saving her from his confrontation.
That was never about his family's image.
Never. That guy never cared with image.
Fuck.
Fuck.
It made sense.
"Is she trapped in this?!"
"What if…what if…"
What if she was..
"No. It can't be."
He replayed her cheerful gaze in his mind.
Her past declaration ringing in his head. Over and over…
Consuming him…his mind building a safe wall…
"…you made whole pressure less nerve wracking…"
"..I love you, Ivan. Thank you…"
..till the same pair of eyes turned cold..
"Excuse me, you are blocking my way…"
"…There's nothing to talk about. We are done…"
".. she's married."
Head and lips quivered.
"No one else."
"Only me, Yue."
He screamed in frustration. Bottles and glass breaking into pieces in his mercy. He glared at her photos that was pasted on his wall.
"I will save you, Yue." his hand fisted.
…
Yue and her mother were at the backstage. Fixing her daughter's hair.
"You ready?"
Yue took a deep breath and chewed her lip.
"Hey..look at me.."
And she did.
"My princess..you are very very brave. Declaring your love will never be easy but always remember that it will all be worth it. After this, both of you, will be facing this together..officially."
"I can and I am fixing and ending this on my own before facing the world with my love."
"That's our Yueyue." she reached out her hand for her.
Grabbing it, she inhaled and gave a determined smile.
Her breathing turned into rapid waves after seeing the numerous amount of reporters waiting for her official statement to be released. She never realised how much of the media has took interest in her life. Never did she knew ..till now. All of them anticipating just for a simple announcement from her. Eager to get it out to the public. She felt like a criminal who got caught while on the run. At the back of her mind, she realised why every of her move was carefully analysed by her mother back then. It was in this moment that it all made sense.
She reached the the podium with her knuckles kneading each other. Tiny beads of sweat formed at the back of her neck. Raging butterflies in her stomach uproar in suspense.
Hearing the cue for the live telecast, she swallowed before tilting her head.
"Hello everyone..I have been away for weeks and I must admit that it was very irresponsible of me to leave without explaining why. In life, we get to stumble upon rocks. Sometimes it's pebble like but sometimes it could be the one full of sharp edges. Wounding you. Thus, you then realised that you need time to heal. And that was what I needed. I needed to be away in order to breathe. I needed to be away to get less suffocated. It was never good for one's image but it was definitely good for my own well-being and I feel that it is the most important thing and so I had a mission. I went to Thailand and Italy in full determination to heal myself…to search it on my own and so I did. Sometimes..you need to commit to a mistake in order to know yourself better and I am glad that I risked that. If it wasn't for that deciding moment.. I wouldn't be as happy as I am right now. Yet life is full of surprises. I did not found the exact piece of myself on my own like how I envisioned it to be. But in this journey someone has told me a saying that was probably not that distinct in others but it did to me. Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco. It meant doughnuts should come out with a hole.."
It earned a great amount of laughter from the press upon hearing her statement and she silently smiled as well.
….
A car pulled over in front of the conference venue.
"Now remember Julia. Once her conference is done, go straight at her dressing room. Give her the drink that I passed to you. You only have five minutes the moment she walks in the room. Remember. Be alone with her. I will come over and we will go by the secret exit. Run through the back of the carpark and we will leave. Got it?"
She looked over at him in nervous state. Her face paled and her lips trembled.
"Are you sure about this Ivan?"
"It's the only way. I promise to you. After this, it will all be good. I just need to knock some sense back at her and make her realised that she loves me. Only me." he clenched his jaw.
"But you don't right?"
He did not reply. He avoided her eyes and diverted it behind her where he saw a familiar car parking right in front of the entrance door. His eyes squinted in order to adjust his eyes focus. The moment he recognised who it was, his nose flared, eyes scowled.
…Sweat pouring in. Overthinking overruled. You get paranoid. Blinking an eye is a sin.
Every move is a risk. Each motion felt a second less on the bomb.
Accidentally planted by yourself. No one else's fault. Just you.
Tick… Tock. Quick! You need to make a move! It's time!
The lesser you move, the faster the time evaporates….
His eyes continued to glare at the two figures as the voice of Yue played in the background from her live conference.
She continued her speech with a slight giggle, "..It simply means that not everything good comes from the exact replica as to what you have planned it to be. The best things sometimes..comes..unexpectedly..unplanned…unguarded…and I am glad that I have found that peace in that circumstance. If I did not look for that peace..I wouldn't have found…the man that I love.. "
He gulped. His heart winced in pain.
…..
"Let's go son."
He paused on his tracks.
Henry was a little startled from his abrupt pause.
"Sorry..it's just new to me to be called a son.."
Creases from his forehead smoothed.
"Ah..your father had always been a serious man.."
"Yeah..perhaps the reason why he never called me a son..or maybe it was too long ago for me to remember."
"Well then you have to get used to it…"
He could only smile. His next sentence surprised him.
"Maybe you can treat me as your second father then. That is, if you want."
"Really, Sir?" he looked at him in a hopeful manner. With eyes close to tearing up.
"Yeah. You can call me, Dad."
"It's a little weird.." he smiled nervously.
"Then maybe…Sir Dad?"
He nodded in agreement.
"Sir Dad."
"Let's go then, son. Your wife is waiting."
He suddenly hugged Dylan. Patting his back.
Ivan saw this in his own eyes. Anger intensified. Something in him relinquished.
"..the man that taught me more about myself…the man that I got married to… I am standing in front here to all of you not just because of giving a public statement on what has happened to me in the past week..I am also here..standing in front of you to announce that I am now happily married to Dylan Wang."
And in that moment. He let himself be fully controlled by his inner voice. Pulling out a shiny metal structure from his car compartment.
He could hear Julia's faint protests but nothing was making sense. All he knew was he had to do it. Getting out of the car and pulling the trigger..
..Every move you make, walls congests.
Stuck. Frustrations building up.
So what else is left there is to do?
You break the walls.
Yes, Time is the enemy…
"DYLAN!"
A bullet unleashed. Darkness unfolded.
Yet..In the end.. it is within..
Because..
Self is the enemy.
Author's note: Please don't hate me. *hides*