《Miss Ordinary: I Was Reborn To Love You!》


 Chapter 1 - She was a stalker!

    Today was like any normal day. Bella Lim woke up, readied herself and her six years old brother. Around 7 am, she would send her little brother to one of the cheapest primary school in the city. Afterward, she would ride her motorbike to her workplace; Simply Caf¨¦.


    She had worked for over five years in the same caf¨¦. Her first job was as a waitress. Two years later she was ?ssigned as a barista. Later, when her boss noticed her no-nonsense attitude, she was promoted to the managerial post. That happened just recently. In fact, it happened a week ago.


    Bella Lim was happy yet unhappy at the same time with the promotion. First, she was happy because her pay would increase. Second, she was unhappy because of the workload.


    Even though Simply Caf¨¦ was a small caf¨¦, situated in the center of the city, the amount of customers that come and goes was a headache for the few workers in the caf¨¦. Therefore, she had to share the burden of her fellow workers. In the end, her work doubled! She didn''t know whether to cry or not.


    When she suggested hiring more workers, the boss had rejected her proposal because they needed the money for the expansion project.


    In the end, Bella Lim could only swallow her saliva and work tirelessly together with the rest. Thankfully, except for being stingy in recruiting, her boss wasn''t that rigid in other areas and let her take full control.


    "Good morning!"


    Bella Lim who just entered her workplace smiled when her eyes met four pairs of eyes who were looking at her. Daniel and Lily, the only waiter and waitress were setting up tables. Carla, the newly recruited barista was wiping her lucky cup with a soft cloth. While Elis was about to put on his chef attire.


    "Good morning! Get ready to roast!" she returned their greetings with her usual. Then, seeing them nodded, she proceeded towards the small office that was located at the back.


    Bella Lim put her brandless bag on the desk and approached the full-body mirror that stood at one corner of the room. She stared at herself for quite some time before sighing. People who didn''t know of her real age would often guess that she was around thirty. The truth was, she wasn''t.


    Bella Lim was only 23 years old.


    Due to the sudden death of her parents, she was forced to leave school at 16 years old so that she could cater to the needs of her younger brother. Her ''old'' look was the result of endless working hours she had dedicated herself too.


    Plus, never once had she taken care of herself as most women did. Bella Lim believed that if she put on a good amount of sunscreen on her face, she was already taking care of her skin. Thankfully, her lips had the natural shade of pink or else, she might really think that she was an old, sickly woman.


    "If you want to die, make sure you have no regret," she muttered once, twice, thrice, forcing each word to etch into her soul, mind, and heart. It was the sentence that put a soul into her life a long time ago. A long, long time ago, when she first met him.


    ''Time to work.'' Bella Lim thought as her eyes glanced at the wall clock. 7.45 am. Simply Caf¨¦ would start operating at 8.30 am. That was the time in which the city would begin rustling and buzzing. Soon, she walked out of her office and gathered all the workers for the morning briefing.


    "Carla, your popular coffee bean had arrived yesterday evening.  There should be no problem with stock anymore so feel free to brew more,"


    "Daniel, make sure to smile all the time,"


    "Lily, please help Daniel whenever the counter is free,"


    "Elis, don''t be lazy. Make sure we don''t run out of sweet things like yesterday,"


    "Last but not least, don''t slack! Understand?"


    "Yes, mam!"


    Bella Lim nodded satisfyingly at their response and instructed them to continue with their respective work. She noticed that Elis winked at her before he walked into the kitchen. She frowned and decided to ignore his weird act.


    8.30 AM. Few customers were already seen occupying the tables at Simply Caf¨¦. Bella Lim, who was counting and recording the new stocks walked out of her office after noticing the busyness on the CCTV screen.


    Daniel seemed to struggle to keep up with the increasing number of customers.


    Bella Lim could only sigh as she went out of her office and put on the waitress''s uniform.


    "Welcome to Simply Caf¨¦, please have a seat," Bella greeted a male customer who just came in. She ushered him to an empty table next to a table that was occupied by two female customers.


    "What would you like to have sir?" Bella asked politely. Her body was slightly bent to appear more polite. She was holding a tablet and a pen on both her hands.


    The man pondered for a while when he finally decided on Breakfast Set A. This set comprised of a cup of hot coffee paired with a waffle.


    As Bella Lim was taking note of the man''s order, she heard the excited voices of the female customers nearby.


    "Did you watch the broadcast last night? The number one bachelor in our country is taken! Moreover, he will get married next week!"


    "I did! His future wife is a famous actress, Karen Yang. They are like a king and a queen! Both are handsome and gorgeous. God, I hope they''ll broadcast the wedding,"


    "I can''t believe the one and only Eric Wu is taken. Everyone was saying that he is gay, now who''s gay? God, I hope I''m Karen. Do you think, she has seen his smiling face?"


    "Stupid, of course, she has. She is the future mistress of the Wu Corporation!"


    Bella Lim frowned at what she just heard. She didn''t realize the amount of force she put on holding the tablet. Her fingers that were holding the pen was trembling.


    "Excuse me?" Bella Lim was awakened from her trance by a male voice. Then, she realized that she was still standing next to the male customer. The man was looking at her with a shock expression.


    "Breakfast Set A will be right away sir," Bella Lim smiled at the male customer and left. She dismissed the anger that began to form inside her mind. The man with a shock expression was still staring at her back while thinking that what he witnessed earlier could be a false image. The woman''s face was kind of scary. He shivered.


    Bella Lim didn''t know that she had unintentionally induced fear to a certain someone. She passed the order to Carla and helped to prepare the waffle. The man had requested the filling to be peanut bu??er and strawberry jam. It took them only a few minutes to prepare the man''s order before Daniel volunteered to deliver it to the man.


    An hour later, the situation inside the caf¨¦ was getting better. Customers were still coming in and out, but Daniel and Lily managed to handle all the work well. Bella Lim was relieved.


    "Daniel, Lily, keep up the good work. If there''s anything, you know where to find me," she said and then left after seeing the two nodded in unison.


    Bella Lim had the urged to counter the gossip ladies outside. She wanted to scream to them that their view about the two people was not correct at all. But, she was just an ordinary girl, people would pay no heed to her gibberish. Besides, to gossip about the man, she felt she had no credibility. Because she was just too ordinary!


    However, even though Bella Lim branded herself as an ordinary woman. She had her own secret. A peculiar one.


    She was a stalker!

 Chapter 2 - She was stalking her savior

    Yes, Bella Lim was a stalker. She fully admitted that fact. However, she wasn''t stalking anyone from the entertainment industries. She had no clue who Karen Yang was. Hence, news about her really meant nothing to her. But the person she was tied to, that was the one that made her qualified to be called a stalker.


    Bella Lim was Eric Wu''s stalker!


    As for the reason¡­ Money, fame, and status were not her motives to stalk him. Instead, it was the incident 6 years ago that made her began to follow him everywhere. Virtually.


    Despite her infatuation, Bella Lim wasn''t crazy enough to interfere with his life. Well, even if she wanted to, she would never get the chance because¡­


    That man was a phenomenal existence unmatched to the ordinary her.


    Her infatuation of him was only due to one reason.


    He was her savior!


    She wanted to add ''love'' but over time she had learned that she was no Cinderella and neither was she a Snow White. So, she buried the emotion deep within her.


    As the only family member being alive, she agreed on the surgery only to know that the cost was an amount she couldn''t afford. Amidst the craziness, she fell onto the ploy of one of her father''s friends. He promised to pay the bill as long as she was willing to work for him. Desperate, she agreed only to know that the work was to sell her body.


    Bella Lim wasn''t a stupid girl. In fact, she was a smart person. In the moment of crisis, she contemplated that once she surrendered to the man''s artifice, even though her brother would live, she would be dead. In the end, her action would mean nothing. How would she takes care of her brother if she couldn''t take care of herself? Therefore, she ran away!


    Who knew, the man who claimed to be his father''s friend would send people to chase after her. Bella Lim remembered the incident that occurred that night vividly in her mind. Every scene flashed like a movie. She was still scared but also thankful because...


    That was the night she met Eric Wu.


    Eric Wu was a mighty figure in the country of Azure. He was 5 years older than Bella Lim. Everyone knew him as the president of the mighty Wu Corporation, a multimillionaire company that conquered the news media, entertainment, and hospitality industries. Moreover, he was the head of the Wu family. One of the biggest clans in the four related countries.


    Aside from his powerful resume, he was also renowned for his handsome look. The netizens had voted him as the most handsome bachelor of the year, catching the countless eyes of the ladies.


    Still, everyone was bound to be disappointed for this handsome bachelor valued privacy more than anything. No one knows whether he already had a partner or not. Even his parents have no clue about the type of woman he liked. The issue escalated to the point where people began to question his s?xu??ity.


    Nevertheless, this gossip was only discussed under the blanket for no one in the country wasn''t aware of Eric Wu''s temper. Mess with him and your entire life would be in jeopardy.


    Once, a media platform had posted speculation on Eric Wu''s s?xu?? preferences only to bring the end of their existence. Since then, no one dared to gossip about the terrifying man.


    However, it ended last night. The whole country finally understood Eric Wu''s s?xu??ity the moment he announced his upcoming wedding with Karen Yang.


    Everyone was shocked at the news, but they were also happy for the woman who caught his eyes was the prettiest lady in the country; Karen Yang. Everyone was saying that it was only Karen Yang who was the most suitable for Eric Wu.


    Everyone, except Bella Lim.


    Why?


    As Eric Wu''s stalker, she knew the marriage wasn''t based on love. She didn''t know about Karen Yang but as for that man, Bella Lim was a hundred percent certain, that he didn''t love the woman.


    Kriiiing!


    Bella Lim was startled by the ringing sound and the thought she was thinking earlier was gone in a flash, hiding until she decided to retrieve them back. She stared at the number that was calling and noticed that it was from the school. She immediately answered the phone call for anything related to her little pumpkin was of utmost importance to her.


    That was because, in this ordinary life of hers, her little pumpkin was her only sunshine.


    "Hello," Bella Lim politely said.


    "Hello Miss Bella, I''m Ryan''s homeroom teacher. I hope you can come to school. Ryan is involved in another fight," a familiar voice came through the phone speaker. Bella Lim recognized the caller as Mr. Chen.


    "Mr. Chen, thank you for telling me this. I will be there soon. Please be kind to my brother," she said and then initiated to end the phone call.


    ''Hang in there, little pumpkin,'' she whispered as she took her bag before leaving the room. Before rushing out of the caf¨¦, she managed to inform Carla about her absence.


    "Carla, I need to go out for a while. If the boss comes, tell him I have an emergency," she said in a hurry without waiting for Carla''s reply.


    Hopping on her faded green motorbike, she took the shortest route toward the school. Bella Lim knew that when her brother was involved in a fight, the other kid was often the one at fault. Yet, when they were brought in front of the headmaster, her little pumpkin would always the one to receive the blame instead of the perpetrator.


    She wasn''t biased but based on previous experiences, the cases were always like that. As for why Ryan Lim was involved with a fight, it was either because of his sharp tongue or his quick retaliation. Moreover, he was also a justice upholder, hence when he saw a friend being bullied, he would often interfere.


    Sigh. Her little pumpkin was too kind and righteous. No wonder he would always involve in a feud.


    Bella Lim felt a headache was coming. She sighed again.

 Chapter 3 - Stumbled upon a secret meeting

    Bella Lim slowed down as she saw the sharp turned ahead. However, if there was a traffic officer, she would still get her ''love letter''.


    Suddenly, a cold wind went past her. Instantly, she felt all the hair on her body erect. If she was to choose, she preferred not to use this shortcut because the road was quiet and dark. It was understandable because this road was in between two skyscrapers.


    Bella Lim decided to ignore the creepiness that began to take control of her mind. This was the last turned and she only needed to ride for another five minutes before she reached the school. So, she thought, when suddenly two expensive cars stopped not far from where she was. She abruptly braked knowing that the two cars were now blocking her way out.


    ''Who are these people!'' she clenched her fist, angered that her plan was interrupted. She needed to be by the side of her little pumpkin now, or else the headmaster would take the chance to torture him with ridiculous punishment.


    Bella Lim planned to press the horn when suddenly a woman and a man came out from the two luxurious cars. Seeing the two people, her instinct told her to turn off the engine of her bike. She remained in the same position for it was the most concealed area.


    Even with the lack of lighting, Bella Lim was able to recognize the woman but not the man. All she could see was the man''s back as he was standing face to face with the woman.


    ''Why is Karen Yang here? Who is that man?'' Bella Lim thought as she tried to search the existence similar to that man among her memories. There was only one hard truth, the man wasn''t Eric Wu!


    Bella Lim immediately set her phone on mute. She couldn''t afford to make any noise right now. Her instinct told her that the two were up to something no good and she needed to know the reason for her suspicion.


    ''Little pumpkin hang on!'' she thought while at the same time hoping that the time wasted here wouldn''t bring trouble to her little brother. She knew even if she wanted to quietly turn around, the two robust bodyguards that stand behind the man would notice her.


    "It happened as predicted. That man was seduced by you,"


    Bella Lim heard the man spoke. His voice was distant but with great focus, she was able to comprehend what was said. The instant she heard him saying ''that man'' her brain spontaneously ?ssociated the remark to a certain individual. Hence, she stepped closer so that she could listen clearly.


    "More like I seduced his grandpa," Karen Yang sneered. She coyly hit the man''s ?h?st. Her eyes were seducing the man in front of her. The man reciprocated by grabbing Karen Yang''s hand and kissed the dorsal side.


    The exchanged almost caused Bella Lim''s eyes to pop out of its sockets. She stared at Karen Yang with her gaze akin to a predator. Sweats began to wet her palm who was itching to slap the woman so that she could awaken her senses.


    "He invites me to dine at his house tonight," Karen Yang told the man who was still kissing her hand.


    "Really? Is it just the two of you?" the man asked somehow in disbelieved.


    "Yes,"


    "Are you certain?"


    "Hundred percent. His ?ssistant will be there, but we don''t have to worry about him. He is one of us now,"


    "Good, good girl. We''ll carry out our plan tonight. Come here,"


    "No, your bodyguards are watching,"


    There was a short silence after Karen Yang''s last sentence. Bella Lim, who was focused on listening, noticed that the two bodyguards were moving forward. They stopped when they were no longer seen by the man and Karen Yang.


    That was when Bella Lim realized that the course of their conversation had shifted to another channel. She looked at the two, only to see Karen Yang on the hood of one of the cars. Her hands were hooked on the man''s neck. Bella saw that the man''s action was full of ?ust. He was as wild as the animal during the mating season.


    Disgust filled Bella Lim''s whole face. If she could, she would kill the two people right at this moment. She was truly enraged by their conversations to the point of crying. Feeling the tears on her cheek, Bella Lim chased it away with the back of her hand.


    There was no used to be angry. Right now, she must leave the scene! She wanted to stealthily move back but as Karen Yang''s m??n?d was reaching ecstasy, the two bodyguards also moved further into the darkness. Coincidently, the direction they were heading to was where Bella Lim was hiding.


    She knew her chance to leave was gone because the moment she moves, the two stoic men would discover her location.


    At that time, Bella Lim could only think of surviving which also the one that forced her to be one with the smelly dirt on the ground. She stayed flat until the place left with only her.


    Bella Lim stood up as her eyes scanned her surroundings. After affirming that the expensive cars have left the area, she heaved a sigh of relief. She looked at her wristwatch and realized that it had been an hour since she received the news of her little pumpkin. Without delay, she rode on her bike, moving forward with the school as her destination.


    "Little pumpkin I''m coming!" she mumbled as she sped up.


    As soon as she reached the school, she ran towards the headmaster''s office and noticed that there was a crowd of teachers roaming outside of the office.


    "Miss Bella, thank God you''re finally here. Let''s go inside!" a man in his forty rushed to her and without hesitation pulled her hand towards the office. Bella Lim frowned at the sudden skin contact as she immediately pulled her hand away.


    "I can walk by myself," she said as she walked past the man who was stunned at the anger embedded in her voice. Bella Lim ignored him as she dashed forward. She couldn''t help it because the incident earlier had planted a seed of deep hatred inside her head.


    It was only a matter of time for her to explode! Not literally.

 Chapter 4 - To little pumpkin rescue!

    The moment Bella Lim walked into the office, she felt the flame inside her flared up for the scene she witnessed was a woman pulling her little pumpkin''s left ear. If she didn''t notice the unclouded, fearless eyes possessed by her little pumpkin, she probably let go of the sanity she was hanging on and snapped the woman''s finger until it was broken.


    "Miss Bella, you''re here," a man who was sitting on the only chair inside the room called her name loudly as if to alert the other people about her arrival. The woman that was pulling the little boy''s ear immediately released her fingers.


    "Since you''re late, I will only tell you the consequences this incident has on your brother. The school has decided to remove his name from the future Grade 1''s class unless you as the guardian writes a letter of apology and pay compensation to Mrs. Ann," the headmaster explained. At the end of his sentence, he yawned. His eyes were not even looking at Bella Lim.


    He thought the woman in front of her would act as she always did. She would inquire about the whole incident and then politely apologized before leaving with her little brother. In this situation, she would just agree to the consequences and leave.


    Bella Lim didn''t response. Instead, she walked towards her little brother and crouched down.


    "Does it hurt?" she asked as she examined her little pumpkin''s left ear. The chubby boy shook his head to deny.


    "What happened?" Bella Lim''s face twitched as she noticed the redness on her little pumpkin''s left ear. Her voice was cracking when she asked the question.


    Little pumpkin saw that his guardian angel had come and the fearless gaze he had earlier melted down as tears began to fall on his soft cheek.


    "Big sister, he took my pencil and the new picture book you gave me yesterday. I was only trying to get back what is mine when he suddenly bit me. I bit him back and he cried," the little pumpkin explained. He began to hiccup but even so, he went through his bag and took out a pencil and a book. The book cover was almost ripped into two. If one was not careful when flipping it, the cover would rip apart.


    Bella Lim smiled at the little pumpkin in front of her and said, "Good boy," Then, she wiped the remaining tears left on his cheek.


    "Hah, what a scene! Mr. Ronald, look at this woman. Instead of reprimanding her brother''s lack of manner, she even praised him. Tsk, tsk. No wonder the brother looks like a wild animal, his guardian is so-so. Look at her clothes, so unruly, no wonder the brother also becomes one. Look at my son''s hand. He was hurt because of him!" Mrs. Ann who was watching by the side said in disdain. She continued to ridicule the pair of siblings.


    "Your son was hurt?" Bella Lim asked as she stood up. She turned to face the woman while shielding her little pumpkin behind. The image of her pulling her little brother''s ear was clear in her mind.


    Mrs. Ann didn''t reply as she pulled her son''s right hand and showed it to her. There was a bite mark but compared to the redness on Ryan Lim''s left ear, that bite mark was nothing. The former carried pain when someone examined it.


    "Little pumpkin, what do you think of his injury?" Bella tilted her head to little pumpkin''s direction.


    "Big sister, he was bleeding because his skin is too soft. Thankfully I have a thick skin or else my injury could be worse than his," the words smoothly left the little boy''s lips. Bella Lim sneakily smiled, and the moment Mrs. Ann looked at her, she was already putting on her serious face.


    Her little pumpkin was just too savage!


    "What did you say?" Mrs. Ann was angered. "My son is injured by you! How dare you insult him like that!" she shouted.


    "Mr. Chen, is what my brother said the truth?" Bella Lim ignored Mrs. Wong''s wrath and focused her eyes on Mr. Chen who was also present in the room.


    "That was indeed the case. But, Miss Bella for the sake of your little brother, please just do what the headmaster asks. Based on your financial, it will be difficult to find another school with affordable fees. Ryan is a bright student, he needs to attend school," Mr. Chen responded. He noticed the signal the headmaster was hinting on earlier. He wanted him to take Mrs. Ann''s sides.


    "Hmm, but from what I heard, my brother is not the one at fault. His action was for self-defense. On the other hand, Mrs. Ann''s son not only took something without approval from my brother. He also initiated the fight. He bit my little brother''s hand first. Therefore, it should be me asking Mrs. Ann to write a letter of apology," Bella Lim stated. Her eyes left Mr. Chen as she stared at the woman whose mouth was spitting cursing words non-stop.


    "You dare!" Mrs. Ann screamed as she rose her right hand. Any seconds and that hand would reach Bella Lim''s left cheek.


    "You want to slap me?" Bella Lim smirked. Soon¡­


    PAT!


    Instead of giving a slap, Mrs. Ann received a slap instead. The unexpected turned of the event made the viewers stunned. Even the one being slapped couldn''t believe that she was slapped right on her face.


    Bella Lim''s eyes were blazing like the sun. She was no longer hiding the fury in her heart!


    "Mr. Ronald, you as the headmaster is clearly taking the wrong side. Why? Because this woman here has more money than me? You''re one of the reasons why rich kids like her son cannot think on their own two feet. Don''t bother expelling my brother, I can find another school that treats him better than this one. Oh, and Mrs. Ann, I hope you''ll have a happy life in the future with this son of yours," Bella Lim finally exploded. Her eyes swept over the faces of the three people in the room, not forgetting Mrs. Ann''s son who was now trembling as he looked at her. No one dared to refute back because, for an unknown reason, they squirmed whenever they looked into her eyes.


    "Little pumpkin, let''s go," Bella Lim held the plum fingers of her little brother and they walked out of the room together.


    Outside the office, the crowd saw the sibling came out and their lively gazed suddenly became sympathetic. They thought the pair of a sibling had gone through a horrible experience inside.  However, the ajar door allowed them to see the bizarre expressions of the people inside the room. Seeing these, the crowd noticed that the Lim siblings'' expressions were better compared to that inside. What had happened?


    The crowd was curious, but no one dared to ask. They saw that Bella Lim and her little brother was gone from their sight. Only then, they realized that the drama was over. They dispersed leaving the astounded people inside the office.

 Chapter 5 - A hotpot with little pumpkin

    "Big sister, I''m really sorry¡­uwahhhh...I''ve made you worry¡­wahhhh¡­ but he tore the book you gifted, uwahhh¡­"


    Bella Lim sighed as she looked at her little pumpkin. His chubby cheek bounced every time he went ''uwahhh''.


    She knew he would cry this loud. That was also the reason why she decided to leave as soon as possible. It was to avoid her little pumpkin to hold onto his feeling for long. It could be detrimental to his growth if he kept on restraining his real emotions.


    He needed an outlet to release his frustration.


    "My dear little pumpkin is crying, here comes your sister to cheer you up. My dear little pumpkin still crying, here is a shoulder for you to lean on¡­" she sang the modified nursery rhyme ''I''m a little teapot'' and pulled her little brother to an embrace. She patted his back gently until the cry subsided.


    "Is my little pumpkin okay now?" Bella Lim asked softly. Her sapphire blue eyes fell onto little pumpkin''s wet face. She kissed his forehead and hugged him again to provide as much comfort as she could.


    "Big sister, I''m okay now," the little pumpkin gave a bright smile to his sister to ?ssure her that he was feeling better. He held her hand and they walked toward Bella Lim''s bike which she parked right outside the administration office.


    "Little pumpkin, how about we go shop ingredients for a hotpot tonight?" Bella Lim suggested the idea as she passed a small helmet to her little brother. The little boy was excited as his mouth was agape. There were twinkles of joy and anticipation in his eyes.


    "Big sister, can we buy dim sim as well?" he asked while at the same time wearing the helmet given by his big sister. Then, he sat in front of Bella Lim who was about to start the bike''s engine.


    "Sure!" Bella Lim shouted as the engine roared. The noise was louder than her voice. A small smile appeared on her face when she noticed the glee that was emitted from her little pumpkin''s body. It seemed he had forgotten the incident earlier. She rejoiced!


    The two continued to ride the bike towards a secluded neighborhood called the ''Countryside''. It was named as such because this was the only place that had the least development. The government believed that it was a waste to develop the area.


    That was the main reason why this area offered the cheapest rental houses in the city. Most of the residents were from the lower class.


    To both the siblings, this was their ''hometown'' after the death of their parents. Bella had squeezed out all her savings to pay the down payment to one of the cheapest houses in the area.


    They stopped at one of the small supermarkets to buy the ingredients for a hotpot meal. After buying everything, they went to a famous dumpling stall in the neighborhood. There were already a few people lining up.


    "Little pumpkin, please wait here. Big sister will line up to buy our dim sim!" Bella Lim said as both her hands held little pumpkin''s round cheeks and made them bounce. The little boy giggled as he shook his head in agreement.


    Bella Lim made sure that she had parked the bike securely before lining up to buy the dim sim she and little pumpkin enjoyed. Her body was positioned to an angel that allowed her to see both her little brother and the queue at the same time.


    As she stood there waiting, two women approached the queue and lined up behind her. She felt unlucky for all these women knew was to gossip. Their voices were loud enough that it almost succeeded in tempting her to give them a word or two. But she didn''t want to create troubles, so she forcefully listened to their gibberish.


    "Hey, do you know that the most anticipated wedding of the year is being pushed forward?"


    "The mighty Eric Wu and the gorgeous Karen Yang? Really? Why the rush?"


    "Why? What do you think? That''s because they are madly in love!"


    "Aww, sugar! Is it confirmed? So, when is the wedding?"


    "Read the news. It''s everywhere!"


    Bella Lim didn''t notice that it was her turn now to make an order of dumplings. She was too carried away with the things she heard that she failed to notice the message her expression was giving. It was almost like she was loathing over something.


    "Miss, do you want my dumpling or not?" the stall owner asked coldly. He saw the disdain in her face and thought that she disliked his dumpling.


    Bella Lim was startled. She stared at the stall owner and said: "Good evening! four packets of dim sim please!" she ordered joyfully. She was completely ignorant about how the stall owner perceived her. However, her instant change of behavior made the stall owner flip his earlier suspicion to a 180 degree and happily wrapped up her order.


    "Thank you!" Bella Lim once again said in a joyful manner. She paid for the dim sim and left the area.


    Then, the pair of siblings continued their journey. It took them only ten minutes on the bike to reach their home.


    She finished the task faster than she thought, therefore, she decided to check on her phone. There were a few missed calls from her boss. She frowned and dialed his number.


    "Good evening, boss," she greeted while wondering if her absence today had angered the man. Well, she did feel guilty for not returning to the caf¨¦. However, she needed to be with her little pumpkin now for no one else could take care of him in this world. She had no other family. Little pumpkin was the only one. They needed to be there for each other no matter what.


    "Where were you today? You do know we''re lacking people at the cafe?" a voice full of irritation entered Bella Lim''s ear. Her brows met at the center. So, her boss was really angry?


    "I''m really sorry boss. I was called to Ryan''s school today. I''ve made sure that before leaving, everything was in place. I believed Carla and the rest were capable of handling the cafe," she tried to reason with her boss.


    "Really? Carla told me that you suddenly leave without telling them. This wasn''t something a manager would do!" the man spoke louder. Clearly, he wasn''t pacified with Bella Lim''s explanation earlier.


    Meanwhile, Bella Lim was shocked. She remembered that she had informed Carla about her leaving. Why was the story suddenly flipped to the exact opposite? Didn''t Carla hear what she said?


    "Boss, I told Carla-"


    "Stop making excuse. I''ve decided to cut your salary to half this month. If this happens again, I''ll take your position," the man warned and then hang up.


    Bella Lim stared at her phone, unable to believe what she just heard. She knew the temperament of her boss. This man was fast to anger without properly investigating the problem. However, it was rare for him to get this angry over this kind of issue. Besides, he should''ve understood about her work ethic. Although she needed to leave because of an emergency, she took care of all the important things beforehand. The rest could be covered by the other workers.


    She sighed again and decided to forget about it for now. Tomorrow, she would settle it.

 Chapter 6 - Enlai Gong

    "Little pumpkin please helps me with the utensils. It''s my turn to take a shower," Bella Lim winked at her freshly showered little pumpkin.


    "Aye big sister!" little pumpkin saluted and went to prepare the utensils. Bella Lim decided to observe little pumpkin for a while. She saw him taking out a pot and a burner from the waist height cabinet.


    Feeling satisfied with his careful way of doing things, Bella Lim entered her room to take the necessary things needed for the shower.


    She cleaned up quickly and was now in her room again; drying her hair with a hairdryer. At the same time, she went online using her ??ptop. A webpage appeared on the screen. It was the webpage of a famous, mysterious novelist; Enlai Gong. She skimmed through and noticed that there was a new update from the author.


    [Enlai Gong: I wish time would slow down.]


    Under the short update were countless comments from the webpage members.


    [Enlaigongno.1fan: Author @Enlai Gong, I wish the opposite. I can''t wait for your new book!]


    [Donutismybangle: To my mysterious author @Enlai Gong, I wish the same! Hug me!]


    [IloveEnlaiGong: Author @Enlai Gong, what is your literary thought on Eric Wu and Karen Yang''s wedding? I''ve read the snippets of your new novel and find them almost relatable.]


    Bella Lim read through the comments and paused at the third comment which had been liked and replied thousand times.


    Her lips curved to a knowing smile. She moved the mouse over the empty space for comments and typed:


    [B.L Bloomfield: I''m curious too!]


    The moment her comment went online. She was bombarded with endless replies and responses.


    [IloveEnlaiGong: @B.L Bloomfield, fancy seeing you! Have you finished reading the author @Enlai Gong''s new novel?]


    [avidreader: @B.L Bloomfield, my favorite beta reader!!! Please share your valuable thought on the new book ASAP!]


    [Enlai Gong: @B.L Bloomfield, I have dinner tonight so I will not be available around 8-10 Pm. I will respond to your email after that.]


    [Drunkenreader: Not fair! Author @Enlai Gong, your only reply to @B.L Bloomfield''s comment.]


    [IloveEnlaiGong: Author @Enlai Gong can you respond to my comment above? I''m curious >_< Oh well, where will your dinner take place? I want to dine there so I can brag about it!]


    [Drunkenreader: @IloveEnlaiGong lol, good luck on that!]


    [¡­]


    Bella Lim was speechless at the countless response she received after. She knew her presence online especially in Enlai Gong''s website was quite outstanding.


    First, because she had worked her way up to be noticed by the author until she was chosen as one of the beta readers for all the novels the author would release. Second, because the author often replied to her comment.


    She wasn''t certain on the why but she speculated that it was probably because of her critique! She was the harshest and the most honest beta reader! According to Enlai Gong.


    Enlai Gong was a mysterious author. He had released countless books of different genres. Each book was a masterpiece and a No. 1 bestseller.


    The popularity of Enlai Gong wasn''t based on his books only, but also due to the enigma that encircled him. The only thing the reader, as well as the public, knew about him was his male gender and his pen name: Enlai Gong.


    No one expected anyone to know about Enlai Gong''s real identity, but Bella Lim was an exception!


    She knew him.


    Bella Lim read @Enlai Gong''s reply on her comment and write a simple response: [Understood.]


    Now, she was certain about the thing that would happen tonight. This confirmation inside her brain made her heartbeat drummed faster, she could almost feel the pain it caused on her ?h?st. She needed to do something or else he would be in danger!


    That was when she saw him commented again but this time it wasn''t for her.


    [Enlai Gong: @IloveEnlaiGong Golden Lakeside, 8 PM. See you there!]


    [IloveEnlaiGong: Oh my God! Prepare my coffin. I''m dead! @Enlai Gong replied to my comment. I''m number 2 after @B.L Bloomfield. Praise me, partner!]


    [Sexyisme: @IloveEnlaiGong I can help you with the coffin. My dad is an undertaker. He has a lot in stock. But is the post by author Enlai Gong real? If yes, even if we want to go, we can''t!]


    [Betareader103: So true! This restaurant is for the aristocrat! Author @Enlai Gong really wants to hide from us. Sobs¡­ this is mission impossible!]


    [¡­]


    Bella Lim read the comments again and again. For the other fan, it was probably a strategy to push them away from inquiring more about him, but to her, that comment was real.


    ''So, the venue is no longer at his house? That would make things easy,'' she thought as a half-smile formed on her face.


    "Big sister! I''ve been waiting for some time already,"


    Startled, Bella Lim gasped in realization.


    "Little pumpkin! Sorry!!!!" she ran toward her little brother who was looking at her from the door frame. His pitiful eyes were teary making the guilt inside her grew bigger.


    "Big sister can hotpot with your ??ptop. Hmmm!" it seemed that the little pumpkin was angry.


    "Please forgive me?" Bella kneeled with both palms clasped. It was her turned to look teary.


    "I''ll give all the dim sim to you? Please?" she continued to persuade the little pumpkin. However, inside she was squealing hard because the little pumpkin''s expression was just too cute. His chubby cheeks were getting bigger when he pouted.


    "Really big sister? You''ll let me eat all the dim sim?" the little boy was still pretending to be angry but the little joy in his eyes didn''t escape Bella Lim''s attentiveness. She nodded like an obedient pet.


    "Hehe, big sister, congratulation, you''re forgiven!" the little pumpkin cupped his cheek as he giggled.


    "Pumpkin, you''re just too cute for my heart! I''m melting!" Bella Lim could no longer contain herself as she hugged her little brother while complimenting his cuteness with kisses.


    "Big sister, I''m sleepy¡­" the little pumpkin who finally finished the whole plate of dim sim said. His voiced muffled as he tried to stop yawning.


    "Come here," Bella Lim sat up and patted her th??h.  Understanding the meaning behind such a gesture, little pumpkin crawled towards his big sister. When he got closer, Bella Lim gently put him to sleep with her th??h as a pillow.


    "Big sister, big sister¡­ please sing me a song," little pumpkin requested.


    "Sure, here goes¡­ Sleep, little baby¡­" Bella Lim''s melodious voice rang throughout the room as she tenderly ??r?ssed her little pumpkin''s hair. She watched as the little brother of her fell into a deep sleep. Then, carefully she lifted him up and gently put him down on his bed.

 Chapter 7 - Mission Impossible (Part 1)

    "Little pumpkin, bis sister is going for a mission tonight. I don''t know if what I''m about to do will be successful or not, but that man was our benefactor. I cannot let him die after everything that I learned today. Hopefully, I can return the favor tonight. Give me strength and sleep well my dear pumpkin," she whispered and kissed the little boy goodnight.


    Bella Lim was worried to leave her little pumpkin alone but knowing that he was a heavy sleeper, she was hoping that tonight was also the same. Still, she left a message for him to remain inside the house until she returned.


    Before going out, she put on her black jacket. Then, she rode on her bike towards the most luxurious area in the country.


    After riding for almost an hour, Bella parked her bike in an isolated area not far from a lakeside. She stared at the majestic view in front of her and silently sang a whole song of praises. She gaped at the magnificent building that seemed to float in the middle of the lakeside.


    This was the most expensive restaurant in the world: The Golden Lakeside! Its golden nameplate was screaming all the luxury the restaurant would offer to its customers. From the distance, she could see the glistening golden color of the man-made lake.


    It took her a while to come back to her senses. She glanced at her wristwatch: 8.00 PM. Good, she arrived exactly at the time she was expecting herself to arrive.


    Bella Lim''s plan was simple. She must see Eric Wu and warned her of Karen Yang''s dangerous scheme with the unknown man. Even if the man didn''t believe her, she would exert all effort to ruin their dinner tonight.


    She could do it! She motivated herself.


    Bella Lim began to move. She decided to rely on her physical abilities and not her bike. Even though this place was foreign to her, inside her brain, she could see the path she should take.


    All of her actions were only feasible because of Enlai Gong''s novel. In his book entitled ''Murder by the Lakeside'' she noticed that the place where the crime scene was taking place was similar to this Golden Lakeside restaurant. In one of their email exchanges, he confirmed her speculation.


    When she first found out, the feeling she had was a mere satisfaction. However, right at this moment, she was glad she paid attention to the details he had written because they were incredibly accurate! Goosebumps swept through her body.


    However, like the main lead in his novel, she had to think of a way to enter the restaurant because the security was tight at the entrance. Without the golden card, no one could enter. It was akin to a membership card except one had to pay a lot of money to get one.


    8.30 PM.


    Currently, Bella Lim was hiding behind a gigantic, shining tree. She was surprised to encounter such a big tree, but when she touched the trunk, she was enlightened. It was a man-made tree. No wonder, the leaves were all shining in rainbow colors.


    Her hiding spot was really the worst if one was to consider the attractiveness of the tree, but her observation discovered that this strikingly gorgeous tree failed to woo people to peek or glance at its dazzling body. This disappointing outcome was the main reason why she picked this place as a hiding spot.


    Bella Lim''s next plan was to wait for her target.


    Thirty minutes later, her eyes glistened as she saw a man with a cold and distant aura was walking side by side with a beautiful woman.


    Her heart skipped the moment she noticed that the man''s appearance carried the same vibe as the one she had met many years ago. He seemed to never change. But who was she to judge?


    Bella Lim spent quite some time admiring the imposing aura exuded from that man. The corner of her lips curled upward as she noticed that his hair was combed in the same messy style she had seen before. That style really accentuated his perfect jawline, increasing the allure of that man.


    When she saw him walking with Karen Yang, a deep frown appeared on her forehead. She hated this view. And she could see that many onlookers shared her sentiment. However, theirs were based on envy, while hers was the fact that this woman was wearing a poker face.


    Knowing that the two would enter the building soon, Bella Lim began to panic. She must enter the building together with them! Or else, she would lose them.


    As she cursed at the dead end, she noticed that a woman was walking toward her direction. She frowned and realized that the incoming unwanted guest was drunk. She probably was separated from her friend and saw the tree and fell in love with it.


    Whatever it was, Bella Lim saw an opportunity. She noticed that no one was paying attention to the woman. Therefore, when she was a step away from discovering her, Bella pulled the woman behind the tree and chopped on the back of the woman''s neck with her other hand.


    The woman fainted on the spot.


    Bella Lim sighed as she saw the defenseless woman. She begged for forgiveness in her heart for the thing she would do next was the rudest!


    She removed the woman''s clothes.


    And exchange it with her clothes.


    Not only she took the woman clothes, but she also took her jewelry alongside her purse which contained few makeup products. Inside was also the precious golden card that she desperately needed.


    ''Gosh, now I''m a robber!'' Bella Lim could only smile unsophisticatedly. She imitated the woman''s hairdo and put on some makeup. She didn''t dare to exaggerate for she knew her make-up skill was incomparable. She was the worst in the field! Therefore, she just put on some powder on her cheek and put on the woman''s brown lipstick.


    This was the first time Bella Lim wore make-up!


    However, she had no time to spare to admire her look, for her target had just walked into the restaurant.


    She ran and slowed down the moment she was near the entrance. That was when she realized that she didn''t know the woman''s name!


    Panic struck her again!


    She began to think that this mission of hers was similar to the level of a mission impossible! Dang!

 Chapter 8 - Mission impossible (part 2)

    "Miss Kylie, did you forget something inside?"


    Hearing the security guard called her with a different name, Bella Lim relaxed and nodded. She pretended to be busy. She looked at her purse while asking: "Can I enter?"


    She didn''t dare to lift her face. Thankfully, the security guard just let her in without asking too many questions.


    Inside, Bella Lim silently followed her target while pretending to look at her purse whenever people stared at her. However, when she was about to enter the same room, she realized that everyone was looking at her.


    Including Eric Wu!


    Once again, she panicked. She hadn''t thought about how to go about this situation. How should she act in this situation?


    "Miss Kylie?" then she heard his voice. The voice that seeped into her soul like a calming mantra.


    "Do you know her?" Karen Yang''s immediately asked. Her voice contained jealousy. She stared at Bella Lim with piercing eyes.


    "I heard the security guard mentioned her name," Eric Wu explained without looking at the woman standing close to him. His eyes were staring at Bella Lim. He seemed to be thinking of something.


    "Do you want anything, Miss Kylie?" Karen Yang moved closer, purposely hiding Eric Wu''s from Bella Lim''s sight trajectory.


    "Well, I''m actually going to the room next to you. However, this person is standing like an obstacle in front of me," Bella Lim composed her heart and spoke with utter confidence. She pointed towards the person that was standing in front of her. She saw the restaurant logo on his uniform; therefore, she was certain that he was a safe target.


    Then, she stared at Karen Yang with ''what the heck'' kind of attitude. As if everything was just a misunderstanding and them interrogating her was going overboard.


    This was Bella bluffing with the hope that they would believe her!


    "Heh," Bella Lim felt her heart froze once she heard Eric Wu''s short response. It carried an aura that capable to tear off her mask! She didn''t dare to look right into his eyes. From the short response, she knew that he had found out about her bluff. This was the result she came up with as his avid stalker!


    She was too familiar with this man. Even though, it was a one-sided familiarity.


    Would he expose her? God, I''m trying to save you here!


    "Excused me," Bella Lim didn''t dare to stay any longer and walked away from the group. She was grateful that no one tried to stop her.


    Eric Wu watched the woman escaped. Then, for a second there, he met her eyes. Eyes that seemed to contain worries and fears. Instead of looking away, the eyes were determined to lock his gaze as if she wanted to tell him something. He frowned as he couldn''t understand the woman''s intention.


    However, he was confident that the woman was lying.


    Sigh! She heaved out the burden of faking identity the moment she saw the empty room. Damn, this place was huge! Every furniture had a tint of gold. How rich was the owner? She didn''t dare to guess knowing that the amount she came up with would probably fail to meet the real number.


    Bella shook her head to remove the thoughts far away. Right now, she needed to focus. After this, she would force her way into their room and pretended that she was looking for something.


    If Eric Wu was still in one piece, healthy and unharmed, she would slip on the note she had written before coming here.


    If the situation was the opposite and Eric Wu was harmed, she would do anything to save him!


    This plan was imperfect but doable. Moreover, this was the only plan that Bella Lim could think of.


    Only to know later that she was about to be chased out of the building!


    An hour later, Bella Lim was trying to find a place to hide. The restaurant owner had just announced that there was something wrong with the building security system and mentioned that soon, there would be a blackout. Therefore, for safety purposes, all customers were advised to leave the premise as soon as they could.


    Of course, the announcement was the humble step to ''chase'' the customers away, but few trained workers were actually ?ssigned to ''force'' stubborn customers to leave the building.


    "Are you sure someone entered this room?"


    Bella Lim heard a male voice echoed inside the room that she was in. At this moment, she was hiding behind the huge karaoke screen. In this opened place, there was no place for her to hide except this torturous place. To make sure that her body wasn''t discovered, she had to do the split so that her height could match the screen''s height. This was the most painful stretching she ever had.


    "I am sure," another voice answered. His voice was slightly pitchy compared to the previous one.


    "Really? But this room should be empty. The boss had instructed that the room next to Young Miss Karen shouldn''t be occupied,"


    "Never mind, this room is now empty. That person must have left the moment she heard the announcement,"


    "I think so too," the other replied.


    Bella Lim waited for another few minutes when she was finally certain that the two people had really left the room.


    ''Ouch¡­'' she ?r??n?d as she recovered from the torturous stretching.


    Now, what should I do? She thought. At this moment, she knew that the owner of this restaurant was also related to Karen Yang. The owner might also be the unknown man she had seen was making out with Karen Yang earlier this afternoon.


    Bella Lim was standing right at the door when suddenly someone pushed it from outside.


    Oh my god!


    Bella Lim was once again thrown into the pit of terror, as she could only hide behind the opened door while wishing that the people who were coming in wouldn''t close the door. At the same time, she scanned the room to look for possible hiding space and noticed that there was a hiding spot behind the sofa opposite her. Moreover, this was a blind spot as the sofa was located in the remotest area in the room.


    "Bring him in," she heard a very familiar voice. This was Karen Yang''s voice.


    "You! make this room bright!" she spoke again.


    Listening to Karen Yang''s authoritative voice, Bella Lim was freaking out. Because, she was still hiding behind the door, if the switches were all on, she would be discovered. After that¡­

 Chapter 9 - Breathed her last

    Bella Lim shivered at the thought. In that moment of despair, she recalled her little pumpkin. If something were to happen to her, who would take care of her precious pumpkin?


    Yet, she didn''t regret her decision to come to this place. The only thing she regretted was her rashness. She should have planned things thoroughly! Or she should act like a lunatic person to attract Eric Wu''s attention to her.


    However, it''s too late to lock the stable door after the horse had been stolen! There was no used to cry over spilled milk.


    Suddenly, she noticed that a hand was pulling the door. Anytime now and she would be exposed¡­


    Would this be the end?


    Bella Lim felt devastated when suddenly¡­


    The whole room was covered in darkness!


    A miracle!


    Quickly, she hid at the tiny space behind the sofa and once again, she experienced another torturous stretching. This time, it was her waist that needed to bend to almost 90 degrees so that her head would not pop out at the other end of the sofa.


    Bella Lim could only be patience!


    In the nick of time she managed to hide, the room brightened up. She heard Karen Yang was scolding someone. That person was probably the one she had instructed to switch on all the lamps.


    Whatever at least I''m still alive. I can still think of a plan.


    Bella Lim was rejoicing when suddenly she heard few footsteps were heading to her direction.


    Oh my god! Did they know about me? She could only lament on her bad luck.


    For the first time ever, Bella Lim cursed: F*ck!


    "Let him sit here!" Karen Yang''s voice again. Then, there was a thud sound. Someone was ''thrown'' to the sofa.


    ''Painful!'' Bella almost screamed in pain. The moment she heard the thud sound, simultaneously, she felt her head crashed on the concrete wall. However, she willed her heart to ignore the pain because right now, she could hear faint breathing of a man.


    Eric Wu!


    Bella Lim was delighted! She was confident with her smelling sense and was affirmative that this masculine yet calming scent belonged to the man that once had saved her from despair.


    Brimmed with happiness, she was about to call for the man when she felt a strong force was dragging her out from her hiding spot!


    F*cking sh*t!


    She was discovered!


    "A kitty playing hide and seek,"


    Bella Lim heard that mocking voice. She opened her eyes and realized that she was surrounded by all the people inside the room.


    Not far from her was a man in a crouching position. He was wearing a mask but the eyes that contained pure evil managed to trigger the feeling of fear inside her heart. Next to him was Karen Yang who was looking at her with a sinister smile.


    "Indeed darling. Fancy meeting you again Miss Kylie," Karen Yang snickered. Her face was similar to a villain in many ancient films she had watched. Their countenance appeared arrogant and eyes contained cruelty.


    This was it.


    This was indeed a mission impossible. A catastrophe.


    Her intention was simply to prevent him from getting harm, but looking at the situation at the moment, she knew she had failed.


    "Hey,"


    Suddenly, she heard a weak whisper from behind.


    Eric Wu!


    Bella Lim felt like she was given a direction. She turned around and saw a man was lying on the sofa. His closed eyes slowly opened to reveal a pair of brown eyes.


    Bella Lim gasped when the man stared at her as if trying to read her mind. This man, even in his weakened state definitely caused others to feel intimidated.


    "Are-are you okay?" she asked while stuttering. Inside her mind, Bella Lim was frantic. She had never fantasized about a scene where they both would see face to face in such a close distance and talking. She had no idea how to proceed with the conversation. Instead, she immediately made a thorough check on the man''s body.


    "Mr. Eric, can-can you hear me?" she asked. Stuttering again. Beads of sweat began to form on her forehead. She looked at the man''s pale lips. His once-majestic aura had faded but the moment she stared into his eyes; she knew this man''s will to live was very strong.


    Good, at least he hadn''t given up on life!


    "That was quite a place to hide," she heard a soft chuckle left his lips.


    Damn, he had the nerve to make fun of her! Bella Lim pretended to be deaf as she focused to observe any kind of injuries on his body.


    "Who are you?"


    Bella Lim''s hand froze mid-air when she heard his question.


    "I-"


    I''m your stalker¡­ she wanted to reply like so but decided against it.


    "I''m a friend," she answered.


    And the moment she said that Eric Wu suddenly began to vomit blood. His pale face was now almost green in color. Bella Lim knew that he had been poisoned!


    "You''re poisoned!" she screamed in shock and right at that moment, she swept a look onto the faces behind her.


    "Despicable!" she said.


    The moment the word was spoken she noticed that some people immediately retreated. Both the man in a mask and Karen Yang was frowning as they looked at her.


    She had no idea why but for a while there she noticed a momentary fear in their eyes. However, when she saw the gun held by the man with a mask, she realized that these people should have nothing to fear.


    Instead, it should be her!


    "What''s your name?"


    Bella Lim''s face twitched when she heard the stubbornness in the man''s voice. What''s the used of talking now?


    "We are going to die soon. No used to be cautious," Bella Lim felt a chill after listening to another remark from Eric Wu.


    This man, why was he so calm?


    "Where are your people?" she asked.


    Then, she saw him shook his head. She could see the feeling of disdain in his eyes. Seeing him reacted so, a question kept ringing in her head.


    How did the almighty Eric Wu fall into these people''s hands?


    She refused to believe that it was because of Karen Yang''s seduction. There must be something bigger than that!


    Seeing the blood that kept being vomited by the man on the sofa, Bella Lim felt a pang of pain in her core. She tore a part of her dress to wipe the blood that smeared his handsome face.


    "You once said to me: If you want to die, you must die without regret. Now that we''re about to die, do you have any regret?"


    Bella Lim wasn''t looking at the man but she knew his eyes were on her. When she looked up, she met the man''s inquisitive gaze.


    "I have a lot of regrets. You?"


    Bella Lim was startled when the question went back to her.


    "My little pumpkin...and the fact that I couldn''t save you," she honestly said as her countenance became dismal.


    "Sorry,"


    Bella Lim saw her hand that was holding on the piece of cloth was held by Eric Wu''s right hand. A rush of unparalleled warmth filled her entire body. This was the warmth that safeguarded her from her enemies once.


    Right now, Bella Lim was suffering turbulence in her emotions. She should be feeling ecstatic, but the fact that this could be the last time for her to feel this warmth... she was dejected.


    "What''s your name?" she heard him asked. His voice was becoming weaker.


    "Kylie¡­"


    "Real name,"


    "Bella Lim," she finally revealed her name. At least, she could die contented because the man he loved and admired knew her name.


    "Bella Lim? Tsk, such a beautiful name but sorry not sorry. Today you have to die!"


    Bella Lim heard a man''s voice, but she knew it didn''t belong to Eric Wu. That was when she felt a cold sensation at the back of her head.


    1 second¡­


    2 seconds¡­


    Bang!


    "Little pumpkin¡­" she whispered as her head fell onto Eric Wu''s ?h?st. Their gazes met and as if talking a thousand conversation, both were smiling as their eyes closed.


    "Sorry¡­" she muttered.


    And just like that, Bella Lim breathed her last.

 Chapter 10 - A paragon: she was reborn!

    "Tsk¡­so embarrassing!"


    "She wanted to save him but was killed instead? What an idiot,"


    Hmm, she was dead right? Why was she hearing voices?


    Bella Lim felt her consciousness returned and slowly she tried to open her eyes. The moment they were opened, a blinding sight of white greeted her eyes. She looked up, right, and left but the only thing she saw was the infinite color white. Then, she looked down¡­


    Gasp!


    Shocked and terrified, she tried to hold onto something because when she looked down, there was no sight of solid ground. All she saw was bottomless white fog and she was floating mid-air!


    She clenched her hands into fists as anxiety began to take over her body. However, as if being urged by something, her eyes wandered all over her body and realized that she was no longer wearing the dress she took from the drunk woman. Instead, she was wearing a white long dress. So white she thought she was an angel.


    "You''re no angel," that voice again.


    Bella Lim observed her surroundings. She wanted to find the owner of that voice. That person had been mocking her since she regained her consciousness.


    But first, where was she? Was this heaven? Did she die a noble death that she was now floating in heaven? Yet, was heaven this plain?


    "You don''t need to know where you are. This is neither heaven nor hell,"


    "Who are you?" this time, Bella Lim braved herself to ask. Her tremulous voice reverberated and echoed for quite some time. Actually, she wanted to yell at whoever was speaking to her, but under the circumstances where everything was too bizarre, she needed to be cautious.


    Suddenly, a piercing golden light appeared in the void in front of her. Bella Lim felt that she could really become blind from staring at the light and instantly blocked the view with her palm.


    After some time, she noticed that the intense golden light was getting softer and smaller. Then, the enormous light shrunk into the form of a person. However, there were still waves of golden light emitted around that person which made it difficult for Bella Lim to tell whether this human-like form was a he or a she. However, there was an entity that she thought would fit the view in front of her.


    "God?" she asked with uncertainty. Because, who was she kidding?


    "Oh, you''re not that stupid," mocking again! Bella Lim was furious.


    "You''re not God," she said. The God she knew was kind and loving. For sure, the ruler of the universe would never ridicule her. No matter what!


    "Oh, you''re really not that stupid,"


    Again? Bella Lim felt that this was the last of her endurance. If she was insulted one more time, she was willing to sin by tainting the entity''s pure appearance with a spit.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll not let you sin. It will be a waste of your paragon identity,"


    "What do you mean?" she asked with a baffled expression. Everything that the entity was saying felt like an enigma. What''s a paragon?


    "A paragon identity refers to a pure soul that is untainted with sin while doing their trial on Earth," the entity was kind enough to explain.


    "So?" Bella Lim asked again.


    "You''re given a choice. To be reborn or to live happily in heaven. What is your choice?"


    "Huh? Both, I guess¡­"


    "That''s why you''re dead. You''re too gullible. You wanted to save the man by doing what? Running here and there, torturing yourself with weird body contortion. Then, in the end, you achieve nothing except to die stupidly,"


    "Your brother was your sunshine? Your brother was the most important? Yet, you were willing to save another man and die for him? You''re the epitome of idiocy! I never met an idiot paragon like you."


    [¡­]


    Bella Lim was ridiculed again and again. However, this time around, the effect was not anger but shame.


    Was she that stupid? The more she listened, the more she felt that she was indeed an idiot. But, even if she was an idiot, she would do it again. If there was another chance, she would attempt to save him again but with a better strategy.


    "But your intention was good. That man was your benefactor. Without him, you and your brother would be long dead,"


    Oh, so this entity also knew the reason why she did what she did? Bella Lim began to think better of the ''person'' shrouded in golden light.


    "However, you''re really an idiot. Next time if you encounter a similar situation, you must think first especially when it involves the people that you love. Don''t be impulsive,"


    Yes, of course. She wouldn''t take such a hasty plan again. Eh, what?


    "What-what do you mean by next time?" Bella asked as she adorned a hopeful expression.


    "Didn''t you hear me last time? I said you can choose either to live happily in heaven or to be reborn. And no, you cannot choose both," the entity was really a shrewd one. Bella Lim felt that he or she was making use of every chance to make fun of her.


    "I choose to be reborn," she said without any hesitation. If she could, she would scream the same words until it reached God.


    There was a silence moment until the entity spoke again.


    "Bella Lim, since you died as a paragon, I, the messenger of God hereby announced the verdict of your death. You are hereby to be reborn to the same identity. Also, heaven has granted three compensations due to your unjust death. First, you''ll bring along your work as the manager of Simply Caf¨¦ in your next life. Second, Ryan Lim will retain his current age as a six years old boy. Third, you''ll find out when the time is right. This time, live your life without regret, but remember, kindness will always override evil!"


    Then, the surroundings began to change as Bella Lim lost sight of the entity. Everywhere was a thick color of white which after some time was override by the darkness.


    "What irony¡­" she mumbled before her consciousness shut down.

 Chapter 11 - A second chance to live with no regrets

    "Big sister, wake up!"


    "Big sister, wake up!!"


    "Big sister, wake up!!!"


    Huh!? Bella Lim opened her eyes. She looked around and saw a little boy was tugging on the sleeve of her pajamas. That little boy was her precious little pumpkin.


    Little pumpkin?


    "Little pumpkin!" she woke up and jumped down the bed. She stood a few steps away from little pumpkin who was looking at her in dismay. Her eyelashes flattered several times before she reacted again.


    "Oh, merciful God! thank you for letting me see my little pumpkin again," she said and ran to hug the little boy who was still confused with the weird actions of his big sister.


    "Little pumpkin, I am glad to see you again. Let big sister looks at you. Good, your cheeks are still plump. Good, good¡­ you''re indeed my little pumpkin,"


    Bella Lim kept mumbling when suddenly she let go of little pumpkin and ran to her desk.


    "20 July 20XX" as she announced the date, her eyes grew big. Bella Lim had a habit of crossing the date in the calendar so that it would be easy for her to tell the date for each day. This habit was ingrained in both her mind and body, therefore, the date next to the latest date that was crossed was supposedly today''s date.


    "Little pumpkin, what is today''s date?" she was still in disbelieve.


    "Big sister today is your 21st birthday!" little pumpkin walked closer to his muddled big sister and tugged the edge of her pajamas.


    "Hmm?" Bella Lim was still not on her right mind, but she couldn''t bear to ignore little pumpkin that was looking at her with his signature pleading look.


    "Big sister, are you okay? Can this help you?" little pumpkin said as he held out his left hand with fingers rolled into a ball of cuteness. Then, he revealed the thing that was hidden inside that cute little ball.


    There was a tiny bookmark made from fabric on his palm. Seeing the bookmark, Bella Lim couldn''t contain her bewilderment as she fell on her knees. There was an unexplainable expression on her face.


    That bookmark was little pumpkin''s present on her 21st birthday. Her birthday was celebrated on 20 July every year! Therefore, it was true that today was 20 July 20XX!


    "Happy birthday, big sister!" little pumpkin''s singsong voice rang in Bella Lim''s eardrum like a beautiful symphony.


    Oh God, I truly was reborn! She wasn''t hallucinating!


    "Thank you," she said. With a voice that sounded more like a whisper as she once again pulled her little pumpkin into an embrace. Her hug tightened the more she thought of the things she had gone through.


    "Little pumpkin, how old are you?" she asked after spending a good amount of time to reminisce her past. Her embrace loosened and now her two hands were rested on little pumpkin''s round shoulders.


    "I''m six years old. Big sister, are you okay? You look like you lost something precious," little pumpkin said as his tiny fingers patted Bella Lim''s head. His eyes were staring at her with worry.


    ''Yes, I am. I almost lost you,'' Bella Lim wanted to tell little pumpkin this sentence, but she also understood that this thing was something she should keep to herself.


    "Don''t worry, big sister just had a really bad dream last night. That''s why I look confused. I thought I lose you," she said. In a sense, what she said was true because her ''death'' almost made her lose the opportunity to be with her little pumpkin again.


    Thank God. Thank God she was reborn.


    "Pumpkin, why are you still in your pajama? You should get ready to school while big sister will get ready to go to work," she asked only to meet her precious little pumpkin squeezing eyes.


    "Big sister, have you forgotten? I''m no longer a pre-schooler. I was expelled yesterday because of my fight with Mrs. Ann''s son,"


    "Also, why are you getting ready to work big sister? Yesterday, we promised to go to Mistcoast theme park,"


    Perplexity shone on Bella Lim''s face as she heard what little pumpkin was saying. His grumbles were too cute but the things that he said were making her questioned her sanity.


    "Mistcoast theme park? Why?" she asked with her eyes dazed to the ground. Mistcoast was the main capital of Azure and one of its landmarks was the Mistcoast theme park. The fee to enter this landmark was a hefty sum. Therefore, it was impossible for her to bring little pumpkin there with only her small salary as a barista.


    "Big sister, did you forget again? Yesterday, you told me that today we will celebrate your success at work. Big sister, why do you ask a lot of questions? little pumpkin is tired," little pumpkin pouted. His cheeks puffed as he took a deep breath and released them as if he was letting go of a huge burden.


    "Hehe, my cute little pumpkin is really cute when he''s mad. Alright, go and take a shower. We are going to Mistcoast theme park after this," Bella Lim said. Her face now returned to normal.


    Little pumpkin instantly recovered his earlier liveliness. Then, he urged his big sister to follow him to his bedroom with the reason that he wanted her help to choose a suitable outfit for their outing to Mistcoast theme park.


    Bella Lim was smiling from ear to ear as she followed along with the little boy''s enthusiastic plan. Then, she went back to her room once little pumpkin entered the bathroom.


    She sat on the floor while hugging her knees. At this time, she had a thorough understanding of her situation. She was reborn into her 21 years old''s self. The date on the calendar as well as little pumpkin''s gift confirmed this fact.


    However, if she was 21 years old, little pumpkin should be 4 years old. Moreover, the only time she had brought little pumpkin to Mistcoast theme park was the day after she was promoted as the manager of Simply Caf¨¦.


    So, why?


    Bella Lim was truly puzzled by the current predicament she was in. She stood up and wandered aimlessly inside her room until¡­


    "Ahh!" she exclaimed as she smacked on her left th??h.


    Bella Lim recalled the entity cloaked in golden light and the things he said: First, you''ll bring along your work as the manager of Simply Caf¨¦ in your next life. Second, Ryan Lim will retain his current age as a six years old boy. Third, you''ll find out when the time is right. This time, live your life without regret, but remember, kindness will always override evil!"


    Tears began to accumulate at the corner of her eyes as she wobbled and slumped onto her bed. Now, everything was making sense.


    Bella Lim cried her heart out for she couldn''t explain how grateful she was. Her experience seemed to happen only in fantasy, but now she knew that she wasn''t dreaming. She was given a second chance.


    A second chance to live meaningfully. To live without regret.


    "Thank you," she uttered the two words with utmost sincerity.


    She walked out of her room and saw little pumpkin walked out of his room; he was already dressed in the attire she had picked earlier. Seeing his big eyes that were looking at her with glee, she felt her soul cleansed into something new. Something more meaningful.


    "Little pumpkin, we should live without regret. Okay?" she said with a big smile on her face. Little pumpkin nodded as if he understood what his big sister was saying. Bella Lim giggled as she hugged her precious little pumpkin.


    As for those that caused her death, she would think about them later. Furthermore, wasn''t she reborn two years before the whole thing occurred? She would handle Eric Wu''s matter later. Right now she was only thinking about how she could enjoy the rest of the day with a little pumpkin.

 Chapter 12 - Hiring a composite sketch artist to find someone?

    In one of the private lands in the city, a magnificent villa was built on top of a hill. The design was screaming the now and the future. These contemporary vibes were felt by everyone that had by pure chance or luck saw the marvelous combined handiwork of genius engineers.


    ''Hillside Villa'' was the name of this perfect handiwork.


    In the northwest of the villa laid an infinity and heated swimming pool. On this bright and hot day, a man was seen swimming in freestyle. This had been his twentieth ??ps. Each ??p with different swimming styles and strokes. A ??p of freestyle and now he was doing the combat sidestroke. From the distance, his profile was less visible, less aggressive. However, on a closer look, it was evident that the man''s swimming was at its maximum efficiency.


    By the poolside, stood a man wearing a white oxford paired with a black khaki pant. He was holding a towel and a folded robe on his left hand and a smartphone on the other. This hot weather seemed like a trivial matter to this man as he remained erect without showing any expression.


    This man was the ?ssistant of the man who was swimming in the pool: Tao.


    "President, Director Gun is on the line," Tao reported as he handed the towel to the man who just came out from the swimming pool. Droplets of water fell from his wet body.


    "What does he want?" that man''s toneless and guttural voice was heard. Currently, his appearance was almost n?k?d except his manhood that was covered by his black swimming boxer. The revealed muscular yet defined ?h?st became even more alluring the moment he stretched his body. The feast ended as he wore the robe that was given by the other man.


    "He wants to invite you to a dinner party," Tao answered as he diverted his gaze somewhere. His normal colored cheek gradually became tint in the shade of pink.


    When he saw that the president had put on his robe, he almost let out a sigh. But, he managed to avoid such an embarrassing manner by giving the smartphone that he was holding on his right hand to the president.


    Tao stared at the man in front of him. His eyes were praising the perfect specimen. This was Eric Wu, the CEO of Wu Corporation. The master of the Wu clan! His achievements at the age of 25 were splendid and unparalleled.


    Tao was really proud of his job as Eric Wu''s ?ssistant.


    "Tao¡­" Eric Wu stared at his new ?ssistant. His eyes seemed to be able to read what the other was thinking. Tao shivered and stood as upright as he could. He knew he was in trouble the moment he finished saying his name.


    "You should learn to identify which is important and which isn''t," Eric Wu''s toneless voice resonated into the air. It was serene yet Tao knew that it meant as a warning.


    "I''ll forgive you this time because I know you''re adjusting to this new position,"


    Tao''s premonition of dying due to a freezing heart melted into dust as he blinked in astonishment. He was prepared to receive punishment because he knew this man''s main principle: No nonsense.


    They said this man was heartless and terrifying? Why did I hear a comforting voice just now? He wondered.


    "Tonight, reread your contract. I don''t want anymore mistake,"


    "President, thank you for your benevolence!" he said while reminding himself to be more vigilance in the future.


    No, not the future. He should start right now or else, he might repeat the incident that befell on his predecessor. He remembered when he was called to the president lounge on the exact same day the previous ?ssistant was fired. That ex-assistant''s sorrowful face was still freshly etched into his mind.


    That man was the president''s first ?ssistant, yet he was simply thrown away just like that. Nobody knew why and no one was daring enough to ask. It reminded them that no matter how close you were with the president, you were not irreplaceable.


    Eric Wu was a majestic figure to Tao. As soon as he was hired, Tao had spent every second observing his every move. He was overwhelmed by admiration as he realized that no matter what this man was doing, he was simply flawless.


    Tao thought that he was willing to become gay for this man. However, he also knew he couldn''t because the respect he had for this man were higher than the tallest mountain. Deeper than the deepest ocean.


    Love wasn''t even capable to compare to it!


    "Tao, how about the artist I ask you to find?" Eric Wu asked as he twisted the cap of the water bottle on his hand.


    Tao, who was daydreaming, was quick to become serious again. He confidently replied to Eric Wu''s question.


    "President, I have scheduled a meeting with the artist at 3.30 PM. He promised to arrive at three o''clock," he relayed the news to the president.


    "A composite sketch artist?" Eric Wu asked with an eyebrow arched. The last time Tao brought him an artist; he actually brought an artist famous for abstract arts.


    "Affirmative sir," Tao responded with all his might. This time he wasn''t wrong.


    Eric Wu nodded his head as he patted Tao''s shoulder.


    "Good," he said and walked in even strides toward the villa. This one word had sent Tao flying on a cloud nine.


    Seeing the president walking toward the villa, Tao followed suit. He looked at his watch and noticed that there were fifteen minutes left until the artist''s promised time which was at three o''clock.


    Tao recalled the first day he was summoned for his first task''s briefing. He thought he would be given a difficult task. After finding out that it was to find a composite sketch artist, he was disappointed.


    This was his first mistake which occurred on the first day he acquired the job as Eric Wu''s ?ssistant. In less than 24 hours, he was already called in by the president.


    On the way, Tao thought that the worst thing that could happen was being fired. Yet, after going in, he really felt that being fired was the lightest retribution.


    The ten minutes he was in the president''s office felt like an eternity. Each second sent him into hellish psychological war. This man was an expert in playing with the emotion of his people. His words were few but every move he made almost made Tao lose his consciousness.


    This was Tao''s biggest lesson on how to work under President Eric Wu!


    "President, why are you looking for a composite sketch artist?" Tao who was trailing behind the president asked. He was really curious because the president seemed to value that matter more than his work at the company.


    "To find someone,"


    Tao shook his head understanding, but inside he was really curious about the ''someone'' the president was trying to find.

 Chapter 13 - I want you to sketch a person

    "Hah!"


    A sigh left Eric Wu''s lips as he removed the robe he was wearing and changed into his casual attire.


    He stared at the softly blown curtain with a frown on his face. The scene where a woman was standing at his bedroom''s balcony kept playing inside his mind. Just now, he thought that he actually saw her silhouette staring at the ocean view.


    How long had it been? Ah, he had forgotten because the first time she appeared in his dream, he thought it was just one of those dreams where a man''s fantasy materialized into decent mental pictures.


    Of course, it wasn''t any ??wd dream, but a dream about his lifetime''s soulmate. That was how he felt every time he woke up from that dream.


    Then, when the same dream appeared every night in the span of a week, he could no longer stay calm. That was the reason he was looking for a composite sketch artist. He wanted to produce a portrait of that woman so that he could find her.


    Eric Wu felt like laughing. The more he thought about it, the more he thought that he was going crazy. He stared at his mirror image and once again sigh.


    It seemed that he was really affected by those dreams. Eric Wu stroke his unruly hair impatiently when suddenly, he heard a series of knock on his bedroom door.


    "President, the artist is here. I''ve asked him to wait in the study room," Tao said. His serious manner was capable of fooling people thinking that he was a rigid worker. Eric Wu stared at his ?ssistant without commenting.


    "President, should I ask him to wait?" Tao asked after seeing that the president wasn''t making a move.


    Eric Wu noticed that Tao''s serious manner was now gone. He appeared like a clumsy yet honest kind of person. However, he liked this kind of guy because he was easy to mold into someone he could trust, unlike his previous ?ssistant.


    "Let''s go," Eric Wu finally walked out of the room. Tao walked behind him. Their destination was the study room on the first floor.


    Inside the study room, a man who was looking outside the transparent wall turned around the moment he heard footsteps behind him.


    "President Eric," the man called in recognition. He sounded overwhelmed. The moment he came, Tao had escorted him to this study room and while walking, all he could do was gawking at every little thing that he saw.


    Both outside and inside were a show-off of the architects as well as the engineers'' brilliance.


    "Mr. Yang, thank you for coming," Eric Wu greeted the man with his professional smile. Mr. Yang who was overwhelmed felt his shoulder relax. He stared at the man in front of him and silently praised for his politeness.


    Mr. Yang wasn''t a well-known artist. In fact, he was no longer active in the industry. Therefore, when Tao told him that his president needed his help, he was completely shocked.


    "President Eric, you''re too polite," Mr. Yang gave a dry laugh as he looked at the tall man beside him. This was his first time meeting the famous President Eric and he must say he was impressed. This man probably had the natural disposition to make other''s feel intimidated but at the same time, his words and mannerism told him that he was treating him with respect.


    "Just call me Eric, Mr. Yang. This work isn''t related to the company. It''s a personal matter," Eric Wu explained as he could detect the awkwardness in Mr. Yang''s voice. The other could only laugh while pondering if he could do it or not. In the end, he couldn''t.


    "Eh..Mr. Eric, how does my skill could help?" Mr. Yang asked as he walked together with the man towards the center where they could take a rest from standing.


    "I hope Mr. Yang could sketch someone for me," Eric Wu said. His dulcet tone made others who listen thought that he trusted their abilities. That was how Mr. Yang felt at the moment.


    He had his own guess on why he was invited to this isolated villa, but now that he listened to the man''s request, he was beyond excited and almost said yes. Thankfully, his many years of experience had helped him taking control of his impulsiveness.


    "I believe my ?ssistant had informed you about the payment. If it isn''t to your liking, I''m open for discussion," Eric Wu spoke again. He didn''t want to wait anymore. This matter should be settled as soon as he could. It was true that Mr. Yang wasn''t a famous artist but Eric Wu knew that he once worked as a police sketch artist. That was one of the reasons why he wanted Tao to invite this man.


    "That-that payment was a huge sum. I think it really is," Mr. Yang hurriedly spoke. If that man added more money, he was afraid his ability wasn''t deserving of it.


    "I see. If there is no more issue, I hope we can start right now," Eric Wu said and unconsciously smiled. He couldn''t deny he was excited.


    This smile of him stunned the onlookers, especially Tao because he knew based on rumors and his own experience that this man never smiled a smile as sincere as what he just witnessed.


    Tao was really curious as to what made this handsome man showed such a smile today.


    "Sure Mr. Eric! I''m ready to begin. Could you describe that person? Let''s start with his or her facial features," Mr. Yang with the ?ssistant of Tao was already sitting in front of a canvas. He was just waiting for Eric Wu to help him picturized this ''someone''.


    "It''s her," Eric Wu stated.


    Tao, who was helping to prepare Mr. Yang''s sketching tools had his mouth agape. Even Mr. Yang had his action frozen in time. These two people looked at each other before silently pretended that they heard nothing.


    This was shocking news! If the media heard of this, his president definitely blew all the media outlets in just a mere second. The whole country would definitely try to uncover who was the woman that made President Eric invite a sketch artist into his house.


    "Can-can you describe this lady, Mr. Eric?" Mr. Yang was still shocked so the stutter. Tao who was standing beside him was kind enough to give him a pat of encouragement with a complicated face.


    "President, before we start can I ask a question?" Tao suddenly interrupted. He tried to remain unaffected by the sudden info drop. But, he just couldn''t!


    Eric Wu didn''t speak anything as he merely glanced at his ?ssistant. No matter how scary he was in other people''s view, he actually wasn''t someone that would be rude enough to stop other''s from talking.


    "Is this woman beautiful?" Tao asked.


    Eric Wu was actually startled at this question, but his face remained expressionless with only a small furrow on his forehead.


    "Hmm," he reacted. "Mr. Yang will let us know," he added. Tao could only shake his head the moment he understood what the president meant.


    "Mr. Eric, if you please¡­" Mr. Yang didn''t finish his sentence for he saw Eric Wu nodded knowingly the moment he spoke.

 Chapter 14 - Where can we find such a beautiful lady?

    Then, Eric Wu began to describe the woman in his dream.


    The first thing he spoke about was her eyes. The unforgettable color blue to the straight, pointed nose that seemed to complement the beautiful pink lips she had. The volume was adequate for every time she smiled, it seemed that everything else would brighten up. Her oval-shaped face was perfectly highlighted by her naturally wavy-black hair. Everything shone like her delicate skin which freed from impurities.


    Eric Wu tried not to be too illustrative. He was tempted to say how exquisite she looked when she stared far away and how tempted he was to request her to stay in her slightly dazed face. Everything that she did in his dream made him doubt that she was someone from this world. How could someone look so beautiful in everything?


    "Erm, president?" Eric Wu immediately looked up when he heard his ?ssistant''s voice.


    "Is it done?" he asked and looked at Mr. Yang whose eyes seemed unable to separate from the canvas in front of him.


    "President, I don''t know if we can find this person," Tao said in disbelieve. Eric Wu instantly frowned.


    "I mean, does this person really exist? She looks¡­ surreal?" Tao''s helpless voice caused the frown on Eric Wu''s forehead to deepen. Finally, he rose from his seat and moved towards them. He stood behind and looked at the canvas.


    Tao referred the sketch as surreal, but right now, Eric Wu felt that this dream of his was becoming real.


    At the same time, he applauded Mr. Yang''s skills because even though the sketch was unfinished, every detail that he spoke of was drawn perfectly.


    "Mr. Yang, nice drawing. When can I receive the finished product?" he asked.


    Mr. Yang was startled. He was too engrossed with his own sketch that his sense of hearing dulled. He immediately stood up and looked at the poised man standing behind him.


    "This- Mr. Eric, I hope you can give me three days. I promise I will present a perfect portrait by then," he said without noticing that he was clenching his hands. He was really determined to finish this sketch! Even though he wasn''t certain whether this person really exists, but this was by far the most beautiful sketch he had drawn.


    "Then, I''ll see you in three days," Eric Wu said.


    "Sure. Mr. Tao can fetch the drawing at my house," Mr. Yang replied. His eyes were showing anticipation in the coming three days. He didn''t notice the intended meaning in Eric Wu''s sentence.


    "Mr. Yang, President Eric hopes that you could deliver the portrait by yourself. By then, we''ll have a little celebration here," Tao giggled as he saw Mr. Yang''s blank look.


    "A celebration?" he asked in bewilderment.


    "Yes," Tao nodded.


    "But why? I am getting paid a lot of money. I get to draw this beautiful art. What''s the need for a celebration?" Mr. Yang asked.


    "This-" Tao was speechless. Thankfully, the president came to the rescue.


    "Mr. Yang, it''s to celebrate our successful cooperation. But, if you think that it''s inconvenient, we can cancel it. I will just add another sum to the payment," Eric Wu explained. This was his way of showing gratitude. If the other person was unwilling, he was fine with it.


    "Ahh, there''s such a treatment? Then, I''ll gladly accept it," Mr. Yang was finally enlightened. He couldn''t help but stare at Eric Wu in admiration.


    "The celebration or the additional fee?" Tao asked with an amusing look. Mr. Yang was confused when he finally insisted on the first one.


    Tao giggled after seeing the poor Mr. Yang''s response. Eric Wu could only shake his head at his ?ssistant''s antic.


    Not long after, it was time for Mr. Yang to leave the villa. Tao was accompanying him to his car. Along the way, they were gossiping about the villa''s owner.


    "Mr. Tao, is President Eric really like what the outside world described him to be?" Mr. Yang asked.


    "Yes," Tao answered. His voice was certain.


    "But he was so nice earlier. Are you sure?"


    "As long as you are doing your role well, the president will never turn evil on you," Tao said.


    "I see. What if I screwed up just now?" Mr. Yang asked, but shivered the moment he said it.


    "Then, you''ll become another story for the outside world," Tao said and shrugged his shoulder at the same time.


    Mr. Yang beamed after listening to the evocative response from Tao. He left the villa with a substantial expression on his face.


    Inside the villa, Eric Wu was still in the study room, casually sitting on a couch. The whole room was somber, a reflection of Eric Wu''s current emotion. Although, it was difficult to tell what he was thinking about, for his face wasn''t giving away any clue.


    The solemn atmosphere was interrupted by the ringing sound of his personal phone. When he saw the caller''s ID, he answered.


    "Grandpa," he called.


    "Grandson, grandpa is back! Tonight, I''ll attend your uncle''s dinner party and I want you to come too," an enthusiastic voice could be heard from the phone''s built-in speaker. His tone loving yet demanding at the same time.


    Hearing his grandpa''s voice, Eric Wu could feel a headache coming. He automatically used his thumb and his other finger to massage his temples. A soft sigh left his lips.


    "Grandpa, what kind of tour last only for three days?" he asked.


    Three days ago, he had personally sent his grandpa to the Azure International Airport for his one-month tour program. He persuaded the old man to use their private jet, but he adamantly refused.


    Eventually, Eric Wu conceded to his request after making sure that all the bodyguards were given a crash-course to handle any type of emergencies.


    Now, not even a week, this grandpa of his announced his return.


    "Hahaha, grandson, I met an old friend of mine. He is visiting our country with his daughter, so I return with them. I have invited them to your uncle''s dinner party,"


    "Hmm," Eric Wu sighed as he finally knew about his grandpa''s real intention. The headache was now beginning to consume his brain cells because he was really helpless when dealing with his grandpa''s enthusiasm to become his cupid.


    Yes, Wu Tianyao: The retired master of the Wu Clan, as well as Eric Wu''s grandfather, was for sure trying to hook him up with someone else''s daughter again.


    If there was a man Eric Wu couldn''t bear to offend, it would be his grandpa. All this while, he had shooed away all the women introduced to him with his indifferent and cold demeanor. It seemed that it was time to adopt this personality again.


    "Hah¡­" the grandson could only sigh.


    "Make sure to come. I don''t want to see Lu Fei appear as a replacement," the grandpa gave him a warning. Eric Wu felt his ears reddened the moment his best friend''s name was mention. He had truly forgotten that he had that one friend who was willing to become a scapegoat.


    "And don''t send Sun Nan either. Those troublemakers will only make things worse," the grandpa complained. Once again, Eric Wu was ecstatic. Sun Nan was his other friend and a good scapegoat as well.


    "Sure," he gave a reply with his lips curved. Tonight, these troublemakers needed to help him. Eric Wu got up from the couch, laughing.


    Tao who just entered the villa felt a chill on his spine. He shivered not knowing why his body reacted so.

 Chapter 15 - Transfer 1000 AD and Ill go

    In the Countryside, Bella Lim and her little pumpkin had just returned after creating happy memories at Mistcoast theme park.


    Little pumpkin fell asleep as soon as he took his shower. He didn''t even manage to wear his pants properly. Therefore, the big sister was the one who helped to fix the problem.


    Bella Lim stared at the precious little pumpkin who was now sleeping on his bed. His snoring made her lips cracked into an amusing smile. Today was a joyous moment for the two of them.


    To little pumpkin, it was because he finally had the chance to visit Mistcoast theme park, while Bella Lim took it as the moment of gratitude. She was celebrating her new given life.


    To be reborn means to encounter similar life events again. However, Bella Lim realized that there were also certain things that weren''t exactly like what she had experienced before.


    Still, that wasn''t something she should be worried about because there was something much more meaningful in going through the process. She learned how to appreciate everything no matter how big or small it was. That was what she did the whole day today and it gave her a sense of accomplishment.


    Bella Lim smiled as she recalled little pumpkin''s happy face the moment he set foot on Mistcoast theme park. Memories after memories flashed in her eyes when suddenly her phone rang. She immediately left the room as not to interrupt little pumpkin''s sleep.


    "Boss?" she said as soon as she answered the phone call. She was surprised when the name Jordan Lee appeared on the screen. She wondered over the purpose of this phone call.


    Now was already 6 PM which meant the caf¨¦ was already closed, so why did he call her? She understood her employer well, this person would never call his workers out of working hours. A trait that she really appreciated.


    "Bella, you must help me tonight," Jordan Lee''s worried voice was the one she first noticed.


    "What happened?" she asked. Deep down she was trying to recall if a similar event had occurred in her past life and found that no such incident happened. Tonight supposed to be free from outside disturbance.


    "Do you remember when I talked to you about the expansion plan?" Jordan Lee asked.


    "Yes," Bella Lim answered without delay.


    "I also talked about rebranding. Do you recall?" hearing so many questions, Bella Lim thought that this man was testing her memory.


    "Yes, I recall," she answered. At the same time, an urge to throw a bucket of cold water on him so that he would speak faster emerged in her mind.


    Regarding his questions, she indeed remembered their talk about expanding and rebranding Simply Caf¨¦. The boss mentioned that his cousin was a powerful man and with his help, he had the opportunity to rebrand his caf¨¦ and become the chain of one of the most famous caf¨¦s in the country; The Exquisite.


    "We scored!" Jordan Lee suddenly spoke in a loud voice causing Bella Lim to almost let go of her phone due to the shock.


    "Congratulations?" she wasn''t sure how to react. First, because she was never involved in the process. Their conversation about the expansion and rebranding was also one-sided in which she never got the chance to express her opinion. Not that she was against the idea.


    "Thank you," Jordan Lee said. He was a man that didn''t shy away from a compliment.


    "So, tonight the director that was in charge to oversee the selection has invited all the candidates to a dinner party,"


    Bella Lim sneered as she was annoyed by Jordan Lee''s lack of urgency. He should be taught how to talk straightforwardly. Besides, what did he meant by selection and candidates? Didn''t he just mention about scoring the deal


    "Bella Lim, I want you to represent Simply Caf¨¦," the man spoke again however this time he was dropping a bomb onto her.


    Bella Lim was truly shocked at this sudden twist. For all she knew, the boss would never let her attend any gathering, meeting, etc. It was he who often attend all the social gatherings.


    Plus, she was someone who lived solely for the sake of her little family''s survival. Socializing wasn''t really her forte. Bella Lim was going to refuse but was interrupted by her boss instead.


    "You must go! I rely on you to score a spot for Simply Caf¨¦. The truth is, the rebranding is still not confirmed. We are only one of the twelve candidates that applied to become a chain caf¨¦ of The Exquisite,"


    "Tonight, each representative will present their proposal. Sharing what they could offer to the development of The Exquisite. I want to go but the more I think about it, you''re more knowledgeable about Simply Caf¨¦. You know its strengths more than I do. This is embarrassing to talk but I have to admit, you''re more qualified," Jordan Lee elaborated explanation made everything clear. It seemed that he was really hoping for Bella Lim to go.


    However, she wasn''t persuaded, instead, she was angry. This man deserved a beating.


    "Boss, I understand your concern, but the event is tonight, and I only find out now, how do you expect me to go about the presentation? If I fail, will you blame me? Is this one of the cases where you''re empty-handed again?" she complained while at the same time hitting the man''s nasty truth.


    Bella Lim almost fell for the part where Jordan Lee talked about how she knows more about Simply Caf¨¦ than him. The truth was, this man simply letting go of his responsibilities. There were many incidents in the past where she fell for the same tricks. Even more infuriating, this heartless man would use it as leverage to increase her working hours or to deduct her salary.


    Bella Lim wished she had said each word in front of Jordan Lee. His reaction must be sour than a lemon.


    "Bella, you shouldn''t say that. You''re the only senior at Simply Caf¨¦, you should also take some responsibility. No?" Jordan Lee''s voice suddenly became soft. But, Bella Lim could imagine his irate face.


    "Sure, I will help," she replied.


    "Really?" the man was elated.


    "Of course, as you said, I indeed know more about the caf¨¦ than you do. However, I will only go if you cover the expenses. Send me 1000 AD after this. 500 AD for me to buy a dress and other essentials as well as for transport. 250 AD for me to hire a nanny to take care of my brother. The other 250 is to pay for my hour," she said.


    "Yes or no?" she pressed on. Either way, she wouldn''t let the man controlled her!


    "This-" Jordan Lee hesitated. He felt like cursing the woman. However, what she said was also the truth. He was indeed unprepared despite knowing about the dinner a month earlier.


    "I will send the money to you, but I hope you''ll not fail. Or else I''ll ask for a double repayment," he said with gritted teeth.


    "Boss, if you threaten me like this, I will not go. You still have Daniel, Lily, Elis and yourself. Pick your choice," Bella Lim said as a matter of fact. If the man thought that threatening her would work, he could only keep dreaming!


    "You! Sure, I''ll just think of it as if investing in the caf¨¦. Regardless of the result, you don''t have to pay me back," Jordan Lee''s strangled voice almost caused Bella Lim to erupt into laughter. Serve him right!


    "Thank you, Mr. Jordan. May I know where the dinner is?" she asked.


    "Hmm- it''s at Gun Raymond''s estate. Be there at 8!" Jordan Lee said and then hang up.


    This rude act, however, didn''t make Bella Lim angry. She was seen smiling because the 1000 AD she had asked for had been transferred to her account number.


    Now, she just needed to ask Lily to come to her house and help to look after little pumpkin. Then, she would ride her bike to the city to doll herself. She knew a boutique that could help with her dress and makeup. Thankfully, Gun Raymond''s estate was not far. With her bike, she could reach there within 30 minutes from the boutique.


    Bella Lim looked at her watch and noticed that she only had one and a half-hour left to prepare.


    She immediately dialed Lily''s number.

 Chapter 16 - To the dinner party (Part 1)

    In the past, Bella Lim was indeed lacking friend, but there were some people that she had a good relationship with. Lily was one of those people.


    Their friendship started when she recruited her to work with Simply Caf¨¦. This woman had been living quite a wild, dangerous life and Bella Lim was the one that pulled her back to reality.


    "Bella, what''s up?" Lily''s breathy voice entered her ear. The sound was like someone who just ran a marathon.


    "Sis, are you busy?" Bella Lim asked. She called her with respect as Lily was three years older than her. Even though, the other often treat her like she was the older one.


    "Right now? Well, you could say that. I-I''m with my boyfriend,"


    Bella Lim''s lips formed into an O the moment she heard Lily''s response. The slight hesitation in her voice told her that the woman must be blushing. So, the breathy, shaky voice could probably mean that they were just doing that?


    Bella Lim couldn''t help but think perversely.


    "Why did you call me?" Lily asked. Her voice was now clear and raspy. This voice of hers was quite seductive. An attribute that probably caused men to feel weak on their knees.


    "I''m calling if you can help look after my brother. Boss sends me for an errand tonight," Bella Lim explained, while at the same time praying that Lily wouldn''t reject her, especially knowing that she was with her boyfriend.


    The time she had was very limited. If Lily couldn''t make it, who would she ask for help?


    Hopefully, the bonus she was about to offer would ignite her willingness.


    "Jordan did? That''s weird. I''ll help, but¡­ can it be after 8? I need a good excuse to chase my boyfriend away. Nowadays I don''t have time to look for men. I was quite lucky to fish this one. You should know how I feel about having no man," there was a chuckle at the end.


    Bella Lim twitched when she heard her response. She couldn''t decipher Lily''s perception of a relationship. To her, men were replaceable. Like changing clothes!


    "250 AD," Bella Lim stated.


    "What?"


    "I''m in a pinch. The dinner party is at 8. I''ll pay you 250 AD if you could come now," Finally, Bella Lim used her trump card. She understood Lily well. This woman was indeed a playboy, but money was even more important to her.


    She recalled their conversation once in which Lily referred to money as a potent drug. Without it, she couldn''t survive.


    This was upsetting. If she didn''t know that Lily was saying it as a joke, she probably had arranged a counseling session for her.


    Actually, Bella Lim was worried about Lily. She was afraid that Lily''s dogma would turn against her in the future. She secretly promised to expose Lily to the opposite coin of her dogma. Who knows that one day she would fall in love for real?


    "250 AD?" she heard Lily repeated the offer she mentioned previously. Then¡­


    "Holy sh*t 250 AD! I''m in. I''ll be there in ten,"


    Bella Lim''s lips curled to a cunning smile. The bait had proven its cogency.


    "How about your boyfriend?" she asked. Even though she already knew that with the offer she made, Lily probably would ditch her boyfriend right away.


    "Nah, I just met him today. I''m fine without him. Okay, I''m hanging up. See you in ten!" said Lily and the phone call ended. Bella Lim could only laugh as she went to her room and took her jacket.


    Exactly ten minutes later, Lily was already in Bella Lim''s house.


    "Sis, thank you for coming," Bella Lim couldn''t be more thankful. Even though Lily was lured by money, the fact that she was willing to help was enough to tell that she was a kind person. Moreover, she already expressed her zeal before the talk of money came up.


    "With 250 AD, anyone will be willing to help," Lily grinned as she went to peek on little pumpkin. There was a content smile on her face when she watched the little boy sleeping peacefully.


    "Little Ryan is as cute as ever," Lily adored as she closed the bedroom door.


    "He is. I''m grateful he is," Bella Lim agreed as her eyes showed unfathomable gratitude. Lily stared at her for a while. For a moment, she felt that Bella Lim was talking about something else.


    "Sis, will you be okay if I leave now? Is there anything you need?"


    "No, nothing. Don''t worry, I''ll treat this as my house," Lily shook her head as she walked to the fridge and took a bottle of water. She drank some of it and scowled at Bella who was still in the house.


    Seeing the woman trying so much to show that she would do fine on her own, Bella Lim chuckled and then waved goodbye.


    Before leaving she said: "Thank you, sis. I''ll transfer the money to you soon. Take care of little pumpkin and the house!"


    Then, she left the house and directly went to her bike. She managed a glance at the watch on her wrist.


    7 PM. Another one hour before 8 PM. Seeing the time that was getting shorter, anxiety was trying to consume Bella Lim''s calmness. She bit her lips to retain clarity of mind. It seemed that even after being reborn, she was still easy to get panic!


    To save time, Bella Lim decided to call the boutique, so that they could prepare things beforehand. If it was any other boutique, this rush appointment would probably get rejected but not at this boutique. The reason because it was owned by someone she knew well.


    After receiving ?ssurance from the boutique that everything would be prepared before she arrived, Bella Lim hit the road with her bike at full speed. If she went for her normal speed, it would take at least 25 minutes to reach there. She really didn''t have much time, hence she released the skill she had learned a long time ago. It took her only 15 minutes to reach the boutique!


    While on the road she also thought of what to say for the presentation. First, she needed to understand the crux behind The Exquisite''s successfulness. She remembered that this caf¨¦ was newly launched. Yet, the wave it created was massive. Despite being an expensive caf¨¦, its customers were not only the rich but also the common folks.


    Bella Lim felt that these could be the answer and yet she felt that these weren''t. She could only hold onto the thought when she saw the entrance of the stand-alone, two floors building of the boutique. She noticed the sign ''closed'' was already being put up.


    She paid no heed to the notice as she pushed the door opened and entered the boutique. The moment she entered, she saw a man who was holding a few dresses was walking down the stairs.

 Chapter 17 - To the dinner party (Part 2)

    "D," Bella Lim called.


    D saw her and a warm smile decorated his face. He increased his pace and walked towards Bella Lim.


    "Bell, long time no see," D''s wheezy voice was followed by a hug.


    "How are you?" he asked with a concerned look on his face.


    D was Bella Lim''s high school classmate and best friend. They rarely meet but often in contact. He was the one that invited Bella Lim to stay at country Azure after finding out about her situation at Kastache, a sprawling country, known for its nightlife.


    "I''m good, thanks to you," Bella Lim chuckled. Her eyes began to wet for memories of the past started to emerge in her mind.


    "Girl, you better not cry. You have a dinner to attend to," D quickly pacify the emotional atmosphere as he glared at Bella Lim, warning her not to carry on with the mushy act.


    The other scowled as she wiped the tears that never dropped.


    "Is it possible to prep me in 20 minutes. I''m chasing bullet," Bella Lim stared at D who soon frowning at her request.


    "Well, if you don''t mind me torturing you," the man replied and laughed when he saw the consecutive winks from Bella, granting him permission to do as he like.


    "Alright," D grinned as he pushed her to a changing room. Then, he instructed her to change into the dresses he had prepared.


    That was the beginning of the torture.


    Bella Lim followed everything that D had planned for her including listening to his endless complained about her skin and hair.


    "Bell, why is your skin so dry!?"


    "Why is your hair like this?! Omg, the split end is beyond horrible!"


    "Girl please learn basic grooming. The bushes of your eyebrows need a fence!"


    "Gosh, you gave me a scare," D heaved a sigh as he led Bella in front of a mirror.


    "Tadaaaa...how is it? Satisfied?" he asked with a smug on his face. His expression basically said ''praise me!''


    Bella Lim looked at her reflection and was surprised to see her transformation. Her lips parted in astonishment.


    She leaned closer so that she could see the details of her make-up. The first thing she noticed was her neat eyebrow. It was no longer ''bushy'' as mentioned by D earlier. Her long hair which usually a mess was still ''messy'' but proper and shining beautifully.


    Still, the thing that surprised her the most was her body proportion. She knew she was petite, however, she wasn''t aware of how alluring she looked after dolling up.


    "Bell, you could be prettier you know. Just pay attention to your nutrition. You''re too skinny. Thank God you''re given quite a body. Your bust, as well as your booty, really accentuate that thin waist you have,"


    "T-thank you," Bella Lim looked at D bashfully.


    D was really the type of friend that would speak anything in his mind. She hoped he toned it down a little. To hear someone discussed her body openly was totally beyond what she could contain.


    "You''re welcome but you really need to practice good skincare routine after this. I''ll send you some samples that you can try, and please take good care of your hair. That''s your crown!"


    "Now go and have a blast at the party. Break a leg!"


    Bella Lim smiled helplessly after listening to D''s advises. However, she still took notes on D''s quick lesson on skincare and grooming. Besides, after being reborn, she realized that she needed to take care of herself before she could really take care of others.


    "I''m going. Thank you again," she said before walking out of the boutique. She removed the heels she was wearing and put it inside the small compartment space on the bike. To ride a bike, she needed comfortable footwear, therefore, she wore her sneaker. Next, she carefully lifted her dress and hopped on the bike.


    Bella Lim had purposely chosen the dress with a peekaboo slit so that she could ride on her bike. She recalled that when she chose the dress, D was rejoicing as he said that this dress was perfect on her and made her looked like a ''dangerous'' woman. She wondered over the meaning of what he said.


    Nope. She had no clue what he was talking about.


    "Huh! Alright, time is of the essence," Bella Lim breathed out strongly before she put on her jacket as well as the helmet. She was geared up and ready to conquer the road!


    Thirty minutes later, she was relieved to see the entrance to Gun Raymond''s estate only to be shocked at the long-winded road that leads to the main house.


    While at the boutique, Jordan Lee had sent the map of Gun Raymond''s estate which indicated that the dinner would take place at the main house. The map was simple and uncomplicated. She really thought it would be easy to go to the venue once she entered the area. Alas, she had to swallow her words back.


    Rich people really love to create trouble for themselves!


    Bella Lim braked when a security guard signaled her to stop.


    "Miss, what business do you have here?" the security guard was looking at her suspiciously.


    "Sir, I am attending a dinner party at the main house," she explained after lifting the visor of her helmet, revealing only her eyes and lips.


    "Do you have the QR code?" the security asked.


    "Yes," Bella Lim gave her phone with the QR code on the screen. It was sent by Jordan Lim earlier together with the map.


    The security guard scanned the QR code on a scanner and when he confirmed the validity of the QR code, his suspicious look disappeared from his face.


    "You may enter," the security guard said. Bella Lim took her phone as she rode on her bike again towards the main house where the dinner was taking place.


    Halfway towards the main house, suddenly, a warning sign flashed on the screen in front of her. Then, the motorbike started to jerk before it completely stopped.


    Bella Lim was cursing internally when she realized the main issue.


    Her motorbike ran out of gas!


    "Really? I just fill you up!" She hopped down and kicked on the brake pedal. Then, she removed her helmet and shook her head to let her hair fell into place.


    Bella Lim crouched down as she could smell gasoline in the air. That was when she discovered that her motorbike was leaking oil!


    "Seriously?" her gaze narrowed as she stomped her right feet angrily on the ground.


    She didn''t realize that a black car was slowing down and finally stopped behind her.

 Chapter 18 - The woman with her motorbike

    Thirty minutes ago...


    "Bro, let me drive instead. You''re a turtle, fu?k?n? turtle!" Sun Nan screamed from the back seat. His head popped at the space between the driver and passenger seats. He kept glaring at the man with glasses who sat in the driver seat.


    "Shut up. I''ll crash this car if you keep yelling!" the bro spoke as he used his right hand to shove Sun Nan back to his seat.


    "Eric bro, please talk some sense to this turtle! My bu?? crying from sitting too long," Sun Nan was now trying to persuade the man sitting on the passenger seat.


    Eric Wu, the one being referred to, stared at Sun Nan with a narrowed gaze.


    "This road has a speed limit of 80 per hour," he said with his usual toneless voice. His serious response made the driver crack into laughter, pestering Sun Nan via the front mirror.


    "Shit! Who cares about the speed limit? The party is about to start. I''m fu?k?n? curious about your new woman," Sun Nan scowled.


    "Who knows if she is to my taste? I''m all game to become your scapegoat," he added. His eyes shone with excitement at the thought of meeting the new woman.


    "Said the man who never scored a woman," the driver smirked. Once again taunting on Sun Nan whose face was now showing intense vexation.


    "Lu Fei, I warn you now. Don''t you dare use your ''studious'' look to seduce my woman! That thing fu?k?n? annoying!" Sun Nan said. His shoulder shivered as he showed a deliberate nauseating look on his face.


    "Who''s your woman? What if Eric actually likes that woman? Will you still dare to be smitten by her?" Lu Fei asked as he skilfully turned the steering wheel. They were now entering the road towards Gun Raymond''s estate.


    "That¡­wheeewwww~ I''ll rather become a monk," Sun Nan whistled as the tail of his eyes peeked on Eric Wu who seemed unbothered with their conversation. He shivered the moment he thought about seducing Eric Wu''s woman. Whoever she would be, he wouldn''t dare.


    "Well, at least you know," Lu Fei chuckled as he gracefully pushed the bridge of his glasses. Sun Nan saw this and instantly became enraged.


    "See, see! Eric bro, did you see that? That is the ''studious'' look I''m talking about. I don''t know why but women keep falling knees when he does that. Why don''t they fall for me? I''m thousand way more handsome than this man," Sun Nan grumbled and wh?n?d at the same time.


    "Do you really want to know why?" Eric Wu suddenly asked. The corner of his lips curled to an attractive angle.


    "Enlighten me, bro," Sun Nan asked with pure interest. Even Lu Fei was giving side glance now and then.


    "Because you''re acting like a woman yourself," Eric Wu said.


    The moment he said it, Lu Fei chuckled and gradually it turned to laughter. He understood the connotation, unlike Sun Nan who displayed a confused expression on his face.


    "Bro, this mortal failed to understand your scholarly remark. If you need proof of my manhood, I''m willing to strip here," Sun Nan glared at Lu Fei who was still laughing and then focused on Eric Wu who was looking at him, frowning.


    "Lu Fei, tell him," he said and then focused his eyes on the road. He decided to ignore the two who often act like a cat seeing a dog. Well, it was obvious Sun Nan was the cat.


    His eyes bored on the road when he noticed the presence of a motorbike not far from their car. It was making a jerking motion before it finally comes to a full stop. He saw the biker jumped down from the motorbike. Probably was angered, he kicked it.


    No, it was a she!


    Eric Wu made a mental correction the moment he saw the biker removed his helmet. The long wavy hair flew in the air before they rested on her shoulder. The sheer movement of her head made him frowned. His curiosity was piqued.


    "Lu Fei, tell me which part of my speech sounded like a woman? I''m fu?k?n? talking like a manly dude, you-"


    "Drop the speed,"


    Both Lu Fei and Sun Nan instantly became mute when Eric Wu opened his mouth to speak. His urgent voice made Lu Fei quickly slowed down.


    "What is it?" he asked. Sun Nan''s head was poking further to the front. Eric Wu didn''t say anything but both the other men trailed the direction of his eyes.


    "What is this fu?k?n? motorbike doing in the middle of the road?! Lu Fei hit that thing!" Sun Nan was the first to respond among the two.


    "Shh," Lu Fei reprimanded the fussy man in the middle.


    "You- deyyymmmm, bros, a woman! A woman is riding a bike. This scene is too fu?k?n? hot!" Sun Nan''s eyes were now bulging, almost leaving its secured place.


    "Shh," Lu Fei elbowed Sun Nan''s shoulder as he dropped the speed to another lower gear.


    "Bro?" he looked at Eric Wu who signaled him to stop. He obediently did so. Even Lu Fei had his curiosity piqued. He stopped the car not far from the motorbike. Seeing only the back view of the woman, Lu Fei''s suggestive mind told him that this belonged to a pretty woman.


    "Let''s-" Eric Wu was about to speak, but was beaten by Sun Nan''s impatient act. He lowered down the car window and said: "Pretty lady, what happened? Let this gentleman help you,"


    The moment he said that the three gentlemen saw the woman instantly put on her helmet back.


    A frown instantly appeared on Eric Wu''s face while Lu Fei slaps his forehead before glaring at the man who shamelessly flirted with the woman outside.


    "This-" Lu Fei looked at Eric Wu, waiting for his words.


    "Let Sun Nan handle the matter," Eric Wu sighed as he looked outside. Lu Fei had a complicated expression on his face.


    ''Bro, at least roll down the car window,'' he pleaded inside his mind; knowing that voicing out would mean nothing since the man had no intention to do so.


    At this time, Bella Lim''s furious mind calmed down the moment she heard a voice from behind. She didn''t know why she put on her helmet back. She turned around slowly and saw a car was parked in front of her.


    Bella Lim inspected the car with her eyes and concluded that it belonged to some rich man. The noiseless engine was an advanced technology that presents in every expensive car. These types of cars could only be bought by those with thick wallets.


    Then, she noticed that the car was parked really close to her. If the man sitting in the passenger seat opened the door, she would get hit.


    Bella Lim decided to step back in case such a thing happened.


    Seeing her stepping back, Lu Fei warned Sun Nan to speak nicely. He thought the lady was scared off by Sun Nan''s flirtatious greeting a while ago.

 Chapter 19 - A comedic skit

    "Pretty lady, do you have a problem with your motorbike? Need help?" Sun Nan pointed his finger to the motorbike behind the woman wearing a helmet.


    Bella Lim looked to her right where Sun Nan''s half-figure could be seen. She didn''t recognize him and guessed that he probably was the young master of a rich family who was also invited to the dinner party.


    "My bike is leaking oil," she explained. However, because of the helmet plus her low voice, it was almost inaudible. For some reason, Bella Lim felt that she was losing her voice.


    Sun Nan who was the closest had to stretch his neck to listen. He asked again and the other would reply the same. The comedic scene repeated twice. By this time, Bella Lim had long forgotten that she was still wearing a helmet.  On the other hand, Sun Nan thought that the other probably had vocal issues. He even used signal language to ask what she was talking about but the other just shrugged her shoulder off.


    Well, Sun Nan wasn''t aware that his signal language looked like a series of horrible body language! No one could understand what he was trying to convey.


    Meanwhile, the people inside the car were now angered by the stupid skit they were witnessing. Since Eric Wu didn''t lower down the window car, Lu Fei thought that he was watching a muted movie.


    "Sun Nan,"


    "Yes bro!" as if being awoken, Sun Nan immediately respond to Eric Wu''s cold voice.


    "Eric bro, I think this pretty lady has a vocal problem. Could it be that she is mute?" he asked while looking at the woman that was still standing outside.


    "Just sit down," the voice was aggravated. Eric Wu turned just to stare at Sun Nan who instantly making the zipping lips gesture, the moment their eyes met.


    ''Why?'' Sun Nan mouthed and stared at Lu Fei with widened eyes.


    "It''s the two of you that have a problem!" Lu Fei scoffed when suddenly his eyes caught movement on the seat beside him. His eyes twitched when he noticed what Eric Wu was doing. The man was about to take things into his hand.


    At the same time, Bella Lim who was clueless at what was going on began to panic. She had looked at her watch earlier and noticed it was way past the appointed time.


    Right now, there was only one thing she had in mind which was the urgency to leave the area. Looking at the situation earlier, she knew there was no use trying to ask help from the people inside the car. That man was annoyingly weird, she had explained what happened again and again, but he was simply acting deaf! Frustration was the only thing she felt when trying to talk with him.


    Again, she had forgotten about the helmet that even God was probably infuriated by her oblivion right now.


    Ignoring the people in the car, Bella Lim went to her bike and took the pair of heels and her phone. She planned to run to the main house. At this time, the panic was controlling her mind. Anxious, she hastily turned around when suddenly¡­


    BAM!


    "Ouch¡­! My head," she screamed in pain and wobbled.


    "So dizzy!" she grumbled.


    Just now she had actually bumped onto something. That something was tall, broad and firm. She was sure, there was no pillar in the area. She looked up and saw that it wasn''t anywhere near to what she thought.


    In front of her was a man bigger than life! She tried to look up, but something was holding her back. With her height, she could only see up to the man''s neck.


    Then, she felt a hand was gripping on her right shoulder. Simultaneously, there was a sound of knock just at the top of her head.


    Bella Lim wasn''t sure why but she felt helpless in front of this man. This man had unbearable pressure. It was intimidating that she felt suffocated.


    "Lady, I''m going to ask some questions. Nod if your answer is yes, shake your head if it''s a no. Do you understand?"


    Such a familiar voice but Bella Lim was somehow in a trance right now, she couldn''t process to whom that voice belonged to.


    However, she still nods. Her mind was able to process the man''s odd question.


    Eric Wu looked at the woman in front of her. She was tiny that when she bumped into him, he could hear the impact that brought her to the ground. When he listened to her wh?n? because of dizziness, he really wanted to pull the helmet on her head.


    Except, out of nowhere, he wanted to see when this woman would realize how stupid she had been. Eric Wu wasn''t aware that he was actually smiling at the woman''s silly antics.


    Then, he saw her nod. Good, she wasn''t out of her mind.


    "Are you going to the main house?" he asked and saw her nod once.


    "Are you attending Gun Raymond''s dinner party?" he asked and saw her nod again.


    "Are you related to Gun Raymond? Family, relatives?" the woman remain still at this moment when suddenly she shook her head in denial.


    Seeing that she wasn''t related to his uncle''s family, Eric Wu was curious at the purpose of her coming. He wanted to ask but then he saw her looking at her watch. Her subtle movement told him that she was in a hurry.


    "We''re heading there too. You can come along. I''ll ask someone to look after your bike after this," he said and opened the passenger seat. He then urged her to enter.


    Lu Fei and Sun Nan who were eagerly watching the whole incident felt that their friend; Eric Wu unexpectedly look very gentlemanly.


    They couldn''t really hear what he talked about but the moment he opened the door for the woman, they have their jaw slacked and drool almost slipped from Sun Nan''s mouth. If it wasn''t because of Eric Wu reminding him to scoot over, the drool would really wet her white, flowery shirt.


    "She is going with us. Lu Fei," Eric Wu patted on Lu Fei''s shoulder who stared dazedly at the woman sitting in the passenger seat.


    Eric Wu had actually given up the most comfortable seat for this woman!


    Still, he calmly drove the car towards the main house who might look closed but in reality, it took a car 25 minutes to reach there.

 Chapter 20 - Another comedic skit

    For a good amount of time, no one was talking. However, two men were really curious as to why the woman in the passenger seat was still wearing her helmet.


    Then, out of nowhere, a very funny scene happened!


    From the moment Eric Wu entered the car, there was a cunning smile on his face. Sun Nan who was sitting next to him felt weirded out, but he didn''t say anything. Furthermore, seeing the man adorned another expression aside from his normal serious look, he was more than willing to see how it would uncover.


    "Here," Eric Wu took a bottle of water from the built-in fridge in the car and passed it to the woman sitting in the passenger seat.


    The woman didn''t say anything as she took the bottle from Eric Wu''s hand. Twisted the cap and drank its content. When¡­


    Splash~


    Instead of going inside her mouth, the liquid went straight to her neck. At the same time, her vision blurred.


    Bella Lim finally¡­


    Finally!


    Angered and embarrassed, she removed the helmet and put it on her ??p. She looked on her bend knees and realized that everything that had happened, happened because of this helmet.


    The three men who realized the conflict faced by the woman struggled to keep their cool.


    "Just laugh," Bella Lim felt like an idiot when she said it but¡­ really? How did she forget that she was still wearing a helmet? No wonder her head felt heavy and dizzy.


    Her ears reddened when she heard the people in the car laughed to their heart content. However, she noticed that someone wasn''t laughing. The man who sat behind the passenger seat, the one who exposed her stupidity to herself, wasn''t really laughing.


    Honestly, Bella Lim would rather for him to laugh like what his companion did. However, he wasn''t and that really made her felt like she was an idiot.


    Eric Wu was indeed the only odd one, instead of laughing, it seemed that his aura was becoming even more sedate that it scared the shit out of the other two men. There was no sound leaving his mouth, only his eyes were showing a very complicated look.


    When the woman removed her helmet, for a while there he saw the woman in his dream. An unknown feeling began to rise inside him. Something that he was afraid, he couldn''t control.


    Sun Nan and Lu Fei exchanged look via the rear view mirror as if asking each other what to do with their other bro. In the end, they just let him be.


    "Pretty lady, if you don''t remove that helmet any longer. I really don''t know if you could retain your sanity after waking up," Sun Nan''s head once again popped between the driver and passenger seats. At that moment, Lu Fei had already parked their car on one of the empty parking slots.


    "What''s your name?" Lu Fei felt that this woman was really funny. It wasn''t wrong to know her name. He switched on the light in the passenger seat so as to have a better look at the beautiful woman.


    However, the moment the woman looked at him, not only Lu Fei, but Sun Nan screamed in horror.


    "A ghost! A ghost! Eric bro, run, a ghost!" Sun Nan collapsed to the backseat and curled into a corner. Lu Fei who also screamed earlier was now in much better control of his emotion. Eric Wu looked at the woman and instantly a frown appeared on his handsome face.


    "Your make-up is ruin. Have a look in the mirror," he calmly said inviting praises from Lu Fei. Indeed, it was only this man that could remain calm under this situation. Unknown to him, for a while there, Eric Wu felt his heart jumped in shock. Thankfully, his face was trained to look emotionless no matter the situation. Plus, he sat on a slightly darker side so no one could really see his face.


    Bella Lim felt that the people inside the car were really drama kings but when she heard the voice of the man sitting behind her, she immediately looked at the mirror rolled down by Lu Fei.


    The instant she saw her face, she shrieked in shocked! Then, her eyes darted to the people in the car with an apologetic expression.


    "Sun Nan, fix her," Eric Wu pulled the man who was still hiding in the corner.


    Sun Nan still had a fearful look on his face but knowing that the woman was very much alive. He leaned closer.


    "W-what is your inspiration for this make-up?" Sun Nan asked as he took out a wet tissue from out of nowhere, probably from the compartment inside the car. He was asking more to humor himself. The face of this woman in front of him almost made him peed his pants.


    Bella Lim was truly embarrassed but when she heard Sun Nan''s humorous question she chuckled.


    "I''m really sorry to scare you guys. This probably the helmet make-up,"


    There was a moment of silence when Sun Nan suddenly laugh followed by Lu Fei who felt that tears were coming out of his eyes.


    This woman had a weird sense of humor!


    Eric Wu in the other hand merely curved the corner of his lips. It seemed that this woman had recovered her wittiness.


    "What''s your name?" Lu Fei asked. At this time, he actually felt that the woman was really funny yet pitiful at the same time.


    "Bella Lim," Bella Lim answered as she noticed that Sun Nan was really skillful in fixing the melted make-up on her face. If it wasn''t because of the helmet, her make-up wouldn''t become this horrible. Alas, today was really a day cursed in bad luck.


    Was being reborn the wrong choice? She began to doubt that her reborn was a good thing.


    "Miss Bella, who invites you to the dinner?" she heard a voice.


    "I''m here representing Simply Caf¨¦. Tonight, there''s supposed to be a presentation from each representative that wished to rebrand themselves as part of The Exquisite. It seemed, I didn''t make it," she sighed. Regret emerged in the sapphire blue eyes of hers.


    "But, maybe I can go and plead! Besides what could go wrong? I''ve already humiliated myself in front of you guys," she laughed. She truly had!


    Seeing the woman sighing, both Sun Nan and Lu Fei ached for her. Her small frame was really pitiful when she tried to act strong. Today''s whole incident was really an embarrassing moment for her, but it seemed that she recovered from the terror rather quickly. Now, her eyes looked composed as if ready to accept whatever the consequences would be.


    "Erm, thank you for the ride. I''ll just go inside and see if I still can make it,"


    "What if you fail?" Lu Fei couldn''t help but asked. He was curious.


    "I''ll try begging the director first. If it''s a failure as well, I''ll just walk home and think after having a good amount of sleep," Bella Lim chuckled as she noticed that the man next to Sun Nan was ready to leave the car.


    She was really curious as to who the man was. Even after looking at her miserable situation, that man didn''t make fun of her. Not that she would think badly if he did. At the same time, this man''s voice was really too familiar. If only she could take a look at his face. She would probably recognize him.


    "I''ll wait near the entrance for the three of you," Eric Wu said before leaving the car. Sun Nan and Lu Fei nodded. Bella Lim was puzzled.


    "Bella, you''re in luck. Don''t worry, I believe tonight''s presentation will go well as long as you''re prepared," Lu Fei said. He already familiarized himself and called Bella Lim, Bella.

 Chapter 21 - Do you have a younger sister?

    Bella Lim stared at the two people who were looking at her with focused eyes. She failed to understand what Lu Fei was saying.


    "Erm, who are you people?" she asked. She had been meaning to ask this question for a while.


    "Sun Nan," Sun Nan put up one hand for the other was fixing Bella Lim messed up look.


    "Lu Fei, and the other man, you''ll know him soon," Lu Fei gracefully pushed the bridge of his glasses. A perfect smile on his face. These acts made Bella Lim frowned. However, something even bigger hit her!


    "Sun Nan? Lu-Lu Fei?" Bella Lim was totally shocked. Then, she looked petrified.


    "Sun Nan. Ac-actor Sun Nan? Sorry, president Sun Nan. You-you''re Dr. Lu Fei?" she stuttered as her eyes blinked in utter disbelieve.


    The two men simply acknowledge her question with a nod. They thought that Bella Lim was shocked because of their identities which were the reaction common to most people.


    "If you''re Sun Nan and you''re Lu Fei-"


    The two men frowned when they heard Bella Lim casually said their names.


    "Then, the other man¡­ don''t-don''t tell me, he is Eric Wu?" her lips shaking as she recited the name. Eyes rapidly blinking as if the realization was difficult to discern.


    "How did you know?" the two were shocked for only a few people knew how close the three were. For her to ?ssociate them with Eric Wu meant that she knew of their close friendship.


    This was because Sun Nan was the president of a famous entertainment company from country Oundbatt. A country that is known for its culture. Even though he was now a president, he was still acting and a famous one at that. Meanwhile, Lu Fei was a famous surgeon from Romstall. His name was known throughout the whole four related countries.


    The three people were living in a different country and never appeared in the public together. Therefore, those who are not within Eric Wu''s social circle shouldn''t know about them. Even more, a woman who came out of nowhere. Like Bella Lim.


    Bella Lim was startled as she realized that she had aroused their suspicion towards her. It was indeed impossible for her to know about Eric Wu''s relationship with the other two. However, as Eric Wu''s avid stalker, she had her own way to obtain this information.


    "I heard the news from somewhere. I''m simply trying my luck with the story, but, seemed that it is indeed true," Bella Lim quickly made up a plausible reason. Even if Sun Nan and Lu Fei refuse to believe her, they couldn''t really find fault in it.


    The two men looked at Bella Lim''s serious face and decided to ignore their budding suspicion.


    "Bella, is it possible to keep this a secret?" Lu Fei asked.


    Bella Lim nodded furiously. She wouldn''t dare to say even a word to other people. Moreover, she knew why the three were hiding their friendship from the public. She had a guess, but it wasn''t confirmed yet.


    "Alright, your look is decent now. There''s nothing I can do to save your make up. Now, your face is almost n?k?d. Is that okay?" Sun Nan explained as his lips pursed and hands were holding on Bella Lim''s chin. He moved right to left to see if there was anything else, he could fix.


    "Better b?r? face than the horror looked earlier," Bella Lim chuckled followed by the laughter of the two men. That was when someone knocks on the car window in the passenger seat. Lu Fei used the main control to roll down the window.


    "Sun Nan, how much longer? I''ve reserved the last slot for Miss Bella''s presentation. However, if you don''t hurry, she''ll lose this opportunity," a voice as serene as the night interrupted the ongoing conversation inside the car.


    "We''re done. Bella, let''s go and kick some bu??!" Sun Nan opened the backseat''s door. Lu Fei the driver''s car door. They waited for Bella Lim to do the same, but she seemed to be frozen in place. Her eyes weren''t blinking, and an unexplainable emotion is hidden behind the blue eyes of her.


    Eric Wu noticed the unmoving woman and opened the door. When she showed no reaction, he pulled her hand and forced her to walk out of the car. No one understood why but he pulled her hand until they reach the entrance. There, the lighting was better.


    He turned to face the static woman and the moment her face met his eyes. He stepped back, almost hitting a flowerpot that decorated the entrance door frame. His eyes flickered for a moment before receded to its original glint.


    In that split seconds, Bella Lim had finally regained her self-control. She noticed everything that was happening from the moment Eric Wu''s voice entered her ear to the moment he held her hand.


    However, her emotion couldn''t process the whole event and thought that it was just too surreal to be the truth. She even doubted the realness of her reborn. It could be just a dream.


    Now that she regained self-control, she had another thought. This meeting probably the third compensation the messenger of God talked about. Something that she would know once it happened. Yet, this was too fast, the development was too fast, her heart couldn''t really keep up.


    In her past life, meeting Eric Wu wasn''t something she thought possible. She was content just to be his stalker.


    Yet, in this new life, she crossed path with this man on the very first day she was reborn!


    "Do you have a younger sister?"


    Bella Lim felt her heart dropped the moment she heard his voice. This was the voice she had been longing to hear in the past. The depth of his voice was capable to stir her heart into craziness.


    "I-I don''t have," she thought she could speak confidently now that she was reborn. It seemed that her personality was getting worst unlike her previous life.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yes,"


    "Please look at me when speaking," the man spoke again. Bella Lim caught the slight irritation in his voice. She reluctantly looked up and saw the man darkening gaze. Then, she realized that the man was a bit different compared to his usual self. Composed and cold. Right now, he looked dangerous and irritable. What happened? Did she anger him?


    "Is this your real face?"


    Huh? There was confusion on Bella Lim''s face when she heard his questioning voice.


    "Yes," she answered.


    "Cough!" two onlookers suddenly cough in an exaggerated manner when they realized that they were forgotten. Seeing Eric Wu talking with Bella Lim as if they didn''t exist tear the heart of the two men.


    "Sun Nan, Lu Fei, grandpa is in the room on the second floor,"


    "You, follow me."


    Bella Lim stared at the back of the man who was now a few steps ahead of her. Then, she looked at Sun Nan and Lu Fei who was smiling at her.


    "Do your best!"


    "Don''t worry, since Eric is with you, you''ll be okay,"


    They encouraged her. Bella Lim was warmed by their concern and smiled. Then, she ran to chase after the man who was walking at a fast speed.


    The moment Bella Lim left the area to chase after Eric Wu, Sun Nan spoke. "Lu Fei, Eric bro somehow looks like a different person today,"


    Lu Fei who was listening nodded. "He was really unpredictable today. Do you think they know each other?" Lu Fei asked as they walked toward the stair that linked the first floor with the second floor.


    "Maybe. I''m certain Bella knew him and probably had a crush on Eric," Sun Nan expressed. As an actor, he was familiar with the different types of emotion. Earlier, he noticed the stifling longing emotion that Bella Lim was trying to hide behind her sapphire blue eyes.


    "Hmm, Eric was acting weird too. I was still confused about what the purpose of the questions he asked Bella just now," Lu Fei.


    "True," Sun Nan gave a short, acknowledging response.


    "There''s another weird thing," Lu Fei suddenly said after they reached the second floor. Sun Nan looked at him curiously.


    "It''s weird not to hear you speak rudely,"


    Sun Nan didn''t wait for the sentence to end as he kicked Lu Fei on his bu??. The other laughed satisfyingly after seeing the infuriated Sun Nan. His reaction was exactly like he imagined him to act.

 Chapter 22 - He wouldnt expose her lie

    Meanwhile, on the first floor. Bella Lim made sure that her distance with Eric Wu wasn''t giving others the opinion that they were close. No matter how elated she felt at this moment, she knew that walking beside him probably would bring more harm than good.


    She watched him ditched people that tried to get close to him in an astute manner. He only needed to display the ''astuteness'' in him to one man and it instantly became the ripple effect that stopped people from speaking to him.


    They walked to a room that had a few people inside. Three people were occupying the chairs at the center of the room. Director Gun Raymond was sitting in one of the allotted chairs. He rose from his seat and had his back against the table. His eyes were looking at the few people standing in front of him.


    "Representatives, thank you for the cooperation. As for the result of your interview, my team will contact you in three days times,"


    Bella Lim was confused when she heard that it wasn''t a presentation but an interview. So, Jordan Lee lied, or did they change the format of ?ssessment?


    "Now, I announced that today''s interview had come to an end. As for anyone who didn''t come to today''s interview, their proposal will be automatically canceled,"


    Bella Lim''s heart sunk the moment she heard this sentence. She ceased moving and deliberated whether she should run to beg Director Gun or not. However, seeing Eric Wu''s broad back, she had a feeling that everything would be fine. She believed that this man was going to help her!


    "My team will contact everyone in three days to tell the result. Whatever the result will be, I hope-"


    "Direction Gun!"


    Everyone''s eyes were directed to the person that just entered the room. Director Gun''s words hung on the air at the sudden interruption.


    "President Eric!" the other people who sat on the allotted chairs instantly stood up and greeted the man with seriousness on their faces. Even Director Gun who was speaking in a laid-back manner just now was looking serious. His expression stiff like a cat on a hot tin roof.


    "Oh my gosh, that''s President Eric?"


    "What a dashing man,"


    "I can''t believe that I actually meet President Eric,"


    Voices began to circulate in the area. Eric Wu swept the whole room with his gaze and instantly it turned into total stillness. The people were as quiet as a mouse, not daring to move until the warning gaze left their body.


    Bella Lim who was keeping some distance, realized that Eric Wu was staring at her with eyes that insisted for her to come closer. She bit her lower lips and walked toward the man. She stood on a comfortable distance, not daring to get closer to him. At the same time, she could feel all eyes on her, stripping her n?k?d.


    Under the gazes of these people, Bella Lim wasn''t feeling well. This kind of environment where people were judging each other made her uncomfortable.


    "Director Gun, is it possible to interview one more person?" Eric Wu was standing in front of Director Gun who had to look up to see him.


    "President, of-of course. But, the other representatives still here. I''m afraid¡­" Director Gun pressed on the word ''representative'' and ''here''.


    Bella Lim who was eavesdropping knew the implied meaning. Director Gun was saying that the interview could be done if the other representatives weren''t there. She stared at Eric Wu who was showing no expression and looked back at Director Gun who began to sweat profusely.


    Director Gun was indeed in a complicated situation. He had forgotten that this man would come today. In fact, he had also forgotten that this man had reminded him to retain a slot for the interview. He could give it to him but, his mouth had announced the end of the interview and to suddenly retract what he had announced was a bit...


    Director Gun nervously looked at the man in front of him. Even though this man was his nephew, he was still intimidated by his undeniable aura of leadership. Especially now when the man was looking at him with his frosty eyes. He could only hope that this man could understand the situation he was in.


    "Just interview her. She has a valid reason to be late," Eric Wu wasn''t taking no for an answer. He asked for another chair from one of the Director Gun''s workers. The person instantly delivered a comfortable chair for him to sit.


    "This, okay," seeing the man sitting casually, Director Gun knew that he wasn''t going to entertain his worry. Nevertheless, he was relieved that he didn''t disclose his mistake or else his reputation would be ruin. Director Gun sighed as he prompted Bella Lim to stand in the marked spot in the area in front of the judges.


    "Representatives, we have a last-minute interview, so I invite you to enjoy the food and beverages outside. My staff will lead the way," Director Gun politely chase the people away. At the same time, he prayed that none of these representatives would act rashly.


    However, his prayer wasn''t heard. There were two representatives who rose their hands.


    "Director Gun, just now you announced that you wouldn''t entertain those who are late! This isn''t fair for us who came early,"


    "Yes, this person is late and now asking for President Eric Wu to help him,"


    Bella Lim panicked when she heard the complained of these people. She instinctively looked at Eric Wu who was looking at her with a sneer on his face. He seemed to tell her to handle the rest by herself.


    Bella Lim could only sigh. She knew that she couldn''t rely on this man who had helped her so many times today. Besides, if she couldn''t handle this, it would mean that his effort was wasted. She didn''t want Eric Wu to think badly of her.


    In addition, she didn''t want Director Gun to accused her as a troublemaker. Seeing the man''s complicated look made her fearful. She wasn''t aware that the other was trying hard to calm himself for the thing he was worried about had happened.


    "Good evening!" Bella Lim shouted, instantly causing others to stop talking and pay attention to her.


    Eric Wu''s right brow rose up the moment he heard her voice. He looked at the woman who somehow was free from the panicky look she had earlier. Moreover, her voice was well-modulated. The volume was enough to get people''s attention.


    Seeing that all eyes were on her, Bella Lim didn''t waste time and said:


    "My name''s Bella Lim. A representative from Simply Cafe. I was involved in an accident earlier hence the problem. I hope everyone can forgive me and allow me to have this interview," she said and bowed. Her silvery voice was capable to make everyone listened to her plea.


    There was a smile on Eric Wu''s face. He wouldn''t really refer to the incident just now as an accident. But, as compensation for making fun of her earlier in the car, he wouldn''t expose her lie.


    "Sure!" one representative suddenly shouted.


    "It''s okay. Look at her disheveled dress and messy hair, looks like she was really involved in an accident," another added.


    Director Gun heaved a sigh of relief after listening to the conversation behind him. He was about to tell his fellow judge to be ready when suddenly¡­


    "This is unfair! No matter if she is involved in an accident or not, the rule should remain as a rule. It was clearly stated that the interview started at 8 PM until 10 PM. I will not allow this!"


    "Yes, me too. Who knows if she lied," said another.

 Chapter 23 - Why should I explain myself to you?

    Bella Lim was about to say something but was interrupted when Eric Wu suddenly rose from his chair. He turned around and stared at the other representatives.


    "Director Gun?"


    "Yes, president!" Director Gun stood up, and followed Eric Wu''s action to look at the representatives with a cold gaze, except his was ansty.


    "Tell me which representatives are those two," he pointed towards the two people who voiced their dissatisfaction earlier. These representatives were terrified when they noticed that the president suddenly asked about them. What would he do to them?


    "Miss Carla from Breakfast.Inc and Mr. Queer from J&T Enterprise," Director Gun explained after looking at their information in the file he was holding. He stared at the two people with sympathy. Why were they too stupid? Yet again, it was his fault as well.


    "Reject their proposal. If they are to be selected it''ll risk The Exquisite''s excellent reputation. We don''t need people who can''t reason with others,"


    "Yes, president!" Director Gun immediately took the information regarding the two in his file and dumped it into the dustbin. The two men were shocked but soon anger spouted from their lips. They couldn''t accept their fate.


    "President Eric, why?" one of those two people asked angrily. Director Gun who was standing beside could only stare at the man as if looking at an idiot.


    The rest didn''t dare to look up because they knew just from the sudden chill they felt, that the president was enraged. Although, his expression wasn''t changing much.


    "Why should I explain myself to you?"


    The man shivered the moment he heard Eric Wu''s slightly rough voice. Director Gun saw that the two people were no longer resistant, hence he asked one of his staff to show their way out. Nevertheless, these people were no longer important to their agenda.


    He silently asked for their forgiveness in his heart. Maybe, he should send reimbursement to these people? Besides, he too was at fault.


    "To the rest of the representatives, please enjoy the party," Director Gun said. To his surprise, everyone was quick to leave the room. These representatives felt suffocated just to be in the same room with President Eric. They were glad Director Gun had freed them from their misery.


    Now the room was free from observers, except Eric Wu, the three judges, and Bella Lim.


    "President, I believe Sir Wu Tianyao is anticipating your arrival on the second floor-"


    "I''ll stay,"


    Director Gun could only sigh and reminded his staff to listen to the president.


    "Miss Bella, let''s begin," he declared, arousing the dimmed excitement in Bella Lim''s eyes.


    Bella Lim was surprised that she really was able to receive the interview. She silently thanked Eric Wu in her heart. The question asked were mostly easy to answer. She was asked about her experience working in Simply Caf¨¦ and other answerable questions.


    However, at the end of the interview, Bella Lim stumped at the question asked by Director Gun. It was the question that she wasn''t confident to answer.


    "Miss Bella, what does Simply Caf¨¦ could offer to the success of The Exquisite?" Director Gun asked. When interviewing this woman, he felt that he actually learned many things. She was really good with words that everything she said seemed correct. Therefore, he was anticipating her answer on this. He had given similar questions to another representative, but their answer was boring and too shallow.


    Eric Wu who was simply a listener the whole time straightened his body. He was also waiting to hear Bella Lim''s answer and unconsciously let his finger tapped on the table. This attracted the woman''s gaze to his direction. Then, as if enlighten, the woman''s struggled face brightened up. She seemed to have her answer ready.


    Bella Lim was indeed glad because she just thought of an answer. However, she knew that if she used this answer, she would face a greater conflict against Eric Wu in the future. After deliberating for a moment, she decided to just go with it. Even if Eric Wu would accuse her of stealing his work, she would just pretend to be clueless.


    "Director Gun, I believe The Exquisite has been so successful because of its mysterious vibes. Every time a customer comes in, they have no idea what services waiting for them. Entering The Exquisite is like unwrapping a present that has been wrapped so many times. Each layer gave them a new sense of feeling," she said and then with a face that showed she was truly thinking, she proceeded:


    "I remembered the founder of The Exquisite once said this phrase quoted from Albert Einstein: The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art. The Exquisite is exactly this. Everything inside and outside was simply a beautiful experience for the customers. It''s a powerful magnetic force that makes them keep on coming back," she nodded as if truly embracing what she just said. She dared not to look at Eric Wu who was now staring at her with a profound gaze.


    "Simply Caf¨¦ is the same. I''ve been working for more than four years there and I''m glad to say everything that we offered on the plate is always making our customers think about how it was made. Our secret recipes and the d?s?r? to invent new ones are our attractive points. This, I believe, is the mysterious element we could offer for the development of The Exquisite," Bella Lim ended her speech with a trusting smile on her face.


    Director Gun and the other judges exchanged looks. Everyone seemed to look satisfied with Bella Lim''s answer.


    "President Eric, what do you think?"


    Bella Lim was startled as her eyes stared at the judge who asked the question with a helpless look. Why in the world would you ask this man such a question? She looked at the judge with restrained expression.


    "Miss Bella, have you been to The Exquisite?"


    Bella Lim felt cold sweats slid from the back of her ears to her neckline when she listened to his voice.


    "Y-yes," she lied.


    For the sake of her survival, she needed to lie or else this man would hunt her for copyright infringement!

 Chapter 24 - Did she forget about us?

    "Good," his one-word response made the other judges shake their heads with a smile on their faces. They were all looking at Bella Lim, thinking that she had scored a good reputation in front of the president.


    Bella Lim discretely let out a sigh, relieved that everything went well. Then, she listened to Director Gun''s final words rephrasing what he told the other representatives when she first entered the room. She realized that the atmosphere in the room had improved for the better.


    ''No wonder,'' she thought after seeing Eric Wu''s empty chair. Her eyes marveled at the whole room.


    When did he leave?


    She felt terrible at herself for the failure to notice the time he left.


    After exchanging a few courtesy words with Director Gun, Bella Lim walked out of the room and headed towards the area with a fountain of cakes. The sweet aroma had pulled her to this area. She grabbed some to fill her growling stomach. While eating, she called Lily''s number to inquire about her sleeping little pumpkin.


    "Don''t worry. He is fast asleep,"


    Bella Lim exhaled at the positive news. She moved to the other displays of foods, ate some and head out to the entrance. Unknown to her, three people had been watching her from the second floor since she came out of the room.


    "Whoa, I''m still creeped out by that woman. She is the definition of a biaaatchh," Sun Nan stretched out the last word. His fingers twirled the glass of drink on his hand. Lu Fei stared at him and casually said in a mocking tone.


    "I thought you like her. You kissed her hand the instant you saw her," he sneered.


    "Lu Fei, I won''t repeat the obvious glasses trap you did!" Sun Nan retaliated as he mimicked Lu Fei''s flirting signature.


    Lu Fei shook his head and then turned towards Eric Wu who was looking at the first floor, completely ignoring the two of them.


    "How was it? Did Bella pass?" Lu Fei glanced at the crowd on the first floor before turning his body, letting his back leaned against the cypress railing. Sun Nan ears perked up at the mention of Bella. He shot a curious stare to the man standing next to Lu Fei.


    Eric Wu simply smirked. This made the two became even more curious. They pried him with extensive glares.


    "What do you think?" Eric Wu directed their gaze towards a fountain of cakes at the center of the first floor.


    Both Lu Fei and Sun Nan were confused, but the moment they saw a familiar girl wearing a black dress, a broad smile on their faces. Bella Lim looked like she was enjoying the delicacies in front of her, ignoring the rest of the party-goers.


    "I see. It went well," Lu Fei remarked.


    "Look at her going from one section to another. Her mind is filled with food only. Do you think she still remember us?" Sun Nan sulked as he noticed that the woman was too focused on foods without any care for the entertainment that was going on at the party.


    Their meeting may be unexpected and short, but it was fun and meaningful to them. She was likable that they didn''t mind having her as a friend.


    "Who are we to complain? We just met her today. It''s understandable," Lu Fei responded. He sounded calm but his eyes were not able to lie. He looked at the woman with regret. Regret that they haven''t had the best impression in her mind. All they did were laughing at her misfortune.


    "Shit, I really like her. Shall we go down?" Sun Nan proposed.


    As they were talking, Eric Wu''s phone rang. He listened to the caller and answered.


    "I''ll be out soon," then, he paused.


    "You''ll know her," he said, ending the conversation. At the same time, Sun Nan suddenly screamed, causing the people who were on the balcony stared at him with a surprised look.


    "Bros, she''s leaving!" he tried to suppress his shock.


    "How is she going back? Let''s send-" Lu Fei had a worried look on his face and was about to suggest sending her home when Eric Wu spoke up.


    "I''ll handle her. Grandpa is still here. Please entertain him for me," he said and stared at the two who obviously disagreed.


    "Bro~" Both prolonged the word.


    Eric Wu smirked again and left. Lu Fei and Sun Nan looked at each other and sighed. They lose! This man was too omnipotent to the point that they could only let him take the credit all by himself.


    At the entrance, Bella Lim was pacing back and forth, thinking who she should call to pick her up. She recalled that Eric Wu mentioned taking care of her bike which was stranded in the middle of the road. She wondered if he really did it or simply a way to ease her worry at that time.


    "I''ll just walk," she mumbled when suddenly a voice called her name.


    "Miss Bella?" it was the sound of a young man. His voice is clear and a bit pitchy. She looked up and saw a man in a white shirt. The man''s eyes widened the moment he saw her.


    "Whoa!" he exclaimed as if not believing at the sight in front of him.


    "You really look like her," the man commented with a nodding gesture.


    "Who are you?" Bella Lim asked as her vision narrowed. This man was rude. He had been eyeing her from head to toes without considering whether she liked it or not.


    The man suddenly looked up. His eyes were now locked on her face like magnets. "Hmm, you look older. Do you have a younger sister?" he asked.


    Bella Lim stepped back feeling alarmed. This man reminded her of Eric Wu''s question earlier. He too had asked the same question. Did she offend this person? Or, was there someone they knew that looked like her.


    "Tao,"


    Bella Lim immediately looked back when she heard the voice that was now imprinted on her mind. She saw Eric Wu walked towards them and stand beside her. She froze. This voluntary reaction made her uttered a profanity, although internally.


    "President," Tao bowed and greeted the man with respect.


    Bella Lim was now able to tell the relationship between these two. A subordinate and his employer. Was this his ?ssistant? That realization made Bella Lim look at the man in a white shirt suspiciously. She remembered that in the past, Eric Wu''s ?ssistant had betrayed him. Was it him? She thought and reminded herself to remain vigilant.


    "Let''s go," Eric Wu said. His ?ssistant responded with a nod.

 Chapter 25 - Drink her misfortune away!

    Bella Lim stared at the two leaving. She wanted to say something but felt a lump on her throat. Then, suddenly the man stopped on his track and looked back.


    "Why aren''t you moving?" his questioning voice surprised her. She blinked a couple of times. Was he talking to her?


    "Do you want me to pull your hand again?" Bella Lim let out an awkward laugh. That man was referring to her.


    "Where are we going?" she asked nervously.


    "Where else, to send you home," hearing his answer, she was horrified. Bella Lim bits her lips and rushed to the opened door when she noticed him staring at her with an eyebrow arched. This man, she thought she understood him well. Was her stalking really meant nothing?


    Bella Lim sat like a statue as soon as she entered the car.


    "Where do you live?" the sudden question made Bella Lim jolted in shock.


    "Countryside, 12street, House number C13," she gave a precise answer. Then, she remembered that it took almost an hour to reach that place. She opened her mouth to suggest something, but the man beat her to it.


    "Tao, you heard her," Eric Wu talked to his ?ssistant who then quickly response: "Noted,"


    "It takes an hour to go there. Just drop me in the nearby town. I''ll catch the midnight bus," she suggested. But Eric Wu simply glanced at her without saying anything. Bella Lim sighed internally, she forgot that it was difficult to converse with this man.


    "Miss Bella, don''t worry, I''m a good night driver," Tao who was driving spoke. He smiled at the woman in the backseat via the rear view mirror. Just now, he was really surprised to see the resemblance she had with the woman on the canvas. They looked similar, except this woman was older. He guessed that his president probably tied the woman on the sketch with this woman.


    Bella Lim stared at the front mirror with a slight frown on her face. "That''s good," she replied cautiously to avoid sounding rude. She had a mixed feeling about this ?ssistant after everything she knew from her past life.


    There was only silence afterward. Now and then, Tao would hum a song following the instrumental that was being played in the car.


    Besides her, Eric Wu had his eyes closed with his body relaxed against the seat. Bella Lim took this opportunity to observe the man from her sitting position. His face illuminated by the streetlight looked strikingly handsome. Bella Lim felt her emotion rippled. There was a budding flower bloomed inside her, something she had been suppressing for a long time.


    But¡­ that was the thing of the past. In this new life, all she wanted was to live happily with little pumpkin and to protect this man from the danger he would face two years later. If that was her goal, that means she would need an excuse to be with him. So, was this feeling of love needs to be repressed? Would it be okay to love him?


    Bella Lim didn''t realize that she actually let out a sigh out loud, waking up the sleeping beast next to her.


    She was startled when she realized that Eric Wu was looking at her as if studying her mind.


    "Do you like reading?" he suddenly asked. His voice was cracked; however, it caused the fluttering heart of Bella Lim to beat even faster.


    "I do," she answered after calming down a little.


    "Have you read ''Autumn in December'' by Enlai Gong?"


    "Yes," Bella Lim answered. There was a smile on her face.


    ''Gosh!''


    She gasped as she realized the mistake she had done. She looked away and cringed at her careless answer. Lips bit as if punishing her for the deed done.


    ''Autumn in December'' was the book in which she had borrowed several lines to answer Director Gun''s last question during the interview. What she did wasn''t wrong, but the problem was in this time of the year, the book was still in the writing process. Enlai Gong hadn''t released the book yet. Not even to his beta reader.


    Bella Lim had been very careful. Alas, she exposed her own fa?ade.


    What was really wrong you asked?


    Here it was: Enlai Gong and Eric Wu were the same person!


    Unexpectedly, the man didn''t say anything afterward. But this deliberated silence almost turned Bella Lim insane. She knew this man was playing with her emotion, probably to see how long she would hold before she told him everything.


    "President, Miss Bella, we arrive. Is this the house?" Tao spoke, oblivious to the war that was happening between the two people sitting at the backseat.


    Bella Lim felt like she had been saved from the depth of hell. She stared at Tao''s back with a grateful look.


    "Yes," she said and was about to rush out when she felt a hand was restraining her from leaving. She braved herself to look at the man''s eyes which slowly lowered to his ?h?st area. His eyes¡­ they were inexplicable and scary.


    She really needed to say something, or this man would kill her with just his gaze.


    "I respect Enlai Gong''s works," she said, trembling. He should understand what she meant right?


    In that instant, she felt Eric Wu''s grip gradually loosened. A sigh left her lips again in a way that showed how much she feared this man and how much she felt like being recouped.


    "You better be,"


    she heard him and nodded, heeded to the warning.


    Finally, Bella Lim could leave the car. She almost fell when her feet touch the ground. The incident had given her so much pressure, her knees weakened.


    "Thank you," she said without daring to look at the car. She didn''t notice when the car left but when she looked up, it was no longer there.


    Bella Lim ran up the few steps and knocked on the door. Soon, Lily''s head popped out from the still chained door. Lily untangled the chain and stared at her who had a petrified look on her face.


    "What happened?" Lily asked.


    "Bella!" she shouted when Bella Lim suddenly dropped to the floor. Her eyes lifeless, like she just went through a hellish experience.


    "Sis~" the woman called upon her weakly.


    "Let me help you," Lily held Bella Lim''s shoulder and helped her towards the sofa inside the house.


    "What happened?" she asked again.


    "Give me alcohol,"


    "What??!"


    Lily looked at the woman sitting on the sofa, stupefied. She watched her stand up and waddled to the fridge. Soon, she was seen hugging four sets of beer. The whole night, Lily accompanied the woman drinking. No talking, nothing. When she fell asleep, Bella Lim was still drinking!


    "I''m gonna drink my misfortune away~" the woman sorrowful voice echoed through the night.

 Chapter 26 - The pests at 5 AM

    ''Seriously?''


    Eric Wu sighed as he removed the blanket that was covering his body. He woke up and sat at the edge of the bed as his hands wrapped his face in disbelieve.


    He was forcefully awakened by the persistent pests outside of his bedroom. He leaned back with both arms to support his body from falling backward. His muscular frame was tense. He stared at the alarm clock on the bedside table and tsked. 5 AM!


    "Bro~"


    ''Damn it!''


    He rose from the bed and walked towards the door.


    "What do you want?" he asked as soon as he opened the door. Sun Nan and Lu Fei grinned at the sight of him. However, soon their eyes staring wide, ogling at the man who was underclothed.


    "Bro, are you with a woman? Don''t tell me you seduced Bella to sleep with you? How dare you!" Sun Nan pushed the door with all his might. However, his action was well-anticipated by the room''s owner as he let go of the door the moment Sun Nan made his move. Poor the man, he flopped on the floor with a bang!


    Still, it wasn''t enough to stop him from running wild in the room, spouting nonsense out of nowhere.


    "Where is she? Where is she! Did you hide her?"


    Lu Fei''s eyes were also scanning the room. When he saw Eric Wu was already covered in a robe, he chuckled.


    "Eric, that was quite a show," he said and laughed. The other simply shrugged his shoulder. Of all time why must they show up now? It was his habit to sleep with only his und?rw??r on.


    "Huh, no woman?" Sun Nan had just come out from the bathroom. He went to check on another room and soon his aggrieved face reappeared.


    "Disappointed?" Eric Wu glanced at the man who just joined them in the balcony. Lu Fei was already laughing as he slapped Sun Nan''s shoulder.


    "How dare you accuse him of sleeping with Bella. Too much, you''re too much!" Lu Fei added. He really enjoyed making fun of Sun Nan.


    "Hehe, blame the hormone of a man," Sun Nan grinned and then swatted Lu Fei''s hand who kept poking him, his intention was clearly to make fun of him.


    "What makes the two of you come here this early?" both Lu Fei and Sun Nan exchanged a look. Their faces turned serious when they heard Eric''s query.


    "Our nightmare has turned to reality," Lu Fei said with a grim look. Sun Nan didn''t say anything and simply nodded. His playful personality was no longer seen. Now, the sight of him would give the perception of someone with a lack of humor.


    "Explain,"


    Lu Fei heaved a sigh, preparing to share the news he acquired the day before.


    "As you predicted, Yang clan has made a footing in Romstall. I just received the intel yesterday. However, I am not certain who''s th??h they latched on," Lu Fei explained.


    "Fuck!" Sun Nan raged and kicked on the railing. "Soon, they''ll come to Oundbatt and make a wreck there. Eric bro, what''s next?" he stared at Eric Wu with eyes capable of burning a house.


    "We wait and see. Right now, we have nothing to exploit,"


    Lu Fei nodded, agreed on Eric''s suggestion. Sun Nan screamed as his heart couldn''t accept the fact that there was nothing they could do.


    "Eric bro, is there any news from Kastache?" he asked after the outrage. However, when he received a negative response from Eric Wu, he was enraged again.


    "Are we going to wait until they take over the other three countries? Their clan is now the ruler of Kastache and if we really do nothing, they''ll take over Romstall. Then, Oundbatt and Azure¡­ Shit!" Sun Nan spoke again.


    Lu Fei stared at Eric Wu who was calm as ever and Sun Nan who definitely a contrast to the other man. He chuckled and put his hand on his shoulder.


    "Bro, how long did it take them to control Kastache? Four years! Romstall had a clan ruling it, unlike Kastache who was abandoned. If we based on that, taking over Romstall will be difficult. I will not allow it! We''ll not let it happen. However, to achieve the things that we want, we need to be patient, or everything that we have done before will go to waste,"


    Sun Nan''s rage was tamed when he listened to Lu Fei''s comforting speech. Deep down, he knew they were speaking the truth, but when he thought about what happened to Kastache, the rage inside him stirred again.


    Lu Fei saw Sun Nan in deep thought and poked on him again. Feeling the tingle, Sun Nan elbowed the man who apparently was up to his mischievous side again.


    Eric Wu couldn''t restrain a smile after witnessing their buffoonery. He knew these two very well; Sun Nan was a short-tempered man and Lu Fei was the one who enjoyed making fun of this easily offended man.


    "That''s right. The Yang wouldn''t act rashly. They had made a good decision to begin their invasion to Romstall who currently ruled by only one big clan. Lu Fei, I believe the th??h they latched on is someone from your family sub-clans. They''ll gradually help this person to climb to the top," Eric Wu sneered at the thought of it.


    Lu Fei pondered over what was said and couldn''t help but agree. He looked at Eric Wu with grateful eyes. If it wasn''t because of this man, they wouldn''t know about Yang''s intention to take control of the four related countries.


    "Why can''t it be the main clan?" Sun Nan asked curiously.


    "The main clan is not an easy target. The risk to be exposed is higher. They will not dare after the accident at Kastache. They tried to kill one man but failed, instead, they caused the death of another person, stirring the media attention. This was their biggest mistake," Lu Fei immediately explain.


    "It''s almost 7 and I need to get ready for work. What are guys doing the whole day?" Eric Wu stretched his body and then looked at his friends who were now looking at each other with a grin on their faces.


    "Bro, why don''t you take a rest today? Join us," Sun Nan suggested. His exasperated face unshackled, switching to his jovial personality.


    "Hmm," Eric Wu probed, looking at Sun Nan who was smiling from ear to ear.


    "Bella left her helmet in my car. We plan to return it," Lu Fei explained after seeing Sun Nan who was giggling happily, ignoring Eric Wu''s probing eyes.


    "Bro, on second thought you''re not allowed to come with us. You''ve had your chance last night," Sun Nan crossed his hand to form an X. He grinned.


    "I''ll guess you''ll be busy today. How long will you stay?" Eric Wu ignored Sun Nan as he directly talked to Lu Fei. Seeing this, Sun Nan pouted as he circled the man, pestering him to pay attention to him.


    "Friday. Sun Nan as well," Lu Fei answered for both Sun Nan and him. He chuckled when he saw Eric pushed Sun Nan away so easily.


    "That''s good. How bout you guys come to my house tomorrow evening. Let''s have a drink," Eric Wu proposed. He let go of Sun Nan''s hand who a while ago had made his second attempt to tackle him. Alas, he couldn''t even touch Eric''s shoulder when his hand was grabbed and twisted. He ?r??n?d in pain.


    "Bro, you better teach me how to fight!" Sun Nan shook his hand, trying to ease the pain. He stared adorably at Eric, hoping that his wish would be granted.


    "I thought you''re a black belt?" the other asked.


    "Black belt in flirting," Lu Fei sneered only to invite Sun Nan''s annoying harassment.


    After the silly banters, the three of them enjoyed breakfast together at Eric''s villa before they disbanded to do their own things. Eric Wu went to his company while the other two plan to visit Bella Lim at her workplace.

 Chapter 27 - The change of event

    Meanwhile, a certain drunk woman had just woken up¡­


    Bella Lim felt a sharp headache on her head as soon as she opened her eyes. Groaning, she used her fingers to gently rub her temples. She stared at the ceiling for a while before slowly rose from her lying position. Her eyes ran over the alarm clock on the bedside table. She heaved in relief after seeing that there was ample time before her working hour starts.


    She looked at herself and realized that the black dress she bought from D''s boutique was still on her body. At the same time, everything that had happened last night came uninvited into her mind, impossible to appease the already painful headache she was feeling.


    "It was indeed him. I met Eric," she mumbled, hoping that by accepting the fact, she would feel better. In the end, she rolled on the bed and then screamed into her pillow.


    "So embarrassing!"


    Their meeting wasn''t supposed to be like this!


    Bella Lim returned to the night her life ended, and soon, the dire state Eric Wu was in came to her mind, giving her the comfort that what she experienced last night was nothing compared to the fear and anxiety she felt when seeing him in so much pain.


    Feeling better, she left her room.


    "Morning, big sis!" little pumpkin smiled when he saw Bella Lim came out from her room. Lily heard the greeting and turned around with a spoon in her hand.


    "Morning, I made you some hangover soup," she told her.


    "By the way, what really happened to you last night? Was the dinner awful?" she asked after seeing her approaching them.


    Last night, she was really worried after seeing Bella''s condition. However, when she wasn''t saying anything and kept on drinking, she gave up and went to sleep.


    "Morning little pumpkin," Bella Lim approached her little pumpkin and planted a kiss on his forehead. Then, she went to check Lily''s hangover soup.


    "I meet someone scary last night. He scared the shit out of me," Bella gave a small account of what she had experienced.


    She took a slurp of the soup, second, third, and soon, she took over the whole pot. Lily watched her greedily savored the soup and laughed.


    This wasn''t the first time she saw her getting drunk. However, it was definitely, the first time to hear that someone scared the shit out of her.


    "He? A man?" she asked with interest in her voice. She poured himself a cup of coffee while waiting for Bella to share more of her experience. For all she knew, this woman never showed any interest in men. Elis, the chef of Simply Caf¨¦ had been trying to woe her but failed miserably.


    "Uhuh," Bella acknowledged, then proceed to divert the story in a different direction: "Our new barista will come today, right?" she asked.


    In the past, Carla would report to work on the first day she worked as Simply Cafe''s manager. After the reborn, she wondered if it was still the same.


    Lily rose an eyebrow as she stared at Bella with a bemused look.


    "A new barista? You said before that Jordan wouldn''t recruit anymore after Carla. Has he agreed to lessen our burden?" she asked.


    Bella Lim was shocked. She looked at Lily who was also looking at her, waiting for her to respond to her last question.


    "Carla is already a worker? Did she report in yesterday?" she asked in surprise.


    "What are you talking about? She had been working for over a month already," Lily stared at Bella with a narrowed gaze. She thought that Bella was acting strange, yet, she couldn''t put her fingers on what it was.


    "Sorry, I tend to forget things after drinking. I completely forgot about Carla," Bella saw the look Lily was giving her and quickly made up an excuse.


    It seemed that another event in her past life had changed again! Was it because her position as manager came early? Therefore, certain events changed to fill the plots? But, this would make things complicated.


    "Really? How come..." Lily wasn''t convinced. "Do you still remember that she wanted your position?" she went on.


    Lily finally noticed the unusual thing about Bella. If it was any normal day, Carla would become a taboo topic since the feud between the two was quite severe. Bella would become depressed whenever someone talked about Carla.


    Yet, just now she talked about her in such a friendly way. What happened? Did they reconcile? That should be Impossible... A creased appeared on Lily''s forehead.


    Bella Lim coughed, inviting little pumpkin''s concern as he gently patted her back. "Thank you," she mouthed.


    The news she just heard was totally something that never happened in the past.


    In her eyes, Carla was always the perfect example of a good employee; punctual and dedicated. Even though she was quite the pampered princess in the beginning: whining and complaining when she had to learn things under her.


    So, what about the thing Lily was talking about?


    It was true that she wasn''t close to Carla, because she was newly employed. Regardless, she was certain that there was no bad blood between them. So why?


    "I think I have amnesia," she muttered in a low voice, but enough to reach Lily''s ears. The other frowned in disbelieve. Was there a case where people tend to forget things when they get drunk?


    "Really?" Lily asked with concerned. Although, she doubted what Bella was telling her, if there was really such a thing, then, Bella would be at a disadvantage.


    Carla wasn''t an easy opponent. She had good credits and often used them to get to Bella''s nerves. If she came to hit on Bella''s weakness again, Bella would experience the feeling of humiliation again.


    Lily watched Bella''s reaction and saw the wrinkle on her forehead. A constipated look plastered on her face. Seeing her struggling expression, sympathy replaced the doubt she had towards Bella. Perhaps, there was really such a thing.


    She had witnessed how terrifying Carla''s bullying was. This could become the primary factor that caused Bella to forget certain things in her life. Her physiological barrier wasn''t strong enough to go against Carla''s constant verbal ?ssault.


    "Carla had been working at the caf¨¦ for a month. She is Jordan''s cousin and a graduate of Azure University. She thought she was more qualified to be the manager because of her certificate. But¡­ who knows what Jordan was thinking," Lily explained while also observing the ever-changing expression on Bella''s face.


    "Are you okay?" she asked with eyes full of worry.


    "Big sis, are you okay?" little pumpkin who sat next to Bella also asked. He too had noticed the conflicted looks on his big sister''s face.


    Startled, Bella Lim lifted her face to look at the two anxious people. She smiled, indirectly telling them she was okay.


    "I remembered now," she looked at Lily, trying to convince her with a lie she needed to make. The other nodded satisfyingly. Seeing her lie made through, Bella exhaled.


    However, it was really surprising to listen to the account Lily was talking about. If Carla was indeed a bully and she was the victim... according to her past self, she wouldn''t retaliate if the other didn''t hurt her or anyone that close to her.


    "If she comes to you again, please don''t forget that you have me. It pissed me off when you simply listen and do nothing," Lily poured herself another cup of coffee after reminded Bella what she needed to do.


    Bella could only smile after listening to Lily''s rant. Was it really that bad?


    Whatever she would know once she meets her.


    The three of them finished their breakfast. Lily left early as she needed to return home to change her clothes.


    Bella Lim decided to bring little pumpkin along to the caf¨¦ since she hadn''t found a new school for him to attend.


    If it was like before, Jordan would never forbid her from doing so. Besides, little pumpkin was a good-natured kid, he would never make a chaos in the caf¨¦. He would just sit in one corner, drinking his milk while drawing or reading.


    He was her sweet, well-behaved little pumpkin.

 Chapter 28 - Wheres Carla?

    It was already 7.45 AM when Bella arrived at the caf¨¦ with little pumpkin. The moment she entered the caf¨¦, both Daniel and Elis approached her to congratulate her newly acquired position. She simply smiled and encouraged them to work harder. Lily arrived later, ten minutes before the caf¨¦ was opened. There was no sight of Carla.


    "Where is she? How can a caf¨¦ operate without a barista?" Lily complained. There were five minutes left before the caf¨¦ declared business open. Few customers were already peeking into the caf¨¦.


    "Is she trying to rebel now that Bella is the new manager?" Daniel sneered. He really didn''t like Carla. Elis didn''t say anything as his eyes were focusing on Bella and her little brother. A smile on his face.


    "Guys, it''s time to work!" Bella had just returned from checking on little pumpkin who clearly understand what he needed to do. He sat on a table in a corner and put on his favorite storybook as well as his coloring set on the table. Then, he politely asked his big sister to leave and not to worry about him.


    "Bell, how can we open a business when Carla is not here?" Lily approached her and began complaining.


    Bella Lim was seen frowning as she looked around. It was indeed true; Carla was nowhere in sight. She didn''t look for Jordan knowing that it was normal for him to come late.


    "I''ll take over for a while," Bella Lim put on an apron and walked to the familiar working space. The smell of coffee made her throbbing head felt better. The rest of the workers could only sigh and proceed to do what they needed to do.


    "Bell, will you be okay? How is your hangover?" Lily whispered.


    "Getting better," Bella smiled reassuringly. Lily nodded and left to greet a customer who just came in.


    An hour went by and Carla was still nowhere to be seen. Bella Lim began to yawn as sleepiness started to take over her alertness. The hangover she felt earlier was now receded to a comfortable sensation that almost lulled her to sleep. She yawned again.


    "I''m only late for an hour and you''re already yawning? Such an impolite manner!"


    Bella was stunned. She looked around to see who was talking in such a rude voice. She noticed that there was a woman standing beside her. On one look, she thought it was a stranger however, after closer inspection, she realized that the woman was Carla.


    ''Why are her lips so dark?'' she thought before beating herself inside her mind as the reason was simple: Carla was wearing a dark brown lipstick. It actually looked pretty on her, but it made others think she was unapproachable.


    "Thank God you''re here. I''ll leave the rest to you," Bella felt relieved once she recognized Carla. Now she could return to the manager''s room and catch some sleep. She smiled sweetly to the woman in front of her.


    "Where do you think you''re going?" Carla asked with eyes full of hatred. She positioned her body to block Bella''s from leaving. Although Bella called herself tiny, right now she couldn''t find a hole to slip through. At the same time, she was oblivious of the malice in Carla''s voice. Plus, she had long forgotten about her ''feud'' with Carla as recited by Lily.


    She thought Carla was just playing around.


    "I''m going to continue my work inside," Bella Lim answered. Her sweet smile was still on her face. Eyes looking directly at Carla without an inkling that the other was provoking her.


    In the payment counter, Lily and Daniel stared at the duo. They were looking at a particular person with worry.


    "Carla''s bullying her again," Daniel grunted. Lily sighed and nodded. She gave the balance money to Daniel and was ready to help Bella handling Carla''s intentional provocation.


    If it was like before, Bella being a kind-hearted person would retreat quietly without retaliating. Thankfully, there were not many customers in the caf¨¦, or Carla''s ridiculous behavior would bring the caf¨¦''s reputation to the ground.


    "Take care of the counter for me. I''ll help her," Lily said. Daniel agreed. As they were talking, they heard Carla''s voice again.


    "Do you know. You''re not fit as a manager? I''ve talked to Jordan''s father and he will take care of you for me," Carla glared at the woman in front of her. She hated Bella''s innocent look. Every time she saw her smile, her mind became consumed by anger. She hated her since the first day she met her.


    The fact that a younger person without any credential was her superior, she felt her ego being trampled on. She decided to be patient and wait until she had the chance to get rid of her. But, when Jordan insisted to choose her as the new manager, she let everything loose. Her disgust and her hatred.


    "What''s wrong with you?" Bella frowned, she thought that Carla''s behavior was really strange.


    Lily was about to step in between the two, but right at that moment, two male customers walked into the caf¨¦. She looked over at Daniel but he was occupied with another customer, she hesitantly approached the new customers, not forgetting to put a smile on her face.

 Chapter 29 - A profound slap

    "Welcome to Simply Caf¨¦," Lily welcomed the customer. A small frown appeared on her face when she noticed that one of the men was carrying a helmet. However, the frown disappeared the moment her eyes feast on the beautiful faces the two men possessed.


    ''Holy!'' her heart skipped a beat and the playboy side of her triggered.


    "Hi gorgeous, a table for two please," one of the men uttered with a wink. The other man smiled as his hand casually pushed the bridge of his eyeglasses. His manner was poised and controlled. Lily was mesmerized. She was only awakened when the first men called upon her.


    "Please, this way!" Lily ushered the two to sit on a table not far from little pumpkin who was looking at his big sister from afar.


    "May I have your order, please?" Lily tried to remain professional. However, she almost drooled when the two men smiled at her as they took the menu from her hand.


    "Miss Lily?" one of the men asked as if to confirm her name. His eyes were looking at the nameplate on her waitress uniform.


    "Yes, I am," Lily was excited when she heard her name being called. Damn, even his voice sounded handsome!


    "May I know-" the man was about to speak something when suddenly there was a loud voice shouting in anger. The man stopped talking and leaned forward to listen to what the voice was speaking about.


    "You''re not qualified to be a manager!"


    "Huh?" the man whose speech was interrupted craned his neck towards the voice''s direction. He was curious as to whom this rude voice was directed to.


    "Shit!" Lily unconsciously cursed, shocking the two men, who were now staring at her in bewilderment. "Sorry," she quickly apologized.


    The man was about to speak again when another voice echoed in the cafe. He frowned but decided to listen, curious as to how this soft-spoken individual would response.


    "What do you mean?" the voice was spoken in a calm manner, not taunted by the other''s mockery.


    "Sir¡­" Lily was about to excuse herself knowing that Carla and Bella Lim''s situation would turn worse at any moment. However, the men stopped her from walking.


    Lily wanted to ask why they stopped her, but soon noticed that the two good-looking men were looking at the direction where the fight was taking place. Their expression became thoughtful as if the fight had something to do with them.


    Then, their eyes flickered in realization, both tried to see who was talking. Soon, a disappointment flashed on their eyes as their effort went to waste. They could only see a woman with her lips smirked. The dark brown lipstick she wore made her look like a madwoman.


    Meanwhile, Bella Lim finally remembered the story told by Lily. Seeing Carla showing off her immaturity, she began to think if she had been hiding her personality in the past. And maybe, this was the future of her past. Such a complicated thought made Bella Lim frown.


    Carla saw the frown on Bella''s face and thought that she was mocking her.


    "What did I mean? Tch, don''t you see it yourself? You have no educational background. What makes you think you''re suitable for the position? Even your look is so-so, did you serve yourself to my cousin?" insult after insult left Carla''s lips. Right now, she really didn''t care if customers were to complain. In fact, she was happy to taint Bella Lim''s image in front of everyone.


    "Carla, please respect our customers. And- I don''t have much patience to deal with you right now," Bella Lim felt her heart shaking, the throb in her head was now gone. She knew her limit had reached its end. Another pushed, and her patient would fall off the cliff. Therefore, she tried to reason with Carla before everything went out of control. She also thought of leaving, but the woman''s tall figure blocked the only path she could take.


    "Shit, this hag is going overboard!" Lily was about to walk over when the two men suddenly rose from their seats. She thought they were about to leave the caf¨¦. Her heart conflicted whether to run to Bella Lim''s side or to persuade these fine gentlemen to stay. However, when she heard their conversation, her eyes widened in shock!


    "Sun Nan, isn''t that Bella''s voice?"


    "Yes, that''s her. Fuck, who''s the bitch!"


    "Shh, don''t make a ruckus. Bella''s voice sounded calm. Let her handle this,"


    "Lu Fei, if she''s hurt, I''ll make sure the other experience hell!"


    Sun Nan and Lu Fei? Lily frowned after knowing their names. She thought the names were familiar. Where did she hear these names? And¡­ what was their relationship with Bella? Curiosity encouraged Lily to investigate more, but Carla''s grating voice reached her ears, making her furious.


    "Hahaha! Who are you to advise me? What qualifications do you have?"


    "You only have that witch face of yours. Admit it, you must have seduced my cousin for the position right?"


    Sigh.


    Bella Lim exhaled, trying to calm her erratic mind. For the sake of the caf¨¦, she cannot allow Carla to make more ruckus. This woman was a lunatic.


    "Carla, you''re delusional, rude, disrespectful and immature. You''re not suited to work in a cafe that promotes a peaceful atmosphere. Therefore..." Bella Lim''s clear, blue eyes stared at the woman in front of her. Her gaze was unsettlingly calm, creating waves of uncertainty to those who met her eyes.


    She knew things had gotten worse. Unpleasant whispers were going around in the cafe and some cutomers decided to leave. She reckoned these people wouldn''t come anymore. To prevent losing more customers, there was only one thing that she could do by using her power as the manager.


    "Carla, you''re fired!" in an orotund voice, she declared. Then, she stepped forward and took the nameplate with Simply Caf¨¦''s logo on Carla''s ?h?st. Next, she pulled the woman''s hand towards the door, pulled it open, and pushed Carla''s body outside. After, she slammed the door and asked Daniel to stand guard.


    "Dear customers, sorry for the commotion. As compensation, there''ll be 10 percent discount effective to all items in today''s menu," she declared. Then, she put on her casual face and stood at the coffee bars, ready to serve people.


    Lily and everyone who was watching was shocked at the surprising outcome. No one was expecting Bella to retaliate, especially the workers at Simply Caf¨¦ who had witnessed Carla''s successful bullying before. They thought the fight would end in Carla''s favor. In the end, their ?ssumption was returned in the form of a profound slap.


    Just now, they have witnessed how Carla struggled to shake off Bella Lim''s hand, alas, it was all for nothing. She had easily chased her out of the premise, declaring her authority.


    Her method was simple yet ruthless! Even if Jordan Lee, the owner of the caf¨¦ was to blame her, he couldn''t because everyone knows that Bella Lim did it for the sake of Simply Caf¨¦''s reputation. If it wasn''t because of that, then why did she declare a 10 percent discount? Obviously, to appease the eyes and ears of the customers!


    "Fuck, she''s too awesome!"


    "I told you, she could handle it,"


    "Damn! I hate it when you predict correctly,"


    "I didn''t predict. It''s called confident,"


    "Yeah, whatever,"


    Lily was still standing near Sun Nan and Lu Fei''s table, therefore, she could hear every word loud and clear. A smile appeared on her face after listening to their funny exchanged.


    "Cough¡­ gentlemen, what would you like to order?" she asked, returning to her earlier flirting style.


    "One Bella please!" Sun Nan rose his hand, grinning widely.


    "Bella, Bella!" he waved, calling her name again and again for the sake of attention.


    Lily was speechless. Lu Fei gobsmacked.

 Chapter 30 - The two of you dont look similar!

    Bella Lim was making Caf¨¦ Breve when she heard someone called her name many times. She looked around and as if being poured a bucket of cold water, she shivered. Why must she see these two again? Wait, were they already here when the fight started? If they were here then¡­ God, how embarrassing!


    Sun Nan waved his hand again and then he lifted the helmet on the table, indirectly telling Bella why they came. He grinned after receiving her awkward response.


    "Gentlemen, may I know about your relationship with Bella?" Lily was truly curious. Jealousy was germinated inside her weird, dirty mind after seeing their way of interacting with Bella. Yet, she was also excited because knowing Bella, she wouldn''t be taking two men all for herself, unlike her who preferred things a bit spicy!


    Cough.


    Lily almost choke on her own saliva with the impure thought she had. Then, she heard the one called Lu Fei talked.


    "We meet last night," Lu Fei explained as he also made a brief description of their encounter, dismissing the details that he knew Bella didn''t want to recount. He had seen her reaction when Sun Nan''s announced their presence to her. The subtle change on her face made him sad because the other came across unwelcoming. Did she dislike them? He hoped not.


    Bella Lim could only remain unaffected right now so that she could finish the current order with professionalism and passion. Soon, she walked out of the coffee bars and walked towards the table occupied by Sun Nan and Lu Fei.


    "Sis, could you cover my position?" Bella Lim stood next to Lily. She looked at the other with a helpless expression.


    On the way there, she heard some customers especially the ladies were talking about how good-looking these two men were. There was also a talk about her. The weirdo who attracted these people''s attention. Now, she needed a thick face so that she could talk with ease to the two unexpected customers.


    "Sure, but you need to spill the tea after this," Lily said with a wink. She left without seeing the bitter smile on Bella''s face.


    Bella Lim tittered. She knew it! Lily was definitely smitten to the handsome look of Sun Nan and Lu Fei. As someone who lived life to the fullest in the ''relationship'' criteria, it was almost impossible for her to ignore their existence.


    Staring at Sun Nan and Lu Fei, she felt apologetic. Apologetic because knowing Lily, that woman would do anything just to get the attention of the man or men she liked.


    "Bella, nice to meet you again! This helmet brought us here. Not to forget, Eric had sent your bike to a workshop. It should be done by tomorrow," Sun Nan was too excited that he actually held Bella''s hand throughout the whole time. Lu Fei had been giving him the signal to let go, but the other was too stubborn, jeering at him as responses.


    Lu Fei sighed as he stared at Sun Nan in indignant. This man simply did things whatever he liked, without checking whether the other approved of it or not. Right now, Bella looked really uncomfortable! Her ears reddened and frowned was b?r?ly suppressed from appearing on her face. These were psychological responses from someone who was angry!


    Lu Fei felt his mind stirred. This woman seemed to have a lot of personalities!


    "Excuse me, sir!" everyone was startled by the sudden appearance of a cute little boy in their table.


    Lu Fei was the first to notice the arrival of this cute boy. Sun Nan was mesmerized as he let go of Bella''s hand and ran to the other side of the table just so he could grab on the little boy''s cheek. They were too cute, puffing in a way resembling a pumpkin.


    "Little pumpkin?" Bella recognized the boy as she turned around only to see the flare in his big eyes.


    Meanwhile, Lu Fei had detected the immediate cooling down on Bella''s face the moment she saw the little boy. It seemed that she was freed from her earlier temperament.


    "What happened?" Bella asked, scrutinizing her little pumpkin''s face. This was the first time she saw him looked angry. His thick eyebrows were near to kiss each other. Mouth pouted in a way that was even sharper than before. He looked dangerously cute! Who angered him?


    "Big sister, this man grabbed your hand without consent! Pumpkin is angry and comes here to protect you!" little pumpkin declared as he seized Sun Nan''s hand that was about to hold his cheek. His eyes stared at Sun Nan without holding back his annoyance towards him.


    Little pumpkin had been sitting quietly in the corner all these while. When he saw his big sister in an argument with someone, he wasn''t worried because he believed it was the other party that would lose in the end. He had seen how badass his big sister was when she went against Mdm Ann. The other had been talking non-stopped only to receive a big slap!


    Although his big sister was tiny, little pumpkin believed that she wouldn''t lose to anyone! And that fact had been proven to be the truth a while ago when his big sister amazingly kicked the woman with vampire''s lipstick ?ss!


    Little pumpkin thought that it would be the final trouble for his big sister, who knew there were other people eyeing her. Two men to be exact!


    He ?ssumed that these men were attracted to his big sister''s charm and wanted to woe her. When he saw one of the men held his big sister''s hand without constraint, he knew it was time for the only man in the family to make a move. So, little pumpkin made his move!


    "Bella, this-this is your little brother?" Sun Nan was still clueless of the fire in little pumpkin''s eyes. He was looking back and forth to see the resemblance between the two people.


    "The two of you don''t look similar," he said, taking one final look.


    "Yep, I''m certain. You two have no resemblance to each other," Sun Nan was certain as he shook his head while giving his inspection.


    "He''s my little brother. Ryan Lim," Bella answered as she looked at Sun Nan, feeling offended. There was wary on her face. Hidden emotion was evoked and tried to consume the calmness emitted in her eyes. However, it was quickly quelled with a blink.


    Sun Nan being as oblivious as ever, didn''t notice the faint anger in Bella''s voice. He proceeded to pinch the little boy''s cheek.


    "Why do you look so angry, little boy?" he asked with a giggling face.


    "Humph! Sir, if I see you hold my big sister''s hand again... I''ll make sure to bite your ear!" little pumpkin stated his verdict, making the three people look at him in shock.


    "Bite-bite my ear off?" Sun Nan was dumbstruck. He stared at Bella with pitiful eyes, begging her to clear his name off of the little boy''s law book.


    Bella Lim couldn''t help but laugh. So, this was the reason her little pumpkin showed an angry expression? How cute! She hugged little pumpkin with a blissful smile. She could almost see how protective her little pumpkin when he grows up!


    Meanwhile, Lu Fei who was holding back his laughter couldn''t control them anymore. He burst into a peal of laughter and stared at Sun Nan with mocking eyes. Serve your right! was the thing he wanted to convey.


    "Fuck you, bro!" Sun Nan stabbed the man next to him with his elbow. However, right at that moment, little pumpkin''s voice was heard.


    "Big sister, who actually is this man, why is he speaking so rude?" this remark once again put Sun Nan on the spotlight as the two ?du?ts laughed at him with absolute p???sur?.


    "Pumpkin, these two people are big sister''s acquaintances. They are here to return my helmet," she explained. After seeing Sun Nan''s miserable image, she began to sympathize with him.


    "Ohh¡­ are they good people?" little pumpkin asked again. Right now, his eyes were staring at Lu Fei, making the other feel that he was questioning him instead of Bella.


    "Don''t worry, we will not harm your sister," Lu Fei finally handled the situation. He looked at little pumpkin with a smile on his face, showing him how sincere he was.


    "Who is he, big sister?" little pumpkin asked. Hence, Bella Lim took the chance to introduce the two men to her little pumpkin.


    "I see. Big brother Lu Fei, nice to meet you," little pumpkin gave him the cutest smile, inviting the other man jealousy.


    "Not fair! Little Ryan, what about me?" Sun Nan asked desperately. He stared at the little pumpkin with puppy eyes.


    "Hmm, little pumpkin forgives you this time but remember, there is no next time. Please treat my big sister well!" little pumpkin said as he also bowed a little. Right after, he asked for his big sister''s permission to return to his table. Bella Lim nodded and accompanied little pumpkin until he finally settled down, returning to his previous activity.


    Quite some time had passed when Bella went back to the previous table in which two people were eagerly waiting for her.

 Chapter 31 - Friendship offer

    "Thank you for bringing my helmet," Bella Lim sat on one of the available chairs and thanked them. Seeing the two were looking at her with intense eyes, she was getting nervous. Though, it didn''t last long when both smiled at her warmly.


    However, seeing their smiles caused her to recall last night''s events for the nth time. Although the embarrassment was unbearable, without them plus Eric Wu, she would be roasted by Jordan this morning. Now that she thought about it, it was weird for Jordan to come really late today. Wasn''t he curious about the result of her interview?


    She felt that there was a thunderstorm waiting ahead but decided to ignore it for now. At this moment, she had two people that required her full attention.


    "I also want to thank you for last night," Bella Lim said with clarity. She was really grateful.


    "I don''t have anything precious with me to repay your kindness. However, if there is anything that you need my help with, I''m all ears. As long as it''s within my capabilities, I definitely will help," she smiled. This was something she should''ve said in the beginning.


    "Friendship," Lu Fei and Sun Nan spoke in unison. They looked at each other and laughed. Both knew that Bella Lim would offer something as payback for their help last night. This was the moment they have been waiting for.


    They have discussed this matter on their way to Simply Cafe and reminded each other to jump on it when there saw an opportunity. Now that she had stated her offer, they wouldn''t hesitate to offer their friendship and get hers in return. Of course, if the other gave her consent to it.


    "We really appreciate it, if you could become our friend. Besides, it''s boring to have no other friend other than Eric in this country," Sun Nan spoke, eyes brimmed with hopes. Lu Fei could only smile as he agreed to what Sun Nan was saying.


    "That¡­" Bella Lim was surprised to hear their request. She was happy but afraid at the same time. For them to call a friendship as compensation, she felt she wasn''t good enough to be one.


    "Please don''t push us aside because of our status. We''re just like you, a normal person," Lu Fei spoke. He saw the struggle and confusion on Bella Lim''s face and thought that she probably was thinking that she was unworthy or something along the line. However, if she knew how they started from nothing, would she think the same?


    Listening to Lu Fei, Bella Lim felt her heart softened. Deep down, she wanted to happily accept their request however, she was indeed worried because who was she? Just a nobody.


    But, wasn''t this a good thing for her? This was a rarity chance to get close to Eric Wu, the man that she vowed to protect in this lifetime.


    Thinking about him, Bella Lim became restless again. If she asked him to become her friend, would he accept it?


    Probably not.


    Bella Lim internally sneered at herself. She wouldn''t dare to ask for much. She should be grateful that Lu Fei and Sun Nan was willing to become her friend. Besides, these two were crucial too... she knew a lot of things that Eric Wu did in the past which involved the two.


    "Thank you. It''s a p???sur? to be your friend," she smiled as she offered her hand. However, Sun Nan ditched it as he went to hug Bella, leaving the other feeling dumbfounded.


    This time, Lu Fei saw that Bella Lim wasn''t as rigid as before where Sun Nan had brazenly held her hand. Right now, she was only surprised without an indication of loathe.


    "Okay, that''s enough. I should make a phone call to Eric," Lu Fei pulled Sun Nan away from Bella Lim who was now looking at him with questioning eyes.


    "We''ll gather at Eric''s house tomorrow evening. I''m going to ask for his permission to bring you along," Lu Fei explained and took out his phone to dial Eric''s number. He laughed when he saw her eyes widened in shock.


    "I don''t think that''s¡­" Bella Lim wanted to protest but it seemed that the phone call was already connected.


    Meanwhile, in Wu Corporation building, a man was facing an elderly man who was staring at him with angry eyes.


    "I told you not to bring the two rascals. What are they doing here and not mind their own business in their own countries?" the elderly man spoke with anger. He harrumphed every time his eyes met the eyes of the man sitting in front of him.


    "Grandpa, if it wasn''t because of the two, you would''ve married me to a weird woman," the man calmly responded, not bothered with the elderly man''s temper. He knew the other simply want to vent his anger.


    "Eric, my grandson, even if that was the truth, you should''ve shown up and prevented the old snake from calling me disrespectful!" Wu Tianyao was the elderly man. He stared at his grandson, Eric Wu in displeasure.


    He recalled asking this grandson of his to come to the gathering last night, but until the end, he didn''t even show up. What more, this rascal even invited his two noisy friends. How close is their friendship for the two to willingly came to Azure just to mess up his plan?


    Wu Tianyao wasn''t against their friendship, instead, he was really grateful to the two. He knew they were sincere to his grandson, but their sincerity annoyed him because every time he tried to match his grandson to someone else, the two would be so willing to become the scapegoats.


    "Grandpa, don''t worry. I¡­" I would find my mate someday, was what Eric Wu wanted to say, but was interrupted with the sudden ring of his personal phone. He looked at the caller and saw Lu Fei''s contact info.


    "Grandpa, I need to answer this call. After this, let''s have lunch together," Eric Wu said as he rose from his seat. After receiving no verbal responses from his grandpa, he walked towards the glass wall. He stared at the skyscrapers'' view outside of his office as he answered Lu Fei''s call.

 Chapter 32 - She could be the lead to her

    "Yes?" he was the first to speak.


    "Bro, I''ve got something to tell you," Lu Fei replied.


    "Shoot away," Eric Wu responded.


    "About the gathering tomorrow, Sun Nan and I have decided to bring Bella along. You should''ve no complained right," instead of beating around the bush, Lu Fei cut to the chase.


    Besides, according to what had happened last night, it was obvious that Eric Wu was paying extra attention to Bella as well. For whatever reason, he wouldn''t be against the idea, right?


    Eric Wu pulled the phone away and stared at it for a while. He was surprised for Lu Fei to suddenly talked about Bella.


    Bella Lim. The moment this name was brought up, he instantly reminded of the woman in his dream.


    Last night, he was really shocked after discovering their resemblance, although the other was older compared to the one in his dream. Maybe, if she came tomorrow, he would get the chance to know the origin of the woman in his dream.


    Eric Wu was elated. Regarding the mysterious person in his dream, he was willing to go miles just to find out about her. The first step had been given; Bella Lim could be the key that would lead him to her.


    "You certain about her?" he asked. Although mentally, he already agreed to the idea of inviting Bella Lim, he also understood the risk of bringing another person in their circle. Especially when you have a blabbermouth in the group: Sun Nan.


    "Don''t worry. I''m certain," confident. That was the thing he caught from the way Lu Fei was speaking. He understood him well. If this guy thought highly of someone, it meant that the person was trustworthy.


    However, after observing Bella Lim for the whole night last night, he felt that she was someone he couldn''t really put his finger through. Most of the time, she appeared timid and clumsy and then out of nowhere, she showed incredible foresight and fearless.


    A woman like this, Eric Wu believed was dangerous. Someone he couldn''t read, although meek, would always become the someone he needed to be cautious of. In addition, Bella Lim seemed to know a secret he had been keeping from the public eyes.


    "Bro?" Eric Wu was startled and then recalled that he was still on a phone call with Lu Fei.


    "Sure. If you''re confident, then I''ve got no issue," he gave his consent. If Bella Lim turned out to be a problem, he would just take care of her using his usual way of dealing with nuisance.


    "Good. I''ll hang up¡­ oh wait, Bella, wants to speak with you,"


    "Mr-Mr Eric," this should be Bella. She seemed nervous. He recalled that last night, she spoke with him in this manner too as if she was scared.


    "Yes," he replied with his usual toneless voice.


    "T-thank you for taking care of my bike. Once I receive the invoice, I-I''ll pays you back," she stated her purpose of wanting to speak with him.


    "Sure," Eric Wu answered. "Anything else?" he asked. Speaking with this woman, he felt like the devil. Why must she stutter? It wasn''t like she would suffer if she speaks normally. Sigh¡­ Eric Wu internally breathed out.


    "Nothing. T-thank you again," that was the end of her voice. Soon, he heard Lu Fei''s voice again before the phone call was ended. Eric Wu spent another minute watching a flock of birds flying in the sky. Tired of the view, he turned around.


    Greeting his eyes was his grandpa, staring at the aquarium wall while also mumbling to one of the Platinum Arowanas in it. The corner of his lips curved upward upon witnessing the sight. Then, he walked over to remind the old man that it was time for their lunch.


    ***


    At Simply Caf¨¦, Sun Nan was having a blast. He had been listening to the phone call and was really amused when it was Bella Lim''s turned to speak. The way she nervously bit her bottom lips made him felt that she was truly funny.


    "Bella, even if you like Eric, you shouldn''t be nervous," he said and laughed.


    Bella Lim''s eyes bulged in annoyance. She couldn''t help it, that man was too scary! Just now, listening to his voice alone almost made her let go of the phone in fear.


    "Who said that I like him," she argued and once again glared at Sun Nan in exasperation.


    "Sun Nan, stop making fun of Bella," Lu Fei was also tempted to make fun of the woman in front of him but after seeing her pitiful state due to Sun Nan''s teasing, he told himself not to add to the injury.


    "Okay, okay!" Sun Nan held both hands as a signed that he surrendered. Alas, not a second went by and he burst out laughing again, inviting two deathly glares from both his sides.


    "Shit, sorry!" he muttered and finally the laughter ended.


    "Are you guys staying here or leaving?" Bella Lim asked as she noticed that many people were coming inside the caf¨¦. She realized that Lily and Daniel would not be able to cater to the demands of these waves of customers.


    "We''re leaving. We plan to visit some places," Lu Fei answered. Then, he rose from his chair followed by Sun Nan who also took the helmet on the table and gave it to Bella Lim.


    "Thank you," Bella Lim took the helmet and walked them to the door.


    "See you tomorrow," Lu Fei said before turning around. Bella nodded as she waved them goodbye. Once their figures were gone from her sight, she walked in and presume her work as usual.

 Chapter 33 - Lily was intoxicated

    5.15 PM


    Simply Cafe was now closed for business. Outside, Lily was cleaning the table near the entrance while Bella Lim was hanging the closed sign to officially end today''s business. Now and then, she would take a peek on Lily who was also staring at her once in a while. Her action was so obvious that Bella Lim wanted to flee the area as soon as she can.


    "Bella, how did you meet them again?"


    Sigh. Here we go again. Bella Lim closed her eyes as she pursed her lips. Then, a weak chuckle left her mouth.


    "Big sis... are you for real?" she asked in a desperate manner. This had been the nth time Lily was asking her about Sun Nan and Lu Fei. She had been so kind in the first round, providing every information that she got regarding the two. Yet, Lily was like a broken jar, unsatiable. Her eyes showed the deep intoxication she had for the two men.


    "Lil sis, how can you compare your feeling of helplessness to what I''m feeling right now. Do you know how painful it is being unable to hold them while they were here? Now that they were gone, I need to find a reason to meet them again. You are my only hope. Please~" Lily''s singsong voice was enhanced with her pleading eyes. The effect was quite potent as Bella Lim was almost persuaded to entertain her questions again.


    Thankfully, she didn''t. Bella Lim clicked her teeth before successfully looked away to avoid the other''s coaxing.


    "Bell, my curiosity is eating up my sanity! At least tell me about either one of them. How about Sun Nan... ah..no, Lu Fei... eh, Sun Nan... Ugghh, whatever, are they married? Do they have a girlfriend? Why don''t you give me their contact number," Lily pestered as she threw the towel on her hand to Daniel who went past her. She chased after Bella Lim who was trying to avoid her. Her steps were small yet quick making her look like running.


    Bella Lim finally stopped once she reached the drinking bar and sighed at the amount of effort Lily was making just to get the answer she wanted. She tilted her head up and saw Lily was smiling down at her, hand clinging onto hers. "I''m not letting go until you tell me," was what she proclaimed.


    "Sis, I''ve told you that I don''t have their contact number. Besides, I only met them yesterday night and they came today just to deliver my helmet. That was it. Period. If you ask me again, I''m going to get angry," Bella Lim threatened. This was her last resort.


    She realized that Lily was gauzing her up. Her face explained it all that she was doubting her. Thankfully, she soon let go of her hand.


    "Aright, I''m sorry. Please, don''t be angry," Lily rubbed her shoulder against Bella Lim''s while sneakily took a peek at her face.


    "Don''t get mad~" she trailed her words while rubbing herself further.


    Such action brought a smile to Bella Lim''s face. She chuckled, pushing the woman who acted like sticky gum. A few moments later, both were laughing at each other.


    "Damn, stop laughing!" Lily bent herself as her hand finds support. Then, she said: "Actually, I''m just excited to see two powerful men become fond of you. I listened to their conversations when you were quarreling with Carla and thought that they were really concerned. You said that you only know them yesterday but from what I see, they were treating you like someone precious," a soft chuckle left her lips.


    This time she wasn''t joking around. Even though her love of handsome men was the reason of her curiosity, she was also interested in these men because of how they treated Bella Lim. She had seen and heard with both her sight and hearing how Sun Nan promised to put Carla''s life into fiery hell if Bella Lim was hurt. His determined face was fresh in Lily''s memories.


    Lily heaved out at the recollection and stared at Bella Lim, trying to see her response. She pouted after confirming that the other refused to give her a satisfactory response.


    Bella Lim''s cheek lifted a bit as she gave a half-smile. The moment she caught sight of Lily''s pouting lips, the smile intensified which finally ended in the form of laughter.


    "You look... so disappointed," she pointed out, still trying to repress her laughter. Lily sneered as she lightly bumped her fist onto Bella Lim''s shoulder.


    "Meanie," she mouthed and then swayed her bum, leaving the scene gracefully. Bella Lim was once again thrown in the pit of humor when she saw Lily confidently walked away with her supermodel gait.


    Bella Lim might look unaffected to others'' eyes but in reality, she was overwhelmed by Sun Nan and Lu Fei''s warm treatment towards her. It was indeed weird if one was to put logic onto it, however, she knew feeling couldn''t be repressed. Like her affection to Eric Wu, perhaps these two were feeling the same as well. Maybe, they felt a good connection with her.


    Anyway, now that everything was done as to how fate wanted it to be, Bella Lim could only be grateful. In this new life of her, she scored a good friendship. Although, little pumpkin was her source of happiness, having someone to care for you and be concerned for you... it felt good. To be honest, she felt secure.


    If only Eric Wu shared her sentiment. Sigh. She promised to earn his favor slowly but surely!

 Chapter 34 - Youre demoted!

    "Bella, did Jordan contacted you? I''m afraid Carla had contacted him," Elis walked out of the kitchen and approached Bella Lim at the coffee bar. He stared at her with a worried look, however, she simply glanced at him without responding.


    "I''m afraid, things will get worse after this. Carla is Jordan''s cousin and I heard that her father was the closest to Jordan''s father. What if..."


    "Jordan will not fire me," Bella Lim said ?ssuredly, cutting the other''s speech. Elis nodded but his face apparently disagreed. A few lines were formed between his eyebrows making his face looked dreadful.


    "I know you''re the biggest reason for this cafe''s success, but you should know Carla''s true intention by now. She wants to take over the cafe and you are her biggest threat," Elis spoke again. He smiled charmingly when Bella Lim finally turned to look at him. He rejoiced at his successfulness to make the woman showed a bit of curiosity. This way he could stare at her without holding back.


    He gulped as wicked thought began to form in his mind.


    Indeed, Bella Lim was intrigued. She only knew that Carla was interested in replacing her as Simply Cafe''s manager. However, if Elis was speaking the truth, could it be that her annoying act was just the outer layer of her real intention.


    Still, she wasn''t the kind of person who would accuse someone without solid evidence.


    "Elis, you know that I hate rumors. Although Carla is dislikeable, you shouldn''t say things casually without backing them up," she advised him. Then, she proceeds to do her work, organizing the utensils. He noticed the man was getting closer to her.


    "Carla was the one who told me this. That''s why Bella, you shouldn''t be too harsh on her next time. What if you''ll get fired because of it?"


    Bella Lim''s sneered with an eyebrow rose. Her hands which were cleaning a cup with a soft towel paused in the air. Elis was always the guy she found awkward to interact, be it in her past life or present. This man was creepy.


    "Even if I''ll get fired, it''s none of your business," she stated. Right now, she just wanted to leave him because a foreboding feeling was alerting her to be cautious of this man.


    "Bella..." Elis muttered as he walked even closer to Bella Lim who was now removing her apron. He looked at the woman of his admiration, seeing her face being so casual, a knot was tied inside his heart.


    Elis was tempted to hold Bella Lim''s shoulder...


    Bang!


    Suddenly, an impactful sound shocked the people inside Simply Cafe. Everyone was looking at the door which suddenly flung open giving them the shock of the day.


    Bella Lim saw Elis''s hand that was about to touch her shoulder retracted in a quick manner. She noticed the sudden anxiety on his face which also disappeared within seconds. Her brows knitted at this.


    Regardless, she soon lost interest and now was looking at the door. There, a man in a printed suit made his entrance. This was her boss; Jordan Lee.


    "Boss, you''re here!" Daniel who was the closest to the door greeted the man who just entered. However, he was ignored as the man continued to walk until he reached the center of the cafe lounge.


    "Bella!" he shouted when his eyes pinpointed Bella Lim''s location.


    All eyes were on Bella Lim when they heard Jordan Lee shouted her name. Everyone was secretly speculating. However, most believe that the boss was calling the other''s name in such a harsh manner because of today''s unexpected event; Carla''s dismissal of her position as Simply Cafe''s worker.


    "Boss, you came!" Bella Lim announced and then looked at the man with joy. She had been waiting for him to show up as she was really excited to share the news of last night''s interview.


    She promised to share the good news with Jordan Lee in person and let him conveys it to all the coworkers at Simply Cafe. This was also the reason why she was confident that Jordan Lee wouldn''t penalize her for today''s incident because she scored good merit home.


    As she stepped out of the drinking bar, another two persons made an entrance.


    Carla and an old man in a blue suit.


    Bella Lim felt something was wrong after seeing the two people.


    "You''re Bella?" the old man walked towards Bella Lim with a sneer on his face. Carla who was now standing by Jordan Lee''s side smirked.


    Bella Lim stared at the old man who was marching towards her. His aggressive manner made her stood with wariness.


    Suddenly, there were two tiny hands spreading in front of the old man who seemed impatient to get his hand on Bella Lim.


    "Tch, and who is this brat!" the old man jeered, trying to scare the little boy away. However, the little boy simply stood there without showing any fear. He stared at the old man as if threatening him from taking another step.


    "Pumpkin!" Bella Lim was alarmed. She went to little pumpkin who was blocking the old man. "Why are you out here? I told you to wait for me inside the room?" she asked as she crouched down to match little pumpkin''s height.


    "Old uncle, why are you coming with so much anger? Are you trying to hurt my big sister?" he asked fearlessly.


    The old man stopped in his track as he looked at the little boy with an ugly frown on his face. Everyone in the cafe was dumbfounded at the little boy''s bravery.


    "How shameless. Who are you to speak to my uncle like that?" Carla stepped forward as she tried to shove little pumpkin to the side. However, she froze as she felt a strong force was restraining her movement. She looked at the hand''s owner and saw Bella Lim was staring at her intensely. She cowered as fear began to creep inside her mind. This was the oppressive feeling she felt earlier this morning.


    Carla couldn''t believe that she was fired by Bella Lim today. She had been working with Bella for quite some time and thought that she was timid as a person. That was why she wasn''t afraid to make trouble for this woman.


    However, this morning''s incident had truly humiliated her. Her hatred towards Bella Lim was getting intense. Therefore, she decided to get revenge. She thought the best way to get back to this woman was to humiliate her and to do that she wanted to remind her of her status as a commoner. Thus, she had persuaded Jordan''s father to come along as the accessory to make Bella Lim terrified of her or to be exact the power behind her.


    But, it seemed that she had miscalculated. This woman wasn''t frightened at all. In fact, it was she who was repressed. She couldn''t unshackle the fear that was gripping her heart. This woman was too intimidating!


    Carla tried to look calm, however, when Bella Lim let go of her hand, she subconsciously stepped back as if running away from her. She touched her wrist to ease the pain.


    "Bella, how dare you!" Jordan Lee yelled as he moved forward and checked on Carla''s wrist. He was relieved to see it unharmed. He moved to the side. Now, the trio was standing side by side, creating a wall in front of Bella Lim and little pumpkin.


    "Jordan, what is happening?" Bella Lim asked. Her eyes were looking at the man with a sharp look as if trying to get his answer by reading his mind.


    "Bella, I''ve reminded you before that the only person who can recruit and fire people is me and me alone. How dare you misused your power! That''s why, from now on, Carla is the manager. That is also for everyone''s attention!" Jordan Lee announced as he looked around the cafe, ignoring the shocking faces of everyone.

 Chapter 35 - Cutting ties

    Finally, his eyes rested on Bella Lim who was now looking at him in disbelief.


    Bella Lim scoffed after realizing how naived she was. She should have known...


    "Did you know what had really happened? If I didn''t fire her, do you think people will still come to this cafe?" Bella Lim retaliated. Now, she understood their reason for coming here today: to make fun of her.


    Jordan squizzed his eyes. This woman should understand her situation by now. Why was she being so difficult?


    "Whether people come or not, you went against the order of your superior!" the old man interjected. His eyes were conceited as if reminding her about her low status.


    "Old man, are you Jordan''s father?" Bella Lim asked without showing any reverence. This man didn''t deserve to be respected, because all he did was taunting and looking down on her.


    "That''s good if you know. You should be grateful that my son didn''t give you punishment harsher than a demotion. If it was me, I''ve long chased you out," the old man snorted.


    "Is it? By the way, why are you here? Don''t tell me, these people brought you along as decoration of power? Isn''t it Carla?" Bella Lim chuckled as she glanced at Carla who was looking at her in anger.


    Bella Lim never met Jordan Lee''s father but she knew what kind of person he was. A conceited man that easy to fall under the manipulation of others.


    In fact, Jordan Lee had cheated a huge sum of money for the cafe''s development from this man without the man realizing it.


    "So what? I am indeed a powerful man," the old man sneered as he noticed the hidden meaning in her sentence. He swept a look on Carla''s face who was now nervously looking at him.


    Bella Lim was amused, she waited if the man would scold his niece. However, the old man simply looked away and then sat in one of the chairs with a thud sound. He clearly was angry but was m?tur?d enough not to ruin his family''s reputation. Carla was his family.


    This was unexpected. Bella Lim applauded the man for his strong self-restraint. When the man praised himself as a powerful man, she almost laughed because who was he? This family was indeed rich but among the aristocrats, they were truly nothing. In fact, they were seen as commoners too.


    Jordan Lee noticed that Bella Lim had managed to sow misunderstanding between his father and his cousin with mere words. He gritted his teeth in annoyance. He knew why Carla had brought his father here. At first, he was against the idea but Carla persuaded him to bring his father along.


    Yet, looked at the outcome? This was all because of Bella Lim. Their words were not enough to break her ego.


    Wait, how did this woman become so formidable? Similar to last night, this woman suddenly became intelligence with her words that he had to sacrifice 1000AD just to make her attend a dinner party. Who in the whole Azure had taught her to be this crafty?


    "Bella, I only demoted you. If it wasn''t because of your excellent contribution last night, I''ve long fired you," Jordan Lee broke the silence of awkwardness.


    Surprised, Bella Lim looked at Jordan Lee with a frown on her face which gradually eased to her normal countenance.


    "So you knew? Hahaha... tsk, how disgraceful," Bella Lim snorted. She looked at him again, to see if there was a trace of guilt in his eyes. Nope, all she saw was greediness and disgust.


    Although Bella Lim didn''t like Jordan Lee as a boss, she never disobeyed his order. Instead, she executed every instruction perfectly. The cafe''s prosperity was mostly because of her contribution. Alas, it seemed that all her efforts meant nothing to his eyes.


    Bella Lim sighed. Why was it after being reborn, everything in her life wasn''t following the original script? Moreover, this was only her second day. What had she done so wrong in her previous life that she had to go through this hassle?


    Exhausting. She was exhausted.


    Bella Lim closed her eyes. For the first time ever, she felt that her honor was trampled. What was the meaning of being demoted? It was to show that she was just a nobody.


    "You should be grateful that you''re only being demoted," Carla spoke after being silent for a long time. She chuckled as she sat on a chair with her leg crossed. Her eyes were looking down on Bella Lim''s tiny body. Her gaze cruel as if she was trying to skin her alive. The old man was also doing the same, taunting her with every blink. It seemed that these two have come to a temporary truce. They were now working together to get back to Bella Lim.


    "Heh! demoted?" Bella Lim scoffed as she went to take little pumpkin who was hugged by Lily. She held his arms and look at his eyes tenderly. Then, she turned around to face the three sinister people.


    "Jordan, did you know what makes this cafe so interesting to the judges last night?" she asked with a sardonic smile on her face. The target simply stared at her blankly.


    "I''ve made up a certain lie. Now, you have to live up to that. Of course, only... if you are capable. However, if you rely on Carla''s ability...hehe... I remembered one time, she couldn''t even handle a spatula," she chuckled as her eyes darted towards Carla who was clearly angered by what she just said. Lily and Daniel who were standing next to each other snickered but quickly closed their mouths with their palms.


    It was indeed true, in the past, Carla needed a crash-course just to learn everything about her job. Worst, she kept whining without making any real efforts. It was truly a headache to teach her everything from scratch.


    "You-" Carla wanted to retaliate but Jordan Lee''s warning gaze made her stop.


    "What do you mean? Fuck! you''re forbidden from leaving this cafe unless you explain everything," Jordan Lee moved forward. His tall body was now so close to Bella Lim. However, the other simply laughed at his provocation.


    Bella Lim looked up, her sapphire blue eyes shone with determination. "Jordan Lee, as of now, I''m no longer your employee. I resign!" she declared causing everyone to gape in shock.


    It was now clear why Elis knew a lot about Carla. Seeing him unable to resist Carla''s charm, Bella Lim knew this man had been in a relationship with this woman. Such a man wasn''t worthy of her attention.


    "Bell~" both Lily and Daniel stared at her with begging eyes. Pleading her not to go. Bella Lim looked at them and smiled.


    ''These two will be alright,'' she thought. Besides, given their personalities, she knew no one in Simply Cafe was daring enough to scold them unless they wanted to see the Cafe immobilized due to these two leaving. Hiring new people would settle this problem, but to hire one without demands was difficult.


    This was because Azure country was the only county with the lowest rate of unemployment. Therefore, instead of people begging for jobs, it was the other way round in this country. It was the employer who had to work hard in advertising their companies. Except, if they wanted to hire immigrants which actually cost a lot.


    "Bella, stop!" Jordan Lee was enraged. He held Bella Lim''s hand but was easily yanked aside. He was taken aback when the other stared at him. He could see the utter disgust in her eyes! This woman was looking down at him.


    Bella Lim went to the small room at the back of the cafe and took all her stuff away. Little pumpkin was holding her helmet.


    "Get lost!" Bella Lim spoke impatiently when Jordan Lee once again tried to stop her. Seeing the man moved back, she walked out of the door with little pumpkin. Her tiny figure left the cafe with pride as she didn''t look back even once.


    Today, Bella Lim had officially cut ties with Simply Cafe!

 Chapter 36 - The bitter aftertaste and its medicine

    It was already dark when Bella Lim and little pumpkin reached their home. They entered the house after paying the taxi fare. Inside, little pumpkin tugged the edge of his big sister''s loose blouse. His big eyes were glued at her back.


    The sudden pull made Bella Lim turned around. She chuckled when she realized that it was little pumpkin''s deed. She bent her knees and pull herself in as she sat on her heels.


    "What''s wrong?" she asked with a gentle smile on her face.


    "Big sister, are you alright?" little pumpkin asked with a stifling voice. The emotion in his eyes made Bella Lim quivered. She felt a lump on her throat, making it difficult for her to speak.


    Little pumpkin saw the strain on his big sister''s face, so he leaned forward and hugged her head. "There, there..." he patted her head gently. This action finally pulled Bella Lim''s tears down.


    Her cry began with a gentle weeping which gradually became louder. She wailed like a kid, her tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down on her face. Little pumpkin felt his big sister''s chin trembled and his shirt wet from the unceasing tears of hers. However, he was still standing there, offering his tiny shoulder for her comfort, hugging her head while patting on it gently.


    This was the first time Bella Lim had really cried after the death of their parents. Before, whenever she faced hardships, she wouldn''t allow herself to entertain the problem. Instead, she would just ignore it after settling them down. But, today was different. Today... she was ditched by one of the most important things in her life.


    Bella Lim recalled that her role as manager was one of the compensations given by the messenger of God. It was really a satisfying gift when she first greeted and accepted her 21st years old self. Now, appreciation and gratefulness have left her entire self. What was the point of giving her something when in the end she was bound to lose it?


    That was when a realization came to her. Now that she lost her job, did it mean that soon something would happen to little pumpkin?


    Bella Lim snapped from her somber as she stared at her six years old little pumpkin. She recalled that he was also part of the compensations.


    God, please don''t be so cruel! She prayed in her heart as tears once again rolled down her cheek. She realized that her fear was probably just paranoia after everything that she had gone through today. Still, logic was screaming into her ears as if it would really happen soon. Her grips on little pumpkin''s shoulder tightened.


    No! She would protect little pumpkin with her life no matter what happened! Bella Lim made an oath in her heart.


    "Sorry," she muttered as her watery eyes looked at little pumpkin who was smiling cheerfully at her.


    "Big sister, everything will be okay. You can find a job again," little pumpkin was still smiling. Bella Lim felt blessed when she saw his smile. It cleansed her worries away like magic.


    Still, she knew she needed to let go for the sake of herself as well as little pumpkin.


    Bella Lim took a deep breath and let it out. She closed her eyes, trying to find herself again. Not long after, her lips broke into a gracious smile following with a relaxation that swam over her whole body. When she opened her eyes again, she knew, she would be okay.


    "Little pumpkin, what do you want to eat? Should we make your favorite cheesy chicken?" Bella Lim asked in a cherry tone. Little pumpkin who was filled with worry earlier was now clapping his hand as his eyes widened in excitement.


    "Big sis, let''s make sweet potato wedges as well!" he proposed with full vigor. He laughed in joy when Bella Lim shook her head in agreement.


    Then as if nothing had happened, the two went to prepare their dinner with a happy vibe. The whole dinner time was filled with two siblings chatting and laughing.


    After dinner, Bella Lim read little pumpkin''s favorite book which soon lulled the little boy into sweet dreamland. She kissed his forehead a goodnight kiss and walked to her room.


    Inside, the silence made her recalled the incident at Simply Cafe. However, she was no longer affected by the three selfish people, instead, the faces of Lily and Daniel who were begging her to stay came into her mind.


    Subconsciously, she took out her phone and scrolled through it. There were lots of miscalls and messages from Lily and Daniel asking her if she was okay. She knew she had made these two worried about her, therefore, she sent a message telling them that she was okay and other good stuff to ease their worried heart.


    Bella Lim continued to scroll and saw an unfamiliar number miscalled her once. The timestamp was at six in the evening. This was the time she was occupied by the trio at Simply Cafe.


    Curious, she dialed the number.


    "Yes?" a raspy voice entered her lane of hearing. She froze. Although that voice sounded irritated, Bella Lim recognized its owner. Her heart began to palpitate. She was truly shocked to know that this number actually belonged to Eric Wu!


    Who did it? Who forced the mighty man to call her? Wait, was this even real? Bella Lim pinched her cheek and ?r??n?d in pain. This was real!


    "Bella?"


    Gasp! Bella Lim thought that if she was left with one breath to live, a word from this man would send her to eternal sleep. This man had a compelling aura. Right now, his voice was hoarse like someone who was awakened from sleep. But... really, why did he sound so scarily attractive?


    "I''m hanging up," the receiver declared, pulling Bella Lim''s clarity of mind to its rightful place.


    "Wait!" she tried to hold the man which actually a success as they were no voice from the automated machine telling her that the call was ended.


    "Mr. Eric, right?" she asked to confirm.


    "Hmm," the man responded with unintelligible word, but enough to dismiss the 0.000000001 percent of doubt in Bella Lim''s mind.


    "The workshop will send your motorbike tomorrow morning. Anything else?" the man asked impatiently. His voice was getting hoarse. Bella Lim was disappointed after listening to his response. Did he hate her so much that he wanted to end the phone call right away?


    "I--"


    Tut-tut-tut...


    "Tch!" Bella Lim fell on her bed with her phone on her ?h?st. She stared at the ceiling with his mind trying to scold Eric Wu for what he did just now. However, in the end, she ended with a long list of praises for him. She was defeated even in her consciousness.


    Sigh.


    Bella Lim took her phone as she wanted to put it on the bedside table at her right side. That was when she saw the numbers displayed on her phone screen. 12.35 AM.


    What the hell!! No wonder Eric Wu sounded angry, she basically had awakened him from his deep slumber! She knew that he had a strict sleeping schedule and according to her research, this man sleeps exactly at eleven at night.


    For someone who lived a hectic lifestyle, this sleeping schedule was unbelievable.


    To spice things up, this man was actually living three different life; the president of a conglomerate company, the master of a big clan, and weirdly a novelist as well. So, how did he managed his life to incorporate such a good sleeping habit?


    The whole night, Bella Lim''s thought was filled with Eric Wu. She had long forgotten about the bitter aftertaste of today''s terrible incident. This man truly had a deep impact on her life that everything else was incomparable to it.


    He was the best medicine for all her sorrow!

 Chapter 37 - Wheres my bike?

    The next day, Bella Lim was awakened by the bells of her house. She woke up sleep-deprived with dark circles and unruly hair. Her already curled long black hair made her appearance spookier that it almost made the people who disturbed her unbeauty sleep jumped out of their skin.


    Well, the situation was worse than that. In fact, the worst!


    "Urghh, who is it?" she yawned while wobbled her way through to the door. Her hands slipped many times as she attempted to unlock the door. When it was finally opened, her eyes spotted a man''s back view.


    "What is it?" she asked again, eyes blinked several times to adjust to the striking light of the sunshine. Today the sun rose quite early. The blinding light made her eyes squeezed to decrease the amount of light that went into her eyes.


    The man jolted in surprised before he turned around, eyes were looking down at the briefcase in his right hand while the other hand rummaged the inside of it.


    He impatiently went through his stuff and after getting what he needed, he said, "Miss Bella, I''m Judy from Manic Automotive. Please sign here to complete your bike delivery process," he showed the two pieces of paper with a finger pointed to the part that needed to be signed.


    Bella Lim was surprised as she didn''t expect Eric Wu''s early morning meant 6 AM. Nevertheless, she bent her body and signed the paper. The man took the customer''s copy and was about to give it to Bella Lim. He looked up and smiled, saying in an excited tone which after a while sounded terrified.


    "Here is your cop...y! Oh my God! G-g-ghost!" the man screamed as his face paled, hands shaking. He stepped back only to fall onto the ground with a groan. Still terrified, he struggled to get up and ran, dismissing the pain from the fall earlier. On the way, he screamed, "Y-your bike is just right there!" while pointing to the area on Bella Lim''s front, right side. The paper in his hand was already on the ground with dirt all over it.


    Looking at the man escaped with so much drama, Bella Lim slowly shook her head as she lazily walked down the steps. She squatted and took the piece of paper that was smeared by dirt and read its content. Her eyes bulged in shock when she saw the figures shown on the paper.


    "one, two, t-three, f-f-four... f-five... six," she counted the digits as she swallowed her saliva with each count. She almost faint when she counted the eleventh number.


    How... how was she going to slave herself to pay this amount?


    That was the first thing that came to her mind after seeing the million AD shown on the paper. She got up with so much effort and walked to the bike that was parked not far from her.


    "Whose bike is this!" she screamed as she rooted in her current place, not daring to take a step forward. Her sleepy mode was now completely gone as the one she saw was no longer her old, faded green bike.


    In that instance, she thought that the workshop might have made a mistake. She opened her fist and revealed a piece of crumpled paper. Her eyes scanned the paper for the workshop''s contact number.


    The number was unreadable for dirt as well as the crumpled state made the numbers unrecognizable.


    "Mr. Eric, I''m sorry to disturb you this early. But, do you have Manic Automative''s customer service''s contact number? They delivered the wrong bike," she asked as soon as the phone call was connected.


    "Good morning," Eric Wu''s usual toneless voice rang. Bella Lim swallowed a mouthful of saliva as she beat herself mentally for forgetting the basic courtesy.


    "M-morning," she went back to zero as her usual stuttering voice had returned. Once again, she gave herself another round of mental scolding.


    "M-Mr. Eric, about what I s-said just now¡­" damn¡­ when would she be able to rid of the stutters? Was this the side-effect of their early encounter? Bella Lim unconsciously chewed her bottom lip.


    "Miss Bella, your old bike was no longer usable. Apart from the oil leakage, the engine would anytime break down. Since I promised to repair your bike, knowing its condition, using a new one is better for your safety," the man on the other side of the phone answered lazily. Yet, he made the listener became dumbfounded.


    Bella Lim blanked out. Wasn''t this such a highway to hold responsibility! Who would have thought that Eric Wu would give her a new motorbike just because her old bike was ''dangerous'' to use? Wait... did she misheard? She hoped so.


    "M-Mr Eric, I-I''m sorry but I''m already thankful for you to send the bike to the workshop. The rest should be handled by me. I-I''m afraid, I couldn''t afford the one that was sent to me. The price is too expensive," she expressed her concern. However, the other simply ignored her plea and reminded her that the cost of fixing her old bike could be higher as it would frequently crash.


    As Bella Lim listened to Eric Wu''s justification, she walked out of her room and went outside, now face to face with the motorbike. She noticed that there was also a box on the other side of the motorbike. She was hesitating to open it, but curiosity encouraged her to do it. The moment it was open, she was surprised to see two matching helmets were securely put inside. One for ?du?t and another a kid size...


    "Mr. Eric, t-this is really too much. I-I''ll have my old bike back and see what I-I can do," she said with a hope that the man would stop insisting for her to accept the magnificent two wheels in front of her.


    Yes, wasn''t this man too kind? Bella Lim felt confused. Amidst the confusion, she heard Eric Wu dropped another bombshell and made her once again dumbstruck!


    "Well, I don''t think that''s doable. It was already sent to their custom motorbike builders. Miss Bella, if it''s hard to accept, I''ll make it easy for you. Just ?ssume this motorbike as a gift from the three of us. I already heard what happened yesterday from Sun Nan and Lu Fei,"


    "What?!" Bella Lim was shocked. This was too much for her to accept! She wasn''t surprised by the fact that her motorbike had become a sample for some motorbike enthusiasts, but she was shocked by his announcement claiming that the motorbike in front of her was a gift from the three of them¡­


    Though, she couldn''t help but overanalyze¡­ did this mean that Eric Wu treated her as a friend too? Was this a dream trying to make fun of her? How could it be this easy? If it was in the past, just to have a glance at him in person was almost impossible. Yet now...

 Chapter 38 - Invitation to lunch

    "I''ll let you speak to Sun Nan. He''ll explain," Bella Lim heard him said this, but her mind was still paralyzed from his previous comment. So, she remained silent. She regained her entire focus when she heard a distant voice of someone cursing. She knew it was Sun Nan but had no idea what he was angry about. Not long after, she finally heard his slightly awkward voice.


    "H-hi Bella, how are you? Did you receive the gift?" his voice was shaking at the beginning but gradually modulated to a stable one. However, it managed to make a small creased appeared on Bella Lim''s forehead. She felt that something wasn''t quite right but had no idea what it was.


    "Sun Nan? If you''re talking about this motorbike in front of me, then yes," she answered without feeling uncomfortable like she did previously. A small part of her was really confused as to why it happened that way. Indeed, Eric Wu was intimidating, but was she that intimidated for her to speak like someone who just learned how to speak?


    "Bella, could you just accept it? Money isn''t really the issue, but your safety is. As your friends, as long as it''s something we could help, we definitely will help. Or is our friendship just a joke to you?" Bella Lim almost choked on her saliva when she heard Sun Nan''s sulking voice at the end. This man, could he be not this sulky? She internally sighed.


    "But, I really cannot afford this-"


    "Bella, it''s a gift. We''re not salesmen!"


    "Sun Nan-"


    "No! I don''t want to listen¡­"


    Speechless. That was how Bella Lim felt at the moment. Dealing with Sun Nan could make her healthy head, spun in dizziness. In the end, she could only thank him and asked that he relays her gratefulness to Eric Wu and Lu Fei. Nevertheless, she felt that something was not right but whatever it was, she really had no clue.


    When she wanted to hang up, she heard Sun Nan''s panic voice asking her to hold on. "Wait! Is it possible for you to come for lunch instead of the evening? You see, Eric bro skipped work today so, we have plenty of time to jolly. We decided to start the party early,"


    Hmm, so Eric Wu skipped work? Bella Lim found this news amusing because she knew that Eric Wu basically lived a scheduled life. Therefore, for him to take such an impulsive decision such as skipping work... It felt surreal. Well, wasn''t this an interesting change? Bella Lim found herself smiling.


    "Thank you. I''ll come, but is it okay for me to bring my little brother? I don''t feel comfortable leaving him alone," she said.


    After losing her job yesterday, she was now afraid that something would happen to her little pumpkin. At this point, she refused to leave him under someone else''s care. Last night, she had also decided to choose a job that allows her to be close to him so that she could look after him.


    She waited for Sun Nan to respond. Hopefully, they wouldn''t mind¡­


    "Little Ryan? Of course! I''ll get really angry if you come alone," Sun Nan was overjoyed. His voice was showing his excitement. Bella Lim exhaled. Her lips curled to a beautiful smile. She was happy to hear Sun Nan''s approval.


    "Thank you," she said with sincerity.


    "See you soon," she said, ending the phone call.


    "Big sister," Bella Lim was entertaining the overwhelming emotion she was feeling when she heard a tiny voice from behind. She knew it was little pumpkin. This cutie pie of hers probably was awakened by the ruckus earlier.


    She turned around, ready to greet her little pumpkin. The moment her eyes caught sight of little pumpkin; she saw him suddenly fell on his bu??. She ran to his side in panic, but the little boy was already on his two feet, running away towards the house. Before his tiny body disappeared behind the slammed door, Bella Lim managed to see the shock and horrid look in his round face. It was a similar expression to the man who introduced himself as Judy, albeit little pumpkin''s looked better.


    Curious as to why her precious pumpkin acted in such a manner, Bella Lim rushed into the house and saw little pumpkin had just came out of his room. In his left hand was a small mirror. He walked to her and thrust the mirror into her right hand.


    "What is this for? Wait, why are you avoiding this big sister of yours?" Bella Lim pretended to sulk. She jumped on the couch beside her and sat. Little pumpkin looked at her. His eyes were getting bigger the longer he looked. Then, he climbed the couch as he silently sat next to Bella Lim. Next, he gently nudged her hand that was still holding the mirror.


    "Hmm?" Bella Lim finally got his message. She stared at the mirror on her right hand and thought that little pumpkin was really funny.


    Did he want her to be a narcissist? Although she looked older compared to her young age, she was still pretty, alright? Bella Lim chuckled as the thought appeared in her mind, She lifted the mirror in front of her and¡­


    "Who¡­ who the hell is this?!" she was too shocked to the point of throwing the mirror to the floor.


    She sunk deeper into the couch and hugged her knees in fright. That was when she heard little pumpkin high-pitched laugh besides her. She turned to see him already rolling on the small space on the couch.


    "Big sis, your panda eyes¡­ last night, did big sister sleep well? " little pumpkin had ceased laughing but there was still some hanging on the corner of his lips. He pulled Bella Lim''s right arm and hugged it. His big eyes were now staring lovingly at his big sister.


    Bella Lim who was feeling miserable, felt warmness spread from her arm to her whole body. Now, she felt that everything was alright again. She hugged little pumpkin and admitted to what he was saying.


    "Don''t worry. That will be the last time," she said with a gentle smile on her face.


    Bella Lim knew little pumpkin probably was thinking that she was unable to sleep due to what had happened yesterday. She could only agree as it was too embarrassing to tell him the truth that she was sleep-deprived because of Eric Wu.


    "Let''s eat some breakfast," she suggested and felt little pumpkin rocked in her arm. She giggled.


    While eating breakfast, Bella Lim talked about the lunch invitation to little pumpkin.


    "Little pumpkin, do you remember the two guys at the cafe yesterday?" she asked while munching on the sweet egg toast in her hand.


    Little pumpkin who was drinking his warm milk nodded. "Brother Lu Fei and brother Sun Nan," he said with great memorization.


    "Yes. They invited us to lunch today," Bella Lim smiled after listening to her little pumpkin mentioned their names with perfect articulation.

 Chapter 39 - Where is the portrait?

    In the big garden behind the Hillside''s Villa, three men were leisurely enjoying their breakfast.


    "Eric Bro, you should know, it was fu?k?n? difficult to speak a lie, no?" Sun Nan had his body leaned forward. His eyes were staring grudgingly at Eric Wu who was sitting on the rattan chair in such a composed manner. His hair that was blown by the gentle breeze made him looked so fu?k?n? handsome. Sun Nan gulped, trying so hard to maintain his angry state.


    "You''re an actor," the other replied as a matter of fact. An eyebrow rose as if telling Sun Nan that it should be an easy job for him.


    "Eric bro¡­" Sun Nan was defeated. He looked at Lu Fei who was looking at Eric Wu with scrutinizing eyes. His eyes shone as he thought of something.


    "Lu Fei, say something! Your name was borrowed as well," he tried to get Lu Fei to his side. However, Lu Fei simply looked at him before he decided to ignore him.


    "F U!" Sun Nan sulked as he crossed his legs and looked in the other direction. His childish actions brought laughter. Both Eric Wu and Lu Fei clashed their cup, cheering at the expected outcome. Sun Nan glared at them with his lips now pouted. He sighed after realizing that he had become an entertainment for the two men. Again.


    "Thank you for covering for me," Eric Wu said with a trace of laughter. He filled Sun Nan''s empty cup in a poised manner. Like a butler serving his lord. Seeing this, Sun Nan beamed. He cheerfully drank his coffee. Lu Fei shook his head after witnessing the way Sun Nan was easily swayed by Eric Wu''s so-called kindness.


    "Bro, the motorbike that you sent to Bella, is it the new product of your new venture?" Lu Fei asked. While listening to their conversations with Bella Lim earlier, he already had a guess. Eric Wu had talked to them many times about expanding Wu''s influence into the automotive industry. Therefore, he thought that could be the reason.


    Eric Wu stared at Lu Fei. A small smile on his face. He nodded once, confirming his guess.


    "While it''s true that Bella''s old bike was now a waste, I thought, having her as a beta rider for Escaper 117 is a good move," he explained with one corner of his lips curled upward.


    "Eric bro, good move indeed!" Sun Nan had recovered to his usual self. He slammed the table''s surface as a way to support Eric Wu''s decision. Lu Fei, however, was still looking confused. The first motorbike that Wu Automotive would release supposedly to cater to motorcycle racing.


    Lu Fei was certain that Bella Lim wasn''t a racer.


    Eric Wu noticed that Lu Fei was having a doubt, but he remained silent. He would only explain when asked.


    "Escaper 117? That''s a good name choice. But, why did you choose Bella?" Lu Fei asked. He knew that a beta rider was a term Eric Wu used to refer to someone that could give a professional input about Escaper 117. That was the reason why he was curious about his actions.


    Could Bella Lim provide the information he needed? As far as he knew, she was just someone who used a bike solely for transportation. Wasn''t she?


    "Is it wrong? Besides, it''s only one motorbike. It will not affect the true ?ssessment of Escaper 117," Eric Wu lifted one of his eyebrows. He smiled, but somehow that smile looked mysterious to Lu Fei. He felt that Eric Wu had another reason because this man was a calculative person. He would never do something without profit.


    Seeing that he would not get the answer he wanted, Lu Fei gave up. He chuckled as he took a sip of his drink.


    The main reason he did what he did was the horrible accident involving a 16 years old girl in Kastache many years ago. He had witnessed the accident with his two eyes. At that time, he was going undercover to get materials for his next book in that country. The isolated street in which the accident took place was lucky to have him there or else, the girl would long leave this world.


    Until now, that incident was engraved to his mind and unable to be erased. This made him prioritize safety when choosing a vehicle. Therefore, knowing that Bella Lim was now one of them¡­ Well, since Sun Nan and Lu Fei was too attached and cared about her, he thought that he should take responsibility too. At least, he could ensure that her next vehicle has top-notch safety features.


    However, if it was two days ago, he was still considering the option as he thought Bella Lim was probably attached to her old, green bike. The motorbike wasn''t totally irreparable. It still could be saved by undergoing major customization with important parts replaced with the new one. In the end, she still gets her old motorbike. However, the duration to accomplish that would take a month, sometimes more. Well, as long as the motorbike didn''t cause trouble for her, Eric Wu thought that she wouldn''t mind waiting.


    It was only yesterday that he decisively decided on the thing he did today. Tao who always curious about everything actually did research on Bella Lim and found that she had resigned from her workplace.


    He was shocked at the news, but after listening to the details from his ?ssistant, he couldn''t help but respect her resoluteness. True to his original ?ssessment of her, Bella Lim could become a tigress in times of need. Although she was ''dangerous'' as she knew secret she shouldn''t know, this woman deserved his respect!


    "Eric bro!"


    Startled, Eric Wu looked at Sun Nan who was frowning at him. He frowned back, a signal for Sun Nan to speak.


    "What were you thinking, you looked dazed," Sun Nan asked.


    "Just some stuff. Why?" Eric Wu asked in return.


    Lu Fei patted Sun Nan''s back as he said: "For once, you asked a good question without cursing. Eric, I''m curious about this too. Have you found her? Is she real? Can I have a look at the portrait?" he asked a string of questions.


    After a while, he noticed that Eric Wu still appeared calm even under their non-stopped questions plus teasing looks. This was different from a few weeks ago when he first told them about the woman in his dream...


    Sun Nan and Lu Fei knew that Eric Wu was a man who hated dating around. If a woman wanted to sincerely become his friend, he wouldn''t refuse her. But such a woman was rare. Even if there was one, Eric Wu had no interest in her. Therefore, their friendship never blossomed to something beyond.


    Seeing how difficult he was to fall in love, Sun Nan and Lu Fei thought that he simply had a cold heart. Only a ''fiery'' woman could melt his frozen heart. Sadly, such a woman hadn''t appeared in Eric Wu''s life.


    Yet, things began to change a few weeks ago, when Eric Wu suddenly told them that he had been dreaming about the same woman for a whole week.


    The look he had while talking about her was akin to someone who couldn''t believe that he had fallen in love. Although he didn''t speak about how he really felt, the way he described her¡­ they could hear the longing in his voice. They even made a trip to Azure just to help him go through those heart-wrecking days.


    Well, they were simply listening and observing how he sometimes in dazed and tripped while walking on a perfectly smooth, flat floor. They wanted to tease him but couldn''t, as he looked madly in love. They could only wish that this woman was real. If she wasn''t, they hoped that Eric Wu could get over her.


    Eric Wu stared at the two thirsty people in front of him and shrugged. "The painting isn''t finished," he said and secretly rejoiced at their disappointed looks.


    The truth, he was lying.


    The portrait was now hidden somewhere in the villa. He purposely hid it from other''s eyes as he didn''t want Sun Nan and Lu Fei to ?ssociate the portrait with Bella Lim.


    That''s right. This was also the reason why he was so willing to let one of his Escaper 117 became her possession. The second he saw the portrait; Bella Lim''s face was the first thing that showed up in his mind. He really thought that she was the clue. Although the other had denied having a female sibling.


    In the end, Eric Wu, didn''t think that Bella Lim could be the woman he had been looking for. Not in the slightest! It wasn''t because he didn''t want to, but it just didn''t cross his mind¡­

 Chapter 40 - Her nightmare became reality!

    10.45 AM


    Bella Lim and little pumpkin were already outside their house, staring at the magnificent motorbike in front of them.


    "Big sis, i-is this the green bike?" little pumpkin asked. His big eyes shone in admiration. His lips round as he was in awe with the slick appearance of the motorbike.


    "No. This¡­ this is a gift," Bella Lim said with a chuckle. She still couldn''t believe that she was gifted a million AD motorbike. She collected her thoughts and stared at the small helmet she was holding. The one with ?du?t size was resting on top of the motorbike.


    Bella Lim turned the helmet around, admiring the fine quality it was made from. She turned it upward to see the inside and the first thing that she noticed was the stitch of a golden crescent. Instantly, a frown appeared on her forehead.


    ''Escaper 117?'' she thought in astonishment. The golden crescent was something she was very familiar with. It was the logo of the first automotive produced by Wu Automotive.


    ''But, it shouldn''t be released yet,'' she thought again as she recalled that this brand was released in the first month of the year she died. How could it be available at this time of the year?


    Bella Lim switched her focus and looked at the motorbike in front of her. The more she looked the more she felt that it was indeed similar to Escaper 117. The only difference was the color and the addition of a pillion. If the color was painted red and the passenger seat was removed, then¡­ she gulped.


    "Big sister?" Bella Lim was startled. Her eyes that were losing focus was now looking at little pumpkin who was poking on the helmet in her hand.


    "You ready?" Bella Lim asked. She decided to stop thinking about the matter for now. Moreover, the whole thinking would only tire her.


    Bella Lim crouched to help little pumpkin put on his helmet. The little boy beamed in excitement. His eyes shone with anticipation. Seeing this, Bella Lim knew little pumpkin was ready. Honestly, he was more than ready. Little pumpkin was eagerly waiting for his big sis to put him on the passenger seat.


    "Little pumpkin, remember the roles of a pillion passenger?" Bella Lim asked as she pretended to be blind to little pumpkin''s eagerness. This was something she often asked before taking off.


    "Yes!" little pumpkin answered energetically. He grinned while touching the body of the motorbike. Bella Lim sighed as she watched little pumpkin circled the motorbike again and again. Worried that he would get dizzy, Bella Lim scooped him over and put him on the motorbike.


    Little pumpkin was excited as he spoke in a loud voice: "Big sis, this is the most comfortable pillion seat in the world!" he exclaimed with a wide smile, showing the rows of teeth he had.


    ''Of course, this used to be a motorbike for a racer¡­'' Bella Lim internally thought. Outside, she simply smiled.


    "Alright, we should go now. Pumpkin, remember¡­" Bella Lim arched an eyebrow as she waited for little pumpkin to continue her sentence.


    "¡­safety first!" the boy chirped on. Bella Lim gave him a satisfying nod before hopping onto the rider seat. The moment she saw the dashboard, Bella Lim was convinced that the motorbike was indeed Escaper 117.


    She placed her phone on the built-in phone mount and slipped the Bluetooth headphone into her left ear.


    Bella Lim switched on the engine and slowly hit the road. She opted for normal speed since she wasn''t riding alone.


    Bella Lim cared about little pumpkin the most. Nevertheless, little pumpkin wasn''t your average passenger. To Bella Lim, he was the best pillion passenger she ever had! This was the result of all the training she had given him since motorbike was their main mode of transportation.


    Soon, Bella Lim reached the highway. She maintained the current pace and speed up when necessary. Although, she knew where Hillside Villa was, she still followed the map that was sent by Eric Wu. The map was a little bit different than the one she already knew. It was a shortcut, probably one that was used by him only.


    Not long after, the long straight road was separated into two roads, Bella Lim took the left road as indicated in the map. She knew this was the road that would lead to Eric Wu''s property. She made a quick mental calculation and estimated that they would reach Hillside Villa in thirty-five minutes. Bella Lim decided to stop at a rest area as little pumpkin had given the signal that he needed to pee.


    "Careful stepping on the floor," Bella Lim reminded little pumpkin as she waited outside the restroom. It took little pumpkin only a few minutes to finish his business. He emerged behind the closed door with a satisfying smile on his face. Bella Lim chuckled as she held his hand towards the parking area.


    While walking, she suddenly felt shiver ran down to her spine. A bad premonition rose within her. She swallowed her saliva as she heightened her senses to find out the thing that made her reacted so. That was when she noticed two men were following from behind. Both were wearing matching black suits.


    Bella Lim felt her heartbeat beating faster. She tightened her grip on little pumpkin''s hand and stopped at one of the stalls selling drinks. She noticed that the two men also stopped. After buying a bottle of mineral water, she walked again with little pumpkin sticking closer to her. The seconds they moved, the two men following them also moved.


    Bella Lim knew that these men were up to something. As soon as they reached the parking area, she carried little pumpkin and settled him on the motorbike. She helped him put on his helmet. While doing so, she whispered: "Little pumpkin after this big sis will increase the motorbike''s speed. You must hold on tight. Understand?"


    "Don''t worry. Big sister just wants to test the speed of this new motorbike," she answered with a smile. Little pumpkin nodded, didn''t bother to ask anymore. He noticed the urgency in his big sister''s actions. Perhaps there were some problems that she wanted to avoid. With this thinking, little pumpkin decided to listen and act as instructed.


    Bella Lim turned around to switch on the engine as soon as she could. However, the short time she had her back facing little pumpkin, she heard a scream coming from behind.


    "Big Sis!" little pumpkin screamed as he struggled to let go of himself from one of the man''s clutched. The man easily carried him on his shoulder.


    Witnessing her little pumpkin being carried like a sack, Bella Lim felt that her vision blackened. Her body shivered uncontrollably.


    Wasn''t her little pumpkin sitting behind her? How... how did they take him without her knowing? Bella Lim began to panic but little pumpkin''s desperate voice quickly washed the anxiety away.


    "Big sis!!" little pumpkin voice sounded desperate as he was taken further away from his big sister.


    Meanwhile, Bella Lim''s eyes wondered tirelessly as she took the motorbike out of its parking slot. Her body almost froze in fear when she noticed that they were no one around in the area.


    Who could help them?


    ''No, I''ve promised to protect little pumpkin!'' Bella Lim yelled internally. Soon, her eyes shone with determination. She turned the motorbike around and rushed towards the men. She was about to do something outrageous!


    "Hold on!" she screamed as she pulled little pumpkin''s hand to hold on to her waist. She swiftly turned the motorbike towards the main road. From the side mirror, she could see a black car stopped next to the two men and another two people helped them to get inside the car. She could see the driver was looking at their direction with intense eyes.


    Bella Lim sighed heavily while one of her hands held little pumpkin''s hand to ensure that he was truly present. That incident wasn''t a coincidence. Someone was trying to kidnap little pumpkin away from her.


    This... this was her nightmare turning into a scary reality!

 Chapter 41 - He was their savior... again!

    Drive faster! This was the only thing in Bella Lim''s mind. She knew the closest safest area was Eric Wu''s villa. She needed to reach there to ensure their safety!


    At this moment, Bella Lim was thankful for the motorbike she was riding. Escaper 117 was meant for racers. The speed could easily reach 350 mph. This could top even the fastest speed of a normal car.


    Bella Lim saw a glimmer of hope! The motorbike began to accelerate. 40 mph¡­ 50 mph¡­ 60 mph¡­


    ''Huh?'' she frowned when the speed stopped at 60 mph. She hit on the accelerator pedal again but the result was still the same. The speed couldn''t go beyond 60 mph. It seemed that it had reached its limit or...


    "What the hell!" Bella Lim screamed. Her anxiety was now at an alarming point. She bit her lower lip to regain a clarity of mind.


    Bella Lim couldn''t believe that such a powerful motorbike had a speed limit of 60 mph. This could only be possible with a speed limiter.


    ''Why! Why must they installed a limiter!'' Bella Lim saw the limiter icon on the dashboard and felt like slamming her head onto it. She tapped on the icon and realized that to remove the limiter a password was required.


    Bella Lim''s eyes were now focused on the road while her brain was working hard to think of a solution. She looked at the side mirror and exhaled in relief. She hoped the black car would not go after them. Still, she knew she couldn''t be careless.


    Now, all she needed to know was the password to momentarily remove the limiter. Thinking up to this point, Bella Lim thought of Eric Wu. She didn''t know why but she believed it was his idea to install the limiter. She was confident that he also knew the password.


    She glanced at the side mirror and was shocked to see a familiar black car was speeding up to them. Bella Lim squeezed little pumpkin''s hand, requesting him to hold tight. The other responded accordingly.


    At that time, the phone call was connected.


    "Mr. Eric!" she called the man in such a loud voice. At this moment, she was only thinking about her and little pumpkin''s safety. She knew anytime the black car could intercept them if the limiter wasn''t removed.


    "Miss Bella?" she heard Eric Wu''s questioning voice.


    "Mr. Eric, what''s the limiter password?" she asked impatiently. Two seconds and there was still no answer.


    "God damn! Give me the password now. What kind of Escaper needs a limiter!" Bella Lim yelled. She felt that Eric Wu''s action was too slow, she lost her patience.


    "117009,"


    Upon getting the password, Bella Lim immediately punched the numbers onto the screen. She was ready to accelerate but then a one-minute countdown appeared.


    "Shit!" Bella Lim cursed, unaware that the call was still ongoing.


    ''God!'' Bella Lim exclaimed in fear. She focused on the road while impatiently waited for the limiter countdown to end.


    "Miss Bella, do you see the plate number of the car that was following you?"


    Bella Lim was taken aback. She finally realized that she was still on call with Eric Wu.


    But, how did he knew that someone was following them? Still, she was delighted. In fact, she should''ve told him about it sooner. This man... this man could help her!


    "Miss Bella!" this time it was Eric Wu who sounded impatient.


    "XJ20D" she answered.


    Suddenly, a horn resounded in the air. Bella Lim could tell that it came from the car behind. Her heart clenched in unspeakable anguish as she realized that it was only a matter of time until the black car catches up to them.


    She looked at the screen and cursed when the countdown hadn''t reached zero. She glanced at the side mirror and saw a head popped out from the passenger seat. The man was holding a gun with a smirk on his face!


    "Miss Bella, ready to speed up! I''ll cover you,"


    Wait...he said he''d cover her?


    "Now!" Eric Wu''s voice was like an undeniable force that pulled Bella Lim from her despair. She stepped on the accelerator and swiftly changed gear. She had to do it manually as she needed to reach the highest speed possible.


    "Pumpkin hang on!" she screamed at the top of her lung. There was a sharp turn ahead and Bella Lim thought that this was the perfect chance to get rid of her enemies. Without dropping her speed, she made a hellish cornering. A screeching sound pierced through the air, yet Bella Lim successfully made the turn.


    Then, she heard the sound of the gun!


    ''Little pumpkin!'' she cried out. D-did the gun hit little pumpkin? Didn''t she manage to get rid of the black car?


    Bella Lim felt her body weakened as both hands that were holding both handles loosened.


    "Miss Bella don''t worry. I''m behind you,"


    Huh?


    "Your brother is safe. The gun was mine,"


    Bella Lim''s calming down helped her to notice that little pumpkin was squeezing her three times. She was elated¡­ this was the signal telling her that little pumpkin was okay. She looked at the side mirror and saw little pumpkin''s big eyes narrowed and a nod followed after. He was telling her that he was fine.


    Bella Lim exhaled. They were saved!


    "Mr. Eric?" Bella Lim noticed that instead of a black car, a red motorbike was now trailing behind her. She slowed down to see who was riding the red motorbike. At the same time, she internally squealed after ascertaining that the red motorbike was the real Escaper 117!


    At a glance, Bella Lim could tell that the rider was Eric Wu! His impressive physique was the one that gave him away. She saw his motorbike''s spotlight flashed once.


    "T-thank you," she acknowledged. A grateful smile on her face.


    "When will you stop stuttering?" Eric Wu''s voice entered her ear. She chuckled.


    "I-I hope it''ll be soon," she replied and heard the man chuckled in return. Bella Lim felt her heart getting warmer. Why was it? in the moment of despair, this man would always be there to help her? Six years ago, he was there too...


    "W-where is the black car?" she asked as her eyes tried to find the black car behind.


    "Slipped away. Btw, Miss Bella, you seemed to know a lot of things about me,"


    "Running away now? You do know that you''re heading to my house?"


    Bella Lim was speechless. Was this man teasing or threatening her?


    "W-what are you talking about?" she could only stay oblivion.


    "Well, we''ll revisit this issue later. Right now you really need to slow down. The house is just in front of you. Be careful with the fountain," Eric Wu''s amused voice rang.


    In that instant, Bella Lim also heard little pumpkin screamed, "Big sis, slow down!!"


    Alarmed, Bella Lim swiftly dropped gears and made a swift turn. To her, it was the only way to avoid crashing into the water fountain in front of them. Yet, to the people who were watching her, such maneuvering could only be pulled by a professional racer!


    Tao was outside and saw the whole incident. He froze!


    Sun Nan and Lu Fei who was watching the whole stunt on a big screen inside the house had their mouth opened to the size of an egg!


    Eric Wu unexpectedly was the only one who looked calm, only his lips slanted to one side. Eyes were looking sharply at the woman who was now helping her little brother getting off of the motorbike.

 Chapter 42 - This is his property and they are his people! Who dare?!

    About an hour before the kidnap attempt, Eric Wu was racing against Sun Nan on a game called Forza Horizon 4, while Lu Fei who had lost two rounds against Eric Wu, was a bystander cheering for Sun Nan.


    "Damn! Damn! Damn! This isn''t fair!" Sun Nan cursed as he threw the controller on the cushion next to him. He stared at the big fonts on the screen in front of him saying ''2nd PLACE''. He looked indignantly at Eric Wu who looked calm as if beating him didn''t bring him joy.


    "Again?" Eric Wu asked as he lifted his controller, provoking the already provoked Sun Nan.


    "No way!" Sun Nan rejected his offer immediately. Then, he turned towards Lu Fei who was chuckling as he looked at the screen displaying Sun Nan''s worst result.


    "Lu Fei, don''t you dare to laugh. Let''s fight on the icy road. Let''s see who''ll win," he requested.


    "Sure," Lu Fei happily accepted. He took over Eric Wu''s controller and sat on the cushion next to Sun Nan.


    "I admit defeat against Eric but you¡­" he smirked as he logged into his account. Sun Nan was aggravated as he took the cushion beside him and threw it to Lu Fei. His tantrum made Eric Wu who was now standing, laughed. He shook his head seeing the rage of Sun Nan. This was the reason why he often lost. He was too impatient.


    "President!"


    Eric Wu was startled when he heard Tao''s scream from outside the room. He looked at the door and soon Tao appeared, panting heavily with a handphone in his right hand. Eric Wu walked to him and offered a glass of water.


    "Drink," he instructed, and Tao thankfully took his offer. After calming down, he held his hand that was holding the phone and said: "Miss Bella is calling you¡­" he showed the screen showing Bella Lim''s name.


    "Next time don''t torture yourself. We can always call back," he educated him.


    Tao had an awkward smile on his face as he nodded in embarrassment. He thought that Bella Lim was important to the president, therefore when he saw she was calling, he rushed over.


    Eric Wu was no longer paying attention to Tao as he stared at his phone screen. He wondered if Bella Lim got lost along her way to his villa.


    "Miss Bella?" he asked once he answered the call.


    Instead of a greeting, he heard a breathy, panicky voice asking for a password of the speed limiter that was installed on her motorbike.


    He thought Bella Lim was familiarizing herself with the motorbike, but when he heard her almost hysterical plea, his instinct told him that she could be in a bad predicament. He quickly told her the password.


    He decided to end the phone call, but the bad premonition in his heart kept on building up questions inside his mind.


    If Bella Lim wanted to reach the villa in a shorter duration, 60 mph was already fast. Why?


    Besides that, she even yelled at him for being two seconds late in giving the password. Why? Amazingly, she didn''t stutter¡­ how?


    "Tao, go and take my ??ptop. Now!" Eric Wu instructed. Tao was startled but immediately ran towards the study room.


    Eric Wu went to the screen where the battle between Lu Fei and Sun Nan was broadcasted. Without explaining anything, he removed the wire that connected the video game console to the screen.


    "Fuck bro!"


    "Eric!"


    Two voices united to go against him. Sun Nan and Lu Fei were ready to lash out when they saw Tao ran inside the room, panting heavily. Sweats were seen dripping in his forehead.


    "W-what is it?" they both looked at each other before staring at Tao and Eric Wu who wasn''t giving them the explanation they curiously needed.


    All of a sudden, they saw the black screen in front of them light up showing different video feeds. Seeing the familiar places shown on each feed, Lu Fei and Sun Nan realized that what they were seeing was the live feeds recorded by the CCTVs installed all over Eric Wu''s property.


    Still, they were wondering why he suddenly became interested in those feeds. They thought someone had illegally entered his property, but he had enough staff to take care of things as trivial as that.


    Only when they saw Bella Lim''s image did they realized the purpose behind the unexplained actions. The live feed where Bella Lim''s was riding a motorbike was enlarged. They saw a black car was chasing after her.


    "Lu Fei, Sun Nan I leave this room to you. Tao, call the security department and tell them to send patrolling cars at the main gate," Eric Wu spoke with an aggrieved tone. He had seen the severity of the situation and know that Bella Lim and her little brother''s life was in danger. Thankfully, he didn''t remove the GPS in Bella Lim''s motorbike or else, he wouldn''t know that someone was trying to harm one of his people inside his territory! What gut!


    "Will she be okay?" Lu Fei held onto Eric Wu''s hand who was about to leave.


    "Don''t worry," Eric Wu answered. Lu Fei nodded once and pulled Sun Nan who wanted to ask many questions to Eric Wu.


    Lu Fei watched Eric Wu left the room. When he looked into his eyes just now, he could feel the chills hidden behind his brownish eyes. This man¡­ the calmer he gets, the scarier he would be. Lu Fei knew that Eric Wu could handle the people that were trying to harm Bella Lim and his little brother.


    "Lu Fei¡­" Sun Nan had a painful look at him. He must be dying to know what was happening. However, Lu Fei simply told him to watch the screen.


    Meanwhile, Eric Wu rushed to the ground floor. This was the garage where he kept all kinds of vehicles for his convenience. He ran towards a red motorbike and pushed on the bu??on on the pillar next to it. The wall opposite him slowly revealed a tunnel. This tunnel would lead him to the closest area where Bella Lim was at right now.


    The red motorbike rode the tunnel at a fast speed, reaching the main road in a blink of an eye.


    "President, I''ve contacted the security department. Two cars are waiting at the main gate with four personnel. Should I send one from the villa?" Eric Wu heard someone was communicating with him via the Bluetooth speaker in his left ear. That was Tao''s voice.


    "No need. I''ll handle this person. Tao searched for information on the black car," he said.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll give you the info," Eric Wu responded. Then, he switched the phone call to the one with Bella Lim. He hadn''t disconnected their phone call yet. Thankfully, Bella Lim was the same. He heard her cursed.


    "Miss Bella, do you see the plate number of the car that was following you?" he ignored the vulgarity of her words and asked. He waited but the woman was probably occupied by something. He insisted, rushing her to answer. Only then, he heard her voice vocalizing the plate number. She sounded a little bit surprised.


    When he got the information he needed, Eric Wu switched the ongoing phone call he had with Bella Lim to the one he had with Tao. He told him the plate number he just acquired. As soon as he finished telling him that, he finally caught up to the black car that was chasing after Bella Lim.


    Eric Wu stared at the black car with bloodshot eyes. He hated people who invaded his place. These people thought they could do anything they wished. Dream on!


    He saw a man was holding a gun and from the way, he saw it, it was clear that the man''s target was Bella Lim and not her little brother. Seeing this, Eric Wu smiled as he also took out a gun that he kept at one of the secret compartments in his red Escaper 117.


    "Miss Bella, ready to speed up. I''ll cover you," he knew that the limiter countdown would end in a few seconds. He reminded Bella Lim.


    "Now!" he said. He was ready to shoot at the black car to give them enough distraction so that Bella Lim could escape, however, when he saw the deadly turn up ahead, he gulped. This woman wouldn''t be able to escape. She needed to slow down or else, their life would be in danger.

 Chapter 43 - The mischievous side of him

    "Fuck!" he yelled as he speeds up, now only twenty seconds away from the black car. He saw the man was about to shoot and Bella Lim was about to reach the corner. If she slowed down, she would get shot¡­


    He must act now! This man who was holding a gun should lose a hand¡­


    Eric Wu locked on his target but then something amazing happened. His eyes widened when he saw Bella Lim professionally took the turn. He witnessed her motorbike leaned towards the inside of the corner, almost touching the graveled road. This was a fast cornering! He almost exclaimed out loud. This woman, where did she learn such a high skill?


    Eric Wu was still amazed but then, he noticed the man who clearly was appalled at the scene just now had regained himself and was ready to shoot. He knew it was time... he pulled the trigger of the gun in his hand and shot at the man''s arm. He could see the reaction of agony.


    Not yet... Eric Wu''s motorbike accelerated, now paralleled to the black car. He matched their speed, looked at the people inside through the open window, held out his gun¡­


    He saw the panicked people inside the car stumbled to get their own weapon. This chaotic scene made him smile. Yet, no matter the amusement, he pulled the trigger. The person who managed to hold his gun first was shot! Another tried to aim at him¡­ but was shot again. The driver finally realized that this man wasn''t their match. He abruptly hit the brake and made a 180-degree turned. They needed to go or else, their life would be in danger. This mission was a miscalculation¡­


    Eric Wu chuckled when he saw the car left to the opposite side. He didn''t bother to chase after them knowing that there would be people waiting at the main entrance. His mission now was to catch up to Bella Lim. After a while, he saw them and realized that her motorbike seemed to slow down. She looked haggard and her maneuvering was unstable.


    Was she affected by the gunshots? Eric Wu thought so. He spoke: "Miss Bella, don''t worry. I''m behind you,"


    Silent.


    "Your brother was safe. The gun was mine," he explained.


    He waited and soon he heard her laugh. Her maneuvering finally stabilized. Eric Wu shook his head. This woman was so easy to panic that she missed out on the signals given by her little brother.


    This woman, what kind of personality was this? Eric Wu was truly curious. This was the third time he felt this kind of emotion. The first time was at Kastache when he saved the sixteen years old girl. The second time was the woman in his dream. It seemed that his curiosity was always piqued by weird women¡­ Except for the beauty in his dream. She was a mystery!


    Fast forward¡­


    Eric Wu walked towards Bella Lim who was helping her little brother getting off the motorbike. He almost laughed when she saw her removed her little brother''s helmet first before hers.


    "Don''t you think you should remove your helmet first?" he teased as he gave the motorbike key to Tao who rushed to him as soon as he saw him. He looked at Bella Lim with folded arms, lips curled to a grin. He saw her agitatedly removed the helmet on her head.


    "M-Mr Eric¡­" Bella Lim felt her ears getting hotter when she heard Eric Wu''s teasing remark. She didn''t want to admit it, but she had really forgotten to remove her helmet. She internally sighed.


    "Miss Bella, I''ll take care of your bike," she heard Tao who was standing next to Eric Wu spoke. She looked at the man who was adorned with an earnest look on his face. She smiled and gave her key to him.


    "Thank you," she said and saw Tao nodded before leaving with the keys.


    "M-Mr-"she focused on Eric Wu. She wanted to thank him again. But the man was now ignoring him. His attention was on little pumpkin who right now was staring at him with starry eyes.


    "Little boy, are you okay?" she heard him asked. Then, she saw him kneeled on one knee, looking at little pumpkin with a smile on his face.


    "I''m okay sir. Thank you for saving me and my big sister," little pumpkin said. His eyes were looking at Eric Wu like looking at his hero. He was smiling from ear to ear with eyes wide open, refusing to let go of the man in front of him.


    "Good! You did a really good job there!" Eric Wu touched the little boy''s head with a gentle smile on his face. He was really amazed by the little boy, it was hard to experience Bella Lim''s skills, but he did well. Like someone who was already used to it¡­


    "Thank you sir!" little pumpkin grinned widely. He touched his head that was touched by Eric Wu earlier. The warm lingered and he loved it. It felt good like when his big sister patted him.


    "Call me big brother from now on. Your sister here is a friend of mine. She should learn how to call me Eric as I will call her Bella from now on. What do you think?" Eric Wu spoke as he took a glance at Bella Lim with a mischievous smile on his face.


    Bella Lim saw this and was taken aback. Was this approval of her friendship? Did it mean that Eric Wu had truly acknowledged her as a friend? She couldn''t believe it.


    "M-Mr Eric-" she wanted to say something but was cut off by little pumpkin.


    "Big sis¡­ big brother Eric requested you to call him informally. Why are you using a formal salutation?" little pumpkin pouted and looked at her sister criticizingly.


    "Right~" Eric Wu added on as he lifted an eyebrow, staring at Bella Lim with a meaningful gaze.


    Bella Lim was speechless. Just now she just experienced hell on the road. So how did it turn into another torturing yet interesting skit like this? She stared at Eric Wu, but facing his mischievous face, she couldn''t take it. She looked away bashfully.


    "E-Eric¡­" she mustered her courage to say his name. She felt her whole body weakened. She was b?r?ly standing.


    "Big brother! Big sis did it!" little pumpkin skipped in joy. He even went to give a high five to Eric Wu. Seeing this and how Eric Wu excitedly responded to little pumpkin, Bella Lim was again rendered speechless.


    What was this event? She felt her heart race faster and louder.


    Somehow, she loved seeing the two interacted in such away.


    A smile was on her face. Eric Wu saw this and subconsciously took a deep breath. This woman¡­ why was her smile similar to the one in his dream?

 Chapter 44 - Vulnerability

    "Bella!"


    Bella Lim was startled when a voice called her name out loud. Followed with was a sudden hug that made her almost lose her balance.


    "Bella, it''s good that you''re okay," a voice as gentle as the wind rang beside her. She looked around and finally realized that it was Sun Nan who was hugging her, and Lu Fei was standing just a few steps away from her, smiling.


    Seeing their reactions, she couldn''t help but tremble a little. Sun Nan had freed her from his embrace and now was hugging little pumpkin. Even Lu Fei was checking if little pumpkin was okay.


    Ahh¡­ she really didn''t want to cry in front of these people. Bella Lim looked above her, trying to suppress the tears from rolling down. But, their voices of concern made it difficult.


    Bella Lim chuckled, trying to humor herself from crying. Yet, she knew she couldn''t stop it. No, she really didn''t want to cry here...


    Suddenly, someone held her hand. Startled, she looked at the strong hand that was gripping on her feeble one. Until her eyes saw who the person was, Bella Lim felt her heart jumped out from her body. Eric Wu! What was he doing?


    "Sun Nan, Lu Fei, please look after little Ryan. I have something to ask Bella," Eric Wu glanced at Bella Lim who looked stupefied before staring at the two men who was chatting with Ryan Lim. Sun Nan made an okay gesture while Lu Fei nodded understandingly.


    "W-where are you bringing me?" Bella Lim gathered her strength to ask. She was too shocked that the tears accumulated at the corner of her eyes seemed to disappear. However, Eric Wu didn''t respond. He kept on pulling her hand until they reached a room.


    The room had an uneven floor. The slightly staged floor was like a library with rows of bookshelves standing on it. While the one she was standing on was a big area that displayed minimal furniture. A set of black and white desk and chair was placed at the center in front of the big wide window mirroring the wonderful ocean view. On the opposite side of the mini-library was a small cozy area with a set of couches arranged neatly near a fireplace.


    Bella Lim had a grasped of what the room was. This was Enlai Gong''s workplace! She was excited because it was one of her life dreams to see Enlai Gong''s writing space. Today, her dream was fulfilled!


    While Bella Lim was admiring the room, Eric Wu once again pulled her hand towards the cozy area. He held her shoulders and pushed her down to sit on one of the couches.


    Bella Lim stared at Eric Wu with eyes that contained a lot of questions.


    "This room is good for you to cry," she heard him said. Then, he walked to the writing desk and put on his eyewear. He began typing.


    Bella Lim laughed sporadically for she finally knew why she was dragged to this place. She stared at the man again with gratitude. She was really touched by his action. She knew he was a kind person or else he wouldn''t help her in the past. But, never would she thought that he would be this thoughtful.


    Eric Wu¡­ why are you so kind to me? She asked the same questions again and again inside her mind. She thought a while back, this man must''ve noticed her tears, maybe that was the reason he brought her in this room.


    Now, her emotion was stirred again.


    Without this man, would she still be alive right now? Would she still see little pumpkin''s smile?


    Bella Lim looked at the fireplace at her right side and then to Eric Wu. Her gaze was on him for a long time.


    She took a deep breath before reluctantly looked away. Thinking back on today''s incident, she suddenly laughed, although she really didn''t feel like laughing.


    The dictation of her second life was like riding a rollercoaster. She disliked it because they were too many questions that she couldn''t understand. Events that never happened, happened. It was like she had been thrown into a similar yet strange life.


    Sighed.


    Bella Lim''s eyes slowly became glossy. One by one, tears dropped to her ??ps. Understanding that the floodgates of her eyes were now opened, Bella Lim grabbed the cushion pillow beside her and used it to muffle the sound of crying. She was loosing her mind, trying to accept that this was her life now. Probably more unexpected things would happen in the future. Let her cries now for the future that probably full of thorns...


    Bella Lim cried again, ignoring Eric Wu''s presence. Deep down, she felt that it was okay for Eric Wu to see her vulnerability. This man was her pillar. He was the one that gave her the strength to live on! No matter if she was in the past or present, this man seemed to be fated to be involved in her life. She sobbed harder. Her shoulders wracked with every sob.


    Eric Wu heard her cries but pretended to be busy. At the same time, he was trying to understand the stifling emotion that was hanging on his ?h?st.


    Eric Wu gave up as he ceased doing the thing he was doing and leaned on the chair while his eyes were staring at Bella Lim. He couldn''t understand what he was doing either.


    A while ago, he saw that Bella Lim looked like she was about to cry, but then was also trying hard to appear strong. He didn''t want to see such expression on her face, therefore he brought her here. This was the place he had poured all his emotions into. The place where he could be his true self. He believed Bella Lim could do so as well.


    "Feeling okay?" he asked. Now he was walking towards her with a glass of water in his hand. Bella Lim nodded as she mouthed a ''thank you'' and took the glass in his hand and drank all of its content. Her sore throat felt better.


    "Don''t worry about the incident today. I''ll help you look into it," Eric Wu said as he took the seat in front of Bella Lim.


    "Mmm," Bella Lim muttered, sealing her lips. When she heard Eric Wu''s kind words, she felt her lips quivered and a sob threatened to choke off her voice. She took a deep breath and her emotion stabilized again.


    "No big deal. I believe even if I don''t do anything, someone else will. Sun Nan and Lu Fei wouldn''t let the issue rest as it is," Eric Wu spoke with a chuckle. A slightly confused expression on his face.


    Bella Lim stared at the man. Was he trying to make an excuse for what he had done to help her? Why?


    "Are you emotionally stable right now?" Eric Wu asked. Bella Lim nodded once. She was indeed in a much better condition compared to before.


    "Good. Let''s go. I''m famished!" Eric Wu let out a laugh as he rose from his seat. Bella Lim once again shook her head in agreement. She came here for lunch and now that everything was temporarily settled, a meal or two was something she really needed. She too was famished!


    Once again Bella Lim followed Eric Wu towards the place where the feast was taking place. While walking on a long-opened corridor, she heard voices coming at the end of it. She walked faster but was still a step behind Eric Wu. Soon, she saw three people were playing bubbles. Not far from them was a huge dining table. It seemed that the feast was hosted at Eric Wu''s garden.


    "You guys are here!" Lu Fei approached Bella Lim and whispered: "Are you okay now?" he smiled. Bella Lim was startled. It seemed that Lu Fei already knew why she was dragged away from them.


    "I am," she returned a smile. That was when she heard little pumpkin''s voice calling for Eric Wu''s name. She looked at the chaotic scene in front of her and laughed. Eric Wu was now rolling on the ground with Sun Nan and little pumpkin trying to take the super elastic bubble plastic from his hand.


    Wasn''t he hungry? Where did he get the energy to jump around? Bella Lim chuckled as she pulled Lu Fei to join the chaos that was happening on the ground.

 Chapter 45 - Adamantly stubborn

    Finally, after an intense workout of playing around, everyone helped each other to the chairs. Tao who was standing by the side held himself from giving a piece of advice at their childish behavior. It was okay to play around, but wasn''t it stupid to play until their energy drained out? However, what surprised him the most was the fact that his aloof president was one of those people. Tao sighed.


    "Alright," Eric Wu spoke, garnering the attention of everyone.


    "Cheers to new friends and new little brother," he said as he rose his glass.


    "Cheers!" the rest shouted as they rose their glass. Soon, the sound of glasses clashed rang, solemnizing the beginning of today''s small banquet.


    Maybe because everyone was hungry, no one talked about the serious incident that occurred this afternoon. Until the end, the only serious topic being discussed was Sun Nan''s table manner. Everyone agreed with Lu Fei that he should eat more instead of speaking more.


    "President, the head of security is on the line," Tao approached Eric Wu with a phone in his hand. He tried to be discreet as possible as not to disturb the merry atmosphere. Eric Wu gave a subtle nod and walked to a quiet area so that he could take the call without any disturbance.


    Bella Lim noticed him leaving and her gaze followed him to where he was at. She was anxious when she saw his expressions changed. When he looked at her direction, she could see the darkening gaze of his.


    "What is it?" she murmured to herself. Her hand clutched on her jean as her instinct told her that it was related to the incident this afternoon.


    Little pumpkin who was giggling at Sun Nan''s another silly joke, noticed his big sister''s fidgety manners.


    "Big sis, are you okay?" he asked, slightly worried. He tugged the sleeve of her t-shirt to get her attention. His solicitous manner towards his big sisters brought Sun Nan and Lu Fei''s attention to them.


    Bella Lim was startled. Then, when she realized that all eyes were on her, a smile was fast on her face to mask the troubled look she had. "My stomach feels uncomfortable," she said exaggeratedly, putting her hands on her stomach with a grimace on her face.


    "Big sis needs to poopoo?" little pumpkin asked. His innocent face tilted to one side to see her reaction. Bella Lim blanked for a moment, uncertain on how to proceed with her lie.


    "Y-yes," she forced herself to admit. At the same time, she could feel her cheeks getting warmer.


    "Let me show you the way to the restroom," Lu Fei who was listening rose from his seat. Sun Nan made a disgusted gesture, pinching his nose as he shooed her away.


    "Go, go¡­ I can already smell the smell," he taunted, purposely swatting the empty air. Bella Lim stared at him with a blank expression. Did Sun Nan believe that she needed to poop too? Eh?


    "Hehehe, big sis looks like she needs to poopo this big," little pumpkin giggled as he made a big circle with his hands.


    Bella Lim chuckled, knowing that she couldn''t deny even if she wanted too. ''Might as well leave,'' she thought. She excused herself and followed Lu Fei who was already waiting behind her.


    Not long after they left, Eric Wu approached the table and saw that two people were absent, he asked Sun Nan about their whereabouts. Once he got the answer he wanted, he left the area while reminding Sun Nan to look after little pumpkin.


    Bella Lim had just walked out of the restroom when Eric Wu arrived.


    "Follow me," he said without explaining further. Bella Lim and Lu Fei looked at each other before making haste behind the man who had left, leaving such a big gap for them to catch up. They didn''t go far as Eric Wu brought them inside the first room he encountered. It was the gaming room where Lu Fei and Sun Nan suffered loses against Eric Wu.


    "Is this about what had happened this afternoon?" Bella Lim asked as she sat on the single sofa in the room facing the man that brought her here. Lu Fei was standing nearby, his body leaned against a wall. He stared at his friend with eyes as curious as Bella Lim.


    "Yes," Eric Wu responded. He stared at the woman in front of him who then looked away quickly, dismissing his gaze.


    "What''s the verdict?" Lu Fei asked. He walked to one of the sofas available and sat with his elbow on his th??h to support his body from falling forward. He tilted his head to look at Eric Wu, curiosity at its peak. Bella Lim fidgeted, knowing that soon she would know the reason why someone wanted to kidnap her brother.


    "I have those people under custody. Based on the current investigation, it looked like a normal kidnapping attempt. No syndicate involved," Eric Wu explained while looking at Lu Fei and then to Bella Lim. He almost let out a sigh when she once again avoided his eyes.


    "That''s good," Lu Fei relaxed. "Will you personally handle this or get the police involved?" he asked.


    Eric Wu chuckled. His finger danced on the armrest, eyes staring at Bella Lim. "What do you want to do?" he asked in a low voice. Bella Lim felt chill on her back upon hearing his voice. She stared back, trying to see if there was anger in his eyes. He looked calm.


    "I¡­," she said with uncertainty. The struggle could be seen on the tightly knitted brow on her face. She looked down, staring at the floor. When she heard Eric Wu''s explanation, the first thing that came to her mind was the driver''s eyes. She remembered feeling terrified when she met those purely evil eyes.


    "Was it really a one-time attempt?" she blurted out her suspicion. Then she looked at Eric Wu, speaking: "Can I meet those people?"


    Lu Fei''s mouth was agape when he heard her request. He immediately looked at Eric Wu who seemed to be taken aback as well. It seemed that they were both didn''t see this coming.


    "Why?" Eric Wu asked. Astonishment flashed in his eyes. He was surprised at her request because if it was other people, they would simply leave the rest to the law. In this case, it was normal for Bella Lim to just push the responsibilities to him since he had enough resources to bring tribulation to these people.


    "Bella, I think it''s best to leave this to Eric," Lu Fei spoke, persuading the woman to drop the idea. He didn''t want her to meet or be involved with people that almost gave her a traumatic experience.


    Bella Lim looked at the two men with eyes that showed dissatisfaction. "I insist. Please!" she said, adamant to her request. What if there was more to this? She couldn''t resist this thought.


    Once again, the two men looked at each other. Lu Fei shook his head, insisting the other to ignore Bella Lim''s request. However, when he saw Eric Wu smirked, he knew, he was defeated. That man was now on board with the stupid request of Bella Lim.


    "Sure, but not today. I''ll bring you to them when the time is right," he said, smiling elaborately.


    This was what she learned from the crime books Enlai Gong had written.

 Chapter 46 - The man who instilled fear and the men who peed

    Two days after the kidnap attempt and lunch party at Eric Wu''s house, in one of the rooms located underground of Hillside Villa, a man was seen sitting in front of four badly injured men. They were all looking at the man sitting on the chair with eyes full of fear.


    "J-just k-kill u-s," one man spoke in a slurred voice. Saliva was leaving his mouth as he had no control over his jaw. However, the man he talked to simply responded with a sly smile on his face.


    "Yes, just kill us!" another man shouted. Although he was scared, the will to fight was still there, albeit not much.


    "Why should I? The four of you are good entertainment," the man spoke in an excited tone. Those who listened to him speaking would think that he was happy. Yet, the sight of his face would make them spew words of curses to the air. This man was indeed joyful, but his brownish eyes were now tinted with the color of blood.


    "W-we have nothing. E-everything was a mistake," another man spoke. His left hand was holding his other arm who apparently incomplete. Drops of fresh blood fell onto the floor. Every drop seemed to intensify the looked of pain in his face.


    "Indeed. You have said the same thing from the first day you came in. But, why can''t I find any data about the four of you? I''ve spent day and night to find the slightest information, but... you''re just nonexistent. That''s too ridicululous, you think? --- ahh, that''s why you want to be killed?" the man looked enlightened. He spared a look at them with a smile that seemed to never leave his face.


    The four injured men cowered when their eyes met with his. One man was now trembling uncontrollably as foul-smelling urine was seen pooled underneath his pants. He recalled how the man smiled when he shot him in the shoulder two days ago. That man was doing this with pure ecstasy.


    "P-please, just kill me," he trembled even wilder. Eyes were no longer looking straight. He was still alive but his eyes had lost all hope. The feeling of fear was replaced with a lifeless gaze. This man kept on saying ''kill me'' many times.


    No one of the four injured men realized that the man sitting on the chair had secretly sighed in relief. No longer was the evil appearance he executed a while ago. However, it was only momentary for no one caught sight of this. When they stole a look at him all they saw was the face of the devil.


    "You really want to die?" they heard the man asked amusedly.


    "Yes, k-kill me," the man who peed the floor answered weakly yet hopeful. Hopeful that his wish to die would be fulfilled.


    "I''ll kill you with one condition," the man who chuckled.


    Hearing his response, the man who begged to be killed looked up. "R-really?" he asked. His face looked as innocent as a child, asking as if dying was the sweetest candy in the entire universe.


    "Yes," the man sitting on the chair replied. He smiled gently to the man who was looking at him full of adoration.


    "W-what is it?!" the man asked almost shouting. He pulled himself closer while resisting the hands and voices of his teammates who asked him not to move further forward.


    The man who was sitting comfortably suddenly rose from the chair he sat on. He walked towards the man who was smiling as his eyes anticipatingly waited for the condition he talked about.


    "Tell me who you really are? And why are you trying to kidnap Ryan Lim?" the man whispered, ensuring that the rest didn''t hear him.


    "Hehehe... t-this is easy. I-I don''t have a name. The organization called me M. They are N, O, and P. Ryan Lim was the little boy, right? Hehehe... he is v-very important for Master Y-yang the 13th," the man answered as he kept on laughing. The other three stared at their comrade with eyes in disbelieve. They wanted to shut his mouth but seeing the eyes of the man beside him, they could only swallow their intention.


    "I-I''ve told you everything. N-now please k-kill me," the man begged. However, the other man simply stared at him with mocking eyes. He scoffed and said: "Living is better than dying," Then, he walked out of the room without looking back. However, the aura he unleashed as he walked out of the room almost suffocate the four people to death. The terrified look in their eyes was almost gone. Another man had actually fallen into despair as he could be heard begging for someone to grant him dead.


    "President!" Tao saw Eric Wu entered the surveillance room. He looked at the man with wary eyes, afraid to look straight to the eyes that were sharp like a knife. Just now, he had witnessed the man manipulated the criminals'' mind until two submitted to him. Scratch that! Two were now living corpses. Tao shivered.


    "Boss," there was another man in the room aside from Tao. He bowed to Eric Wu and stood erect without moving an inch.


    "Ekon," Eric Wu looked at the man who was standing like a soldier in front of him.


    "Yes, boss!" Ekon, the man that was referred to answered without moving from his current position. Even his eyes remained looking at the same spot. His rigid manner awed Tao who was standing three steps away from him.


    "Inform the team in Kastache to stop looking for the Prince. Tell them their new official task is to watch Yang Wang every move and make a report every 24 hours," he said. His voice was gruff, and his brows were drawn together in a frown. Yet, the brownish eyes of his twinkled in excitement.


    "Boss is it...?" he didn''t finish his sentence as he saw his boss''s eyes of confirmation.


    "Right away boss!" Ekon saluted and was ready to leave the room when he was stopped by Eric Wu.


    "Bring Tao along. Explain to him about everything. Don''t worry he had signed a life and death contract with me," Eric Wu snickered as he looked at Tao who a while ago was at a loss about what was happening.


    "Yes, boss!" Ekon responded as he pulled Tao''s hand to follow him. Tao who was pulled along had a baffled expression on his face. W-what is happening?


    After the two leave, Eric Wu was left alone in the room. He looked at the big screen in front of him and watched the medic treated the wound of the four injured people in the other room. There was no expression on his face but his eyes shone differently.


    He exhaled as he took out his phone from his pocket. He decided to inform Sun Nan and Lu Fei about the information he had obtained.


    "Eric bro!"


    "Hello,"


    Sun Nan and Lu Fei greeted as soon as their faces appeared on the screen of his phone. He simply nodded.


    "Why are you calling?" Lu Fei was the first to ask. Sun Nan was seen munching on something.


    "I''ve found the Prince," Eric Wu spoke as he distanced himself from the phone in his hand. He had anticipated the loudness that would follow...


    "What!!" the two people who were listening screamed in shock. Sun Nan coughed as the news made him choke on the food he was eating. He was gone from the screen for a while but soon reappeared with a bottle of water in his hand.


    "Your people have found him? Where in Kastache?" Lu Fei asked.


    "Bro, four years. We''ve been searching for four fu?kin'' years. Shit, finally!" Sun Nan ?r??n?d, but his eyes were pleased.


    "Not in Kastache. The Prince is here," Eric Wu replied and once again it gave a shock to the people who were listening.


    "Really? No wonder we couldn''t find him in Kastache. But, why is he here? Wait, have you meet him? Where is he now?" Lu Fei asked rhetorically.


    "I''ve met him. And so are the two of you," Eric Wu heaved out. He felt that what he was about to say was too surreal. He stared at the Lu Fei and Sun Nan who was frowning at him.


    "Ryan Lim. He is the Prince,"


    "W-what?"


    "Eric bro, s-seriously?"


    Everyone was appalled. No one was speaking for a while.


    "If l-little Ryan is indeed the Prince. I''m afraid they would soon be in danger. Eric, you must send someone to protect them," Lu Fei inhaled as he finally saw the gravity of the situation.


    "Don''t worry. I''ve arranged people to watch them two days ago," Eric Wu''s reply brought a sigh on Sun Nan and Lu Fei''s mouth.


    Eric Wu silently exhaled as well. He too was relieved that he had sent people to look after Bella Lim and his little brother.

 Chapter 47 - Investigate the Lim siblings

    "Bro, t-this doesn''t make any sense," Sun Nan voiced out.


    "Agree. Besides, you''ve mentioned the other day that these criminals aren''t related to any syndicate?" Lu Fei expressed his thought.


    "I have my doubt too, but one of the criminals confessed that little Ryan is important for Yang Wang. The 13th master of the Yang Clan," he told them, pausing for a moment before he continued: "Isn''t it too much of a coincidence for his name to be mentioned all of a sudden? Plus, we know that the Prince is a young boy," he stated his argument with a complicated look on his face. He placed his long masculine leg on the table as he lazily massaged his temple.


    In the beginning, he indeed ?ssumed that the kidnap attempt was just a normal case because the subject acted like amateurs when investigated. However, when Bella Lim voiced out her suspicion, he decided to dig deeper. He began to suspect that something was wrong when his team couldn''t find any information about the four people in any registry, what more the police records. Nothing!


    Yet, those people still acted like they were simply normal citizens trying to find money via child trafficking. No matter what soft method his team used to interrogate them, they continued with their pretense.


    Angered, Eric Wu took control of the situation, making use of each second to play with their minds. He added torture too, but that was for severe cases when the subjects completely immune to all the methods he had been using. He actually spent a whole day just to get a statement from one of the subjects. This proved that these people were trained ?ssassins!


    When the fallen criminal mentioned Yang Wang. He doubted that it was made up because Yang Wang wasn''t someone that could become anybody''s friend. That man was a two-faced terrorist!


    "The probability is there..." he mumbled but was still heard by Sun Nan and Lu Fei.


    "That made sense. Now that I think about it, little Ryan and Bella don''t look the same," Sun Nan raised a startling statement, which alarmed the other two men who were on a video call with him. He saw the two seemed to freeze for a moment. He thought they were doubting him.


    "What? I''m giving a valid point here. You can check the picture we took during the gathering. Go and compare!" Sun Nan''s penetrating voice echoed. His eyes looked glaring on the screen.


    "Calm down! No one is against you," Lu Fei remarked. He clicked his teeth in annoyance. Although he was well-versed with Sun Nan''s s?ns?t?v? personality, he had a hard time to digest his sudden mood-swing.


    Lu Fei was correct that no one was in disagreement with Sun Nan. Even Eric Wu could tell that Sun Nan brought up an important clue for them to consider. However, siblings that looked different from each other were common everywhere in this world. Nevertheless, it was one point worth considering.


    "Why don''t we ask Bella?" Lu Fei suggested, but his face was unconvincing. It was weird to ask about her family out of the blue. Besides, bringing up their dead parents could be traumatizing to the siblings.


    "I''ll have my people investigate her," Eric Wu made the final decision which was agreed without much fuss by the other two. They also thought that it was the safest way to avoid Bella Lim''s suspicion.


    "Eric, they need someone to look after them," Lu Fei uttered. He knew if the news of Ryan Lim as the Prince spread to the enemies'' eyes, their life would be in danger.


    "Don''t worry. It had been taken care of," Eric Wu replied which made Lu Fei and Sun Nan exhaled in relief. After the kidnapping attempt, he had a few men incognito nearby Bella Lim''s home. That was necessary since the two lived in such a secluded place and far from his villa.


    The video call ended when Sun Nan remembered he had a photoshoot to attend to. Although there were lots to discuss, they decided to meet up with Eric Wu after he found out everything that needed to be investigated.


    Inside the surveillance room, Eric Wu stretched his stiff body. Then, he looked through the recordings of today''s interrogation on the computer in front of him. Once he found the whole recordings, he copied them into his Pendrive. Even though today was a tough one, he was satisfied with the spoils. Another good material that he could refer to for his next book.


    "Tao," Eric Wu startled his ?ssistant that was staring at the empty air with a blank expression.


    "President!" Tao jumped a little, startled by the sudden voice calling his name.


    "Did Ekon explained everything to you?" he asked, ignoring Tao''s jumpy reaction.


    "Y-yes," Tao answered, looking a bit disconnected.


    "I have a task for you. Investigate Bella and her little brother. Do it indiscreet," he told him. He saw Tao nodded, but the muddled look was still there.


    Eric Wu let out a sigh.


    "Tao, I asked Ekon to tell you everything because I trust you. The scope of your work will not increase because of this. You just need to perform like always," Eric Wu explained as he patted on Tao''s right shoulder. He thought Tao was afraid of the sudden dark news being dumped into him.


    Tao who was slightly in dazed suddenly perked up. He blinked several times before he understood why his president spoke as such.


    "President! Don''t worry, all is good. I promise to work harder!" he proclaimed. Honestly, Tao wasn''t scared but was thrilled to ride the thorny side of working with the president. He was only in dazed because he was too sleepy. If Eric Wu knew this, he might flip as he had wasted the time feeling guilty towards his president.


    "Good, your spirit is commendable!" Eric Wu praised. He stepped out of the elevator and walked the hallway towards his room. It was time for his hibernation.


    ***


    In one of the low-cost houses in Countryside, Bella Lim was sitting on a couch with a ??ptop on her ??p. Two days! These were the time she spent on work hunting online. She almost cried when she read the last email. It was another sad news: a rejection.


    She wasn''t picky. She only asked if there was a nursery at the company she applied to. Alas, the one hundred and twenty-five jobs she applied didn''t have such a luxury. Maybe there was such an option if she applied for white-collar jobs, but she had no certificate to support her resume. Her options were limited.


    "Big sis, it''s late already. Please go to sleep,"


    She heard little pumpkin''s voice from behind. She turned around only to see him rubbing his eyes. These two days, she was afraid to let him sleep alone, hence she arranged for them to sleep in one room. She had forgotten that little pumpkin could only sleep in a blackout room. The light emitted from her ??ptop must''ve awakened him.


    "Sorry, let''s sleep," she said and then closed her ??ptop. Little pumpkin didn''t wait for his big sister as he climbed the bed to sleep. Soon, his snores rang in the room.


    A faint smile emerged on Bella Lim''s face when she watched her little pumpkin was fast to sleep. She kissed his forehead and laid down next to him.


    Tomorrow, she would continue. Hopefully, luck was on her side.

 Chapter 48 - The confirmation

    True! Luck was indeed on Bella Lim''s side, but so was a misfortune.


    The next day, Eric Wu received the compiled report about Bella Lim and Ryan Lim in the afternoon after lunchtime. He frowned as he went through the report. They were not much, but enough to make him believed that his ?ssumption about little Ryan was correct.


    In his hands were two contradicting information regarding the siblings. The first one was a statement from Azure''s registration department claiming that Bella Lim and Ryan Lim were siblings of the same parents. However, according to the DNA test conducted by his team, those two were not blood-related. Not in the slightest!


    "Tao, the DNA test, was it conducted accordingly?" he asked. His tone was slightly harsh making his ?ssistant stand upright.


    "President, I did as you instructed. I ?ssigned our personnel to gather the necessary materials for the test from Miss Bella and her little brother. We conducted the test several times before we penned the result on paper," Tao answered confidently. His eyes were looking only at one fixed sport, the transparent wall behind the president.


    Eric Wu frowned deepened as he couldn''t help but felt that something was amiss. He didn''t doubt Tao as he knew that the medical team working for him was loyal and trustworthy. Besides, their expertise wasn''t questionable. So what was it?


    Eric Wu read the document again and all of a sudden his eyes flickered. Using his fingers, he instructed Tao to come closer. Tao obediently followed while wondering if his life was on the line.


    "Tao, I need you to recheck Bella and Ryan''s birthplace," he said as he turned to his ??ptop in front of him.


    Tao gulped as he was relieved. The task was easy and the president seemed not angry.


    "Sure president, I''ll get it done by this evening," he replied happily and was about to go when he heard Eric Wu''s low voice.


    "This evening?"


    "Y-yes," Tao turned around and met eyes to eyes with the president. He felt a chill as the scrutinizing eyes of Eric Wu met his.


    "P-president?" he called, trying to free himself from the sudden fear the began to eat him inside. Recently, the president had gotten a lot friendlier and approachable that he thought the scary side of him was now kept locked. Alas, it seemed that he only became human when he was with his friends. Tao could only pity himself for the misunderstanding. He should have known that the president was an entity beyond him.


    "I want the information now," the president''s speech was short but demanding. However, instead of being scared, Tao was confused.


    "P-president, the application form might not be approved so soon. The fastest it could be done was this evening," and as soon as he said this, it was the president''s turn to get confused.


    "What are you talking about? What application?" he asked almost impatiently.


    "Application to get access to the information," Tao smiled, thinking that the president could be naive sometimes. Did he think that everything could be obtained so easily?


    "Tao," Eric Wu chuckled in disbelieved.


    "Don''t tell me all the information you get about Bella and little Ryan was via legal means?" he inquired, seriously wondering if that was indeed the truth. If it was indeed so, it seemed that Tao was too good as his ?ssistant.


    Tao nodded.


    "And all the things I asked you to do before?"


    Nodded again.


    "So, you didn''t hack those?" Eric Wu asked again, lips slightly curved to an angle.


    "President, n-no, no-no-no," Tao denied with hands frantically waved to the air as if trying to get rid of the bad presumption.


    "That is the worst thing to do! Although I''m a good hacker. I know my limit!" he added.


    "I will not dare!" then, Tao bowed to a ninety-degree angle, almost touching the edge of Eric Wu''s working desk.


    Tao''s denial, as well as strong opposition against illegal means, made Eric Wu laughed. He stared at his ?ssistant with a disregarded look. He didn''t believe him.


    "Tell me how did you get the information so fast?" he asked, an eyebrow arched.


    "I have a friend working at the national registry department. He gave the information to me last night,"


    "How did he get it in one night?" Eric Wu asked again. This question made Tao stumped with no answer.


    "T-that..." he began to wonder. And then as if hit by a realization, he twitched.


    "P-president... I was too naive," he admitted with a sour look on his face.


    Eric Wu smirked as he rose from his seat, bringing along his silver-colored ??ptop, and walked to the comfort zone in his office. As he passed by Tai, he patted his shoulder, comforting him.


    Tao weakly followed his president and sat on the couch in front of him. He didn''t dare to lift his face.


    "Your friend seemed like an honest person," Eric Wu decided to tease his ?ssistant one last time. Tao could only swallow his saliva upon hearing this. Thank God it was only one time. After this, he wouldn''t dare to ask anything from his friend again, especially one regarding his job. Never! He oathed.


    "P-president, I thought you didn''t want me to go beyond the morals or laws. I''m sorry for being too naive!" Tao who had been listening gripped his hands. He knew he was influenced by his own expectations again. He expected to do the best for the president and thought that ''abiding by the law'' would do good to his president. Alas, he only made things worst. What if his friend was caught?


    "We do our jobs via any means as possible as long as it didn''t hurt the people we love or put ourselves in danger," Eric Wu stated as he switched on his ??ptop.


    "Take a rest. I''ll do the rest," he instructed and focused on the screen. Tao shook his head but didn''t dare to move from his seat. He remained there until the president finished with whatever he was doing.


    Eric Wu''s face changed to a gloomy look as he read the information on the screen. According to the registry report that Tao received from his friend, Bella and Ryan were born in Azure or to be more specific at Azure Birthing Centre and Medical Services, however, there were no records stating that their mother was once a patient there.


    "Tao, it seemed that this legal information is all fake," he said. Although it structurally said to Tao, it was meant more for himself. He chuckled as his slender finger tapped on the coffee table.


    Who made such a sloppy mistake as this? He wondered. However, the bigger question was - why? Why hide the truth about Bella and little Ryan? Eric Wu suspicion that little Ryan the Prince had increased to ninety percent.


    Did Bella know something about this?


    As he thought that, his phone rang and Ekon''s number appeared on the screen.


    "What is it?" Eric Wu asked as he looked at Tao with a serious gaze. Tao who was sitting in front straightened his body, ready to listen to whatever instruction the president would give him.


    "Boss, there was a break-in at the subjects'' house. I just received the information and instructed the team to guard the house," Ekon reported. He sounded serious and stiff.


    Eric Wu abruptly stood up. He could feel a volcano was about to erupt within him. Tao who was sitting across him was taken aback at the sudden change of demeanor. He wryly stared at the president while also standing up in standby.


    "Ekon, tell me how is that possible?" he questioned. He had instructed four of his people to guard Bella Lim''s and her little brother, how the hell a break-in occurred under such security. His people were not rubbish to let such a slippery mistake took place under their nose? Ridiculous! Eric Wu was angered.

 Chapter 49 - A break-in

    "Boss, the subjects left the house this morning. All of our people trailed them, no one was guarding the house," Ekon explained. Not to make an excuse but simply to state the reason it happened.


    Eric Wu closed his eyes as he leaned against the teal blue wall while pinching the middle of his eyebrows. He knew it wasn''t his people''s mistakes. He had given the instructions that they needed to follow Bella Lim and little Ryan wherever they went. In the case where one left and the other stayed home, his people required to split up to guard them.


    "Why did they leave the house? Where did they go?" he inquired. Although it was normal for them to go out, he needed to know to set himself free from the increasing worry.


    "Boss, one of our people had overheard their conversation and told that the older subject was looking for a job at the nearby supermarkets," Ekon explained.


    Hearing Ekon''s explanation caused Eric Wu to let out a sigh. He had forgotten about Bella Lim''s jobless status. She must be worrying about how to go about her life right now. Nope, she must be worried about her little brother more.


    "How are they?" he asked.


    "They are in fine condition, boss. A friend of theirs came to visit, her name Lily," Ekon reported.


    "How about the police?" Eric Wu implored. He already knew who Lily was from the busybody Tao, he didn''t need to ask who she was.


    "They are on their way, boss. Boss, should I ask our men to show up? Right now, they are hiding within the subjects'' house''s perimeter," Ekon informed. His voice was stiff and strict as always. Eric Wu was already used to this as Ekon was the leader of his security team. His job required him to be strict.


    "Be alert. Let the police handle this," he said before ending the phone call.


    Tao who was standing nearby swallowed his saliva. His throat felt dry as he realized that the man in front of him was no longer casual like the man who sat on the couch a while ago. He was now clandestine with a layer of a fearsome aura.


    "Tao, canceled my meeting with the Solar''s representatives today. I need to go somewhere," Eric Wu made a sudden remark after in silence for quite a moment.


    "Yes, president! I''ll ready the car," Tao replied as he fussily looked for his phone.


    "No need. Give me the key, I''ll drive," Eric Wu said as he approached his ?ssistant. Palm opened in demand for a car key. Tao saw this and confusedly gave the key that was kept inside his pocket.


    "President?" he asked, unsure of what to do next.


    "Gather all the documents on my table. I''ll sign everything tomorrow. Ah, remind the Solar''s representatives that they have until tomorrow to fix their presentation. I don''t want any rubbish talk as they did previously," he stated before walking out of the office.


    "Yes, president!" Tao responded. He didn''t know what Eric Wu''s plan of doing, but he knew he had a task to complete. He didn''t want to disappoint the president anymore. He must do the job given to him well! Must!


    "Bella, you must stay with me!" Lily who was looking at the mess in Bella Lim''s house was stricken with worry. A while ago, she had called to gossip about the chaotic change in the cafe because of Clara, but instead of a greeting, she heard her screamed in fear. It was only after calming her down that she knew someone broke into their house. Lily disregarded everything and ran to her friend''s house.


    "Sis--" Bella Lim tried to speak but she felt a lump on her throat. She hugged little pumpkin so tight unwilling to let go. Fear was evident in his eyes and that caused her to become even more anxious.


    She had been vigilant these past few days and rarely went out of her house. Today, she had brought little pumpkin along to see if any of the supermarkets in Countryside would be willing to hire her. Her luck was good but she had rejected all of it since the work wouldn''t allow her to keep watch of little pumpkin.


    They returned home tired only to see that someone or maybe a group of people had broke in their houses.


    "Bella, until the culprit is taken care of you must stay with me," Lily insisted as she sat next to Bella Lim, holding her hand. She let go when someone knocked on the door.


    "It''s the police," she told and left the area to meet the officers. Bella Lim trailed Lily with her gaze and soon she saw two policemen entered together with her.


    She watched as the two policemen looked around the house, in and out. When they asked her questions she tried to answer as clearly as possible. Although she was still afraid of the whole thing, she knew the importance of cooperating with the policemen.


    "There is no CCTV in this area," she heard one of the policemen said to his friend and watched the other shook their head in dismay.


    "Miss Bella, was this a reoccurrence?"


    "Anyone get hurt?"


    "They just came back. This incident happened while they were outside," Lily took the initiative to answer. She glanced at Bella Lim who looked gratefully at her. She smiled to console her.


    "Is anything valuable missing? Jewelry, money?" the other policeman asked.


    "No," this time Bella Lim answered the police''s question. Her face looked bothered by the fact that nothing was missing.


    "Miss Bella, based on our investigation, it seemed that this was a typical case of breaking in. Don''t worry, we will proceed with the necessary investigation,"


    "Well, there was no lead and no victim was harm. This case is basically closed," the other added.


    Bella Lim revulsed against the policemen. She hated to hear their nonchalant tone as if what had happened wasn''t something she shouldn''t worry about. Why was it that such scary things were branded as typical? Nothing was missing, wasn''t that already weird?


    "A typical case? Case closed?" she asked almost sounded like disparaging the conclusion made by the policemen.


    The officers heard her. Their narrowing gazes were looking at Bella Lim as if challenging her to clarify her doubt.


    "Officer, isn''t it weird that nothing was missing? I''m afraid there is more to this. What if the people come back? Could you send someone to guard the house," Bella Lim knew that no matter how she disliked the policemen''s easygoing manner over the case, she needed to be patient. Right now, she and her little pumpkin needed security the most.


    She hoped they would send an officer as a standby in case what she said became reality. Alas, all she heard in return was a subtle scoff. It was hidden well under the masked of a smile, but Bella Lim had become too s?ns?t?v? with the whole things that happened the past few days. She was too s?ns?t?v? to how people communicate with her.


    "Miss Bella, there was no lead, no physical harm, no evidence to tell who broke in. Tell us, how should we proceed with the case when we need to deal with more demanding cases?"


    Such a casual tone yet ridiculing in its own way. Bella Lim shuddered as she curled her fingers to a fist. She rose from her seat and stared at the policemen with disappointment. She wanted to yell at their attitudes but know that aggravating them would only bring them more trouble. She didn''t want to get on their bad books.


    "Could I request for protection?" she asked, trying to sound as polite as she could.


    "Instead of that, why don''t the two of you stay with your relatives or friends. That''s a better choice,"


    Lily who listened to bit her lips. She too began to hate the policemen.


    "Bella, just stay with me," she persuaded as to the longer she stared at Bella Lim, her pitiful look could only get worst.


    "Settled," one of the policemen shrugged as he signaled his other friend to leave. However, the moment they turned around, a big build of a man blocked their path. They looked up and couldn''t help but gasped at the sight of the newcomer.


    Bella Lim and Lily noticed that someone had entered the house. They stared at the door and Lily silent gasped was heard. Bella Lim, on the other hand, had her lips slightly apart.

 Chapter 50 - Come and stay with me

    "Big brother Eric!" little pumpkin was the first to react as he ran towards the man who was staring at the policemen with a smirk on his face.


    He probably heard little pumpkin''s calling for him as he squatted to receive the little boy into his embrace.


    "Are you okay?" he asked with a gentle voice. Little pumpkin shook his head indicating that he wasn''t, then he pointed to Bella Lim who was now standing like a statue.


    "I''m not okay, but big sis is even more in shock!" little pumpkin reported. Eric Wu pursed his lips as he rubbed the little boy''s head with care. He lifted him up, bounced him a little before settling down. His tall body was once again facing the two policemen who by now had noticed his identity.


    "M-Mr Eric, f-fancy meeting you here," one of the policemen stuttered as he greeted him. His eyes sparkled in astonishment. They couldn''t believe to see the almighty man in such a run-down place like this! Even more shocking, it seemed that this man was an acquaintance of their clients for the afternoon.


    "Officers, I respect your work but such an attitude definitely was an eye-opener," Eric Wu smiled as he stepped forward causing the two policemen to step back.


    "M-Mr Eric, we''re just doing our job,"


    Eric Wu chuckled as he halted. "Indeed, but the way you responded to Miss Bella''s request was quite unprofessional of you. It would be my p???sur? to contact your department leader," he sneered.


    Eric Wu had reached the place a long time ago but purposely stood outside to hear how everything would be concluded. When he heard the policemen casual yet insulting manner, he snapped.


    "M-Mr Eric, s-spare us," both the policemen almost kneeled to the ground to beg. They knew that everyone in Azure was afraid of this man as he was acquainted with the President of Azure himself. Wu Clan was the ruler of the whole continent of Azure and this man was the clan''s leader. The fact that he was the son of the Azure''s president was something that was known by everyone.


    "Of course, you''re spared," Eric Wu chuckled as he walked towards Bella Lim. The two policemen didn''t dare to leave anymore. They didn''t believe Eric Wu''s statement either. They felt that their lives were now at the edge of a cliff. With a push and they would fall. They stared at Bella Lim with pleading eyes, hoping that this woman would speak well of them.


    "M-Mr Eric, I''m a fan!" Lily was the first to speak. She stepped forward with eyes clearly adoring the sight of Eric Wu.


    "Thank you," Eric Wu was surprised, but thanked his stoic face, he came across unbothered.


    Lily was ecstatic as she could be seen heaving out in an exaggerated way. She looked at Bella Lim, her gaze was a million questions poking her face.


    "E-Eric, why are you here?" Bella Lim ignored her friend as she stared at Eric Wu. Her eyes also contained a million questions that needed to be answered.


    "I''m here to talk to you about something, but was definitely surprised to see the house. Moreover, the treatment of these officers right here," she heard his reply that was mocking the two policemen who were standing still near the door.


    "M-Mr Eric, you''re Bella''s acquaintance?" Lily eagerly asked. She refused to just listen when the man hinted to know Bella Lim.


    "Miss Lily," Lily almost fainted when he heard the man called her name. She gulped several times to regain her focus. This mighty man actually knew her name?


    "I''m Eric Wu, Bella''s friend," once again Lily was struck with astonishment. She could tell that the man purposely stressed the word friend. This man was countering her earlier ?ssumption. W-wait... was he actually angry? Lily peered on Eric Wu''s face but his stoic face was solid as if the tone of anger that was embedded in his last word wasn''t spoken by him.


    "Hehe... I''m sorry for the lack of knowledge. I''ll excuse myself. Bella, I''ll make something for you guys. Keep talking..." she tee-heed and fleed the area to the kitchen. On the way, she tried to manage the part that needed to be organized.


    "Officers, you can return," Eric Wu said as he took a glance at the two policemen. When he saw them frozen still, he coughed and the two immediately ran out from the house.


    "Hehe... big brother Eric is awesome. He scared Mr officers so easily," little pumpkin giggled as he was put down by Eric Wu to the ground.


    Bella Lim pulled little pumpkin to her and stared into his eyes. She exhaled when the fears that implanted his eyes were gone.


    "Thank you," she looked at Eric Wu with gratefulness. The sudden gratitude made the man frowned.


    "Little pumpkin was too scared earlier. He''s okay now that you''re here," Bella Lim chuckled as she couldn''t help but admit that the man''s presence was helping little pumpkin to free from the fear. So was she...


    Eric Wu didn''t know how to respond to what he just heard. Now that he listened to her voice, something was triggered in him. Was it worry? No, he was worried, to begin with, or else he wouldn''t rush here upon hearing the news. It was an unknown feeling...


    "Why a-are you here?" Bella Lim asked as she was now calmer than before. Seeing the man, her strength returned and so was her ability to perceive things better. The officers were not totally in the wrong. The break-in left no clue of who the perpetrator was or was. Plus, she as well as little pumpkin were not harmed. Their judgment might be harsh but not in the wrong either.


    "Come and stay with me,"


    W-what?!


    Bella Lim was not only shocked, but she almost fell onto the floor. She could feel her body weakened with the sudden announcement. At the same time, she heard things crashed to the ground and noticed Lily''s stun face. The cups and glasses she carried fell and that was the sound she heard earlier.


    "Tonight, I''ll have my people stay guard outside. Oh, and sent me your Gmail. There is something I need to send you. Read it and consider," Eric Wu briefly smiled as he watched the ever-changing expressions on Bella Lim''s face. He took out his phone and tapped on the note icon. He flipped it around and motioned for Bella Lim to write in her email addressed.


    "I-... this..."


    "Little pumpkin will do it," little pumpkin intercepted the shaking hand of Bella Lim''s and happily gave his big sister''s email address to Eric Wu. Among the people there, he could be the only one who was happy to accept Eric Wu''s invitation. He liked him and treated him as a hero. Today, he came here like a hero as well...


    Bella Lim chuckled as she wasn''t anticipating her little pumpkin''s reaction. This little boy, when did he become this close to Eric Wu?


    The things that happened afterward was like a movie being fast-forwarded as she didn''t notice when Eric Wu left her house. She was herself again when Lily invited her to eat. Little pumpkin was already on the table. She looked around and noticed that the house was now in a better state.


    "Did you...?" she looked at Lily, asking if she was the one who helped to organize the house.


    "Nope, your friend''s underling was responsible for this neat environment," Lily denied but intentionally highlighted the word ''friend''.


    "Eric?" Bella Lim asked in surprised. She watched both Lily and little pumpkin were giving her confirming acts. Lily clashed her spoon with her plate full of noodles, meanwhile little pumpkin was clapping his hand as if cheering for her good conjecture.


    "You were that surprise with his invitation?" Lily asked as she poured water into Bella Lim''s glass.


    "Who wouldn''t be?" Bella Lim''s replied.


    Lily was seen in deep thought. Then, she cupped her lips with the back of her right hand, trying to hold her laughter.


    "What?" Bella Lim asked as she filled little pumpkin''s plate with noodles, adding extra meatballs to his plate. She watched her little pumpkin savored the food happily. Her mood brightened up at that moment.


    "I still can''t process how an ordinary woman like you knows someone like Eric Wu. I was already shocked when the handsome Sun Nan and Lu Fei came to the cafe to find you, now this?" Lily smirked.


    Bella Lim let out a laughed. She knew Lily was only directing her bewilderment to her and not to put her down.

 Chapter 51 - Be my editor

    "I''m more amazed by how good your manner was. Aren''t you a fan of handsome males?" she tittered and heard Lily laughed in return.


    "No-no... Not him. He was too intimidating. How in the world did you become his friend? Aren''t you afraid of him? But again, he was so good at treating you earlier," Lily ate her noodles. Slurping sounds rang in the small kitchen.


    "It''s a long story. Well, the thing is, what should I do with his invitation?" Bella Lim asked. She wiped her mouth that was smeared with the noodles'' sauce.


    "Hmm, if you''re worried about things like today to happen again, you should take his offer. Meanwhile, you could try to woo him. Cough..." Lily almost choked on the noodles when Bella Lim suddenly slapped her shoulder. She drank the water next to her and glared at the woman beside her.


    "This is a rare chance! Don''t you love him? Your eyes clearly adored him," she said after recovering from the gagged earlier. There was no way for her to ignore the loving gaze in Bella Lim''s eyes towards the unfathomable man earlier.


    "What nonsense are you talking about?" Bella Lim panicked. She focused to eat the noodles on her plate, ignoring Lily''s teasing looks.


    "Big sister Lily, don''t tease big sis anymore. Big brother Eric has helped us many times. We could only feel grateful towards him," little pumpkin tried to save his big sis but the anticipation in his eyes couldn''t be hidden with a mere sentence. To him, Lily''s remark would be a blessing given by heaven.


    Bella Lim saw the hopeful expression on her little pumpkin''s face. She didn''t know whether to laugh or not. Lily, on the other hand, burst into hysterical laughter. She slapped the dining table several times before groaning in pain. Still, the amusement didn''t leave her lips.


    "God, why is this bitch calling me?" Lily shouted as she picked her phone that was placed next to her plate. Bella Lim who was now washing the dishes looked over. She chuckled when she saw Lily''s irate face which enhanced the longer she spoke with the caller.


    "Alright, coming!" she heard her replied irritatingly and rose from her chair.


    "Bella, need to go. Bitchy Clara is looking for me for the job that supposedly hers. You don''t know how terrible the business nowadays. I almost want to quit," Lily blabbered on talking about the changes made by Clara. Bella Lim simply smiled without commenting. Simply Cafe was her past, anything that she would say would mean nothing. Therefore, she preferred to keep her opinion to herself.


    "My worry on you has no mean now that the almighty man of Azure has your back. Think over what he proposed. I bet that would be a life-changing experience for you. See ya! Bye little Ryan!" Lily hugged little pumpkin and Bella Lim both at the same time before she walked out of the house and ran towards her mini-scooter.


    Bella Lim sighed as she carried little pumpkin inside the house. Little pumpkin was too sleepy now as he could b?r?ly lift his eyelids.


    "Sleep," she kissed his forehead and saw him drifted into dreams. Then, she took her ??ptop before leaving the bedroom to the living room. She turned on her ??ptop and went online to check her email. She was bewildered when she read the sender''s name of the new email she received.


    "Enlai Gong?!" she gasped. Eric Wu actually sent her an email via Enlai Gong''s address? What is he scheming? Wait, so her suspicion was true... Eric Wu knew about her knowing him as Enlai Gong. How was she going to explain this? Bella Lim put the ??ptop beside her and walked around the house with the hope that she could find a way to explain the matter when he met Eric Wu again.


    "Hopefully, not so soon!" she mumbled only to be surprised with the sudden ring of her phone which she left on the dining table in the kitchen. She ran for her phone and almost let it go again when she took notice who called.


    ''Did I jinx myself?'' she inwardly sighed and decided to answer the phone when it rang the second time.


    "You received my email?"


    Bella Lim was stunned with the first thing she heard from Eric Wu. Did this man want to test her again? If she said yes, it would be her admitting that she indeed knew about Enlai Gong''s real identity. If he denied and he asked for another email address, how would she proceed with the lie?


    "Bella, we need to be honest now, don''t we?" she heard him asked again. This time, it seemed that he was trying to help her let go of the fear in her mind. Being caught up by him was terrible because she had no inkling of what kind of explanation would satisfy him. Unless she reminded him about the incident six years ago. However, that could only make sense if he remembered her, which apparently not true.


    "I-I haven''t read it yet," she decided to be honest.


    She heard him chuckled in the background before his husky voice entered her line of hearing.


    "It is a job offer from Enlai Gong to you to become his editor,"


    "Bella, this job is offered due to many reasons. However, the most important is the fact that you know his real identity. Second, today''s break-in as well as the kidnap attempt; I suspected that it was premeditated. Making you my editor is a way to protect the two of you. Well-- it''s Sun Nan and Lu Fei''s suggestion," the end of his sentences made Bella Lim''s lips curved upward. It seemed that this man loved to give all the credits to others.


    He was kinda cute, wasn''t he?


    Bella Lim hit a chair as the thought made her jumpy. She ?r??n?d in silence.


    "I''ll read the email first. I''ll call you back!" she hurriedly spoke and ended the phone call. She looked at the bluish bruise on one of her toenails. Once again, a groan slipped through her lips.


    ''You deserved this,'' she muttered to herself. She shouldn''t think about the man in such a perverse way. Look at what had happened! She scolded herself. It was only after the pain subsided did she went for the ??ptop on the couch. She sat comfortably, putting her legs on the small table in front of her and read the email from Enlai Gong.


    It was decent if not a superior offer! That was her conclusion after reading the whole email. Her job wasn''t difficult. Aside from editing his books, her jobs included contacting the publisher and dealt with another miscellaneous task. Well, to others this would be a lot of work, but when she saw the salary offered, she thought that no one would be crazy enough to reject the offer. It was too generous!


    Bella Lim was tempted, but the final requirement which was to live with the writer alias Eric Wu didn''t register well in her mind. She knew the reason it was written as one of the requirements as the man valued privacy more than anyone, yet, she was afraid to enter his life. She wasn''t ready.


    Bella Lim sighed as she put the ??ptop on the table while bending her knees at the same time.


    Thinking back, her life was now the opposite of her previous life which was peaceful and satisfying. Now, her life, most probably little pumpkin''s life, was in constant danger. She thought she was becoming stronger as she could deal with the upcoming troubles one by one, but nope! She wasn''t. She was getting weaker and somehow she had become dependent on Eric Wu.


    Eric Wu was another missing piece in her previous daily life, a contrast to the life she was sent as a reborn. In this new life of hers, Eric Wu was a regular. To be more precise, he was now her friend.


    If this was a blessing why was she being thrown into problems day by day?


    Maybe, her reborn was a masquerade of the punishment she supposed to get due to her sin. In the past, she didn''t take care of little pumpkin well. Now, she was being punished by bad incidents trying to steal him away from her.


    Bella Lim let out a mocking laugh. One that was directed to herself.


    At the same time, drops of tears fell onto her cheek. Now that everything had come to this, Eric Wu''s offer was like a life-saving opportunity?


    Besides, what other choices she had? All the options she could think of would end up with her life as well as little pumpkin''s life to destruction.


    It was confirmed. Her decision was.


    Bella Lim reached for her phone and dialed Eric Wu''s number.


    "I agree," she said without any hesitation.


    "Good, I''ll send someone to fetch you guys tomorrow. Pack what necessary as for stuff like daily essentials, it was part of the benefits as in the contract," his voice was natural, no expression could be adopted from the way he spoke.


    "Sure, t-thank you," Bella Lim expressed.


    "Well, you''re most welcome if you could avoid the stutter. That would be a great help,"


    Bella Lim chuckled as he listened to his reply.


    "I-I''ll try... no, I will," she responded.


    "That''s good. See you tomorrow,"


    "See you," Bella Lim spoke her farewell.


    She stared at the white ceiling above her, the motionless fan was the focus of her eyes. She knew her decision would become a life-changing experience to her life as well as little pumpkin, just like what Lily was saying.


    Her eyes wandered within the perimeter. Tomorrow, this place would no longer be her home. Should she rent the house? It would be a good plan. Although the salary was a lot, she knew extra cash would be helpful for her future endeavors.


    She promised once everything was settled down, she would try to find a permanent living space for them. It would take a long time, but it wasn''t wrong to have a goal. At least that would avoid her from becoming even more dependent on Eric Wu.

 Chapter 52 - Welcome to Hillside Villa! (Part I)

    It was already afternoon when Tao went to fetch Bella Lim and little pumpkin to Hillside Villa. When he was given the task, Tao was surprised. However, he applauded Eric Wu''s sentiment after knowing the whole story.


    "Miss Bella, and Mr. Ryan, although this isn''t your first time to Hillside Villa, I would like to welcome you. Welcome!" Tao curtsied, one arm behind his back and the other spread towards the massive villa in front of them.


    "Thank you," Bella Lim smiled as she held little pumpkin''s hand who looked like a rabbit ready to explore the field. She looked at her surroundings as she took a deep breath.


    ''Fighting!''


    She cheered inside. This was it. No more whining about life. No more crying like a weak woman.


    As of now, she should look forward and continued her life as well as little pumpkin in the best way they could.


    "Miss Bella, Mr. Ryan," a beautiful, middle-aged woman was seen descending the huge steps from the big entrance of the villa. She was wearing formal attire. A slim-cut navy suit with a white shirt and a pair of heels. Minimal jewelry enhanced her whole look.


    To Bella Lim, the woman looked sophisticated and elegant at the same time. The way she carried herself was truly like a lady from a noble descendent. Without realizing, she already admired the woman.


    "Miss Bella, this is Madam Olivia. She had been the only capable woman that could stand our president," Tao introduced the middle-aged woman to Bella Lim. The woman named Olivia slapped Tao''s back. She glared at Tao who was giggling non-stopped.


    Bella Lim could tell the good relationship between the two.


    "Madam Olivia, I leave them to you. I need to return to the office or your s--the president would roast me," Tao coughed as he almost spilled the truth about Olivia. When he saw her looking at him sharply, he immediately excused himself.


    Bella Lim smiled as she watched the banter between the two. She didn''t notice anything and thought that they simply had a good relationship.


    "Miss Bella, Mr. Ryan," Olivia turned around with a smile as bright as the sun to greet the siblings.


    "Please come with me, I''ll show you around. Eric had given me a very specific instruction saying that I should make the two of you feel comfortable and settled down as soon as you can," she sounded excited with her hands danced along with the tone of her voice.


    Bella Lim wanted to respond but seeing Olivia already walking, she also walked together with little pumpkin. She was curious about Olivia''s relationship with Eric Wu as she was someone she never saw appeared with him in the past. Maybe because her only focus was the man himself.


    "Madam Oli-" Bella Lim wanted to ask but was cut by the speedy yet clear voice of Olivia.


    "There are not many rules to follow, but I would say, respect each other,"


    "Breakfast, lunch, and dinner would be prepared by the mobile chef. Eric didn''t like many people in the house so most of the staff actually stayed outside. But you know, their salary is massive, no one ever complains,"


    Bella Lim heard her laughed. Her lips were moving, itching to speak but once again was beaten by the loud, eager voice of Olivia.


    "--And if you too prefer silence and privacy, don''t worry, the staff will come and leave without making so much noise,"


    "-- And they don''t gossip. Eric is too scary for them to gossip," Olivia said and sighed after.


    "Sigh... that''s the reason he becomes a loner without a woman. Do you know, I was so excited when he talked about the two of you. I feel like all of my effort finally bear fruits," Olivia lamented and then turned around towards Bella Lim.


    "Thank you for opening his heart," she whispered, full of gratitude.


    Bella Lim was dumbfounded as she watched Olivia''s lips rose into a pretty, sincere smile. It was only after seeing her grinning happily did she understood her meaning.


    "No-no-no, I''m just a friend," she waved her hand in hope that her words could correct her notion. However, the middle-aged woman smiled widely as she nodded, closing her eyes to tell that she understood.


    "I know, but who knows about the future," Olivia spoke in a cool voice and proceeded to explain about the whole area in the villa.


    Bella Lim sighed. She really hoped such a big misunderstanding wouldn''t occur on her first day here. Still, she decided to let it go as Olivia seemed to be a nice person. She carried little pumpkin who looked tired from the whole tour. They just finished touring the first floor and now headed towards the second floor. The first floor was a functional space. The second floor was a place where their room was located, according to Olivia.


    Little pumpkin decided to walk once they reached the second floor.


    "Miss Bella, here is your room. Mr. Ryan''s will be next to you," Olivia opened the first room. She gestured for her to enter.


    "You can look around. Tell me if there''s anything lacking. I''ll help Mr. Ryan in his room," Olivia said as she was ready to carry little pumpkin to the room not far from Bella Lim''s.


    "W-wait!" Bella Lim urgently asked her to stop. Her glance shifted between little pumpkin and Olivia.


    "I can share my room with my brother," her voice was firmed together with a determination in her eyes. She didn''t want to take too much space for them in the villa. Moreover, she had peeked the inside of her room. The space was large, more than enough for two people.


    "Besides, two rooms will burden the staff. We don''t want to trouble any more than we already have,"


    Bella Lim''s request put a smile on Olivia''s face. She looked at Bella Lim with the eyes of a mother. Her stares soothed the onlookers, something about her was comforting.


    "Miss Bella, I believe you read the contract already? Eric had predicted for you to say so. He said to reject your request and no negotiation is allowed," Olivia said. Her shoulders rocked as muffled laugh was forbidden from coming out. Olivia thought it was funny how the whole thing occurred as expected. She only continued once she calmed down.


    "Miss Bella, I know everything that had happened to the two of you. Eric had explained everything. I understand why you want to be with Mr. Ryan all the time. But, this little boy needs his privacy too and this place is safe. in fact, the safest in Azure... well, minus the day the stupid people trying to chase you here," Olivia tsked as she recalled the incident retold by Eric Wu to her.

 Chapter 53 - Welcome to Hillside Villa (Part II)

    "Besides, what''s the used of all these rooms if not to be occupied by people worthy of it. And Mr. Ryan here is so deserving of it," Olivia said as she bent her tall body to allow her eyes to meet with little pumpkin.


    "What do you think?" she asked him. Little pumpkin stared at Olivia with his big eyes, trying to see if there was anything wrong with her. Not long after, he nodded.


    "Big sis, it''s okay. Besides, little pumpkin doesn''t like sleeping with lights," he said and slowly walked towards his big sister, asking for a hug.


    The way he acted tugged Bella Lim''s heart. She didn''t wait long to pull him into a hug. She knew little pumpkin was comforting her, telling her to trust Eric Wu as well as Olivia.


    "Alright, if little pumpkin said so, big sis will conform to it," she ?ssured little pumpkin who was squeezing her body, probably worried that she would insist on her own opinion.


    "Madam Olivia, thank you very much," appreciation was the only thing Bella Lim could say. She knew what Olivia had mentioned was correct. Little pumpkin was already six years old. He needed his privacy.


    "Good, I''ll help him. You can go inside and look around. Tell me if you need something," Olivia reminded before she escorted little pumpkin to his room.


    Bella Lim watched them disappeared behind the door. Then, she entered her room.


    "Wow!!" she exclaimed as she looked around. Just now she only took a glimpse and noticed that the room was big, but right now she thought the room was really big.


    The style was similar to an expensive suite she had seen in an advertisement before. She had her own walk-in closet and a big bathroom. A cozy area to be lazy and a balcony to enjoy the mountain scenery. She loved how the light lilac color intelligently matched with muted pastel colors within the purple spectrum. The combination exuded a calm, serene energy to the place.


    This was something she wouldn''t dare to dream of living. Perhaps, she could only afford such indulgence once she was older and had enough savings.


    Before reaching the villa, Bella Lim had no expectation about her room, but this, she was truly impressed.


    She decided to check on little pumpkin who probably was reacting in a much bubbly manner compared to her.


    When she walked inside little pumpkin''s room, she noticed Olivia was walking on her toes, probably was trying not to create so much noise.


    "Madam Olivia?" Bella Lim called, curious as to why she was walking like that.


    "Shh, Mr. Ryan is sleeping," Olivia muttered with one finger in front of her lips.


    "Sleeping?" Bella Lim was surprised. She approached the bed and saw her little pumpkin sleeping soundly. She smiled and kissed his forehead.


    "He must''ve been so tired," she said in a low voice, enough to reach Olivia''s hearing.


    "He is," Olivia responded. A gentle smile was on her face.


    They both decided to leave the room, to avoid disturbing little pumpkin''s sleep.


    "Miss Bella-"


    "Madam Olivia, just call me Bella," Bella Lim interjected. It was awkward for her to listen to a senior called her name with so much respect. Plus, the woman next to her didn''t look simple. She could be someone close to Eric Wu.


    "Sure. Bella!" Olivia adhered to her request without delay as if she already anticipated for her to suggest such a way of calling.


    She brought Bella Lim towards the center of the second floor. The area was like the living room for that particular level.


    "Is there anything you''re not satisfied with? Just tell me, I''m responsible for everything," Olivia stared at Bella Lim. There was eagerness in her eyes as if she loved to be troubled by her.


    "N-No, everything is good. Well, it''s perfect. I- Thank you!" Bella Lim didn''t know what to say. There was something about Olivia that she couldn''t fathom.


    "Madam Olivia, what is your relationship with Eric?" she asked and noticed the startled expression of Olivia. However, it was quickly replaced with a small laugh.


    "Well, how should I say this. I am already by his side since he was small," Olivia answered.


    Bella Lim nodded.


    "Like a guardian?" she guessed.


    "Hmm, yes. Similar," Olivia replied with a chuckle. Bella Lim didn''t ask any more as she thought that Olivia could be Eric Wu''s godmother or babysitter.


    "Hmm, may I ask, how did you know Eric as Enlai Gong?" Olivia asked startling Bella Lim who somehow was drowned in her own thought.


    "That...," Bella Lim swallowed hard. It seemed that Enlai Gong''s real identity wasn''t really a secret. Someone else knew about it.


    "I was the one who helped him with the publisher before," Olivia spoke as she noticed the struggle Bella Lim was facing.


    "I see," she responded with an awkward smile. Although their conversation diverted a bit, she was still shackled to answer the previous question.


    "You can count on me. I''ll keep your secret if you want to. I just want to male sure that I can trust you to work with him,"


    Bella Lim suddenly felt guilty towards Olivia for hiding the truth. At the same time, her words enlightened her that the secret was no longer a secret between people who know Enlai Gong''s true identity.


    "I''m probably lucky to see him writing his story. I saw the insignia of his name in every page he had written. Maybe he had forgotten, but he once told me he was Enlai Gong," Bella Lim explained, slightly reminiscing about the past.


    Olivia who was listening had her eyebrows knitted. Her gaze was fixed on Bella Lim trying to recall if Eric had once told her a story similar to that. However, she remembered nothing. She inwardly sighed, disappointed.


    "I see. Don''t worry, I''ll keep this a secret. I hope you can help him much better than I do," Olivia decided to drop the topic. She understood that Bella Lim was unwilling to talk more about it.


    "Thank you and I will," Bella Lim promised. She felt grateful towards Olivia. Although this was their first meeting, her heart was telling her that she could be trusted.


    The rest of the time was spent talking and sharing stories. When the clock hit three in the evening they decided to wake little pumpkin. Olivia brought them to the dining room, for an evening tea. Around five, she concluded that it was time for her to leave.


    "No need to send me off. Remember to call me if there''s anything that you need. I''ll be glad to help. Oh and if you''re hungry, just make something in the kitchen," she said before leaving.


    "Thank you for the company. I hope to see you again," Bella Lim said. She had built a rapport with Olivia and thought her as a mother. So was little pumpkin. He warmed up to her in such a short time. That only meant one thing, Olivia was a kind and loving person.


    "Sure, I will. Besides, I''m afraid that Eric will bully you. Bella, if he does, tell me and I''ll scold him," Olivia laughed after saying so.


    Bella Lim could only smile unsure of how to respond to her words. "I will," she finally replied once Olivia insisted that she must report to her if Eric Wu indeed bullied her in the future.


    Their conversation ended when Olivia had to make a phone call. Soon, she was seen leaving the villa. Bella Lim and little pumpkin wanted to see her off, but she insisted that they went to rest. Due to that, Bella Lim didn''t see a luxurious car was waiting for Olivia outside.

 Chapter 54 - Mother and son

    The main building of Wu Corporation


    There was a somber atmosphere inside one of the meeting rooms in the main building of Wu Corporation. The silence was forced to commence since the ending of today''s presentations. No one among the attendees dared to say anything. The shame on their faces was shining as bright as the room, but none was braved enough to hide it.


    "Three days are your only chances. Fix those mistakes before I fix you up. Adjourned!" a man sitting at the frontest seat spoke. His rumbling, trembling almost dangerous voice shattered the quiet before it.


    The attendees were happy to know that the misery had come to an end. However, no one was rushing to leave for they didn''t want to add another mistake on top of the one they already did. Accordingly, the people were seen leaving in an orderly manner with their lips tight, leaving no sound that could annoy the already angry man. Their breathing was controlled, some almost suffocated. Thankfully they were the first to come out of the meeting room.


    Eric Wu scoffed as he drank the whole content of the mineral water in front of him. Today he was truly disappointed. Solar representatives once again ruined his mood. The biggest motorbike retailers were nothing but rubbish. Greedy people who only see profit without measuring their own capabilities. If it wasn''t because his grandpa had insisted for him to work with this company, he would''ve rejected them from the very beginning. He didn''t understand what the old man saw in such a company.


    "President, a phone call from Madam," Tao who was sitting at the chairs for ?ssistants and secretaries walked over.


    Eric Wu took the phone call after letting out another sigh. Instead of answering the phone call, he rose from his seat and walked out of the room towards the exclusive elevator for him.


    "Tao, we''re leaving," he said and Tao responded with a quick nod. He wondered why the president didn''t answer the phone call. It was important since the one who called was the Madam.


    It wasn''t until they reached the car did Tao notice the president returned the Madam''s phone call. He drove steadily, not showing the eagerness to eavesdrop.


    "Mom," Eric Wu called. His demeanor was now subtle, no longer the tyrant side showed before.


    "Eric, what took you so long!" a whiny voice rang. Eric Wu instantly smiled upon hearing his mother''s voice. He was too angry earlier hence, he decided to return the call once he had cooled down.


    "I was in a meeting. How is everything? I heard from Tao that you called him beforehand to not expose who you are," Eric Wu laughed. He recalled Tao''s face who was terrified when his mother requested him to play along with an act of hers.


    "Haish, that boy had the worst acting. I was almost exposed. Oh, I''ve helped Bella and the little boy settled down. They are the cutest things ever. Son, good job bringing them to stay with you," this reply made the face of Eric Wu to twitch.


    He regretted telling everything to his mother, but then if he didn''t, she would still get the news soon, as to how, he really didn''t know. One thing for sure, her way of getting news about him was more effective compared to any news outlet. Maybe, she planted a mole among his staff, whatever, at least she wasn''t a busybody like his grandpa.


    "Son, say something will you? I think your decision to let Bella become your editor is a good one. She is really a fan of your books. Heaven, I almost made speechless by her," the woman giggled at the end of her sentence. She kept talking and praising Eric Wu for meeting such a nice pair of siblings. Eric Wu thickened his ears to listen. He regretted agreeing with his mother''s request to help with Bella Lim and little Ryan''s transition to his villa.


    "Mom, where are you staying today? Father will be ecstatic if you visit him," he casually said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He heard his mother scoffed.


    "No way. We are still in a cold war!"


    Eric Wu sighed when he heard his mother''s reply.


    "It has been two years. You should''ve forgiven him," he persuaded, but in reality, he was happy that the conversation finally steered in a different direction and no longer about him and Bella Lim. Although, he did feel sympathy towards his father. That poor man had been missing his mother terribly, however the other simply gave him a cold shoulder.


    "Eric, don''t try to change the subject. I can''t eat dinner with you today. Return home and spend the time with your new housemates,"


    Damn! Eric Wu almost cursed. His tactic failed.


    "Mom, are you returning to the island? Why are you still staying there?" he asked, another attempt to change the course of the conversation.


    "Son, that''s my sanctuary. Ahh, since I couldn''t spend the time with you tonight, I have a mission for you. Please bring Bella and little Ryan to the island soon. Next month will be good, my peaches and oranges will be ready to be eaten. What say you?"


    "Madam Olivia, my dearest mother. Bella and her brother are staying with me for safety and work purposes. We are not playing a family game," he grunted. The d?s?r? to end the phone call was strong.


    Suddenly, he heard his mother laugh. There was excitement in her tone.


    "That''s also good. You must bring her, I should teach her how to seduce my son. Hahaha... Eric son, my approach is better compared to your grandpa, no?" Madam Olivia let out another laugh. Currently, she was walking towards her private jet. She had come to Azure today from Sinby Haven, a private island she owned.


    Eric Wu who had just arrived at his villa was terrified by his mother''s enthusiasm. However, she was right, compared to his grandpa, her approach was better, in fact, it was exactly the opposite. His mother would never force him to date or meet anyone. Instead, she would help any woman who she redeemed as the perfect suitor to attract his attention.


    "Mom, don''t trouble Bella. She has a lot on her plate," he said in a defeated voice. He looked at his villa and sigh. He was curious about how they were doing, but somehow he was afraid to step inside his own house.


    "Alright, alright. I will not. Still, son, I want you to bring them to the island next month. If you refuse, I will tell the whole story to your grandpa," Madam Olivia finally backed down but her words were threatening. At least to Eric Wu who understood the dire situation he would be in if his grandpa were informed of the situation.


    "Alright, I''ll bring them. Don''t tell the old man," he was totally defeated now. He roughly combed his hair as he could listen to his mother cheering at her win.


    "Hehe... see you guys soon. Bye son, I''m leaving now. Send my regards to Bella,"


    Eric Wu closed his eyes, unbothered to reply to the parting words of his mother. He began to wonder if his decision was the right choice. He walked out of the car and entered the villa at a slow pace. He didn''t know how to react when he met Bella. He could only hope that little Ryan was the first person he would meet between the siblings.

 Chapter 55 - Living together - the first day

    Eric Wu stealthily entered the villa and like a thief, he looked around to see the presence of people. When he saw only the modern decoration, he proceeded towards the stairs, ignoring the elevator next to it. He ascended in a pensive manner unaware that he was already on the second floor.


    "E-Eric?"


    Startled was Eric Wu once the familiar voice called for him. He looked around and saw Bella Lim was reading a book near the sleek, marble fireplace pit in the living room. A purple cushion was used to elevate her hands that were holding the book. On a closer looked it was his latest published book.


    "Where''s little Ryan?" he casually asked as if earlier he hadn''t wished to run into her. Unexpectedly, he walked towards Bella Lim, sat across her and stretched his body. It all seemed natural except the woman who nervously peeked on him while trying not to be so obvious, hiding behind the thick book on her hand.


    "Hmm?" he mumbled, trying to get the response that hadn''t been given yet. Bella Lim immediately lowered her book and smiled nervously.


    "H-He went to take his coloring supply," she explained, pointed to the coloring book lying on the table in front of her. Then, the book was rose again, a wall that hid the sight of a woman taking a deep breath in.


    Bella Lim peeked at the man across her and for a while there, she was stunned. The loose necktie, plus the unbuttoned first bu??on, made her took another long, deep breath. The silhouette of him under the dim, golden light, exuded a dangerously s?xy sensation. Bella Lim was amazed at herself that such a normal after-work look of him actually made her heart race uncontrollably. However, such a feeling wasn''t necessarily a good sign to her.


    If she couldn''t handle this, how was she supposed to stand the unknown time of her staying with him at the villa? Bella Lim bit her lower lip, trying to remind herself not to go overboard with the imagery so that she could still be proud of her sanity by the time she left the house.


    Eric Wu saw the subtle changed in her expression and was amused and returned was the man who loved to tease Bella Lim.


    "You should thank little Ryan or else I would''ve punished you tonight,"


    Punish?


    "You promised not to stutter anymore. I''m thinking of putting you into labor right away,"


    Ohh... Bella Lim exhaled a big sigh, a reaction that was properly hidden behind the book she held. Just now, her perverse mind was quick to jump to a conclusion when she heard Eric Wu''s first sentence. Thank morality for his quick helped in getting her back to her so-called innocent self.


    "I-I think i-it will take t-time," she answered with the worst stutter she could manage.


    Eric Wu laughed when he heard Bella Lim''s reply. He had the urged to yank the book in her hand so that he could see her blushing face. Apparently, his mind was liking the image of her nervous state.


    God!


    Eric Wu internally gasped. He couldn''t believe that his feeling towards Bella Lim had transcended to the level of admiring her reaction towards him. At the same time, he felt his lips were sealed by an unknown force. Right now, he was clueless about what to say.


    Right at that moment, of course, the little boy who went to retrieve his coloring supply save the two ?du?ts!


    "Big brother Eric!" little pumpkin jumped in front of Eric Wu, trying to surprise him. He was so excited when he saw him from afar sitting in the living room. Since the time he officially became the resident of Hillside Villa, he had hoped to see the hero of his life.


    Little pumpkin appearance with a statement startled both Eric Wu and Bella Lim, albeit with different intended meanings. Eric Wu was glad that little Ryan made his appearance at the nick of time. He rose from the comfortable seat to scoop the little boy off the ground and cradled him gently into his arm.


    "My boy!" he was meant to say, savior.


    "Where have you been hiding, huh?" and this sentence was supposed to be said as ''thank you for the perfect timing,''


    Little pumpkin giggled as he hugged Eric Wu''s head.


    "Little pumpkin went to take those," he said while pointing to the box of coloring pencils that was thrown to the floor to make his surprise more powerful.


    "Little pumpkin? Who gave you such a not-so-cute nickname?" Eric Wu laughed as he tried not to say ''lame''. He had heard of Bella Lim calling the little boy with such a name, yet he purposely asked that question to get to her nerve again.


    "Big sis does. Is it not cute big brother Eric?" little pumpkin asked with his head ???ked to the left, his big eyes were staring curiously at Eric Wu. Personally, he had no issue being called as little pumpkin.


    "Not at all," Eric Wu shook his head in an exaggerated manner and sneakily glanced at Bella Lim who was engrossed with the book in her hand or probably not. The proximity between the book surface and her face gave an ?ssumption that she either was too into the book or just short-sighted.


    "Really?" little pumpkin asked.


    "Yes. The person who gave you this nickname probably wants to make you a pumpkin," a reply was given by Eric Wu with the support of his confident face.


    Little pumpkin thought for a while and stared at the direction of his big sister who wasn''t paying attention to them at all.


    "But, big sis gives me this nickname," he said with a sad tone. His big eyes fell onto his sister, hoping that she would give him a verbal response to support her decision of giving the name to him. However, the other wasn''t saying anything at all.


    "Big sis..." little pumpkin was at the brink of tears now. Eric Wu who saw the little boy getting emotional walked towards Bella Lim and kicked her right foot. That elicited a groan from the oblivious woman.


    Bella Lim closed her book with a loud bang and rose from her sitting position. She faced Eric Wu who was holding little pumpkin in his arms and heaved out. Her expression was livid.


    As she listened to their conversation, she could feel her palpitated heart changed to a flare of anger. Patience, she told herself for she knew that man was making fun of her again. Alas, little pumpkin''s response made her feel the opposite. One kick and she fell into a fit.


    "Little pumpkin, here," she said in a strict manner. She noticed his hesitation and initiated the movement, taking the little boy into her arms now.


    "Eric, whatever nickname I give my little brother is none of your concern. If you''re not using it then just call him with whatever name you want. Don''t downgrade my love for him from a name," she scoffed and held little pumpkin tighter. She looked into his eyes and said, "Don''t listen to his nonsense okay?" she persuaded.


    "But, big brother Eric said the name is not cute--at all," little pumpkin spoke, rising the tone as he pronounced the last two words. Bella Lim glared at Eric Wu who was looking at her as if she was an entertainment.


    "No-no, you''re the cutest thing that ever happens to big sis. Your big brother Eric is just joking," Bella Lim patted little pumpkin''s head, comforting the moping boy. Then, she glared at Eric Wu while mouthed the phrase, ''fix this!''.


    Eric Wu grinned as he walked closer towards the duo. He pinched at little pumpkin''s chubby cheek and said, "I see why Bella give you the nickname now, your cheek is fluffy and bounces like a pumpkin," he smiled.


    "That''s indeed a cute nickname," he added.


    Little pumpkin who had his eyes wetted, brightened. He looked at Eric Wu in disbelieved, "But big brother Eric hated the name," he pouted.


    "Hmm, I''m trying to see if your big sis will get angry. Imagine her yelling at me while stuttering," Eric Wu finally explained his intention. Laughter skipped his lips afterward as he noticed the bewildered look of Bella Lim.


    "Hehehe, so big brother Eric used me to tease big sis? meanieeee~ poor big sis!" little pumpkin cupped his mouth with both hands. Giggle in his eyes. When he saw Eric Wu nodded, he could no longer stop the laughter he tried so hard to suppress. He held out his hands, asking for Eric Wu to take him away. Soon, Bella Lim was left standing still in the living room. Both Eric Wu and little pumpkin who rested in his arms were heading to the elevator, still laughing.


    Did she just get played? She let out a chuckle, followed by another. Her face in total confusion although she finally realized the reason why the whole ordeal occurred.


    She slumped into the sofa and looked straight with loose eyes.


    For God sake! This was only her first day!


    Bella Lim wanted to cry but seemed like her own tears were teasing her as they refused to make an appearance, leaving the woman looked drained and hopeless.


    "Bella,"


    That voice shot her up. Bella Lim looked towards the owner of the voice. Eric Wu and little pumpkin were both staring at her.


    "Let''s go eat," Eric Wu spoke. His lips alongside the angle of his eyes were smiling. A smile that once again sent Bella Lim into disarray.


    She walked towards them in a daze.

 Chapter 56 - Living together - the dinner

    "How is the transition?" Eric Wu asked, bringing Bella Lim to reality. Right now, there were inside the elevator and little pumpkin was standing in between them.


    "Everything is good. Thanks to Tao and Miss O-Olivia," Bella Lim clicked her teeth, a bit annoyed with the stammer that was difficult to let go.


    "Big brother Eric, who is Miss Olivia? She is so kind. I love her!" little pumpkin''s elevated voice echoed in the elevator as he looked up to Eric Wu with a wide smile on his face. Eric Wu saw his effort and rubbed his head in response.


    "She is a very important person to me," he said without elaborating further. He had no problem telling his mother''s identity but the other had insisted on hiding it. Eric Wu could only comply even though he saw no benefits in doing so.


    Bella Lim subconsciously nodded when she heard Eric Wu''s reply to little pumpkin''s question. A smile naturally made an appearance on her face. She loved the fact that many new things actually came to her knowledge as she became closer to him. If only she could interact with him without difficulties, perhaps a new page would open for her. Whatever it was, it would be better than the stammers that ruin their conversation every time.


    "As you may have known, I don''t like many people in the house, so all the staff work from six in the morning until eight at night, except for a special occasion. If you need something, you need to tell them during their working time. If it''s an emergency please refer to me," Eric Wu thought that he should give another briefing although his mother had done so.


    "Thank you. I understand," Bella Lim replied as she helped little pumpkin to sit on the chair of the dining table. Seeing the luxurious table full of foods enough for three, she knew Madam Olivia or Eric Wu must''ve told the chef about them living in the villa. The feeling of gratitude towards them was overwhelming. Even though it was her decision to agree with Eric Wu''s request, she knew the intention behind the proposal. This man was protecting them.


    "What is it?"


    "Big sis?"


    Bella Lim woke from her trance and gathered herself. No matter what, she needed to express her thanks. She held little pumpkin''s hand and looked at Eric Wu with eyes full of gratitude. His brownish eyes shone brightly like the man he was, always bringing the sunshine into her life.


    "Thank you for everything. I promise to work hard," she expressed her thanks with a slight bow. Eric Wu was taken aback. He, who was pouring himself a glass of water stopped midway and glanced at Bella Lim for a few seconds. Then, as if he heard nothing, he proceeded to pour himself a drink. Taking it in one gulp before looking at the woman again.


    Suddenly, his vision blurred. In the time of blurry, he saw Bella Lim and the woman''s image in his dream merged into one. Soon, the familiar smile that had been hunting him for a whole week, smiled at him.


    Eric Wu could feel the body in his hair erect. He rose from his chair in surprise, only to realize that Bella Lim was looking at him with so much interest.


    "How old are you?" that question left like a released water tap. Eric Wu didn''t know why he asked the question either. All he cared about was the fact that for an unknown reason, Bella Lim would often make him mistaken her as the woman in his dream.


    "Ermm, 21," Bella Lim was confused as to why she was asked so. Just now, she had seen the petrified look on his face which gradually softened to a look that she couldn''t believe she had the chance to witness. For a second there, she was almost fool by the longing look he was showing.


    Bella Lim knew something had triggered that look but she decided to ignore the tension of curiosity that began to form inside her. Still, she peeked at the man only to see the face of protest. Was he doubting her age?


    "I am indeed 21," Bella Lim didn''t know why she felt the need to insist. That was when she recalled what D had repeatedly advised for her to do which was to take care of herself more. She wondered if she really had neglected herself to the extent that made her looked older by many years. Well, she indeed looked older, but, was it worse than she thought?


    "Amazing. You look m?tur?," Eric Wu calmly sat back. His face was stoic as if he wasn''t affected by the revelation of age. He drank another glass of drink to hide the smile that was about to form on his face. Right now, he looked composed.


    "It''s not funny," Bella Lim clearly caught the smile that was hidden behind the glass. She didn''t know why, but she was irritated. Hence, the burst of dissatisfaction.


    "I''m not laughing," Eric Wu coughed as he coolly finished his drink. "I just thought that you''re my senior before," he said before quickly looked away. Then, as if he hadn''t said anything, he continued to eat.


    "You''re rude!" Bella Lim was agitated. It was true that she looked older, but to say such a thing without thinking about how someone would feel really made her thought of Eric Wu differently. She could take his teasing, but mockery? This man really wanted someone to yell at him!


    Eric Wu was still smiling. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at Bella Lim with a gaze that made the other even more annoyed. "If you''re angry, that''s mean you still care about yourself. Starting from today, you have all the time to take care of yourself. Being my editor will not exhaust you. You may have known this, but I''m not chased by the deadline. Don''t fear the unknown future and enjoy yourself more,"


    Bella Lim heard what he had said and was stunned. She looked at the man with bafflement. What was he really trying to say? One second, he was playing with her. Another, mocking her and now, he was comforting her?


    Was this his way of telling her that there was nothing for her to worry anymore?


    Bella Lim''s gaze fell onto the food on her plate. She used her spoon to play with the food while thinking that if she really let go of all her worries, and suddenly things went wrong, the only one that she would blame was herself.


    She didn''t want that.


    "Things are bigger than you think it is, so learn to trust others," Bella Lim looked up and as soon as she did that, her eyes locked with Eric Wu''s brownish one. Her lips were slightly apart, surprised to hear such words coming from him. She didn''t want to, but still, she shook her head in ?ssent. At the same time, she caught the telltale sign of something bigger. She wanted to ask but was interrupted by little pumpkin.


    "What are big sis and big brother Eric talks about?" little pumpkin asked all of a sudden. He had been eating quietly and listening at the same time. But, none was to his understanding.


    "Well, we are talking about your big sis''s new work," Eric Wu was the one who saved the day. He gave a signal for Bella Lim to remind silent as he knew she was occupied with everything he had said earlier.


    "Hehe, I see," little pumpkin giggled. His big eyes widened when Eric Wu filled his plate with meat. Drool almost escaped his mouth. However, when the man hesitated and returned the meat to its original place, little pumpkin''s face dropped to a disappointment.


    "Little pumpkin, you want to be a pumpkin or a strong boy?" Eric Wu asked.


    When Bella Lim heard his question, she shot him a look of warning, no longer thinking about what Eric Wu had been talking about earlier.


    Such a rude question to ask a little boy? Bella Lim was on her guard. If little pumpkin cried because of Eric Wu''s rude question, she wouldn''t mind to battle him although she would end up losing. As long as little pumpkin wasn''t hurt, all was fine for her.


    "Strong boy!" little pumpkin answered, but his eyes were still looking at the meat in front of him. He wasn''t affected by the question maybe because of his young age. Bella Lim exhaled and continued to listen to their conversation.


    "Good answer! Do you love to eat?" Eric Wu asked another question.


    "Yes! Big sis always give me a lot of food! Little pumpkin loves to eat," little pumpkin answered enthusiastically with the addition of his hands making a big circle, representing the lots of food Bella Lim had been feeding her. Bella Lim felt a pair of eyes were staring at her. She gulped but didn''t dare to look up. She knew Eric Wu was judging her right now.


    "No wonder she looks too m?tur? *cough*," Eric Wu made a stern remark. He rose one of his eyebrows as he looked at Bella Lim whose blood was now rushing to her face as even her ears look red.

 Chapter 57 - The Sapphire Growlers

    "Little pumpkin if you love to eat, you must love to exercise too. Or you will not be able to eat more in the future. Understand?" Eric Wu said, but then he put a slice of meat to little pumpkin''s plate. The little boy looked at him in confusion.


    "Is little pumpkin not healthy?" the little boy innocently asked before putting the meat inside his mouth and chewed happily. Bella Lim who was sitting on his right drank a mouthful of water. She really can''t tell where the whole conversation was going. Why was Eric Wu interested in little pumpkin''s health?


    Bella Lim scrunched her eyebrows. As of now, she also had the feeling that Eric Wu was up to something again. This man was really good at making her feel that all the stalking she had done in the past life was nothing.


    Still, it was true that she had overfed little pumpkin all these years because she loved the view of him eating and enjoying his food. Alas, she had overlooked the amount of nutrition that should and could be consumed by a young boy like little pumpkin. In fact, she was treated the same way. As long as she was full, nothing else matters.


    "You''re healthy but if you want to be strong and eat food every day without worry, you need to exercise," Eric Wu stated. A curve was seen on his lips as he kept adding food into little pumpkin''s plate.


    "Exercise? How to do that big brother Eric?" little pumpkin''s asked. His face looked complicated. He could tell that whatever it was it wouldn''t be nice.


    "Hmm, if you want to eat a lot without worry, I''ll help you with your exercise. How about that?" Eric Wu smiled as he wiped little pumpkin''s lips with a napkin. Little pumpkin stared at the man beside him for quite some time. Then, like a bird, he shook his head up and down.


    "Good! Your big sis will do the same too. Since we all living in the same house, I believe we need to share positivity among us. Isn''t it true Bella?"


    Bella Lim had her mouth agape. She looked at the devious man with eyes that could penetrate even the wall.


    "Big sis?" little pumpkin looked at his big sister. His will to get healthy was shining brightly like the moon. Seeing that there was no way to avoid such a healthy way of living, Bella Lim could only shake her head almost in denial.


    So, just like that. Bella Lim and little pumpkin''s life was brought into a healthy lifestyle of Eric Wu.


    <The Sapphire Growlers Hidden HQ in Azure>


    "Fuck off!" a man in his twenties kicked the men who were kneeling on the ground. His body was slender a contrast to the gore sight of a scar on his left eye. A woman who was wearing a graphic tank top paired with a mini skirt walked towards the man to comfort him. She was ???k?n? a lollipop. When she was standing side to side with the man, she gave the lollipop to him saying: "A candy will make you feel better,"


    The man with a scar in his left eye glanced at the woman with disgust. He scoffed before returning to the chair located at the corner of the room.


    "You guys are really screwed. A simple instruction to look after the young miss and you guys blew it up. Tsk, useless -" The woman said towards the two men who were cowering at the sight of her. She smiled seductively when all of sudden, a gun that came out of nowhere appeared in her left hand. Turning her back, she released two deadly shots. The man who was sitting on the chair looked up and when he saw the two dead bodies, he smirked.


    "Angel Yang, we haven''t heard anything from them. Why did you shoot them? Stupid," he scoffed. The woman called Angel Yang turned around so that she could take a look at the man. There was no anger in her face although she was belittled by him.


    "Darling Zander, everything that they know is what we already knew. What''s the use of keeping these two bastards?" Angel Yang walked towards the man and sat on the chair opposite him. She crossed her legs to reveal the snowy skin of her th??h, a seductive sight that brought jeers from the man across her. She laughed at his comeback.


    "These are Azure''s citizens, we need to be discreet. Asshole," Zander, the man with the scar spoke. He was obviously deriding Angel Yang''s way of doing things as he didn''t bother to hide the disgust in his eyes.


    "I know, but these are the scumbags of those black Yangs. For sure, their lives are already dead in public eyes. Hey, why don''t we let their bodies float at the city''s riverbank? That would definitely make the news tomorrow morning. Hehe... those people would have their bu?? itch," Angel Yang licked her lollipop with slurping sounds. Her eyes were drooling over the matter.


    Zander scorned at the sight of Angel Yang ???k?n? the lollipop. He looked at the phone in his hand and stared at the picture of a woman walking hand in hand with a little boy. His eyes softened at the sight. His whole body convulsed as the memory of the past came to him.


    "You''re trembling again," Angel Yang said. A concern in her voice. She walked towards Zander as she patted his back.


    "Be strong. We will be united with her again soon," she persuaded. Her eyes were staring at the void in front of her. Deep down she also hoped, what she had said would become a reality soon.


    "Angie, our mission is to protect the Young Miss and now we have lost track of her. The 13th Master''s people have known that the 12th Master''s son is in this country, their life is in danger. We have no time to play around," he said, eyes were now sternly looking at Angel Yang.


    The woman sighed as she bit the last of her candy.


    "Zander, why must they made her forget everything about us just for the sake of that boy?" she asked. There was a sense of melancholy on her face. Like Zander, she too was reminiscing about the past.


    "I don''t know. We don''t have the answer until the 13th Master meets his deathbed. Angie, don''t be an ?sshole. We need to go and search for Young Miss. Maybe, her friends at the cafe know," Zander suggested. He rose from his chair.


    "You''re the ?sshole. Do you want to ask who now? It''s time for the moon to wake up and the sun to sleep. And I want to sleep too. I haven''t slept for two days because of these two ?ssholes. Fuck these ?ssholes!" Angie Yang walked towards the dead bodies and kicked their abdomen. She huffed as she walked towards a room.


    "Handle those ?ssholes, Zander. Good night!" she waved her hands and closed the room she entered. Zander shook his head. No matter how vulgar his words were, it failed to compare to Angie Yang''s rudeness. She appeared cute and s?xy, but those were her secret weapon to beguile her enemies. In reality, she was a serpent that could strangle her enemies to death in a matter of time.


    Zander looked at the dead bodies on the floor and with a heavy sigh, he lifted their bodies towards the car that was also kept inside the hidden HQ of The Sapphire Growlers.


    That night, Zander dumped the bodies into the city''s riverbank and returned to their base to sleep. On the way, he stopped at the Countryside and entered house number C13. He went towards the living room and sat on the couch. A sigh left his lips.


    ''Young miss, where are you?'' he asked as he closed his eyes. For many years, he and Angie had been searching for the young miss. A few days ago, he found them at Mistcoast theme park and followed them to their home. He was shocked to know that they were living in such a dire state like Countryside. His heart ached for the woman who definitely must''ve suffered. If only he could reverse what had happened a few years ago... his young miss wouldn''t have to live such a humiliating life.


    Both Angie Yang and him were both excited when they first meet her at Mistcoast theme park. Although it was from the distance, they were shocked by how much she had changed. They almost couldn''t believe their eyes. Only when they confirmed her name did they believe that the Young Miss they have been looking for was her.


    Yet, their happiness was shortlived. Who knew that someone had detected the presence of their men at Young Miss'' house two days ago and kicked them till they lost consciousness. That was the root of all the problems


    Zander was startled by the sudden buzz of his phone that he kept inside the inner pocket of his jacket. He looked at the screen and saw Angel Yang''s number.


    "Where are you?" was the first thing he heard when the phone call was connected.


    "Returning home. I went to dump the bodies as you wanted," he replied as he left the area in a swift motion. Soon, he was seen outside the house, leaving no trace of breaking into the house.


    "Return now. I know you''re at young miss'' house again,"


    "Alright," Zander replied and then ended the phone call. He pinched the area between his eyebrows and removed the back cover of his phone. He smirked when he saw the nano GPS that was installed inside. That serpent must''ve done it again!


    Zander took a last glance at the house before returning to his car. He drove away after forcefully cutting the growing attachment he had towards the house. Tomorrow, he would drag Angie Yang to look for the Young Miss again.

 Chapter 58 - Over trained - the day she fainted (Part I)

    "Almost there!" Eric Wu shouted at Bella Lim who was struggling behind him. He laughed when he saw her scowled at him.


    "You can do it big sis!" little pumpkin cheered for his big sister. His whole body was soaked in sweats, yet his energy to jump around was limitless.


    "Not fair! Hah~hah~" Bella Lim panted. She bent her bodies, holding her knees as she tried to regulate her breathing. Exhausted, she sat on the ground only to be pulled by the hood of her t-shirt by Eric Wu.


    "Bella, this is only your fifth day. Are you losing to little pumpkin? Look at him still energetic," Eric Wu remarked. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Bella Lim.


    "Then, let me train the same amount as he did," Bella Lim retorted.


    The past five days, this man had been torturing her non-stopped and that irritated her to the max. He was nitpicking at almost everything ?ssociated with her, from the food she ate to the way she walked. It was vexing!


    "Big sis, you''re a grown-up, why do you want to train so little?" little pumpkin asked. He winked at Eric Wu who was grinning at him.


    Bella Lim pouted. She stared at little pumpkin in bitterness. What kind of person was Eric Wu for him to successfully make little pumpkin his accomplice for the suffering she had to go through? Little pumpkin seemed to look up to him more now.


    "Little pumpkin, don''t you feel pity towards big sis?" she sulked.


    Seeing the downcast look of Bella Lim, Eric Wu couldn''t help but laugh. This woman, the more he interacts with her, the interesting she becomes.


    "Big sis, this is for your youth!" little pumpkin encouraged her, repeating the words that Eric Wu had directed to her a few days ago.


    "What?!" Bella Lim yelled in disbelief. She gazed helplessly at little pumpkin. Not long after, her eyes viciously glared at Eric Wu who was laughing even louder.


    This man was the culprit! He was the reason for little pumpkin to turn cold against her plea. If it was before, little pumpkin couldn''t stand to see her in any disadvantageous situation. Yet, right now, tough love was in practice. How much had he changed since he ?ssociated himself with Eric Wu?


    Bella Lim really wanted to put all the blames on Eric Wu, however, the person who let the two met was her. She was the one to blame.


    Sigh.


    "Alright, that''s all for today. Little pumpkin let''s descend," Eric Wu held little pumpkin''s hand and guided him as they walked through the trail of the mountain where today''s training was taking place.


    Bella Lim scoffed as she followed from behind. She recalled when Eric Wu introduced his method of ''working out the body''. It was just his nice sounded way to refer to his hellish training method.


    The first workout they have was a simple run around the garden of Hillside villa. Then, he added the gym workout. Next, they were required to run from the main entrance to the villa, covering the entire ten miles.


    Nowadays, Eric Wu was the negative element in Bella Lim''s peaceful days.


    Thank God, he wasn''t insane to make little pumpkin do the same workout they were doing or else she would fight with him with all her might.


    "Bella, be careful with the slope," Eric Wu shouted as he allowed little pumpkin to stand on the ground. They were now at the foot of the mountain. However, Bella Lim was slightly slower as she was still descending, albeit closer. He watched her foot placement and cringed in worry. This woman was too clumsy!


    "I know!" Bella Lim screamed from above as she bent her knees to resist the inertia of falling forward.


    "Urgh!" she grumbled when she realized that her foot couldn''t reach the stepping rock below. She looked around and saw a protruding branch. It was n?k?d as leaves were nowhere to be seen. Bella Lim thought that it would help to give her a safe push so that she could land on the stepping stone below. So, she grabbed the branch... the weak branch that wasn''t attached to any tree...


    "Careful!" Eric Wu shouted as his body instinctively moved forward. He had a feeling that Bella Lim wouldn''t be so lucky with the help she deemed worthy. As expected, when Bella Lim grabbed on the branch, the force she put yanked it from its position revealing a slender woody shoot. The poor woman could only curse as she felt her body fell forward.


    "It''s a stupid twig!"


    "Idiot twig!"


    Eric Wu helplessly listened to the voices of Bella Lim. Couldn''t she tell that she was falling and in danger? He moved faster, hoping that he would get to her in time.


    Still, the scream that was expected to happen earlier, echoed.


    Bella Lim collapsed on the ground as she held her left ankle. At the last twirl, her mind suddenly went to a shut down. Consequently, she failed to see the pebbles on the ground which cause her landing unstable. She fell and her left ankle was injured.


    Bella Lim cooled down as she tried to remember what had happened. Earlier when she felt her body falling forward, she wished that she was a gymnast as their skill to cartwheel was helpful in that situation. She didn''t know that her body had instinctively exercising the form, avoiding the danger that she thought was inevitable. Everything happened so fast giving her no time to process the whole situation.


    "Ouch!" tears rolled down her cheek as the pain was overwhelming. Little pumpkin ran towards her in panic. The little boy was now crying together with her as he didn''t know what he was supposed to do.


    At the same time, Eric Wu rushed towards Bella Lim''s side and ?ssessed the whole situation. He heaved out after the ?ssessment.


    "Reckless!" he knocked on Bella Lim''s head as his eyes were looking at her intensely. Then, he turned towards little pumpkin to comfort him.


    "Is big sis okay?" little pumpkin asked. His small hand rubbed against Bella Lim''s head gently.


    "Don''t worry, your big sis is alright. She will get better after the treatment. Little pumpkin could you walk by yourself?" Eric Wu asked. Little pumpkin nodded.


    "Good!" Eric Wu smiled as he patted little pumpkin''s shoulder. Then, he focused on Bella Lim who was looking down on the soil.


    "Hop on!" he uttered as he squatted, revealing his broad back to Bella Lim. His act stunned the woman who was lamenting on her stupid action.


    "It''s okay. Just find me a stick. I still can walk. You need to carry little pumpkin," Bella Lim refused. She managed a smile for little pumpkin to see. The little boy was looking at her with so much pain on his face as if he was the one who got hurt.

 Chapter 59 - Over trained - the day she fainted (Part II)

    "Pumpkin, big sis is okay," she ?ssured him.


    "Big sis, let big brother Eric carry you. Pumpkin is strong. I can walk," little pumpkin insisted.


    "No-no... you''ll only tire yourself," Bella Lim repudiated.


    "Big sis, you''re so stubborn," little pumpkin frowned. His lips curved downward, unsatisfied with his big sis refusal.


    "I-ouch!" Bella Lim was about to reply when she felt a painful tap on her forehead. She realized that Eric Wu was looking at her. Then, without waiting for her approval, he pulled her hand and securely placed her on his back. He held her legs as he rose from his squatting position.


    "Little pumpkin, we''ll meet up with my ?ssistant after this. For now, you need to be very careful, okay?" he said as he tilted his head over to look at little pumpkin.


    "I will big brother Eric. Please take care of big sis!" little pumpkin said as he began to walk forward.


    Bella Lim was astounded. She felt her face getting warmer as she was embarrassed. All the sayings and yet she failed to see their intention. Even if she walked now, it would only slow them down.


    "Why are you so reckless? I have seen you do these many times. First, the bike and now this, cartwheeling like an idiot,"


    "Are you stupid?"


    Bella Lim discreetly inhaled. She listened to Eric Wu''s furious comments without saying anything in response. The thing he mentioned was irrefutable, she was indeed reckless. But, she had no control over her body, everything was voluntary. As if her body was trained to do the stunt. Now that she thought about it, it took her less time to master her riding skills. She thought she was gifted, but the feeling she had back then was similar to how she felt today. As if her mind was preset with the knowledge of all the skills and her body was waiting for the trigger to execute the skills. Everything seemed natural to her.


    "Next time don''t be this reckless," once again Eric Wu''s voice entered her ears.


    "I don''t want to as well," she finally replied.


    "What do you mean?" she noticed Eric Wu''s head moved to the right as if he was trying to see her. His ear brushed against her cheek causing it to flush in pink. Bella Lim decided to wake herself up by pinching on her hand with her other hand. The pain made her mind clear. It wasn''t the right time to be infatuated by him. Not now.


    "My body moves on its own like I already knew how to do it," she said, unsure if it was making sense. She waited for Eric Wu to say something, but he was quiet. The silent prevailed until they met up with Tao who then carried little pumpkin on his back. Initially, little pumpkin refused, but when Bella Lim and Eric Wu insisted, only then did he let Tao piggyback him.


    Their journey wasn''t as long as it only took them fifteen minutes to reach the dock where a boat was already waiting for them. One of Eric Wu''s staff was waiting with the first aid in his hand. Bella Lim recognized the person, he was Ekon, the leader of the security department.


    Eric Wu stepped into the boat and carefully ?ssisted Bella Lim to sit.


    "President, Mr. Ryan is asleep. He''s inside the room," Tao walked over and reported little pumpkin''s situation to Eric Wu.


    "Good, please look after him," Eric Wu instructed and Tao nodded obediently. He left afterward to do the job that was ?ssigned to him. Bella Lim stared at Tao''s back with gratitude. Suddenly, a growled slipped her lips as she could feel someone pinching her injured ankle.


    "Ekon called the family doctor. Make sure, he arrived before us," Eric Wu said as he looked towards Ekon. The rigid man shook his head once before leaving.


    Bella Lim pursed her lips as her gaze was on Eric Wu. This man was helping him again.


    "You helped me again," she blurted out only to be surprised at herself. Eric Wu looked up, a frown on his face. Bella Lim immediately diverted her gaze to the sea. She fidgeted.


    "Now that I think about it, you definitely in need of help every time," Eric Wu let out a laugh as he pressed the ice pack on Bella Lim''s ankle.


    "Ouch~" Bella Lim couldn''t help but let out a groan. The cold ice was like needles piercing through her skin. She didn''t realize that her hand was pressing against Eric Wu''s shoulder.


    "Sorry," she immediately retracted her hand when she realized what was happening.


    "Bear with this," Eric Wu ignored her as he pressed the ice pack to her ankle again. Bella Lim''s face twitched in pain. This time she endured it until the pain on her ankle subsided.


    "Good job. Don''t walk around," Eric Wu reminded as he walked towards the built-in bar inside the small yet luxurious boat. He returned with a bottle of mineral water in his hand. The cap was already removed when he gave the bottle to Bella Lim.


    "Thank you," Bella Lim expressed. Eric Wu nodded as he sat next to her. The warmth emitted from his body made the breath of Bella Lim quickened. She could feel her skin crawl at the stimulation. She wanted to blame the situation, but then the seat was meant for a single person. Why must this muscular man squeeze his body just to sit next to her?


    "What is it? Is your ankle in pain again?" Eric Wu noticed her stiffness and asked. He leaned to see her ankle. This act made his hand brushed against Bella Lim''s. The woman stiffened at the contact, afraid to make the slightest movement.


    "I-it''s okay. Not painful," that was the best she could give. Bella Lim bit her lower lip as she shut her eyes.


    "I thought you part ways with your stammer?" Eric Wu chuckled as he glanced at Bella Lim.


    "No, I-I was just surprised..." Bella Lim her hands in denial. She realized that she was being played when she saw the amused expression on his face.


    "Sigh. Could you sit somewhere else?" she couldn''t stand it anymore. His close presence suffocated her.


    Eric Wu lifted an eyebrow as soon as he heard Bella Lim''s request.


    "Why?" he asked, leaning forward. His handsome face was now an inch away from Bella Lim.


    "P-please. Erm, y-you, t-this is for o-one person," Bella Lim tried to explain, but all of a sudden Eric Wu smiled. Sufficed to say, that one smile was an instant kill. Bella Lim almost gasped out loud. Still, Eric Wu was there, staring at her amusingly.


    "Damn! Can you just sit somewhere? I''m embarrassed!" Bella Lim could no longer hold her embarrassment, she confessed. She hid her reddened face with her hands. That was when she realized movement on Eric Wu''s side. Thinking that the man had left, Bella Lim peeked through her slender fingers.


    Gone! She exhaled as her hands massaged her ?h?st area.


    "Do you by chance interested in me?"


    "Ouch!" and like that, the pain on her ankle returned.


    "Idiot!" Eric Wu scolded as he quickly moved to her ?ssist.


    "Don''t yell. Painful!" Bella Lim wh?n?d. Drops of tears invaded her cheek.


    "Silly!" Eric Wu sighed as his fingers removed the wetness on her cheek. Feeling the surreal touch, Bella Lim blacked out. She actually fainted.

 Chapter 60 - Lucid dream

    I''m in a dream, right?


    Bella Lim tried to open her eyes, however, no matter the times she tried, her eyelid wouldn''t allow a speck of light to go pass her cornea. Even so, watching the void in front of her made her feel better. At least, she was looking at something.


    Bella Lim tried to move her limbs, but her body seemed to be paralyzed, she could feel nothing.


    Usually, she would panic in this situation, but something caught her attention. The void in front of her had colorized into an animated art which eventually turned to a black and white movie. It was a movie about a young girl standing outside an old warehouse in the middle of nowhere. Her sapphire blue eyes looked determined as she ran towards the dark forest that surrounded the warehouse. Her short curly hair danced alongside the wind.


    The movie was fast-forwarded as the scene of the young girl''s running, stumbling and running again became the focus. Bella Lim could feel the gravity in the young girl''s recklessness. Her battered state made watching a painful experience. She internally exhaled when the girl entered a more civilized area. It was a small, run-down town. Old newspapers scattered everywhere and the billboards at the roadside were broken into half. It was already night and only a few street lights were working.


    How young was she? Bella Lim''s curiosity was piqued. The young girl was small in physique, but something about her was disturbing. It frightened the sole spectator of the scene. Perhaps, something horrible had happened to her when she was in the warehouse which made her personality as such. Bella Lim deducted.


    Once again, the scene was fast-forwarded to an event where the young girl stole a motorbike from one of the houses in the town. The barking dog gave a suspenseful vibe as Bella Lim feared that the owner would anytime come out of the house. Surprisingly, the young girl accomplished her task in a matter of time. Bella Lim was frightened. What kind of girl knew how to stole a motorbike? Definitely not a normal one.


    The young girl rode the motorbike with exceptional skills. When she entered the highway, she spread her arms, as if enjoying the freedom. A smile could be seen on her pale face.


    Yet, like a typical thrilling movie, happiness was short given. The moment the young girl entered a tunnel, she realized that a car was trailing her from behind. When she looked around, her tranquil face became horrified. She frantically increased her speed to get rid of the car that was chasing her.


    Bella Lim who was watching could feel her heartbeat getting faster. Bizarrely, her heartbeat wasn''t the normal anxiety she felt from sympathizing for the girl, instead, it felt like she was the one being chase after. Suddenly, the feeling of extreme fear engulfed her mind.


    In that instant, she was no longer a watcher. She was her. She was the young girl in the movie she was watching earlier. Bella Lim shivered, coldness came in two different sources; the night chill plus the cold fear that invaded the mind of the young girl. Her.


    What happened?


    Why was I pulled into this?


    Let me wake up... please...


    Plea after plea echoed in Bella Lim''s mind. She had no idea why she was suffering in the place of the young girl. Still, she tried to carry out the task to get the young girl to safety. Alas, the motorbike wasn''t capable of doing so. It didn''t take long for the car to overtake her.


    Bella Lim flinched when she realized that the car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. She could only turn the handle in another direction to avoid clashing with the car. However, the result was still the same albeit worst. A sickening feeling rose within her.


    She thought she could avoid an accident. Yet, after the turned, the front wheel lost grip. Instantly, the motorbike flipped to the left side and she fell down. Everything happened so fast. Bella Lim found herself together with the motorbike tumbling on the road before the law of physics sled them towards a concrete at the roadside. Without a helmet, Bella Lim could feel the injury all over her head. The smell of fresh blood insulted her nose. Her eyes were not able to sustain the pressure of ?ssessing the condition she was in.


    Now she knew why she was pulled into the whole scene.


    This was her past life. The incident that happened after her parents died. However, why was it different? Many details didn''t match the memories she had.


    Bella Lim wanted to think, but she could feel her vision fading. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the man spoke. A sentence that was missing from her memories.


    "Hahaha! the 13th Master would be pleased to know that this girl is dead,"


    ***


    Hillside Villa


    "Zayn, what happened?" Eric Wu asked as soon as he entered Bella Lim''s, not room. Trailing behind him was little pumpkin who looked anxious.


    Zayn Wu, the doctor exclusive for the Master of the Wu clan took a deep breath as he motioned towards the monitor that showed Bella Lim''s vitality. Nothing abnormal could be derived from the signal it was showing. Seeing this, Eric Wu frowned.


    "Master, are you sure she fainted from shock?" Zayn Wu asked. His voice was calm yet his face was showing otherwise.


    "She is," Eric Wu replied as he walked towards Bella Lim who was lying on the bed, unconscious. A smile on his face when he recalled the incident in the boat. He meant to ask the question half as a joke, half curious. Little did he knew it would affect her so much to the point of fainting. At first, he was so scared, but when Zayn gave his diagnose, he was relieved that she was perfectly fine. Except for her left ankle which now fully attended to.


    "Why is she still unconscious?" his declining voice sounded harsh as he looked at Zayn Wu. Just now he was accompanying little pumpkin who was worried about his big sister when Tao suddenly called for him, informing that Zayn Wu requested his presence inside the room. He rushed in, thinking that Bella Lim was already awake.


    "Master, this is my concern. Her vitality is perfectly fine but it seems that she refuses to wake up or something is preventing her from waking up," Zayn Wu explained. Beads of sweat were formed on his forehead. Some slid to his sideburns as he waited for Eric Wu to speak.


    He could tell that he would be scolded at. However, who was this woman for the Master to take care of her? He, the mighty doctor exclusive to the Master was actually the one doing the check-up? How degrading. Zayn Wu internal demons flared up as he took a glance at Bella Lim.


    Why was this woman still unconscious? Was she pretending? Heh, she must be trying to get the Master''s attention.


    "Zayn, are you sure nothing was amiss?" Eric Wu spoke as he turned to face Zayn Wu. He held little pumpkin''s hand who was anxiously looking at Zayn Wu.


    "Master, I''ve served under you for five years. Please trust my judgment," Zayn Wu lowered his head as he spoke in a low voice. He could tell from the tone the Master was speaking that he was angry. The Master was angry at him over a woman with an unknown background? Why oh why! His monologue intensified.


    "Zayn-"


    Beep-beep-beep-beep!


    The beeping sound coming from the health monitor disturbed the conversation that was ongoing in the room. Eric Wu noticed that the green line on the monitor was creating unstable waves.


    "Zayn!" he sternly called for the man who was standing at the end of the bed, staring at the monitor in a slack manner. Eric Wu was furious, but thinking that the situation wasn''t suitable for a fit of anger, he held himself.


    "Big brother Eric, look at big sis!" little pumpkin pointed towards the bed. There, Bella Lim was seen struggling. Her eyelids were moving aimlessly. She looked like she was having a bad dream.


    "Master, I''m going to give her a calming shot," Zayn Wu declared as his hand was preparing for the injection.


    Eric Wu frowned. "No need!" he rejected. He sat on the chair beside the bed and held Bella Lim''s right hand as he ??r?ssed it gently. Little pumpkin stared at him in silent wonderment. He moved to the other side of the bed and held Bella Lim''s other hand.


    Zayn Wu''s eyes almost bulged in surprise. The Master was actually holding the woman''s hand? What witchery did the woman use to deserve the skinship? Never once had he seen the Master initiated a body contact!


    This woman, even if he hated her, she was without a doubt, amazing.


    Zayn Wu didn''t realize that she began to admire Bella Lim.


    Eric Wu anxiously waited by the bedside. His hands were still holding Bella Lim''s hand. "Fight for it!" he whispered to her ears. He didn''t know why, but he believed she needed to go through this without the influence of medicine. As if this would free her from the boundary that was binding her.


    Time passed by and Bella Lim''s struggle receded to calmness with only a frown left on her forehead. Eric Wu gently wiped the sweats that drenched Bella Lim''s wavy hair as he took a deep breath of relief. He didn''t understand why, but he was certain that she was fine now.


    Eric Wu rose from the chair and leaned forward so he could wipe her forehead better. Underneath his sight was Bella Lim''s serene face. He stared at the face which day by day resembled the woman in his dream.


    "Wake up," his breathy voice was desperate to see her beautiful blue eyes. All of a sudden, as if listening to his request, Bella Lim''s eyelids moved around. Soon, her clear blue eyes were revealed.


    Eric Wu was stunned.


    Something was different with her eyes. It was no longer timid and hesitant like before. Right now, she was looking at him without reserved, unabashed.


    "Eric Wu, did you or did you not save a girl in Kastache six years ago?"


    Eric Wu frowned. Her question was sudden and caught him off guard. However, he could relate to the question right away.


    "Yes," he admitted.

 Chapter 61 - The hallucination

    "Hua~"


    An exhale of relief clashed against Eric Wu''s face. The tension on her face relaxed upon hearing his response. It could be that her question earlier was to seek confirmation over something. Whether that was true or not, the formidable aura she emitted earlier was now less intense.


    Eric Wu examined the woman underneath him. He watched her eyes closed simultaneous to the curved at the corner of her lips. When she opened her eyes, they naturally oozed tenderness and calmness. A rarity if he considered her from before.


    "I-" he heard her say, eyes were staring back at him, unwavering. Something had really changed, something captivating enough to make him wanted to remain in the position he was in.


    "I think-" the way her delicate lips moved, it was a beautiful view, tempting enough to make him wished for more.


    Eric Wu''s eyes were intimately watching the slightest facial movement of Bella Lim as if he was afraid to miss a single detail. His muscular frame was paralleled to Bella Lim''s slender body supported by only his hands that were pushing the soft mattress.


    "I think-"


    "Hmm," he responded with his face getting lower and lower due to his weight that made his hands sunk further into the mattress.


    "I think you''re too close," her fruity voice echoed in his eardrums followed by a push on his shoulder. Then, abruptly, she rose from her lying position and leaned against the headboard. She pulled the blanket that sled away from her upper body.


    Eric Wu chuckled as he found himself getting disappointed. Then, as if everything was just a playful venture, he sat on the chair and crossed his legs.


    "Little pumpkin is worried about you," he said as he lazily stretched his body. He noticed that the woman was staring at him, so he countered with a mere glance. Only to realize that little pumpkin was already in her embrace and Zayn had just finished his checked-up.


    Ahh, was I spellbound by her to this extent? Eric Wu ruffled his hair as he rose from his seat.


    "Zayn, meet me in my study room now," he said and walked away without saying anything to Bella Lim.


    Zayn Wu was startled. He packed his stuff and ran off to chase his Master that was leaving like a storm. When he was at the door, he took a final glance at Bella Lim and said, "You''re basically healed,"


    Zayn Wu''s sounded unhappy, yet Bella Lim thought that he was amusing. He seemed to be the type that perceived people based on self-judgment. However, if he was tamed, he would become the most loyal retainer.


    "Big sis, are you alright now?" little pumpkin said after he released himself from Bella Lim''s embrace.


    "Yes," Bella Lim said as she kissed his forehead to soothe the tension and worry on his face.


    "Really okay?" little pumpkin asked. His big eyes were staring at his big sis as if telling her not to lie.


    "Yes, besides it was nothing serious. It just that big sis received a big shock earlier," Bella Lim turned towards the bedside table and poured herself a cup of water. She took a few sips before placing her glass on the table.


    "Why did you faint big sis? I have asked big brother Eric, but he said you were just tired," little pumpkin was curious. Bella Lim frowned.


    "Hmm, let''s see. That''s because he-" she froze. A replay of the incident in the boat was playing inside her mind.


    Oh my! How in the world did he forget about his question?


    Bell Lim felt her whole body heated up as she bent her knees and buried her embarrassed face between her th??hs. It was really good that she only remembered the incident right now or else, she definitely couldn''t handle his presence earlier.


    "Big sis?"


    "He is right. Big sis fainted due to exhaustion," she falsely admitted.


    ''Sorry pumpkin, to recount what he asked is too difficult for big sis,'' she thought apologetically.


    "Then, big sis, little pumpkin will let you rest," little pumpkin was ready to climb down the bed when Bella Lim pulled him to her embrace again.


    "No-no. Little pumpkin must accompany big sis. Let''s...," she paused as her eyes widened upon seeing the number nine shown at the alarm clock on the bedside table. "... let''s sleep together tonight," she continued in bewilderment. She clumsily helped little pumpkin to sleep beside her as she let her body rest as well.


    How long was she unconscious? The question lingered inside her mind.


    "Big sis, little pumpkin was really worried just now. Big brother Eric was also worried. We were all worried because big sis was unconscious for almost five hours,"


    Five hours!!


    Bella Lim kissed little pumpkin again as a thank for his unintentional help.


    "Sorry," she muttered as she held little pumpkin closed to her. Little pumpkin giggled as he snuggled further into the warmness of his big sister''s embrace. Being a fast sleeper, little pumpkin fell asleep not long after, leaving Bella Lim who was now widely awake.


    The serene night was a perfect time for contemplation. Bella Lim recollected the lucid dream she experienced while being unconscious and all of a sudden, she felt a sharp pain in her forehead. Afraid that she would awaken little pumpkin, she rolled her body away from him and climbed down from the bed. She took a painkiller from inside the drawer of the bedside table and sat on the floor with her body leaned against the wall.


    Why was she feeling a headache all of a sudden? Wasn''t she perfectly fine a moment ago? Bella Lim couldn''t put a finger on the sudden torture she was feeling. Thinking that taking medicine would definitely help to abate the pain, she redirected her thoughts towards the dream she had.


    When she realized that the man who came out of the car resembled her father''s friend, the one who tried to sell her, she had a feeling that what she saw was her past life.


    Still, what she had seen was a different story altogether. Now that she thought about it, maybe it was the side effect of being unconscious for too long. Moreover, didn''t Eric Wu admitted that he saved a young girl in Kastache many years ago? That was an affirmation that her memories were the truth.


    Besides, who in the world was the 13th Master? Ridiculous!


    "Agh!" Bella Lim ?r??n?d. Her headache was not abated but more like it was trying to push her into insanity.


    Bella Lim struggled as she took a look at little pumpkin, afraid that the sound she was making bothered his sleep. She managed a smile when she saw his unbothered self. Still, she thought that it was better for her to leave the room. So, Bella Lim crawled out of the room as getting up wasn''t an option.


    Outside, she gritted her teeth to stand up. The wall was the only support she had to avoid falling to the floor. She didn''t know which room she had entered as she followed where the wall would lead her.


    ''Painful!'' she wanted to scream but was unable to do so. Her eyes began to blur. It seemed that she would faint again. But, why? Where did this terrible headache come from? Bella Lim bit her lower lips until it bled. The taste of blood inside her mouth helped to clear her mind a little.


    Bella Lim continued to walk when suddenly she felt her hand touched something cold; a doorknob. She gathered her strength to open the door, however, at this time around the pain she felt was like raging needles, endlessly poking every cell of her brain.


    Bella Lim pushed the door open and let it go as soon as she stepped into the darkroom; collapsing in the instant.


    ''Here would be fine,'' she thought as she began to growl in pain. Her body convulsed as she tried to fight the pain.


    "Bella!"


    "Bella, what happened?!"


    Someone was holding her body. The familiar scent of him, of Eric.


    "E-Eric," she muttered in difficulty. Perhaps because it was him, she felt safe, no longer trying to go against the pain. The moment she let loose, she began to hallucinate.


    A hallucination that little pumpkin wasn''t her real brother.

 Chapter 62 - No matter how weird, Ill listen

    Eric Wu was restless. He had been trying to sleep but to no avail. Earlier, when he called Zayn Wu in his study room, he had treated him with silence. Not that he was trying to scare him, just that he was in no mood to scold him. In the end, he simply reminded him to reread his medical ethics. That one sentence made the man scrammed with a tail between his legs.


    Now, he was on schedule, ready to sleep after peeking on Bella Lim''s room. Contentment was the feeling he had when he saw the siblings cuddled up together. Thankfully, everything ended well. He felt a burden was lifted off of him.


    Yet, he couldn''t sleep.


    An image of a woman kept nudging his brain from taking a rest. It was kind of torture because he didn''t want to kill her image off just for the sake of sleeping. In the end, Eric Wu left his bed and sat on the sofa. He didn''t bother to switch on the light as the darkness seemed bright enough for someone to see the complicated look on his face.


    Thankfully, it was the weekend or else he would suffer from the lack of sleep when tomorrow came. He sprawled his body on the long sofa that b?r?ly fit his width and height. A question popped up in his mind about the sudden query Bella Lim was asking upon her awakening.


    Was it fate or coincidence for Bella Lim to ask about the young lady he had saved four years ago at Kastache? No one knew about this except him and her. Amidst the confusion, Eric Wu was shocked when someone suddenly barged into his room.


    He was spared no time to think of who the intruder was as a cry so familiar reached his ears. He quickly picked the controller on the table and switched on the light. There, on the floor was Bella Lim with her body curled as depressing remarks left her lips.


    "Bella!" he called in a panic as he rushed to her. He crouched beside her, emotions flew across his features as he took her into his arms. The agony was visible on her face.


    "Bella, what happened?!" he asked, only to hear her calling his name weakly. Then, he watched how her eyes grew wide in shock. All of a sudden, tears rolled her cheek as she began to sob.


    Eric Wu knew something must''ve happened again so he carried her to his bed, gently laid her body on the mattress. Seeing her absentmindedly stared at the ceiling, he wondered if she was still in pain. Earlier, he could almost feel the anguish she was feeling. However now, her lifeless state made him worried even more. She looked like she had lost the will to live. What happened?


    Eric Wu decided to call Zayn Wu so he could check on her again. He wouldn''t allow anything bad to happen. Not when he finally realized what he was feeling.


    "Eric, I''m fine,"


    The weak voice brought a pause to what Eric Wu was doing. He shifted his gaze towards her and noticed her feeble eyes were looking back. Her lips paled. A state that made him frowned.


    Seriously, which part of her looked fine?


    "Sorry, I was afraid to wake little pumpkin so I thought--" a ?h?sty cough interrupted her speech. Eric Wu suddenly felt angry.


    "Stop talking. I''ll call Zayn to check on you," he reprimanded her only to be surprised when a cold hand touched his. He could feel his whole body shuddered at the touch. It took him a while to relax, a while... when she let go of his hand.


    "Don''t! I''m fine now," she insisted and slowly tried to get up. True to what she claimed, Bella Lim was indeed free from the torment she was feeling earlier. What left was slight dizziness that she could handle. It was a weird phenomenon that brought her to misery.


    Sigh. Eric Wu kept his phone away and turned his body to have a better look at Bella Lim. He realized that despite her claim to be fine, her look wasn''t convincing. She was like a lost child, like someone who had lost all motivation to live.


    "What happened?" he asked and waited patiently for her to explain.


    "Which are you referring to? earlier or right now?" a contrast to her weak state, her voice was austere.


    Eric Wu took a deep breath. "I''m calling Zayn. Something is wrong with you," he declared, annoyed by her response.


    Bella Lim chuckled as an enervated smile plastered her face.


    "Eric, could you write a story about someone who thought a second chance at life would bring happiness only to find out that reality is crueler?"


    "Or about someone who thought she is a normal person only to know that soon she would be driven into craziness?"


    "Or about how delusional one could be?"


    "Why? I only fainted due to shock. So why am I seeing things I didn''t want to see?" her voice cracked.


    "I don''t want to believe it, but after everything that had happened. It makes me want to believe," she cried.


    "I can''t---I''m not strong for this," her shoulder shook as tears rolled down her cheek like heavy rain.


    Eric Wu swallowed as he didn''t know how to react. What she was saying wasn''t making sense to him. Perhaps, she was afraid about all the ?ssaults directed to her and little pumpkin? Maybe, fear made her succumb to this state of despair. Yet, deep down he knew, she was referring to something more.


    However, seeing her cried struck his heart with terrible anguish. He felt a dreadful ache as if something was being torn inside him. The greediness to see her smile overwhelmed him.


    "I''ll consider it. Such plots would appeal to most people. I noticed that most web-novelist prefer that sort of theme. What is it again," he pondered.


    "Ahh, reincarnation, reborn and going back in time. This theme was selling fast nowadays. Will I do well if I write such a story?" he sounded like he was speaking to himself. An eyebrow rose as he drifted off in contemplation.


    That was when he heard a laugh. He looked up and saw Bella Lim laughed with her shoulder still shaking due to the unending tears she had yet to give up. He smiled, happy that his not-so-funny humor brought such a response from her.


    But, the issue wasn''t resolved. Something was bothering the woman in front of him or else she wouldn''t fall into a condition of deep despondency. He hoped she would tell him everything. Patience, right now calming her down was an utmost priority. He thought.


    "Do you believe in such?"


    Startled. Eric Wu quickly asked, "In what?"


    "Stuff like reincarnation, reborn, going back in time," he smiled as he listened to the list. Despite the weakened state she was in, she sure was talkative. It was hard to ?ssociate her with the woman who cried desperately a moment ago.


    "These kinds of things give hopes," he chuckled as he added, "Most people would want to believe it. Others would refer to it as wishful thinking,"


    "How about you?" Bella Lim interjected as she stared at him, her expression intent.


    With furrowed eyes, Eric Wu stared at her for a moment before the creases disappeared. He felt like she was testing him.


    "As long as one can prove it, I will," he shrugged nonchalantly, but his gaze rested on her thoughtfully for a few moments before he broke the string that connected their eyes. A moment of silence preceded a rumble from Bella Lim''s tummy.


    Bella Lim coughed as she held her stomach, trying to stop the sound from being heard. It seemed that the food she had eaten after she woke up from unconsciousness wasn''t enough.


    "Can you walk?" Eric Wu asked as he turned his head, pretending that he hadn''t heard the rumble. However, the mirth in his eyes was obvious.


    "I think so," Bella Lim replied as she removed the blanket that was covering her body. She moved to the edge of the bed and jumped on the floor. She wobbled.


    "Whoa, there..." Eric Wu instinctively held her.


    "T-thanks. You can let go now," Bella Lim spoke. She was grateful for his help, but the awkwardness was as intense as the heat radiating across her body.


    "Let me help you. I don''t want to see someone fall along the way. We''re going to the kitchen," Eric Wu sneakily smiled as his hand firmly attached to Bella Lim''s shoulder.


    "No need," Bella Lim refused. At the same time, she thought her feeble mind couldn''t cope with Eric Wu''s unpredictable behavior. "I''m sorry for intruding you tonight and being weird. I''ll return to my room. the junk food there will do," she hurriedly spoke as she tried to free herself, but she had not much energy to do so.


    "No way. Leaving you alone is even worse. Believe me, you''ll end up crying again. We''re going to the kitchen and you''re going to tell me everything," Eric Wu slowly moved Bella Lim''s body so she could see him. "No matter how weird your story will be, I''ll listen," his voice alongside his face were earnest.


    Speechless, Bella Lim did nothing but lowered her gaze until it reached his broad ?h?st.


    "So," she heard him murmured, "We''re just going to stand like this with you staring at my ?h?st till morning?"


    Bella Lim jolted as she inched back only to realize that the man had no intention of letting her go. Her expression darkened. There was no use to say anything, this man was unexpectedly stubborn.


    Eric Wu noticed that the woman in his arms had ceased struggling. He chuckled as he gently pulled her along to the kitchen on the first floor.

 Chapter 63 - Mismatch memories

    "Sit here," Eric Wu pulled a chair for Bella Lim to sit. Then, he walked towards the cabinet and took out a pot before placing it on top of a stove. Next, he went to the fridge.


    "You''re cooking?" Bella Lim was surprised. Eric Wu simply nodded as he stood in front of the fridge, staring at the raw materials inside. A cold sweat broke out on Bella Lim''s face. This man had gone through a lot just to deal with her and now he wanted to cook for her? She didn''t want to trouble him any more than she already had.


    "Don''t we have leftover from dinner?" she hinted while at the same time wondering why he still standing in front of the fridge. She felt cold just from looking at him.


    Eric Wu looked around. "You okay with the leftover?" he asked as he closed the fridge with a kick. When he saw Bella Lim''s positive response, he smiled. "I''ll reheat them,"


    While reheating the food from dinner, Eric Wu silently exhaled as he beat himself inside his head. He had been too impulsive. He had acted out of his character as well as his capabilities. Cooking? he scoffed. Did he know how to cook? Well, he did know how to make congee, but the last time he recalled making it, he had spent the whole night in the kitchen.


    Was he trying to look cool in front of her? Sigh.


    Meanwhile, Bella Lim was also relieved. Relieved that she had succeeded in making the man gave up the idea of cooking for her. Seriously, if it was any other day, she would cherish the moment, but today wasn''t that day. Today, many things had happened and she didn''t wish for her mind to deal with more stuff.


    Well, if only she knew that she had helped the man covered for his impulsiveness... if only she knew that he couldn''t cook...


    It took Eric Wu for almost an hour just to reheat all the food. He had tried his best not to look like an amateur while doing so. Soon, the food was served in front of Bella Lim, who then ate in a silent manner, trying hard not to lift her head to avoid meeting the eyes of the man who was watching her with his hawk eyes.


    "I''m full," she hurriedly spoke when she realized that Eric Wu was ready to give her another serving. Questions kept flowing inside her head. Mostly bewildered with the kindness he had been showing. Well, it could be said that their relationship had improved these past few days, but tonight he had shown a totally different personality. A gentleman.


    "Really?" she heard him asked.


    "Ye...s!" she answered in shock. Surprised to feel a hand touching her forehead.


    "Do you feel better?" he looked at her with concern as he returned to his seat. Unable to conjecture a speech, Bella Lim shook her head in response, indicating that she was feeling better.


    "Good. Now tell me the whole story," his voice domineering.


    Bella Lim was startled. She looked at his face, trying to find the gentleness he had shown earlier. However, she couldn''t stare for long as she was defeated with the subduing method he often used. She stiffened, understood the reason behind the sudden change in his behavior.


    "I-I just had a bad dream. That''s all," she mustered the courage to speak, trying to give the impression that everything that had happened to her wasn''t worthy of his attention.


    "You''re not going to tell? Then, I will ask you a question. How did you know that I saved a young girl in Kastache?"


    Bella Lim gulped. It was difficult to breathe when he was like this, what more to explain the whole thing. At least, he should retract a bit of his imperious aura.


    Suddenly, the scene where he was reheating the food played in Bella Lim''s head. She almost believed that it was just a dream because that was truly mismatched with the man who was sitting across her.


    Wait, why was she scared? Besides, it was never her intention to hide the story from him. He was her savior after all. This was a good chance to thank him.


    "Can''t you guess?" she said while her hands reached for the jug at the center of the table. She poured herself a glass of drink. At this moment, she was already free from the cage set up by Eric Wu.


    The man frowned upon listening to her response. Suddenly he smirked as he leaned against the chair.


    "You''re a stalker," he said only to see the woman sitting in front of him spouted all the water inside her mouth. Her eyes were looking at him in bewilderment.


    "Cough. What nonsense are you talking about?" Bella Lim tried to smile, but she knew it was better not to. Eric Wu had nailed it. He pointed out the hard truth although it wasn''t really the correct answer to his question.


    Eric Wu rose the corner of his lips. "You know a lot about me that wasn''t known to the public. That makes you a stalker," he muttered. He noticed that she was staring at him in perplexity.


    There was only silence afterward. Eric Wu waited patiently for Bella Lim to speak. She finally spoke after a few minutes.


    "I know about the incident. Isn''t that an obvious answer?" she said with eyes transfixed on his.


    "Huh?" he frowned. Eyes met hers, trying to follow her runway thought train. His expressions a mixture of annoyance and confusion.


    Bella Lim knew her unwillingness to speak candidly had annoyed him. "You said not many people know. I know because I''m among the few people who knew," she gave another ambiguous response. That was when she saw him rose from his chair. His expressionless face cracked as he thought about her answer.


    "Are you saying..." he mumbled as he leaned forward, hands were holding the edge of the table to support his body. The corner of his eyes twitched. A look of surprise on his face.


    "You''re her!" he uttered in disbelieve. When he saw a nod of approval, he let out a shaky laugh. What a small world! He continued to laugh as if what he just heard was a joke. Bella Lim faintly smiled as she watched him settled on the chair.


    "No wonder you know who Enlai Gong is," he sneered.


    "Yes," she responded.


    "So you''re from Kastache?"


    "Yes,"


    Eric Wu combed his disheveled hair. He took a deep breath and exhaled. He chuckled when she thanked him.


    "If it wasn''t because of you, little pumpkin and I wouldn''t be able to live to this day," she spoke in a low voice. Hearing this, a crease was formed on Eric Wu''s forehead.


    "Whatever you mean?" he asked, wondering why Bella Lim suddenly mentioned little pumpkin.


    "You paid for his bill, remember? He was also involved in the accident," she said as she stared at the chandelier above her. A way to avoid the tears that began to accumulate at the corner of her eyes to fall.


    "After the discharge, a friend of mine brought us here," she smiled as her face was reminiscing of the past. Yet, Eric Wu''s furrow deepened.


    ''Bella, the young girl I rescued had no little brother,'' he wanted to tell her, but thinking that she wasn''t ready and he wasn''t prepared to see another breakdown, he kept the thought inside his mind.


    He listened as she talked about the old memories. About how much she appreciated his help. However, the more he listened, the more he thought that his memories were a mismatch to what she was telling him.


    He was confident with his memory. Everything that had happened that night and the days that followed was spent in his cottage in Kastache. As for those people who knew about the entire story, there were only four; him, Ekon, Zayn Wu and her.


    There was no little pumpkin. No talked about the accident of her parents. The whole month she was with him, there was only one thing they had ever talked about and that was the book he was writing. As a result, most of the story was inspired by the details she suggested every time they discussed the book.


    That was when he knew that he had saved someone who possessed a powerful background. Only that, he was too lazy to investigate who she was. Then, one day she suddenly disappeared leaving no trace for him to track her down. A contrast to what Bella Lim had recounted, about how it was him who left her.


    No, his first book was proof that his memory was the correct one.


    So, why was she talking about a different story now?


    He believed that Bella Lim could be the one he had met as it was impossible for another woman that came from Kastache to know that he was Enlai Gong.


    Eric Wu felt exhausted just from thinking.


    "Well, could we proceed this tomorrow. I''m too sleepy," he yawned as he blinked his eyes several times. He really needed a reset, so tomorrow he could put all the pieces together.


    "Sure. I forgot that it was way beyond your sleeping time," he flinched when he heard Bella Lim''s reply. It seemed that since her secrets were now known to him, she had become bolder.


    Eric Wu helped Bella Lim as they went to the second floor. "Make sure to rest up, Zayn will come to check on your ankle again tomorrow," he reminded when they finally reached Bella Lim''s room.


    "Sure," she nodded. Then, she stared at Eric Wu''s broad back as he walked towards his room. She entered her own room and saw little pumpkin was sleeping soundly. Seeing him, her face darkened, she recalled the flashed of memories that she thought was a hallucination. She recalled how she stumped at the simple questions Eric Wu had asked her about their childhood.


    Something wasn''t right with her. Every time she tried to recall a specific memory, her mind became scrambled and fuzzy. There was a hole in the memories she possessed.

 Chapter 64 - Sunday meeting

    Romstall General Hospital


    "Eric, amnesia is indeed a possibility, but the prospect of it to be something else altogether is there. I need to talk with her to have a better understanding of the situation," Lu Fei had just reached the lobby of the biggest hospital in Romstall. He ignored the greetings given by the general workers in the hospital as he was busy with the phone call he had with Eric Wu.


    "That''s better," the man on the other end of the line replied, followed by a heavy sigh. His tired voice was evidence of his nightless night.


    "Eric, is she aware of this too?" Lu Fei asked. He was shocked when he listened to the situation that befell Bella Lim from Eric Wu. Although he was interested in their encounter in Kastache, his worry towards her defeated his d?s?r? to gossip. Since they suspected that Ryan Lim was the prince, it was possible for Bella Lim to have some relation to the political war involving the four countries as well.


    "She is in front of me," that short sentence gave a definite answer. Lu Fei sighed as the face of Bella Lim flashed in his mind. He knew she was the one who hurt the most. Who wouldn''t be? Especially, when the one and only blood ties left in this world was challenged by some nonsensical, bizarre phenomenon?


    "Send my regard and tell her not to worry too much," he said only to realize that he had reached the elevator. "Bro, I need to go. Rest ?ssured, I''ll fly to Azure tonight," he spoke hastily before he entered the elevator. The line disconnected the instant the door was shut.


    Lu Fei took a deep breath once the elevator who carried him to the fifteenth floor stopped. Outside, a young woman was already waiting for him. She greeted him the seconds she saw him.


    "Good morning Dr. Lu Fei, the chairman is waiting in his room," she told him.


    Lu Fei simply nodded as he walked towards the room located at the end of the fifteenth floor which also known as the Neurological department. His face was sour as he was literally forced to come to the building by the hospital director. It should be known that Sunday was his off day. He loathed those people that didn''t understand the function of a contract. Perhaps, if he didn''t have to rush from his oversea appointment, he wouldn''t be so mad. But, the old man was gutsy enough to pull him from his one day vacation just to meet the chairman of the Neurology department.


    Now that he thought about it, he would have taken a flight to Azure if not for this stupid meeting. He could almost tell that the chairman was playing one of his dirty schemes again. If not because of the elders in his clan, he would have toppled the man down and buried him underneath the Romstall bridge. He was just a nuisance to his eyes!


    Lu Fei entered the door that was pushed by the young woman who greeted him earlier. He stopped right after he walked in as he calmly pushed the bridge of his glasses up. In front of him, sat three people who were all looking to his direction with a smile that hid their own different agenda.


    "Dr. Lu, you''re here," Lu Fei scoffed when he heard the voice of the man who was sitting on the chairman''s chair. At the same time, he realized that the other people who sat on the chairs allotted in front of the desk were already standing up.


    "Dr. Lu Fei, I''m a fan," a woman with a perfect ombre hairstyle was the one who held out her hand first. She gave the impression of an innocent woman who at the same time weren''t afraid to smile passionately for that one person she had deep admiration about. Her reaction coaxed a purposeful coquettish smile on Lu Fei''s face.


    "Ahem!" the other man interrupted the raw connection that was built within that short moment. Lu Fei smirked as he composedly looked at the direction of the other person. Immediately, praises popped inside his head at the sight of the fancy hairstyle he had. Lu Fei had to admit that the man''s smokey grey curls suit his rough and gritty look.


    "Chairman Lu Tian, mind to give me an explanation for this Sunday meeting?" he sarcastically said after entertaining the two guests with his perfectly molded charming smile. He could tell that the woman was oozing pheromones while the man was treating him like a carbon cut out as his attention was fully on the woman beside him.


    ''Brat!'' he thought as he focused on the old man who yet to give him an explanation.


    "Hehe, please have a seat," Lu Tian, the chairman of the Neurological department bid with full enthusiasm. Lu Fei stared at the man as he sat on the empty chair beside the brat that kept on taking glances at him. His obvious disliked towards him intensified when he saw the woman smiled sweetly at Lu Fei. It was quite funny. Lu Fei was entertained.


    "Dr. Lu, I heard that you''re looking for a psychologist and a scientist for your N project. I''m suggesting Mr. Bulton and Miss. Calmera here. They are the best in their own field. Besides, they were also interested in your N project," Lu Tian had an annoyingly excited face as he introduced the two people to Lu Fei.


    A wrinkle was formed on Lu Fei''s forehead when he heard what the chairman was saying. He had the urge to pull his messily untrimmed sideburns to wake him up. For heaven''s sake, this old man called him for something out of his authority.


    "Mr. Chairman, N project is not a plaything. I cannot trust the project to some strangers," he spoke as he rose from his seat while at the same time showed a serious expression to the old man sitting across the table.


    Lu Fei decided to leave before the old man succeeded in aggravating him more than he already did. True to his expectation, this man was trying to mess with him again. He maybe looked timid, but that was a facade to hide the scheming personality of his.


    "Dr. Lu Fei, please wait!" Lu Tian''s panic voice called for Lu Fei who was about to leave the room. An alarmed look was on his face when he realized his two guests were staring at him with scrutinizing eyes. The man especially was giving a threatening gaze. All of these occurred behind Lu Fei who had only one mission; to leave before he exploded.


    "A-as the chairman, I implore you to listen to their presentation. They already succeeded in memory reconsolidation once and have solid proof that will be helpful for your research," the chairman''s brittle voice occupied the room as he gingerly approached Lu Fei.


    "Really?" Lu Fei turned around to see Lu Tian who was standing behind him. He could tell that it was his tall body that made the big tummy man stepped back in fear.


    "If they have succeeded, then I should have known about it," Lu Fei made a curious look as he put two fingers on his chin. Soon after, a sneer was seen on his face as he stared fixedly at the man.


    "Mr. Chairman, how many time must I emphasize this; your interference is not needed in this project," he spoke as a matter-of-fact. N project was a highly confidential project and the old man had just exposed it to some random people. Lu Fei was infuriated, but since the man was someone the elders in his clan had ?ssigned as the ND''s chairman, he had to show so-called respect to him in front of these strangers. He promised to visit the director in one of these days.


    "I-I-I know, b-but the director had g-given his approval," Lu Tian stammered. The tails of his eyes kept looking at the two people who keenly watched their interaction. Lu Fei noticed this and once again his brows met in amusement.


    ''Heh,'' he scoffed. Who was the chesspiece in this scheme? Was it the old man or the two persons looking at them? Interesting. He thought.


    "Then, I should entertain my guests then. Miss Calmera, Mr. Bulton, please," he curtsied as he ushered them towards the small conference room inside the chairman''s office. "Show me what you got," he said as he pushed his glasses upward. Someone could almost see a shining star shone at the corner of his eyes.


    Mr. Bulton and Miss Calmera looked at each other before they walked towards the projector in the technical area. Lu Fei watched as they communicated with each other with very minimal conversation. Despite how different they looked, they have perfect chemistry.

 Chapter 65 - Puppeteers and its puppet

    "Hehehe, cousin Lu Fei, you will not regret this. They might look young, but they''re already thirty-five years old. Plus, it is noteworthy for you to know that they are fraternal twins," Lu Tian took a seat next to Lu Fei, a desperate move that allowed him to promote the people on the presentation stage.


    ''Noteworthy? What a shallow mindset,'' Lu Fei''s inner voice responded. He ignored the pesky man as he humored himself with a scene of him pummeling the chairman to a human roll inside his head. It was funny, how this man suddenly became a leech when all these while, he had always made the effort to avoid him. That only showed how far he was willing to go just to get what he wanted. Lu Fei believed that Lu Tian was willing to lick someone''s dirty shoes just to achieve his objective.


    "Dr. Lu Fei,"


    Lu Fei mentally erased the presence of the man beside him when he heard the sensual voice of Calmera echoed within the four walls of the mini-conference room. His eyes instantly focused on the slide projected on the screen. Something caught his eyes.


    "Please pay attention to the screen. This was a project we did four years ago on subject D. A trauma patient..." the voice seemed to fade as Lu Fei''s gaze was transfixed on the image of subject D. It was a young girl with curly short black hair. Her overall face was showed except the blurred eyes. However, he could tell that she possessed blue-colored eyes.


    "Our team led by my Mr. Bulton had successfully manufactured a drug that if taken together with a series of memories reconsolidation procedures, would be able to consolidate a new memory to a subject, wiping the old one without harming the whole-being of that particular subject,"


    "Subject D, a trauma patient was a successful case,"


    "It was a pity that subject D had been reported dead a year after she was released from our faculty,"


    "Dr. Lu Fei, we could provide the list of materials to produce the drug as long as we are given a slot to N project," Miss Calmera ended her presentation with a beautiful smile loomed on her face.


    Lu Fei was furious. His cold face that was almost on par with Eric Wu''s cold face was showcased on his face. However, it was only for a second. What showed afterward was his usual elegant looking face.


    "Impressive. For you to risk exposing that your subject was a human girl," he mocked.


    "Cousin, that isn''t against any ethics or law. This girl is a trauma patient, what they do was to help her live a life free from the torment," Lu Tian was quick to counter.


    "Worry not Dr. Lu, this project was supported by Kastache''s Ministry of Health. The subject was chosen after careful ?ssessment," Miss Calmera explained.


    "You two are from Kastache?" Lu Fei was surprised. When he saw her smiled in affirmation, he could almost see a halo above his head. He was enlightened. It seemed that he didn''t waste his time after all... Who would have known that the puppeteer and its puppets would reveal themselves much sooner?


    "Dr. Lu, although they are from Kastache, they''ve been working in Romstall for as long as I could remember," Lu Tian spoke to fill in the quietness that began to engulf the room.


    "And how are you related to them?" Lu Fei immediately asked and caught the old man tensed posture when he asked the question.


    Interesting. Lu Tian was the puppet.


    "Sir Lu Tian is our mentor. We have learned a lot about neurology from him," Lu Fei stared at Mr. Bulton who suddenly appeared next to Lu Tian. He scrunched his eyebrows, surprised at his ability to erase his presence. He knew this man was someone he needed to be careful with.


    "So, Dr. Lu, did my presentation enough to woe you?" the smoky voice pulled Lu Fei''s attention to the woman who was coming towards him. The slit on her skirt revealed her tanned s?xy leg; a very seductive view. However, to Lu Fei, it was obviously a preplanned move of her.


    "Miss Calmera, I''m impressed," he gave her a charming smile and eyes that showed the success of her seduction. He saw the subtle looks she gave to the two men next to him.


    ''Are they stupid?'' Lu Fei scorned as he was enjoying the scene unfolded in front of his very eyes.


    "Dr. Lu Fei, about my request?" Lu Tian asked.


    "Hmm, I''m very interested in the project you did. However, I need a copy of it to see if it is congruent with the mission of N project," he answered, giving the vibe that he was seriously considering the option. Then, he took a Pendrive from his briefcase.


    "Do you mind?" he asked as the corner of his lips slanted to another charming smile.


    "This..." Miss Carmela was hesitant as she glanced at her twin.


    "I see no problem with it," Mr. Bulton responded as he took the pen drive from Lu Fei and gave it to Miss Carmela. A knowing look flickered in Lu Fei''s eyes, hidden by the spectacle he wore. It seemed that Mr. Bulton was the one who held the power to make the final decision among the three.


    "Thank you. I''ll tell the chairman once I make my decision," he said.


    "No need. You can directly call me," a card was shoved into Lu Fei''s hand, startling him who was enjoying the view of Carmela who once again, purposely showing her ?ssets to him. He glanced at Mr. Bulton and saw him glaring at him as if he would skin him alive if he took another peek on his twin.


    "If there''s nothing else, I would like to take my leave. Oh and I''ll be absent for one week. I have another appointment outside of the country. Don''t call me for something that could be handled by the other doctors," he took his briefcase and as always, ended his speech with his signature move.


    "S-sure," Lu Tian replied as he also rose from his chair, about to accompany Lu Fei.


    "No need," Lu Tian halted when the disapproval voice rang in his ears.


    The three people inside the mini-conference room followed Lu Fei''s steps as he left the room, once he was gone from their sight. A heavy sigh left Lu Tian''s lips.


    "Are you sure it''s okay to give him the file?" he asked as he rubbed his temple0.


    "Hmm," Mr. Bulton scoffed. "Cal, I see you showing your th??h and b??bs again, I''ll send you back to Kastache!" he ignored Lu Tian as his attention was now on his sister.


    "Err, but I enjoyed his expressions just now," Miss Calmera pouted as she kept on whining at the mistreatment.


    "Think about our mission, will you!" another angry tone was thrown to her. Sulking, she sat on one of the chairs with her back against her twin.


    Seeing this Mr. Bulton harrumphed.


    Lu Tian was confounded, totally lost in the fight between the twins.


    "Err, guys... about what I said earlier..." he tried to get their attention again.


    "Shut up! You don''t have to worry about anything. If you want the role of a clan leader, you only need to carry your task well. About the report, heh, that was just an old story, one that carried no meaning after her death," Mr. Bulton spoke, evil glint was seen on his eyes, causing the old man to shiver.


    ***


    "To the airport," he said when the driver opened the door for him to enter. The driver gave an affirmative ''Yes sir!'' before he rushed to the driver seat.


    Lu Fei booked a flight on the spot to Azure. He whistled when the flight was confirmed. Then, he dialed Eric Wu''s number.


    "Bro, schedule changed. Send someone to fetch me at the airport 5 PM sharp," he told him while his other hand was holding a ??ptop on his ??p.


    "Sure," a voice answered.


    "Expect good and bad news," Lu Fei''s eyes were fixed on the ??ptop as its pupils were dilated the more he read. His disembodied voice bothered the one who listened.


    "What do you mean?" the voice replied.


    "I''ll explain later, see you!" he ended the phone call when the driver interrupted their conversation to tell him about their arrival at Romstall International Airport.


    Lu Fei had bought the earliest flight and now he was in war with the time. Like always, he didn''t want the elders in his clan to track him down, so he opted for public transport and mingled with the common folks. It was a success until now and he had no problem so far... except for the arduous process of checking in.

 Chapter 66 - The horrendous scribble

    "Lu Fei is almost here," Eric Wu announced as he approached Bella Lim who was still staring at the documents in her hand.


    "What are you thinking?" he asked in a solicitous manner. The first thing he thought upon waking up was the most appropriate method to tell her about his concern and doubt. To his surprise, it was she who initiated the talk over the matter. He remembered the anguish in her eyes when she came to him. Her swollen eyes told him that it wasn''t an easy night for her as well.


    Bella Lim looked up as she displayed a faint smile on her face. Her eyes were wondering at the space behind Eric Wu. "Where''s little pumpkin?" she asked as she put down her injured ankle which was rested on a stool.


    "Today is his first private lesson, remember?" Eric Wu reminded. He noticed her eyes flickered in joy.


    "It''s good that little pumpkin is studying. Thank you for your help with the tutor," he heard her said. It was a week ago when she asked if he had someone he could recommend to become little pumpkin''s tutor. She explained her worries about letting him attend a public school. Since it was a good idea, he had sought out one of the elites among his people and had him tutored little pumpkin. At least, someone could look after him while Bella Lim was working in his writing studio.


    Eric Wu noticed that the joy in her eyes had disappeared as she lifelessly looked at the documents in her hands again. He decided to take the documents from her and put them on the table nearby. However, she stubbornly reached for them again.


    "You''ve been reading this since morning, your eyes need a rest or it''ll start bleeding blood soon," he said, a bit stern as he took the documents before her hand reached them. He settled down on the sofa opposite her.


    Bella Lim sighed when he saw the documents were now out of her reach. She clenched her fists as she tried to calm down. She knew what she did was meaningless. Those papers scattered on the table next to the sofa opposite her was her insanity. The one that kept reminding her about how impossible it was to continue being sane under conditions of absolute reality. Sanity was simply a cozy lie and she knew it was hypocrisy if she tried to deny the truth.


    "I always have the feeling that I know where I was born, but there is only a blur when I think about the details," Bella Lim spoke and slowly, she leaned against the sofa. She looked weary, more so than Eric Wu had ever seen her.


    "I hope you haven''t done the DNA test so I could carry on with the lie," a derailed laughter followed after as she closed her eyes. Eric Wu thought that he would see tears next, however, Bella Lim suddenly stared sharply at him. Her desperate voice was heard next.


    "Please don''t tell anything to little pumpkin," she pleaded.


    "Don''t worry, everything will remain as it is," he ?ssured. His hand that was hidden from her sight balled into a fist. This was the moment he wished he could give her the comfort she truly needed. He remembered how quick she hid the despair in her eyes when little pumpkin asked to be pampered. The fact that a moment ago she had just confirmed the harsh reality of their relationship... the amount of grief she kept by herself was just unthinkable.


    Eric Wu stood up and walked to his writing space, this was the time he needed a distraction. However, a request by Bella Lim made him froze in place.


    "Your first book ''Talking to the star'', how did I influence your writing of the book?" she asked. Eric Wu could feel her gaze on his back. He walked to his desk, pulled the last drawer and took out an old khaki notebook. He stared at it before he passed it to Bella Lim. For Eric Wu, his notebook was like a diary, something he wouldn''t show just to anyone. Even his mother hadn''t had the chance to read any of his notebooks. Except for the young girl which as of now confirmed to be Bella Lim.


    "This is?" Bella Lim muttered when he saw the notebook right in front of her eyes, held by Eric Wu still.


    "My first notebook," Eric Wu answered. "You''ll find the answer you need in there," he clarified and sat at the same spot he was sitting earlier.


    Bella Lim inhaled, exhaled and nodded as she took the notebook from him. Somehow, pure nostalgia was evoked at the touch of its surface and an unknown yearning d?s?r? built up deep inside her. Her eyelashes fluttered, dancing along with the nervous energy that enveloped her body. Despite her failure to recall the memory ?ssociated with the book, her body didn''t.


    ''Enlai Gong #1''


    Bella Lim read the words that were written on the cover before she turned to the first page. It was anecdotes of the day he first came to Kastache, written elegantly in cursive writing. It continued until she reached the twentieth page in which terrible handwriting, almost unreadable greeted her eyes. Thankfully, there were drawings underneath each sentence which somehow correlate with what was written.


    "This..." she took a deep breath.


    This was her writing. Although she refused to admit that her writing was horrendous, it was indeed the only quality that made her writing recognizable and memorable.


    "Do you recall something?" Eric Wu couldn''t help but wish for that to happen. Eagerly, he waited for her to respond. When he saw the subtle nod of her head, he left his seat and settled next to her. He tried to see what made her said so. When he looked at the pages she was reading, a smile bloomed on his face.


    He remembered how horrified he was to find someone who couldn''t produce neat, properly written letters on paper.


    "Do you remember what happened back then?" he asked.


    "No, but this writing is exactly like mine. Let me show you," she said and took a pen and a piece of paper from the colorful organizer on the table next to her. She wrote the same sentence which was written in the notebook and drew the same drawing underneath it. Eric Wu took the notebook from her hand and compared it with the writing she just did on the piece of paper.


    "This... it is awesome how terribly similar both are," he chuckled. He folded the paper and inserted it inside the notebook. He looked at her side profile and was content to see the corner of her lip touched by a smile.


    Bella Lim let out a small laugh. "It''s good that meeting you isn''t a lie," she said, almost whispering to herself, though was still heard by the man sitting beside her. "That''s comforting," she added, head tilted to an angle so that she could see him.


    Those few sentences sent Eric Wu in disarray as he felt something was gripping his ?h?st. His hands subconsciously reached for her pale soft cheeks. His thumbs ??r?ssed the redness that could be seen on the skin under her eyes. A look of pain was visible on his brownish eyes when the proof of her suffering refused to fade away under his touch.


    "Be strong," he whispered.


    "I will," she answered.


    For the sake of little pumpkin and for the sake of the kindness he had shown her, she wanted to be strong. No, she will be strong!


    "Bro, Bella! I''m here!"


    And of course, such an intimate moment would always end with someone''s interference. Bella Lim instinctively pushed Eric Wu''s hands and scooted to the end of the sofa, creating a distance between them.


    Eric Wu stared at her with a lopsided smile, taking some time for both of them to suppress the heartbeat that seemed difficult to tame. When he saw her relaxed, he called for Lu Fei who was still calling from outside the room. "Lu Fei, over here!" he shouted. Not long after, Lu Fei entered the room with a big bag on his left hand and a briefcase on the other.


    "I''m going to stay here for one week. Bella''s issue, I know the reason behind her memory loss," he spoke and threw the bag to the floor, revealing the price tag that was hidden under the slightly opened zip.


    "What? this is my supply of clothes," he said when he realized the pairs of eyes that were staring at the big bag laying on the floor.

 Chapter 67 - The revelation of the past (Part I)

    Eric Wu stifled a laugh, "No one is saying anything," he said as he got up from the sofa and grabbed the notebook beside him, returning it to its original place. He remained standing near the desk as his eyes were transfixed on Bella Lim who was in a dazed. He sighed, thinking that his action earlier might be inappropriate. Although it was one of that spur-at-the-moment kind of thing, something he really had no control over, the thought that he took advantage of her began to swamp his mind.


    Indeed, this kind of feeling was troublesome. Eric Wu sighed again.


    Lu Fei frowned as he shifted gaze between Eric Wu and Bella Lim, he could feel the awkward atmosphere in the room. The corner of his lips rose to a knowing smile as he touched the hinge of his eyeglasses. Later, when everything was settled, he would make sure to tease him.


    He stared at Bella Lim and recalled why he came here. He breathed out as he sat on the stool that once was the resting place for Bella Lim''s sprained ankle.


    "Bella, it must''ve been tough," Lu Fei spoke. A tender smile was on his face. He saw her smiled in return and said, "It was," she shook her head, admitting the hard time she had gone through. "But, rather than drowning in that uncertainty, I''d rather be hurt with the truth," a condescending smirk upon her face before she continued, "I''ve been given a second chance, I''ll prove that even a sinless person could reverse her own doomed," she took a deep breath, exhaled and smiled.


    A smile that dazzled both the men.


    Lu Fei especially was taken aback. For sure, it hadn''t been long since they meet, so why did she look so different right now? Even her swollen eyes and her pale face couldn''t ruin her beauty. He peeked on Eric Wu and when he saw his approving smile, he shivered. Although it may seem a bit far-fetched to say that he had something to do with the transformation, Lu Fei was certain that this man was the reason. Whatever, this was all good things.


    "Awesome!" Lu Fei praised as he took out his ??ptop. "I need that kind of spirit because the thing I''m going to explain next is something none of you might have thought about," he flipped the ??ptop open only to feel a hand was stopping him from doing so. He frowned when he realized that it was Bella Lim who had stopped her.


    "Can we do it at night? Little pumpkin must''ve finished his lesson by now. I don''t want him to be alone," she explained.


    "But--" Lu Fei was confused. He began to think that she was actually afraid to know the truth.


    "Let''s do that. We''ll discuss once little pumpkin is asleep," a firm voice suddenly came from behind Lu Fei. He turned his head and saw Eric Wu was walking towards them. He stopped right in front of Bella Lim.


    "Tao is accompanying little pumpkin in the garden. Let me help you, we''ll head there too," Eric Wu told her as he also helped her to stand up. Although Bella Lim was hesitant, she couldn''t deny that she needed a hand. So, she let Eric Wu held her shoulders to help her walk better.


    Lu Fei lifted an eyebrow when he saw the scene in front of him. He stared at the ??ptop on the table and went back to the perfect view of their backs. Really, he was excited to tell them the news...


    "Lu Fei, it has been a tough day. Let''s cool down and enjoy some afternoon tea," Lu Fei looked at Eric Wu who was now at the door. Seeing his non-negotiable gaze, a realization came to her.


    "Coming!" he said as he chased after them. He had forgotten that Bella Lim''s issue was related to little pumpkin as well. Knowing that little pumpkin was very close to her big sis, not seeing her for quite some time would make him suspicious of something. These two were trying to hide the truth from the little boy. A sensible move befitting the situation. Lu Fei finally understood.


    And just like that, the day was spent with little pumpkin. Since Bella Lim couldn''t run around with her sprained ankle, the two men were the one entertaining the adorable demand of the little boy. The three played in the garden till dawn. If Bella Lim didn''t scold them for playing too much, they probably skipped dinner just to play.


    ***


    "Big sis, little pumpkin is so happy today," little pumpkin spoke as he climbed his bed. Bella Lim smiled as she helped the little boy with the blanket.


    "That''s good," she responded, stroking little pumpkin''s hair with her fingers. Her movement was gentle, a soothing gesture that brought a yawn to little pumpkin''s sleepy face.


    "Hehe... little pumpkin is happy to have big sis, big brother Eric and big brother Lu Fei. If big brother Sun Nan is here... there''ll be mo...re...fun,"


    Bella Lim laughed softly as she listened to little pumpkin''s excited voice ended in a cute mumble. She kissed his forehead and wished him a good night.


    ''You''re always my little pumpkin no matter what happened,'' she whispered.


    Meanwhile, in the living room, Eric Wu was listening to a brief overview of the good and bad news that Lu Fei had told him during their phone call before. His particularly luminous brown eyes glare fiercely at Lu Fei who was already expecting him to react so. In fact, he too had the same response as him when he first found out.


    "Is it okay to tell Bella this? Once we do, there will be no turning back. Whether we like it or not, she cannot run away from the political war between the powerful clans of the four countries. And once those people realized that she is one of us, they''ll target her to get to you, or me or Sun Nan," Lu Fei explained. A worried look on his face.


    Eric Wu didn''t say anything as he reclined on the couch, fingers massaging his temple.


    "Tell her," he said in a well-modulated voice. Lu Fei felt a chill on his spine when he heard the calm voice of his. He knew that man was beyond angry and b?r?ly hiding the killing intent that began to envelop his entire being.


    Lu Fei had known Eric Wu for many years and had seen many types of angry emotions showed by him. This by far toppled all his records so far. Right now, the proverb ''calm before the storm'' was the perfect sentence to describe his demeanor.


    Was it because of Bella Lim?


    Lu Fei was certain that she was the reason. So far, Eric Wu had approached the conspiracies between the four countries as amusement. Ruining the Yang clan was probably something he viewed as entertainment, just another reference for his nth book. To other eyes, he was a formidable force, a hero to avoid calamities from happening, yet the truth was, this man was never that serious.


    Until tonight...


    He thought that the Yang clan better up their game before he came for their heads.


    "My sentiment too. Besides, little Ryan is already involved," Lu Fei spoke after calming down.


    And right at that moment, Bella Lim came out of little pumpkin''s room. At the same time, the man who saw only death a while ago suddenly became human again, showing a cool composure that deserving of an eye-roll. His acting was even better and top-notch compared to Sun Nan.


    "Tell me everything," Bella Lim spoke as she walked towards them. "It''s okay," she said when she saw both the men was getting up to help her. Just now, she had heard what they were talking about from the ajar door. She waited until the appropriate time to come out.


    She had suspected even in her previous life that Eric Wu and his friends were battling against someone, a group of people or maybe a clan. It was only today did she know that they were grouping together to bring the Yang clan. Perhaps, Eric Wu was trying to get something from Karen Yang so the engagement... only to learn that he miscalculated in the end.


    Who would have known that she and little pumpkin have a role in this war... this twist truly deserved a standing ovation.

 Chapter 68 - The things of the past and the present (Part II)

    "Then, let''s talk somewhere else," Eric Wu suggested. However, without waiting for anyone to reply, he began to move. Bella Lim took a deep breath before she started to follow him. Lu Fei was the last to move, attempting to help Bella Lim although he was already occupied with the stuff in his hands. Alas, he could only watch her from behind after being rejected by her stubbornness.


    Bella Lim thought that their destination was either the study room or the writing studio on the first floor. Instead, Eric Wu stopped right in front of a wall of abstract geometric sculptural reliefs. A section that always made her wonder, because, among the familiar geometrical shapes, an odd hand sculpture blended in. It wasn''t until Eric Wu place his fingers on the odd sculpture did she understood its existence.


    ''A hidden room?'' she thought while watching the wall moved slowly until it stopped to an opening that could fit a person up to 6 feet tall. The room was in the shape of an octagon with no windows and minimal furniture. A writing board and a bulletin board occupied each corner. Somehow, it looked like a secret base to hide confidential information. In the middle of the room was a table and cushions that surrounded it. These were the only furniture available.


    Without anyone telling her what to do, Bella Lim walked from a corner to another, spending an amount of time to read the information available. Eric Wu exchanged looks with Lu Fei and the two men decided to wait as they sat on the cushions.


    Lu Fei glanced at his surroundings and frowned. This was the second time he had entered the room and somehow it looked crowded compared to the first time he got access to the room.


    "Amazing... Eric, how much do you know about the Yang clan?" he asked while switching on his ??ptop. He took a glance at Eric Wu who was watching Bella Lim went from one corner to another.


    "Enough to help her understand the conflict we have with the Yang clan," Eric Wu answered. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Lu Fei nodded his head.


    "Good idea. I was thinking of how to explain everything to her. I had forgotten that you have this room. Say... are you making a move this time around? All these while, you''ve only asked your people to watch their moves. It makes me wonder if you''re serious at all," Lu Fei finally revealed his inner thought. The doubt he had towards him.


    Eric Wu chuckled as his fingers tapped on the table. "Lu Fei, have you heard of the Sapphire Growlers?" he asked.


    Lu Fei who was contemplating whether he had spoken the wrong topic was surprised. "Not much. I only know that it was a notorious underground gang which disbanded many years ago," he explained, looking interestedly at Eric Wu. He wondered why he suddenly talked about the Sapphire Growlers. Was this gang also involved?


    "I haven''t told you guys about the person who exposed Yang Wan''s ambition. Since it has come to this, it''s better to reveal everything. The leader of that gang was the one who told me everything. I found it hard to believe in the beginning, but he told me that if we don''t find the prince before Yang Wang, we''re doom," he said, taking a breath before continuing.


    "He also explained the frightening truth if Yang Wan becomes the real Master of the Yang clan. Guess what it is?" a sneer followed after the last question. Lu Fei fixed his eyes on Eric Wu, he knew something serious was about to follow. However, he remembered to shake his head for he had no specific things in mind.


    "Weapons. Deadly weapons... the drug the twin talked about is one of them. It is indeed effective to cause amnesia, however, if it is taken without following the right prescription, he or she would eventually lose the ability to think,"


    "What!" Lu Fei punched the table beside him as he looked at Eric Wu in shocked. His breathing uneven as he tried to suppress the sudden anger in his heart. If it was indeed something like what he just said, the three countries were practically doomed. If such a dangerous drug was mass-produced and released to the public, holy... what would happen?


    "Worry not. The drug the twin told you was the initial product. The one I referred to was its advanced version which had long been burnt,"


    Lu Fei was unconvinced. "How certain are you?" he asked as he clenched his teeth, still angered at the unprecedented news.


    "I''ve seen the real one. The one in your hand was the initial version of it. The leader knew someone from the Yang clan was trying to steal it so he only revealed this version," Eric Wu explained. Lu Fei nodded, relieved to hear his confirmation.


    "But, why do they want a slot at my N project?" Lu Fei was baffled which soon turn to frustration since he couldn''t think of anything.


    "Because your knowledge of the human brain is what they needed. The memory consolidation they talked about wasn''t enough to make someone a puppet," Eric Wu shrugged his shoulder.


    ''At least, Bella Lim wasn''t...'' shudder! That was what happened to Eric Wu''s body when the thought appeared in his mind. The last word made him feel fear. An emotion that never once bothered him. Yet, that single thought was capable to evoke such emotion in him, enough to stimulate cold sweats to form on his forehead and his body to shiver.


    "Btw Eric, where is the leader now? He seemed a good person to ally with," Lu Fei half asking, half suggesting.


    Eric Wu shook his head for he had no clue where the man was. Deep down, although he was thankful for his help, he actually wished not to meet him again. The mask that hid his face, plus the way he spoke so highly of himself annoyed him. That was the first time he felt his ego being toyed with and it was exasperating.


    "I''m sorry... but, it sounded like the leader is even more dangerous than Yang Wang,"


    A delicate voice interrupted the conversation between the two men. Eric Wu and Lu Fei noticed that Bella Lim was already sitting on one of the cushions across them. She looked calm as if what she just read didn''t mean anything to her.


    "What?" she asked them.


    "Do you need either one of us to explain?" Eric Wu asked as he pointed at one of the writing board. Lu Fei stared at Eric Wu before nodding repeatedly. He was actually disappointed to see her calm face. From the beginning, he was ready to unleash his brotherly love to comfort her in case she was affected by the truth. Now, it was useless...


    "No, I understood most of it. So, the Yang clan...no, Yang Wan has the ambition to unite the four countries into one land as described in history, right?" she asked with an eyebrow arched. She remembered learning the history in the past while lazying around on the internet. It was an interesting read. However, she wasn''t a patriotic person. Things about the past weren''t something she needed to worry about because she and little pumpkin''s life was the only thing that mattered.


    "However, right now, he is yet the real master of the Yang clan as the last descendant of one of the elders in the main clan is nowhere to be found?" she asked another question, however, it felt like something wasn''t right. She clasped her fingers, trying to think what was missing.


    "It is still unknown to the public but the Yang clan is now divided into two again. Black and white like what had happened before---"


    "Ahh...I see," Bella Lim looked gratefully at Eric Wu. That was it - the thing that she couldn''t comprehend earlier. Yang Wan was indeed the 13th Master but he had not much support from the clan itself. She recalled reading that he needed the last elder''s approval before he had the full right to use the Master seal.


    Thinking up to this point, Bella Lim felt her blood rushed to her head.


    "Little pumpkin... you guys suspected that he is the last descendant of the fourth elder?" she voiced out. Her tone was calm yet the anger in her eyes was bright enough to tell the two men that she was furious.


    "Yes, the criminals that tried to kidnap little pumpkin were Yang Wan''s people," Eric Wu explained although that information was already written in one of the writing boards in the room. Deep down, he wished that he could have fixed the problem, but upfront, there was nothing wrong with Yang Wan. All his underhanded tricks were carried out by his loyalist who was more than willing to die for the sake of keeping him clean.


    Bella Lim looked sharply at Eric Wu. Yes, those people, how could she have forgotten about them.


    "Where are they? Let me see them," she said, demanding. Lu Fei was also looking at Eric Wu, waiting for his response. His busy schedule was the reason why he couldn''t get an update regarding the kidnapping attempt from him. But, since Eric Wu was the one who handled it, he wasn''t worried. This man must''ve had enough fun playing with those people.


    Eric Wu''s face twitched. He wished he could reverse time so that he could accomplish his promise to let her meets with the criminals. Who would have known that the night after the torture, those men were seen exploding one by one? After investigating, he found out that a mini time-bomb was installed inside their body.


    "Eric?" Bella Lim called. Her voice content worries after receiving no reply from him.


    "The one who revealed that little Ryan was important to Yang Wan was one of those criminals. That''s the reason why I suspected him as the prince. Because no one is more important to that man except the prince," Eric Wu finally spoke. Once again his fingers danced on the table, creating rhythmical tapping sounds.


    "Who would''ve known that the day after the investigation, their bodies suddenly exploded," he laughed. A short and humorless one. After a while, he looked at Bella Lim and apologized, "I''m sorry for breaking my promise," he said. He peered on her face to see the disappointment of learning the things regarding the criminals. However, all he saw was her scrunched eyebrows.


    Indeed, Bella Lim was a bit disappointed to learn the things that befell the people she wished to meet. But, she was also surprised to hear Eric Wu''s apologies. It was true that she had requested to meet the criminals and he promised to fulfill it, but that was no longer important after the body explosions. No one was expecting that to happen, so, he wasn''t in the wrong. In fact, he had done a good job of obtaining their motive to kidnap little pumpkin.


    "It isn''t your fault. At least, we know why they wanted to kidnap little pumpkin," she tried to smile to ease his burdened mind while also trying to accept the fact, that little pumpkin as the prince was a high probability if not, the truth.


    Was it her karma... No! If she wasn''t reborn, the thing that happened to little pumpkin could be worst. Maybe, he would be in the hand of...


    Bella Lim flinched. She would do anything to avoid the thing from happening.


    Wait... so who was she really? How was she related to little pumpkin? What was her significance?


    "So, who am I? Why can''t I remember anything of the past?"


    Eric Wu and Lu Fei looked at each other. Finally, they heard the most important question. Tonight was going to be a long night for the three of them...

 Chapter 69 - Things of the past and present (Part III)

    So the long night began...


    Lu Fei started off with a few questions to find out about the real situation. Bella Lim and Eric Wu were cooperative enough to answer all the questions without missing a detail. He discovered that not only were their stories about the time they met were different, but Bella Lim also couldn''t recall specific information about herself such as her home address in Kastache and the school she went too. Everything that she had mentioned was a general term.


    "Eric, I need to borrow your medical team and lab tomorrow so that I could make do a thorough medical check on Bella. Just to make sure that everything is alright," Lu Fei made a request.


    "Sure," Eric Wu approved. He noticed that Bella Lim was looking down at the cushion on her ??p. A few lines were formed on her forehead. Out of concern, he asked: "Bella, are you alright?"


    Lu Fei who was writing something on his notebook turned to see Bella Lim as well. Feeling the gazes on her, Bella Lim looked at the two men and gave a wry smile. How was she alright under this circumstance? Oh well, she did promise to herself not to be a cry baby again, but to act so was difficult. She heaved out, blowing an amount of air from her lung before she relaxed again.


    "I believe there is something more that you haven''t told me?" she shifted her body to Lu Fei''s sitting position, her sapphire blue eyes were fixed on him almost capable enough to break his eyewear.


    Seeing her intent features, Lu Fei glanced at Eric Wu, waiting for his consent. What he had in hand was a piece of coincidental information which he thought could be the answer to the thing they were confused about. However, her question caught him off guard. Now, he wasn''t sure if tonight was suitable for her to know about it.


    "Go ahead. She could handle it," Eric Wu gave a reassuring nod. Lu Fei exhaled as he turned the ??ptop towards Bella Lim. Once again, without anyone telling her what to do, Bella Lim began scrolling up and down to read the information available on the screen.


    The first thing that caught her eyes was the female picture on the top right corner of the document she was reading. That picture although her eyes were blurred, it wasn''t difficult to ?ssociate her with the young girl that appeared in her mind while being unconscious yesterday. For whatever reason, she now believed it was the young her.


    "I don''t know how to say this, but this picture is yours right?" he asked, closing up to Bella Lim so he could point the picture he was talking about.


    "Indeed it''s her," Eric Wu bu??ed in. He could tell on one look that the picture belonged to the young girl he had met a few years back.


    "It is me," Bella Lim finally confirmed as she subconsciously pushed the two men who were too close. "Give me some space to discern this," she requested in a manner of giving an order. The two men blinked successively before pulling out.


    Eric Wu was smiling, not a little bit offended by her manner of talking. He tried to recall the first time she changed from the timid woman to one that almost reached the level of fearless, but failed. However, he was certain that the healthy lifestyle he proposed was the mechanism that steeled her gut. He loved this change...


    On a serious note, the information Bella Lim was reading was the record of Subject D which he copied from the twin''s ??ptop database. It was a descriptive report to show the process Subject D had undergone in order to erase the trauma she had.


    "So because I was bitten by my pet snake, I developed a trauma towards this creature to the point of hallucinating? And then, I underwent memory consolidation and reconsolidation to get rid of this trauma?" Bella Lim squeezed her eyes, thinking that what she read was ludicrous.


    "Hallucination is a serious matter," Lu Fei corrected, thinking that she found the whole thing totally ridiculous.


    "No, I mean, why must I lose almost all of my memories for this? In fact, it stated here that it was only the memory regarding the trauma that was removed yet here I was... " a wry smile on Bella Lim''s face, doubting the document she just read.


    "I recalled something..." Eric Wu was now standing. He walked to and fro in one line with both hands on his waist.


    "W-what?" both Bella Lim and Lu Fei were confused at the character he showed to them. It was the first time, they saw him this nervous. His handsome face looked like he had costiveness.


    "The leader of Sapphire Growlers once said that Yang Wan had used the drug on someone and..."


    "And...?" Bella Lim and Lu Fei asked almost in sync.


    "It failed,"


    "Lu Fei, did the twin talked about other subjects?" Eric Wu stopped pacing forth and back and now focused his attention on Lu Fei.


    "No. They didn''t mention anything of that sort. Just that Subject D was the only successful case they had," Lu Fei explained.


    "How about contacting the leader again?" he suggested.


    "I''ve tried before but failed. Somehow, he seemed to be missing from my radar," Eric Wu sighed. He thought he almost had an answer after listening to Bella Lim''s logical question. Yet, it was just another roadblock.


    "Ermm, did this leader explain the who and why?" Bella Lim who was just listening asked a question. She could tell why Eric Wu was acting the way he was at the moment. She saw him shook his head, eyes staring at her regretfully.


    Bella Lim smiled back before reading at the document again. "Wait, this report was sent to Kastache''s Ministry of Health?" she asked.


    "Yes, they did mention that the MOH supported the project," Lu Fei straight away responded. Bella Lim looked at him for a while before a frown was formed on her forehead.


    "Bella?" Eric Wu called after seeing her thoughtful expression.


    "This report was fake," she announced, surprising both the men.


    "How?" they asked.


    "Think about it. What would happen if they included in their report that the subject had lost all her memories? How would the MOH reacted?"


    "Their real purpose was to erase all the subject''s memories," Lu Fei took a deep breath after receiving a nod from Bella Lim.


    "That made sense... perhaps, the leader was referring to this report," Eric Wu made his own conclusion as well.


    The three looked at each other, nodding their heads, satisfied with the final outcome.


    "So my memories are gone because of this huh?" Bella Lim chuckled. It was difficult to accept it and ridiculous in a sense. However, evidence pointed to that direction and she had no other way but to accept it... for now until she recalled her memories back.


    "Is it possible to get my memories back?" she asked absentmindedly, not directing it to anyone.


    Lu Fei saw her looking at the table with empty stares. "I believe the memories will come back to you. If I am not mistaken it is coming back to you," he said.


    "Lu Fei is right," Eric Wu chirped in. He was sure of it because if it wasn''t, why did all of these happen?


    Bella Lim chuckled. She took a deep breath, "Now that I think about it, as Subject D, I supposed to be dead right?" she asked.


    And then another riddle began...


    Eric Wu stared at Lu Fei and so was the other...

 Chapter 70 - Three days after

    11 AM, three days after the discussion...


    "Miss, Young Master Ryan has just finished his lesson for the day. He requested to meet you, so I carried him here. Sorry, for disturbing your work," a maid approached a beautiful young lady who was reading and scribbling something on a piece of paper. Behind her was a cute little boy who ran towards the pretty lady without hesitation.


    "Big sis! Big sis! What are you reading?" the little boy went left and right trying to get the lady''s attention. When the maid saw this, she tried to hold on to the little boy only to fail. The maid miserable situation caught the lady''s eyes as she reprimanded the little boy from running around.


    "Little pumpkin, stop running now," she said and looked at the maid with apologetic eyes.


    "Sorry for that and thank you for bringing him here," she spoke in a humble voice. The maid simply smiled as she shook her head.


    "It''s my p???sur?. I''ll be off now. I''ll send someone to bring beverages and snacks for the two of you," the maid curtsied before leaving the room. As she closed the door, she took one last glance at the people inside the room. A warm smile was on her face when she saw the grown-up woman and her little brother teased each other. Since the two came to the villa, her work as a maid had increased a little and so were the other workers. Not that they resented it, but more to gratefulness. Working in the villa... well... if she needed to summarise it, working here was boring. The reason because they only served one person which was the Master of their clan and the villa''s owner.


    Perhaps to others, it was a wonderful working environment, but to them who generations by generations worked with the goal of helping the Master of Wu clan by any means possible, doing nothing was like torture. Although Master Eric was the best master they had ever served, his organized life left them with nothing extra to do. Besides, his intimidating aura forced them to stick with their daily chores, afraid to ask for more tasks.


    However, things got livelier since the pair of siblings came to the villa. Not only their jobs increased, but they also get the chance to witness their aloof Master playing around with the little boy. It wasn''t only a one-time occurrence, but many times. Plus, it was rare to see someone picking a fight with their Master. The woman who day by day was getting prettier was the only one capable of doing that. She seemed timid at first, but when meeting with their Master''s constant provocation, she became the tigress that could match with their Master''s lioness.


    The maid entered the kitchen and requested the chef to prepare the snacks and drinks she spoke of earlier.


    "Madam Clair, can I bring the foods to Miss Bella and Young Master Ryan?" a woman approached the maid who just entered the kitchen. She was the youngest maid in the villa, although her age wasn''t considered to be young. This maid was already twenty-nine years old.


    "I want to ask Miss Bella for her beauty secret. Her skin is so supple. She might be small, but she looked like an angel with her long curly hair," the young maid continued by a series of complement for Bella Lim. She only stopped when Madam Clair shoved the tray with foods to her hands.


    "Aye... thank you Madam Clair!" the young maid almost jumped in joy. She left the room in a hurry, slowing down only when scolded by Madam Clair.


    "Don''t ask too much. Remember, we work for the people in this villa, disturbing their daily life isn''t our jobs," Madam Clair reminded the young maid.


    "Sure, but Miss Bella is kind," the young maid halted as she looked around. Admiration was in her eyes when she talked about Bella Lim.


    "Still, just leave the tray there. Better yet, don''t ask anything. Miss Bella seems a bit down nowadays," Madam Clair insisted. She was old enough to see through people and the past three days were obviously a difficult phase for Miss Bella. Even though she appeared cheerful and often laughed, when she was alone, she often caught her looking sad and angry.


    "S-sure..." the young maid uttered after seeing the serious look on Madam Clair. Yet, she still left the room excitedly.


    Madam Clair could only shake her head in resignation. Almost all maids wanted to serve Miss Bella because she wasn''t just pretty but kind as well. Moreover, she had little pumpkin by her side who often made them laughed their heart out with his mischievousness.


    ''Ahh, the Master is changing as well,'' Madam Clair thought as she resumed her work per normal.


    Inside the writing studio, Bella Lim; the pretty lady described earlier was explaining to little pumpkin the thing she was reading. Since Eric Wu had permitted her to tell little pumpkin about her job, she didn''t hesitate to talk about the new gem of Enlai Gong. Besides, little pumpkin was already old enough to understand the meaning of secret. He was determined to keep Enlai Gong''s true identity even to his grave... so he said.


    "Woah... big brother Eric really wrote this?" little pumpkin was holding the manuscript Bella Lim was reading earlier. He flipped through the pages without speaking anything. Suddenly he laughed with his whole body shaking.


    "What''s so funny?" Bella Lim frowned, wondering if there was a comedic scene written in the manuscript.


    "Big sis, what with this scribbles?" little pumpkin showed the paper he was reading. Bella Lim tilted her head to have a look. When she saw her own writing, she gave a gentle twist on little pumpkin''s left ear.


    "Oh, little pumpkin knows how to tease big sis now?" with a stern voice, she rose her voice. Little pumpkin pursed his lips and vigorously shook his head.


    "Not dare! Little pumpkin is sorry," he denied, waving his hands. He understood that his big sis was just showing an angry facade so he decided to play along. "Ouch, ouch, ouch! big sis! Please spare me!" he screamed and began to cry. Seeing this, Bella Lim could no longer continue her act.


    "Does it really hurt?!" she asked worriedly while rubbing little pumpkin''s left ear. She looked intently at his ear to see any mark. However, she didn''t see anything.


    "Hehehe, got you, big sis!" little pumpkin put the manuscript on the table and ran away. Bella Lim finally saw what he was planning and chased for the little boy. She couldn''t believe that she just got played by her own little pumpkin.


    "You little devil!" she yelled while pretending to chase the little boy with all her heart. At the same time, the door of the writing studio was opened by someone. The young maid who was holding a tray was shocked to see the scene in front of her. Little pumpkin was now on top of Bella Lim, tickling the poor big sister who had to yield to his antics.


    "Erm.., M-miss Bella?" a nervous voice interrupted the pair of siblings who were laughing non-stopped.


    Bella Lim heard the voice, so she quickly got up and fixed little pumpkin''s disheveled hair. The little boy was still giggling although she already asked him to stop. Shaking her head, Bella Lim looked at the door to see the person who entered the room. A maid was standing there with a tray in her hand.


    "Sis Tiara, sorry to let you see the mess earlier," Bella Lim walked to the maid that she was so familiar with and took the tray in her hand. "Thank you," she thanked her.


    The young maid called Tiara was startled as she finally woke up from the surprised she had earlier. She couldn''t believe that the beautiful woman would show such a fun side of her. That was something she had never seen before.


    "Miss Bella, L-let me carry this. Young Master Ryan, the chef has prepared your favorite sweets," Tiara took the tray from Bella Lim and walked towards the round table at the cozy area near the fireplace. She placed the tray on top of it and watched little pumpkin approached the table with pure joy in his eyes.


    "Careful!" a nervous voice reminded the little boy to mind his steps. He slowed down and carefully crafted his way to the table. Tiara shifted her gaze to the owner of the voice and a gasp of adoration left her lips.


    ''Miss Bella is small but honestly so pretty. With the proper attire, she will be stunning. It''s a pity, she loved this comfy attire,'' Tiara was immersed in her own thought.


    ''But, she still the prettiest woman I''ve ever seen,'' she continued to be mesmerized by Bella Lim''s beauty, not realizing that the source of admiration was staring at her in amusement.


    "Tiara, you''ve something to say?" the crispy voice of Bella Lim made the maid puffed in shock.


    "M-miss Bella, I heard you''re a bit down nowadays. I-I... please cheer up!" Tiara closed her eyes as she tried her best to speak with Bella Lim. Then, she ran out of the room without looking back.


    Bella Lim was flabbergasted as she didn''t expect to see someone tried so hard to cheer her up despite being so nervous. She had noticed long ago that the maid was always looking at her secretly from afar. When she smiled at her, she immediately cut their eye contact and ran away. Today was the first time she saw her up close. When she spoke, it reminded her of the time she used to panic when talking with Eric Wu. Somehow, she found her cute.


    At the same time, she thought about the reason she cheered her up. It seemed that she was still affected by what had happened that even the maid could tell that she was depressed.


    It had been three days since the night she had a very long discussion with Eric Wu and Lu Fei. It was a fruitful night but a frustrating one at the same time. In the end, they couldn''t find the reason why she, who was deemed to be dead was still alive. The riddle was still unsolved to this day...


    However, she had a very strong instinct that one OF this day, the answer to the riddle would reveal itself.


    Bella Lim admitted that since that night, she had changed. These past three days, she had come to terms with the fact that she and little pumpkin weren''t siblings by blood and that they were part of the greater conflict between the four major clans. There were moments she struggled with all of these, but rather than being beaten down, she had found a new purpose. To find the truth...


    As of now, she could only wait until her memories returned. After going through two sessions of ?ssessment with Lu Fei, he told her that soon she would find the answer to who she truly was. She couldn''t recall the specific terms he used to describe the activity inside her brain as it was too complicated for her. However, she trusted him when he said that it would be soon...


    "Big sis, your phone is ringing," little pumpkin called for his big sis while munching the chocolate chip cookies he had on both hands . Bella Lim took a deep breath and nodded. She smiled while rubbing little pumpkin''s head before reaching for her phone on the table.


    "Madam Olivia?" she read the dialer''s name aloud, attracting little pumpkin''s attention.


    "Madam Olivia is calling?" he asked interestedly.


    "Uhuh," Bella Lim smiled at little pumpkin. It was understandable why he was interested in that name for Madam Olivia was like a mother figure to him. She too felt the same, the warm feeling she got while being with her was what she loved the most. Their meeting before was short but memorable.


    Bella Lim wondered why she called her all of a sudden.

 Chapter 71 - Madam Olivias request

    "Bella~" a prolonged voice rang the moment the line was connected. Bella Lim stared at her phone screen, wondering if the one who called was the sophisticated woman she knew.


    "Madam Olivia?" she called to confirm. However, all she heard was a complaint about someone she was certain was Eric Wu.


    "Aye¡­ that child. I''ve called him many times, but to no avail. Bella, you must tell him that if he doesn''t adhere to my request, then what we''ve promised will come to effect,"


    "Madam Olivia¡­"


    "Oh, please Bella¡­ don''t be so formal with me. Just call me Olivia. Mama Olivia is good too," the woman on the other side of the phone spoke with slight irritation. However, it caused a huge shock to Bella Lim who thought that it was preposterous of her to call Madam Olivia with the name she suggested. She took a deep breath, taking note of Madam Olivia''s current situation.


    "Mama Olivia, ermm...that sounded¡­ Olivia, what happened to you and Eric?" she asked after expressing the inner turmoil inside her head out loud. At this time, without an ounce of doubt, she was confident that the subject which caused the woman to get angry was none other than Eric Wu and she didn''t want to add to the anger. So, she decided to call her without any honorific.


    Madam Olivia laughed as soon as she heard Bella Lim changed the way she called her. She continued to rant confirming the fact that Eric Wu got to her nerve. "Bella, do you know? I''ve called him ten times today, none were answered. I''ve sent him a thousand messages. All read, but there is not even a reply. Ahh, how irritating!" the voice of Madam Olivia made Bella Lim imagine someone with a sullen face. Her exaggerated words spoken through gritted teeth told her that Eric Wu wasn''t going to be spared.


    But, why did the godmother of this mighty man call her? They met only once, for sure, she wasn''t someone close enough for the woman to complain about her godchild.


    "Erm¡­ is there something that I can help with?" might as well asked. Bella Lim thought to herself.


    "Of course, my dear¡­ here is what you need to do. Call him and tell him that Olivia is waiting at Sinby Haven with the harvest of the year. If he and the people Olivia has requested for him to bring doesn''t come before Wednesday, his grandpa will be informed," Bella Lim flinched, she felt like a colony of ant was crawling on her skin upon listening to the woman''s low but devilish voice. She wondered if Eric Wu''s intimidating aura was inherited from his godmother?


    "Erm, Olivia, is it okay to tell him this once he is home? I don''t want to disturb him at work," she negotiated. If Eric Wu didn''t even respond to Madam Olivia''s phone calls, how would she able to make him pick his phone up?


    "Oh, Bella¡­" Madam Olivia chuckled as if she knew what Bella Lim was thinking.


    "You never know until you try," she said. Her tone indicated the underlying meaning that wasn''t understood by Bella Lim.


    "Try calling him now,"


    "Now?" Bella Lim was stunned. Now?! She thought again.


    "Yes, now. I''ll call you again in five minutes. Make sure to tell him exactly what I told you, okay?" a giggled that sounded mischievous rang before the phone call was disconnected. Bella Lim blinked several times before she came back to herself again. She stared at little pumpkin who was eagerly staring back at her.


    "Big sis, what does Mama Olivia wants?" little pumpkin was quick to catch the one-sided conversation earlier. He heard Bella Lim deliberated to either call Madam Olivia as Mama Olivia or Olivia, so he made his own choice as well.


    Bella Lim let out a short laugh before she explained what Madam Olivia instructed her to do.


    "Then, big sis should call big brother Eric now. Mama Olivia will call in five minutes, remember?" little pumpkin spoke, making it impossible for Bella Lim to ditch the task that was given to her. She stared at the phone on her hand while thinking that this would be the first time she called Eric Wu at work. Would he answer her call? She wondered. With an indefinite sigh, she dialed Eric Wu''s number.


    ''Olivia, you''ll only get disappointed,'' she thought while placing the phone speaker near her left ear.


    "Bella, something wrong?"


    See¡­ Eric Wu didn''t¡­ scratched that¡­ he answered?!


    Bella Lim was stupefied. She froze like someone had cast magic on her for she couldn''t really think properly at this moment.


    "Bella? Something must''ve happened. Wait for me. I''ll return home now,"


    His pleasant voice sounded so worried at the moment¡­


    ''Ahh! He answered my call!'' the thought shot her brain like a hunter''s arrow, waking her up to the reality she was facing.


    "E-Eric, everything is alright," she voiced out. She heard a distant murmur. At one point, she heard a few voices speaking about investments and sales graphs. That was when she realized that she screwed up.


    Eric Wu was in a meeting!


    "Eric, I''m really sorry to disturb you. I''ll hang up now," she felt her heartbeat getting louder and the demon inside her brain started to make her feel overwhelming guilt.


    "Wait! Don''t hang up," Eric Wu was fast to stop Bella Lim from ending the phone call. And then, his commanding voice echoed, bringing the murmurs Bella Lim heard at the background to end.


    "Tell me what bothers you?"


    Strange. Bella Lim couldn''t discern what was happening at the moment. Why did he answer her phone call when he was in a meeting? Was he worried about her?


    "Bella..."


    The gentle voice made Bella Lim sat straight. She held little pumpkin''s hand to calm herself down.


    "Ermm... Madam Olivia called me to tell you this. If you don''t bring the people she asked you to bring to Sinby Haven by Wednesday, she''ll inform your grandfather about... I''m not sure about what," she finally told him. She could feel her palm getting sweaty since the guilt was yet to leave her.


    "My mo... hmm, Madam Olivia tells you that?" Eric Wu sounded amused. Bella Lim could imagine him smiling. A handsome sight to look at.


    "Yes," she replied.


    "Hmm, so that''s the reason for her miscalls," this time Eric Wu chuckled. "Is that her exact words?" he added.


    "Yeah, btw, she sounded angry," Bella Lim recalled the situation earlier which brought the man to heartful laughter.


    "I see. Tell her, we''ll come to Sinby Haven tomorrow," Bella Lim frowned. We? Who was he referring to? She pondered for a while but it only made her curious even more. Nope, she had done her task, prying wasn''t a good habit. So, she killed her d?s?r? to know the ''we'' Eric Wu mentioned.


    "Sure," she responded. That was when a beep sound rang. She looked at the screen again and noticed that a call from Madam Olivia was trying to get through. She marveled if the five minutes she referred to was already up.


    "Eric, I need to hang up," she informed the man who was still on the line.


    "Sure. I''ll see you at home. Send my regard to little pumpkin," Eric Wu said before disconnecting their phone call.


    Bella Lim took a deep breath and slide the green icon to answer Madam Olivia''s call.


    "What did he say?" that was the first thing she heard which made her suspicious if Madam Olivia had the ability to foresee the future. How was she so confident that Eric Wu would answer her call?


    "He said that he''ll come tomorrow," Bella Lim combed her hair with her fingers. A bit annoyed with all the mysteries in their conversations.


    "What is his exact sentence?" Madam Olivia asked.


    Bella Lim almost wanted to laugh out loud. This godmother and godchild sure were attuned for they were asking the exact same question.


    "He said ''we''ll come to Sinby Haven tomorrow''," Bella Lim relayed the sentence exactly as Eric Wu told her. Seriously, why must she become the middle person just to relay their messages?


    "Good! Hehe, see he responded to your call," Madam Olivia teased Bella Lim, making her felt jumbled emotions. She was happy that Eric Wu indeed responded to her call, but for someone to say it out loud was kind of embarrassing. Moreover, she disturbed the man at his work, that was no good and unprofessional of her.


    "He is in a meeting..." Bella Lim thought out loud. Madam Olivia heard what she said and laughed.


    "No worries. He could just ignore the phone call like mine, but he didn''t. So, all is good. I''ve got my answer and you''ve got a tiny bit of sweetness. Bella, I''ll hang up now. Send my regard to little Ryan and see you two tomorrow!" Madam Olivia ended the phone call in a high-spirit.


    Yet, Bella Lim felt her spirit left her body. What did she meant by ''sweetness'' and ''see you tomorrow''? Really, how she wished the people around Eric Wu wasn''t so complicated to understand. Alas, it was just her wishful thinking.


    "Little pumpkin, do we still have chocolate chips?" she asked. Little pumpkin nodded and held the plate with half chocolate chips left. Bella Lim brightened up as she joined little pumpkin''s joy in binge eating. The delightful crispy texture on her first bite of the chocolate chips made her forgot about her remorse.

 Chapter 72 - Olivias intricate matchmaking plan

    Sinby Haven


    Madam Olivia was getting her usual sunshine with her body tightly wrapped in a leopard bikini suit. She got up with her eyes glued excitedly on the phone screen in her right hand. The phone call with Bella Lim made her overwhelmed with expectations. Singing and humming, she ran towards the stone stairs which lead her to the beach house on top of the hill.


    "Madam, why are you running around n?k?d?!" a maid ran frantically to receive Madam Olivia with a towel on her hand.


    "Quick, call all the staff to gather at the main hall!" Madam Olivia pulled the towel and covered her body as she chased away her maid to do what she instructed her to do. The maid wrinkled her brows, however, she did what was told without asking much. Knowing the Madam, she knew that she was only this loud when she was cooking another plan for her son.


    Who was the lucky lady this time around? The maid thought as she ran around, calling all the staff that worked in the house. Twenty minutes later, around thirty staff were gathered at the main hall; murmurs were heard since everyone was curious at the sudden roll call.


    As the murmurs increased, three claps were enough to stop it. Madam Olivia stood on a stool wearing a red robe. She stared at the crowd in front of her with a smile on her face.


    "Everyone..." she began her sentence with a smile that seemed to remain on her face forever.


    "My son and his future bride will come tomorrow. So, there is something I want you to help me with. We need to create a situation for these two birds to make love *cough*! I mean to nourish their feelings for each other," she giggled. The staff look at each other, humor in their eyes. Like the maid earlier, all the others now understood the reason they were called. This Madam was truly a hardworking cupid for her dearest son!


    "Madam, do you want us to teach the lady to seduce the Young Master?"


    "Madam, do we need to prepare a romantic dinner for the two of them?"


    "Madam, please tell us what the lady''s sizes are so that we can prepare the best dress for her,"


    Madam Olivia had her mouth agape when she heard the bullet of the question being thrown at her. That was when a butler looked at the maid beside him and said: "Remember, modesty is the key. Young Master doesn''t like anything too s?xy," he said. Then, another butler chirped in; "True, remember last year''s case. The lady didn''t even last a second. Though she was truly a beauty,"


    "Ahem! Attention!" Madam Olivia shouted. She felt her head almost burst when she heard the discussion among her staff. Was she that desperate to find a partner for her son? Maybe she was.


    Her only child was now a grown-up, leaving her with a dull life. She missed the time when Eric was still a baby. That was the most wonderful moment of her life which she wished to experience again. That was the reason she wanted to marry off her son sooner so that he could provide her with grandchildren. Who would''ve known that her son wasn''t the playboy type? Worst, he wasn''t easily seduced, making it difficult for her cupid power to work on him.


    "This time around, we will change our tactic," she spoke with a loud voice, sweeping the faces of everyone with her gaze. She realized that the anticipation in their eyes enhanced when she stressed on the last three words.


    "We need to forget about our previous seduction tactic. That thing is worthless!" she had to admit, her son wasn''t a womanizer. Even though a goddess came to Earth, there was no telling that her son would be enchanted.


    "Madam, what''s the strategy? Please tell," a maid requested, impatient in her eyes. The rests nodded in agreement. They couldn''t wait to hear the Madam''s new tactic.


    "Hehehe..." Madam Olivia laughed out loud. She was stroking her chin with obvious mirth in her eyes.


    "The plan is simple," she said, releasing a chuckle the moment she noticed the eyes of everyone were on her, almost like they wanted to put a hole on her body. She pondered if she could tease them by prolonging the time to make an explanation. However, when a maid pleaded for her to explain, she was getting even more excited, forgetting the plan to tease them. This time her instinct told her that her plan would work.


    "My son and his companions will come tomorrow. On Thursday, I''ll bring them to the garden to harvest my oranges and peaches. So, I want you to think of a flawless plan to make my son and his future bride to be stranded in the garden," she adopted a serious look, but the glee was evident in her eyes.


    The garden she talked about was actually a man-made island not far from Sinby haven. It took only two hours boat ride to reach there. It was a beautiful place to nourish the budding feeling of love that she believed was already rooted in each of their hearts. It was only a matter of time until they realized how much they were in love with each other.


    "Madam, will this plan work? Knowing Young Master, he can easily make a call for his personal heli to get them off the garden," a butler raised an issue.


    "Yes Madam, there is also a high risk for the lady to be stranded alone," a maid added.


    Madam Olivia shook her head. "Tch, tch, tch... you guys," she said with a sigh. Her manner which looked like she was mocking her staff''s opinions once again aroused the impatient looks on all the staff.


    "This lady is not a typical lady," she began her telltale about what she believed was happening between Bella Lim and her son.


    "She is already living with my son!" she declared in one breath. There was a total silence before the hall was filled with shocking gasps.


    "Y-young Master let a woman live with him?"


    "The lady is so lucky!"


    "Truly lucky!"


    "There''s a high chance for the Young Master to already fall in love with this lady,"


    "Ahh, Young Master finally meets someone that he loves,"


    Praises and talks towards Bella Lim and Eric Wu were heard one after another inside the main hall. Madam Olivia kept nodding her head when she heard the discussions, agreeing to each of it. Indeed, this was a first and very rare for her son to let in a woman in his life on his own accord.


    "Madam! I have a plan, but I need to know who will come beside Young Master and his future bride," the butler who reminded a maid about modesty earlier rose his hand to get Madam Olivia''s attention and naturally the other staff as well.


    "My source just told me that aside from our targets, little Ryan and Lu Fei will come as well," Madam Olivia clarified the issue in an instant. She had asked ''someone'' to find out who was living at her son''s villa and these were the names that were given to her.


    "Don''t forget that Tao, my son''s ?ssistant will come as well," she added while staring with pure interest towards the butler who gave the inquiry earlier.


    "Dr. Lu Fei? that will make things easier," the butler exchanged glances with his co-workers and together they looked at their Madam with a knowing smile on their faces. Madam Olivia let out a short laugh as she understood the meaning behind their knowing gazes.


    "Don''t expect too much. If your plan is mediocre, even with his help, we will only fail," Madam Olivia smirked, yet she urged the butler to quickly elaborated the plan he was thinking about.


    "Madam, don''t worry, my plan''s difficulty is only one star, but to let them become stranded for one day is deserving five stars," the butler puffed his ?h?st, proud of the plan he thought about.


    "Do tell," Madam Olivia signaled with her hands.


    "Yes, yes, faster!" the other staff began to swarm around the butler.


    "Okay, patient! So here is what I''m thinking about...," the butler began to narrate his proposal. The more he talked the wider the eyes of the people who were listening. Even Madam Olivia was showing full interest and approval.


    "Good! I''ll appoint you as the leader for this operation. Make sure to execute exactly like what you''ve said," Madam Olivia gave the butler a thumb up. She was satisfied with the idea he had suggested. She thought the scenarios he crafted was a smart plan to avoid her son''s suspicion over the deliberated scheme that would make him marooned in the garden alone with Bella Lim.


    This time she was confident that her son''s single life would come to an end...


    "Dismiss!" she waved her hand as she jumped down from the stool. The staff curtsied as they left the main hall in an orderly manner after listening to a brief explanation about what they needed to do to make the plan worked. Their previous experience in helping their Madam as her son''s love cupid helped them to understand their roles faster than necessary.


    Seeing her workers left the main hall as if nothing was happening brought a grateful smile on Madam Olivia''s face. These were the people that had been helping her behind the scenes in her previous efforts as a matchmaker for her son. As always she could rely on them!


    After entertaining her thought, Madam Oliva left the main hall while hopping, extremely happy for his son''s future endeavors with her future daughter-in-law.


    ''Aye, I need to tell those people as well,'' she thought while humming an unknown melody.

 Chapter 73 - His jealousy over stupid things

    Hillside Villa


    Bella Lim was given the surprise of the night when Eric Wu explained that tomorrow they would visit Madam Olivia on her private island called Sinby Haven. His explanation answered all of her queries, but to know that the ''we'' he referred to was her and little pumpkin was unbelievable.


    Lu Fei who was still residing in the villa laughed when he saw Bella Lim''s flabbergasted look. He was already informed about the news before it reached her ears as to avoid him to expose Madam Olivia''s true identity.


    He stared at Eric Wu who was sipping on the evening ???ktail while staring affectionately at Bella Lim. He wasn''t sure if Eric Wu realized it or not, but his adoration towards Bella Lim was too obvious. Perhaps, she was the only one who was blinded with the affection Eric Wu had been showing and giving. It was truly disappointing yet amusing synchronicity that made Lu Fei wanted to tease the oblivion pair.


    "I wonder why Madam Olivia invited us to her sanctuary. If I''m not mistaken, this will only happen when Eric is being paired with another woman," Lu Fei twirled the ???ktail glass in his hand, giving a shake to the dry martini inside it. He spoke so casually that both Eric Wu and Bella Lim thought that he was simply expressing his opinion.


    "This is the harvesting month," Eric Wu muttered and Lu Fei nodded in response.


    "But what if she''s planning something again," he said while taking a glance at Bella Lim who stared fixedly at the ocean view spread in front of her very eyes. At the moment, they were at the rooftop terrace of the villa, a place with a futuristic architectural design that encompassed floor to ceiling glass windows, boasting the best views of the ocean while also the perfect place to enjoy the sunset.


    Little pumpkin was like usual, sitting next to Bella Lim while enjoying his evening milk, mingled perfectly among the three ?du?ts.


    Eric Wu noticed the gaze Lu Fei had on Bella Lim and the corner of his lips twitched. Honestly, he had his own suspicion, yet for some reason, he wasn''t against the idea. He only hoped that his mother wouldn''t recreate the weird thing she did in her previous attempt like teaching women how to seduce him.


    However, if Bella Lim seduced him, would he be able to hold on?


    Eric Wu almost choked on his own drink when the thought came to him. He got up from his chair, walked towards the glass wall and turned his body toward the inner area of the rooftop terrace. His fingers ran through his hair as he leaned against the glass wall. The thought earlier made him scared of the feeling he had towards Bella Lim; afraid that the day he couldn''t restrain himself would come sooner than he expected.


    Eric Wu''s sudden and strange behaviors attracted the ?du?ts'' attention.


    "What are you thinking?" Lu Fei was the first to ask. Bella Lim didn''t say anything, but her mild stare implied similar intention.


    "Nothing important," Eric Wu replied, finishing the last drop of the ice-cold vesper inside his glass.


    Bella Lim opened her lips about to ask something, but little pumpkin who was also enjoying the sunset with his favorite chocolate drink pulled the sleeve of her blouse as he rose his empty glass.


    "Let me," Lu Fei took little pumpkin''s glass as he also brought him towards the mini-bar inside the rooftop terrace. Bella Lim wanted to stop Lu Fei, but all of a sudden her body shuddered. She looked up and met Eric Wu''s intense eyes. For a while, they looked at each other, both drowned in their own thoughts.


    "Is it really okay for me to attend Madam Olivia''s invitation to Sinby Haven?" she asked after the prolonged silence. Her gaze was lowered to Eric Wu''s ?h?st area, hoping that not staring at his eyes would calm her down.


    "It is her request," Eric Wu spoke. It was his normal voice, but Bella Lim thought that he was whispering right into her ears. Once again, she felt goosebumps and her heartbeat began to thump loudly.


    "I actually plan to see D tomorrow. I want to ask him about my past," she tried to change the topic to something serious. She was afraid that the hidden emotions she had toward Eric Wu would be revealed if she entertained her emotion for much longer.


    At the same time, meeting D was indeed something she had thought about as part of her plan to recover her memories, but she was yet to think of the best way to approach the issue with him as she was afraid that even D was a lie. Still, she was certain that D would contribute to her memory recovery.


    Eric Wu stared at Bella Lim, feeling a bit indignant. He walked toward her and sat on the empty chair beside her.


    "Oh, and who is this man called D," he said, sounding almost salty. "I''ve told you to take this week as a rest and you''ve agreed. Now, you want to meet a man?" he leaned against the chair while staring at the void with his cold eyes.


    Bella Lim felt the coldness emanated from the man beside her. She froze, not knowing why his personality flipped to a hundred and eighty degrees. She pondered if his anger was due to his ?ssumption that she was taking things at her own hand, without consulting him first.


    "D is the one who helped me settled down in Kastache. I thought he will be able to help," she explained. Regardless, all she heard afterward was a scoff from Eric Wu. She thought her explanation wasn''t clear enough.


    "Although my memory is hazy, I''m confident that he helped me settled down in Kastache. I thought that maybe he knew something," she expressed her thought while hoping that Eric Wu would be able to understand her intention.


    Eric Wu turned to his left, his cold gaze softened when it met with Bella Lim''s pair of blue eyes. "Bella, if we pursue something without taking a rest, we''ll put more pressure on ourselves. So, about this D, let me investigate him first before you meet him, which not tomorrow and definitely not alone. We''ll meet him together after I have enough understanding of this D of yours," he said, a lot calmer now. Earlier, he was consumed by his jealousy toward the unknown man called D which clouded his rationality.


    "I see," Bella Lim smiled. It seemed that she had overthought about his reactions. It seemed that Eric Wu was just worried that she made a hasty decision to meet D. So, without suspecting anything she talked about D.


    "D real name is Derolean. I couldn''t recall his family name. However, he is the owner of the GY boutique here in Azure. Based on my memories, we used to be classmates. He was the person I confide in when I wanted to run away from Kastache and started a new life with little pumpkin," she took a deep breath, pausing before continuing her story. However, Eric Wu didn''t plan on listening more.


    "I understand. He is a reliable man. Do you like him?" the man asked. When he heard her described D as someone she could confide in, it stirred the jealousy he b?r?ly able to suppress a while ago.


    This woman, couldn''t she at least tine down her admiration of this man called D? and what actually this man''s status in her heart? Eric Wu was almost crazy thinking about these two questions.


    Bella Lim being unaware of the chaos she unintentionally awoke inside the man sitting beside her, once again, gave a careless remark. "I like him," she stated while nodding her head. Unless proven otherwise, she believed the friendship she had with D.


    Eric Wu felt his body froze when he heard her affirming tone. "So you have someone you like huh?" he mumbled. "I thought...," he chuckled as he rose from his seat. He couldn''t recognize the feeling he felt at the moment. The raging inferno that suddenly flared up when she spoke lovingly about another man.


    "Although you trust this man, I want you to meet him after I make an investigation on him. Tomorrow, we''ll go to Sinby Haven to relax your mind. Is that clear?" he asked with his back against Bella Lim, pretending to bend down to take something on the table. His face wasn''t good for her to look at. He was burning with jealousy.


    "Eric..," Bella Lim called, wondering why he didn''t face her when talking as he usually did.


    "Tonight make sure to rest early after you help little pumpkin packs his stuff. Don''t forget to include his swimming pant," the man''s muscular body stood erect, his head was facing sideways but not on Bella Lim.


    "Sure. Let me...," fill your glass; was what she wanted to say but Eric Wu was already leaving, walking straight towards the elevator. She saw him changing direction as he approached Lu Fei and little pumpkin who were enjoying the orange hue of the ocean. They talked a little before he disappeared behind the closing door of the elevator.


    Bella Lim swallowed her saliva. A pity, she didn''t see his face before she went to bed tonight. A heavy knot slowly developed in her ?h?st. Apart from not seeing his face, she felt that his behavior was unusual and it made her felt fear. Fear that he hated her because that was exactly the feeling she had when he talked to her without looking at her direction.


    "You okay?" she heard Lu Fei''s voice coming from behind. She got up and turned around. Little pumpkin was smiling as he ran to her while pointing at the beautiful ocean view. "I''m okay," she answered before paying attention to little pumpkin who was telling her about the beauty of the ocean''s views at night.


    "What did you talk about with Eric earlier?" Lu Fei asked after they agreed that it was time to call it a night. Bella Lim held little pumpkin''s hand as they entered the elevator together. She took a deep breath before explaining about D.


    "I see. Eric is right. You should tell him things like this for safety purposes," Lu Fei spoke while silently amused over Eric Wu''s face earlier. ''No wonder the despair,'' he thought. Now he was certain that Eric Wu had fallen in love with Bella Lim. However, Bella Lim who had long realized that she loved that man was now trying so hard not to show her affection for him, making the man confused and jealous over silly matter.


    Lu Fei suddenly laughed.


    "Big brother Lu Fei, your laugh is creepy," little pumpkin commented as he inched closer to his big sister who also thought that the sudden laugh was indeed a bit weird, especially coming from Lu Fei who always looked calm.


    "Little Ryan, big brother is not creepy, just excited for our upcoming vacation," Lu Fei covered up as he touched the frame of his glasses. The talk about vacation made the little boy excited.


    "Me too! Me too!" little pumpkin giggled. "Big sis, little pumpkin needs help with packing," he said as soon as they stepped out of the elevator.


    "Sure. Say goodnight to big brother Lu Fei," Bella Lim smiled as she gave a slight bow to Lu Fei which Lu Fei responded in the same manner. After little pumpkin said his goodnight, Bella Lim followed him to his room to help him pack. At least, the busyness could make her forget about the cold treatment she received from Eric Wu earlier.


    Outside, Lu Fei took out his phone, dialed a number and said, "I''m in. I''ll take care of little pumpkin," he chuckled before ending the phone call.


    ''Hopefully, this will clear their misunderstanding,'' he thought as he entered his bedroom.

 Chapter 74 - Confusion and irritation

    The next day, Bella Lim woke up early because she didn''t know the specific time for them to leave to Sinby Haven. When she walked out of her room, both Lu Fei and little pumpkin were already outside, fully dressed in beach casual styles.


    "Morning Bella,"


    "Morning, big sis!" both the big man and the little boy spoke in unison, greeting the freshly showered lady. In their hands were big mugs filled with hot chocolate. Little pumpkin was also holding a cheese quiche on his other hand.


    "We''ll leave as soon as Eric returns from his office," Lu Fei explained when he saw the questioning look on Bella Lim''s face.


    "I see," Bella Lim said as she nodded her head. It seemed that Eric Wu was really busy. Despite that, he insisted to go to Sinby Haven. Perhaps, Madam Olivia''s threatening words were something to be feared of or else it would be impossible to get the man off work if it wasn''t in his schedule.


    "When will he be back?" she asked as she took the seat beside little pumpkin, who offered a mug of warm chocolate for herself. She smiled at the little boy while touching his hair at the same time. She played with him a little before listening to Lu Fei.


    "Supposedly soon," Lu Fei spoke. Suddenly, the elevator''s door which was on his line of sight was opened and Eric Wu walked out of it. "Speak of the devil," Lu Fei sneered as he rose the mug in his hand.


    "Bro, join us!" he invited the handsome man who was walking towards them.


    Bella Lim felt her body tensed the moment she saw Eric Wu. She looked at him, and for a while there, their eyes locked. However as if her existence was nothing, the man simply ignored her before joining them for breakfast.


    Why? Why was he still this cold?


    Bella Lim tightened her grips on the mug she was holding as she listened to the conversation between Eric Wu and Lu Fei. She didn''t know whether it was suitable for her to barge into their exchanges since Eric Wu seemed unwilling to let her in. Hence, she dedicated the whole time eating the quiches served on the table.


    "Bella,"


    "Bella!"


    The repeated calls alerted Bella Lim, who then looked at Lu Fei with a frown on her face. Feeling that something wasn''t right, she looked around and realized that they were the only people left in the living room.


    "Is it the time to leave?" she asked absentmindedly. "Where is little pumpkin?" she mumbled.


    Lu Fei shook his head and sighed. "He already left with Eric. We should chase after them," he said as he patted her on the shoulder. Bella Lim nodded her head and walked towards her room to retrieve her stuff.


    "Eric has instructed the maid to bring your bag," Lu Fei''s words made Bella Lim stopped on her track. She turned around with a deepened frown on her face.


    "Lu Fei, what''s wrong with him? He is hard to approach since yesterday. Do you know what I have done wrong?" she asked, biting her lips grudgingly.


    Lu Fei was startled. Though he already knew the misunderstanding between Bella Lim and Eric Wu, her question still took him by surprise. Knowing Bella Lim, he thought that she would remain silent about it. It was unexpected for her to suddenly asked him about it.


    "Him? You''re talking about Eric?" Lu Fei pretended to ask although he already had his own guess. Right now, they were already inside the elevator heading towards the first floor, so they can walk towards Eric Wu''s personal aircraft hangar.


    Bella Lim shrugged her shoulder off and said, "He should at least tell me what I did wrong instead of ignoring me," she vented. Inside her head, she wanted to stop herself, but the frustration she felt made her looked for some sort of release.


    Bella Lim looked at her surroundings. She had no idea where they were going, thankfully Lu Fei seemed to know the way. So, she just followed him.


    "Why don''t you ask him?" Lu Fei chuckled. "You''ve three days to clear the misunderstanding between the two of you. You''ll spend a day with him alone, make use of it," he added as he waved his hands towards little pumpkin who was also waving at them.


    Bella Lim swallowed her saliva while also thinking about the sentence she just heard from Lu Fei. Something felt odd, but she couldn''t accurately pinpoint what the oddity was. However, she was no longer interested in the topic since she was shocked by the news of them going to Sinby Haven by aircraft.


    "Where exactly is Sinby Haven?" she asked as she matched Lu Fei''s steps. The man slowed down and took a glance at Bella Lim before he walked at the same pace again.


    "I thought Eric has told you. The fastest transportation to reach Sinby Haven is by plane," Lu Fei explained. Hearing this, Bella Lim felt like her jaw would drop. She didn''t know that! Was this how the rich travel? She pondered as she entered the plane.


    The journey to Sinby Haven was tormenting. At least to Bella Lim who was sitting beside Eric Wu. She tried to converse with him, but his serious manner plus his full attention towards the ??ptop in front of him stopped her from taking the initiative. So, she only talked with little pumpkin and Lu Fei.


    Bored, Bella Lim decided to rest her eyes. There was no use trying to talk to Eric Wu since he was busy. Besides, when she attempted a smile at him, he only stared back with his usual expressionless face. If only he told her what was bothering him... she wouldn''t feel so dejected. Taking a deep breath, Bella Lim exhaled slowly. Not long after, she fell asleep.


    Eric Wu shrugged his stiff shoulder and closed the ??ptop in front of him and passed it to Tao who was sitting behind the seat he was sitting. He stretched his hands up and moved his head sideways. He noticed that Bella Lim was asleep. He looked around and realized that both Lu Fei and little pumpkin were dozing off as well. He took another look at Bella Lim and sighed. His gaze was on her for quite sometimes before his hand naturally removed the coat he was wearing to cover her body. Although it wasn''t cold, he felt cold just by looking at her petite body.


    Eric Wu froze when his action received a reaction from Bella Lim. Even though it didn''t wake her up, her action of pulling his coat to cover her upper body made him unable to resist the urge to stare at her for long. This wasn''t the first time he saw her face up close, but definitely the first for him to look at every feature on her face. He recalled the first time he met her, the tiredness that etched on her face made her looked older than her real age. Now, she regained her youth and looked like an angel coming from heaven. She was truly beautiful, more beautiful than the one he had met in his dream.


    Or was she not? Perhaps, his feeling towards her made her looked beautiful more than anyone else. Still, her face which clear of impurities was the perfect canvas for her neatly trimmed eyebrows and long, curved eyelashes. Her slightly upturned nose made her looked feminine although her attitude wasn''t really one. But, he loved it! He loved everything about her.


    Her lips were the most attractive. He found himself drawn into the different types of expressions shown through her lips. The accentuated cupid bow when she pouted often sent his heartbeat to the wilderness.


    ''Bella,'' he called him inside his head. However, a complicated look was also on his face the moment her name appeared inside his head.


    "E-Eric?!"


    Eric Wu was startled when he saw Bella Lim''s blue eyes were now staring at him in bewilderment. Her panic voice made him remembered their talk yesterday. He sighed as he properly sat on his own seat. "Sorry to wake you up," he muttered as he faced her, which didn''t last for a few seconds.


    Bella Lim didn''t know what to say. She was so surprised to wake up with the full view of Eric Wu''s face. When she found out that his coat was on her, she felt an instant hope. A hope that he was no longer cold towards her. However, when she saw the complicated expression on his face, she knew, she was hoping for another impossible thing to happen.


    "Did I do something wrong?" she asked in a low voice. Eyes were looking at the coat that was now in her hand. She folded it and passed it to Eric Wu. However, he was merely taking a glance at her. This made Bella Lim thought that he was irritated. The coat that was still in her hand remained untouched. She waited, but the man closed his eyes. Properly ignoring her.


    Bella Lim took a deep breath. It seemed that Eric Wu was becoming more difficult to understand. Engrossed on her own thinking, Bella Lim forgot the safety measure which followed after the landing announcement.


    "You need to put on your safety belt," she heard a faint voice right next to her left ear and followed with, she saw Eric Wu''s muscular arm reached for the safety belt on the other side of the seat she was sitting on. She stiffened when she finally realized that Eric Wu was helping her to put on her safety belt.


    Bella Lim was stupefied. This man was becoming more like a puzzle that she couldn''t ?ssemble! A while ago, he blatantly ignored her, yet now, he became the man of kindness. Who did he think she was? A robot? Oh, how she wished she was one. At least, she didn''t need to deal with the complex emotions she was feeling at the moment.


    "Big sis, are you okay?" she heard little pumpkin''s voice which brought her to the situation she was currently in.


    "I''m fine. Little pumpkin?" she mustered the energy to ask. The situation she had with Eric Wu made her exhausted. When she saw her little pumpkin smiled widely, she gave a smile in return. Not long after, they finally landed. Little pumpkin and Lu Fei were the first to leave the plane and Tao followed after.


    Bella Lim wanted to leave next, but a hand suddenly pulled her, so she fell back on her seat.


    "What!" she glared at Eric Wu. Since this man was acting hot and cold with her, she would do the same. She thought that the man would show his cold side again, but he suddenly smiled, showing his rows of perfect teeth. This made Bella Lim become even more irate. She scowled at the man.


    "Sorry. Don''t be mad," Eric Wu spoke as he pinched her nose. Then, he got up from his seat and took his coat that was still in her hand before he walked towards the exit, leaving Bella Lim in perplexity.

 Chapter 75 - Sinby Haven - The race upon arrival

    Bella Lim came down from the plane five minutes later. Once her foot touched the ground, she took a good look around. The whole area was solid high ground, however, the waves of the sea could be seen from afar. This island was a large and fertile tropical island. Some naturally grown trees seemed to fit perfectly among the perfectly organized planted fruiting trees. Right in front of him was a long straight road that connected the hangar to the big coastal house located at the end of the road.


    The view was magnificent, befitting the name of Sinby Haven. A smile appeared on Bella Lim''s face. She took a deep breath, feeling relived by the fresh air of the island. Although it was already noon, the sun wasn''t glaring.


    "Bella!"


    Bella Lim saw a woman in dandy clothes approached her. She frowned when she saw Madam Olivia ran to her with a floral hair wreath on her hand.


    The woman smiled brightly upon seeing her. "This is to welcome you to Sinby Haven," Madam Olivia happily put on the floral hair wreath on Bella Lim''s head.


    "As expected. It''s perfect on you!" she exclaimed. Bella Lim chuckled as she thanked Madam Olivia. The woman simply ignored her gesture as she pulled her towards the crowd standing not far from them.


    "Alright, since everyone is here. We should go to the house. I''ve got a lot of things ready for us. I hope no one is tired from the journey," Madam Olivia spoke once they gathered all together.


    "I''m full of spirit!" Lu Fei declared.


    "Me too!" little pumpkin cheered. His eyes were brimmed with anticipation as he looked at Madam Olivia adoringly.


    "Aww, call me mama Olivia again," Madam Olivia requested as she patted the little boy''s head. Little pumpkin happily obliged as he called Madam Olivia as mama Olivia. This made the woman laughed joyfully. Afterward, she looked at Bella Lim and Eric Wu who somehow ended up standing together, side by side.


    "How bout you guys?" she asked and lifted an eyebrow.


    "Sure!" they both answered at the same time. Their perfect timing made Madam Olivia grinned widely.


    "Good!" she said in a hype voice. Then, she asked them to hop on the three jeep wranglers that were waiting for them from the time Eric Wu''s plane landed on Sinby Haven.


    "Eric, you drive this with Bella and Lu Fei will drive the other one with little pumpkin. I''ll ride this one with Tao," Madam Olivia instructed as she winked at the two men. Eric Wu and Lu Fei looked at each other before their eyes burned with excitement.


    "A race?" Eric Wu chuckled as he approached the white jeep wrangler, pointed by his mother. At the same time, he smirked at the two potential racers. Lu Fei gently touched the frame of his spectacle as he pulled little pumpkin''s hand towards the green jeep.


    "Hahaha! I''ll win against you guys! The house is sixty-two miles from here. Let''s see who''ll come first. Tao, will you do the honor to become my ?ssistant?" Madam Olivia spread out her left hand, waiting for Tao to give an affirmative yes by clasping their palm together.


    Tao who was excited at the upcoming race didn''t wait for long as he clasped his hand with Madam Olivia. "At your service, my lady!" he curtsied and Madam Olivia laughed excitedly.


    "I''ll go with Lu Fei. I''m worried about little pumpkin," Bella Lim quickly spoke when she realized their intention. She stared at little pumpkin to see if he understood what was going on. Little pumpkin stared back and smiled.


    "Big sis! This is nothing. Motorbike is scarier than a car," he said without blinking his eyes. Hearing him said so, Bella Lim didn''t know whether to laugh or to worry about her little pumpkin''s bravery. He was too enthusiastic!


    "I know, but it''ll be safer if big sis tag along," she explained. Besides, what was the big deal? Must she ride with Eric Wu?


    "Bella, don''t worry. My ?ssistant will look after little Ryan," Madam Olivia intervened when she realized that Bella Lim wanted to ride with Lu Fei.


    "I forgot to mention that there will be two people in a team. Lu Fei will team up with little Ryan, Tao and I. Finally, Eric and Bella. Penalties await the loser. The winner will receive a privilege in tomorrow''s party," Madam Olivia added on as she put on her sunglasses to hide the cunning glint in her eyes.


    "Penalty?" Bella Lim couldn''t help but suspected something.


    "It''s to spice things up! Don''t think too much into it, but if you want to find out what it is... just ask Eric to lose," Lu Fei spoke up. He winked at Bella Lim before retreating to the green sturdy vehicle together with little pumpkin.


    Bella Lim sighed. She searched for Madam Olivia, but the woman was already inside the red jeep together with Tao.


    "Bello, come!" Eric Wu was already waiting outside the passenger''s seat. Bella Lim walked towards the man, stopped right in front of him, and took a deep breath.


    "Eric!" she said, exhaling. Eric Wu frowned but he didn''t say anything.


    "Stop being obnoxious! Don''t shut me up. I need you to tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it. I don''t think we can cooperate if you''re like the unknown weather," Bella Lim expressed the emotions she had been suppressing. Moreover, she had enough of blaming herself. It was time to set things straight with this man.


    The frown on Eric Wu''s forehead became profound. He stared at the small woman in front of him. Her height only reached his ?h?st, but the way she carried herself made her noticeable. The anger she blurted out made her looked incredibly cute.


    But, she was right.


    He had been acting like a brat all because of the jealousy that burgeoned from their conversation yesterday. He couldn''t help but overthink that she was in love with someone else. Still, his d?s?r? to be with her was stronger than ever. These two feelings overlapping inside him made him acted out of his usual self.


    Eric Wu inhaled as he made a quick judgment about his situation. This was the first time he felt this way toward someone. It was childish of him to make an ?ssumption when she didn''t make any confirmation. He should be wiser about this. Gradually, the frown on his face softened. A gentle smile was now on his face.


    "I promise not to be annoying, but if I win this, allow me to have a date with you," he bent forward, face an inch away from Bella Lim. It should be known that their interactions were perfectly hidden from the others'' peeping eyes since their car was at the far end.


    ''What did he say?'' Bella Lim cracked her brain as she tried to make sense of Eric Wu''s sudden request. She looked at the man and saw the sly smile on his face.


    ''Is he playing around with me again?'' she nibbled on her lower lip. A few strands of hair were disturbing her eyes when a strong breeze went past her. That was when she felt a warm hand tucked her hair behind her ears. Once again, Eric Wu''s face was an inch away from hers. His handsome feature plus the serious look he had when he helped her with her hair made her heartbeat drummed wildly.


    "I admitted I was being obnoxious. I''m sorry," she heard him said. Bella Lim gulped as she peered on the man''s face. However, the heat on her face made her look away. This man was really good at playing with her heart. What was he doing now?


    "Bella, get in. The race is about to start," Eric Wu''s gentle voice startled Bella Lim who was still shocked by his earlier remark. She looked at the opened passenger seat''s door and anxiously went in. When her hand brushed against Eric Wu''s hand, the beating drum inside her once again set wild. She immediately settled down and sat on her designated seat without moving.


    "Are you okay?" she heard Eric Wu asked from the driver seat. She forced herself to nod. If she didn''t show any reaction, she was certain that this man would keep on asking. However, his request made her want to jump out of the jeep wrangler.


    "Look at me," Eric Wu requested. His hands were on the steering wheel as his head tilted to face Bella Lim.


    "I can''t," Bella Lim stiffened. The two words left her lips out of control as she was overwhelmed with everything that transpired from her outburst towards Eric Wu.


    "Why?" she heard him asked.


    "Are you shy because I asked you for a date?"


    "How am I supposed to react with the way you act?" she uttered. Her lips trembled a little.


    "You really pick the wrong time to say what you want," she bit her lips.


    "The time is no wrong. The date is important because I have something to tell you," Eric Wu said. Everything about him exuded a serious aura. Bella Lim saw this and thought that the man was really talking about the truth.


    "You have something to tell me?" she asked, hands were holding the seat belt that secured her body. When he saw Eric Wu''s nodded his head, a mischievous smile popped up on her beautiful face. She looked at Eric Wu, saying: "I''ll grant you the date, but make sure not to become like a woman on period again. Your mood swings are worse than mine," she giggled. At this time, she had managed to contain the surge of emotions that made her whole body out of control. Her heartbeat was beating normally like always.


    Hearing her savage remark, Eric Wu was astounded. Not long after, he laughed.


    "Is that how you see it?" he asked, eyes looking sharply at the woman beside him.


    "Everyone could see it that way," Bella Lim let out a soft chuckle.


    "You know...," Eric Wu said. At that time, a man was walking toward the center of the road with a flag on his hand. The man''s appearance made the race resembled a real racing car competition.


    "Ermm, yes?" she looked at Eric Wu while pointing at the man.


    "Nothing, I''ll tell you once I win this," Eric Wu replied as he hit on the gas pedal. At the same time, the other two cars were also roaring, eager to go.


    "Make sure to win!" Bella Lim suddenly in a high spirit when she heard the competitive roars coming from Lu Fei''s and Madam Olivia''s jeeps.


    "Heh," Eric Wu smirked. "So we can go on a date?" he winked at Bella Lim who then rolled her eyes.


    "Whatever, just win!" Bella Lim gave up. It turned out that she couldn''t beat Eric Wu''s in his teasing game. Nevertheless, it wasn''t important at the moment because she was only excited about the race. The scene felt too familiar to her as if she had done a car racing before. Maybe, Sinby Haven would help her regain some of her missing memories...

 Chapter 76 - Losing miserably: Stranded for one day!

    In an H-shaped artificial island, two individuals were seen picking fruits under the hot sun. Both were wearing farming attire with a basket to store the ripe fruits. However the farming looks, the pairs were looking great working together. Sometimes, an occasional fight could be heard among the two people of the opposite gender.


    "Squeeze it gently. Yes, good,"


    "Wait, you can''t pick that one! It''s still green,"


    "You should''ve told me earlier!"


    "Haven''t you seen a ripe peach?"


    "I have. Who said I haven''t?!"


    "Then, why did you pick the green one?"


    Bella Lim scowled at Eric Wu as she sat under a peach tree, a pout on her face. Seeing her sulking, Eric Wu shook his head as he took off the wide hat that shaded him from the hot weather. He sat beside her while using the hat as a fan.


    "How did we become fruit pickers again?" Eric Wu asked as he unbuttoned the outer layer of his outfit. He looked at the woman who was staring at the young peach she had picked from the peach tree they currently leaned on.


    "You lose in the race," she pointed out the truth. "Miserably...," she pressed on as she looked at Eric Wu who tsked at the fact being thrown at him.


    "Well, who would have thought that we got a flat tire the second the flag went off," he scoffed. Bella Lim pursed her lips, trying to suppress her laughter. Eric Wu noticed this and he looked at her with a narrowed gaze.


    "What?" he asked as he tried to pinch her cheek. However, she quickly shifted her body, successfully avoiding his hand. Eric Wu laughed when he saw her rolling her eyes.


    Bella Lim hugged her knees as she stared at the harvest with green and deep golden fruits. It was hilarious, how she thought they could win the race when all of sudden, bad luck tampered with their vehicle, granting them the penalty to pick fruits at Madam Olivia''s garden.


    Then, she remembered the talk she had with Eric Wu before the race. Although she acted indifferent to his request, truthfully she anticipated the date he talked about. Sadly, they lose.


    "How regretful," she mumbled. Her eyes showed a slight disappointment which disappeared like the flash of lighting.


    Eric Wu was surprised. The words she said were interpreted well by his brain and the one-second frustration she shed didn''t skip his eyes. He thought of teasing her but restrained from doing so because he didn''t want her to misinterpret it as being playful. He couldn''t help but ?ssociate the regret she had with the promise he made. This was an indirect affirmation that she too shared his feeling.


    Eric Wu got up as he removed the dirt that was stuck on his pants. "I think we''ve picked enough. We should go back," he suggested as he held out his right hand to ?ssist Bella Lim to stand up. He saw the contemplation on her face whether to accept his hand or not.


    In the end, she took his hand with a quick ''thank you''. When their hands touched, both could feel the electricity that ran across their veins. Instead of pain, what they felt was craving and d?s?r?... the d?s?r? to hold each other''s hands forever. However, none discussed the matter.


    Eric Wu and Bella Lim left the peach garden and moved towards the bridge of the island. The bridge was the horizontal land that connected both the vertical gardens. All the buildings and the only docks in this man-made island were in this area.


    "Hmm, where is everybody?" Bella Lim looked around. When they came here this morning, the place was lively.


    Unlike right now...


    Not a single soul could be seen within the perimeter. Eric Wu went towards the closest building and Bella Lim followed behind. The buildings were the residential area, living quarters for the workers. This morning, they even greeted some of the workers, a contrast to the dismay they felt at the moment. These buildings were empty as well.


    Bella Lim and Eric Wu looked at each other with their brows knitted, before they came up with a tacit understanding. They ran to the dock, only to find out that their boat was nowhere to be seen. Plus, the other boats that were there when they first came were gone as well.


    "Eric, what is happening?" Bella Lim uttered as her eyes scanned the area. When she heard no reply, she made another round in the residential area, leaving Eric Wu alone at the dock.


    Eric Wu didn''t notice that Bella Lim had left as he was occupied with the phone in his hand. Just now, it was vibrating non-stopped inside his pocket. When he took out his phone, he saw one new long message from his mother. With an eyebrow arched, he tapped on the notification and read the lengthy message his mother sent to him.


    [My son Eric, I heard from Lu Fei that there is discord between you and Bella. So, please use this time to mend your misunderstanding with her. Tomorrow afternoon, all the workers will return and I''ll send a boat to fetch you guys. I know she is special to you and based on my awesome observation, you''re special to her too. So my son, please be proactive! Your mom is waiting for the good news! P.S: You can find the key to my cottage under the rug. Bye!]


    ''Another setup, huh?'' Eric Wu chuckled as he turned to his left, the side where Bella Lim was standing earlier. However, what he saw was the ocean and not her.


    Worried that she got lost, Eric Wu searched for her.


    Meanwhile, Bella Lim was walking on a walkway in front of the residential buildings when she heard a ding sound; the notification sound she ?ssigned for any incoming message. She walked towards a gazebo at the end of the walkway and sat on one of the stools. She took out her phone and start reading the new chat. An amused look appeared on her face after reading the content.


    ''I see,'' she thought, eyes staring at the unique man-made island. She remembered that it took them two hours to reach here by a speed boat. Since this was a private island, no one except Madam Olivia''s personnel was given permission to make a stop here.


    ''Heh, this was her plan all along? Lu Fei must''ve known about this. Little pumpkin... he is a smart child, so he will understand their intention and will not cause much ruckus if I''m gone for one day,'' Bella Lim chuckled.


    At that time, Eric Wu who was searching for Bella Lim was running around, anxiously looking for her. He was relieved the moment he saw her at the gazebo in front of the residential buildings.


    "Bella!" he called and walked as fast as he could to reach her. When he came close, he noticed that she was staring at the phone on his hand.


    "You receive Olivia''s message?" she asked while pointing to the phone he was holding.


    "You got one too?" Eric Wu returned a question.


    [Extra punishment - stranded for one day! *Wink* I''ll take care of little Ryan and do your best dealing with your nemesis!]


    Eric Wu subconsciously took a deep breath, thankful that her mom was still thoughtful. It would be awkward if she sent her a message telling her to woo him because she wasn''t that kind of person. Even if he stood n?k?d in front of her, she probably would just run away instead of clinging to him.

 Chapter 77 - Im taking the room!

    "There is no signal to make phone calls and no internet connection. Nothing... the doors of all the buildings are also locked. Where are we gonna stay?" Bella Lim''s eyes widened with exasperation.


    "You accept the so-called punishment just like that?" Eric Wu asked. He found her acceptance of the current situation as weird. If the person in this situation wasn''t her, he or she would probably be panicking as they were talking.


    Bella Lim nodded her head and smiled, no words to reply to his query. Instead, she asked him about their accommodation. "I need a bath, clean clothes and something to eat. Do you think Madam Olivia thought about it before leaving us here? Her plan would fail is she ignored these requirements," she talked casually.


    Eric Wu lifted an eyebrow. He thought about what she said for a while before coming to a full understanding. He let out a soft laugh, staring interestedly at the woman in front of him. Something was stirred inside him at her intelligence. For whatever reason, he found her extremely appealing.


    All these while, most of the women he was introduced with were trying to look s?xy by revealing their skin, yet he found them unattractive.


    But, what was the situation right now? Bella''s comment actually made him see her as the s?xiest woman ever! Holy, could someone tell him this beforehand so he could be ready?


    Eric Wu frowned, trying to calm himself down.


    ''Damnit!'' he internally cursed. At the same time, he scooped Bella Lim off the ground, hoping that this skinship was enough to tame his beastly side.


    "Eric!" the lady screamed in shock. She stared at Eric Wu in disbelieve. How dare him?!


    "So you already knew her plan all along? Then, allow me to make her wish come true. Bella, we''re going to have the whole day as our first date," he declared with a laugh. His brown eyes stared deeply into her blue pairs of eyes.


    Bella Lim bit her lower lip as she was really embarrassed. Never would she thought that Eric would take such a measure to tease her. She regretted trying to act cool when she found out about Madam Olivia''s plan because it only made Eric let go of his worry and acted however he wanted. Little did she know about the conflict he was facing inside.


    She struggled in Eric Wu''s strong arm, however, the man was also fighting her effort. "Don''t struggle, you''ll get hurt. I''ll carry you to my mom''s living quarters. It''s far from here," he said firmly as Bella Lim''s wasn''t trying to hold down her strength. Who would have known that there was powerful energy in her small body? Eric Wu facepalmed. He tried to flaunt his strength, but she made his attempt to almost fail. However, this was good, her fierce comeback was helping him subdued his beastly self.


    Eric Wu lips curled to a smile as he thought that Bella Lim was truly a one of a kind woman! Who was she really? He was curious.


    "What did you just say?" Bella Lim stopped her struggle as she stared at Eric Wu''s chin. The man lowered his gaze, providing a better view of his handsome face.


    "Hmm, what?" he grinned as his feet moved, leaving the garden and heading towards the walkway between the two residential buildings.


    "Eric, you better put me down!" Bella Lim struggled again. From what she noticed, Eric Wu knew what she was asking about but pretended to ignore it. Therefore, to get the answer she wanted, she knew she had to free herself first.


    Bella Lim spectated her surroundings and noticed that they were now heading towards a gate hidden by the climbing and rambling red roses. This was her chance! She was confident that in order to open the gate, Eric Wu had to loosen his grips on her. She had to wait for the chance to happen!


    "Madam Olivia is your mom?" he heard her asked. Eric Wu stared at her for quite sometimes then he walked to the gate and pushed it open. Bella Lim''s eyes followed his action and she gasped when she saw a cute cottage standing not far from where they were standing. She subconsciously walked forward and stopped right next to Eric Wu.


    "Don''t do anything or today will not end well for you," she warned and the man laughed in response.


    "Bella," he called for her.


    Bella Lim turned to her right to face the man. Her entire body was on guard. She moved back to create a safe distance between them. Seeing her being cautious, Eric Wu couldn''t help but smile knowingly.


    "I don''t want to hide things from you. Olivia is my mother," he explained, walking towards her. However, the woman kept moving back.


    "Stop moving or you''ll ruin the herbs behind you," he said and Bella Lim instantly stopped. Eric Wu chuckled as he took her right hand and grasped it tightly.


    "Let''s go. I''ll answer your question about my mom," he said, pulling the surprised woman towards the cottage not far from them.


    Bella Lim coughed as she glanced at her hand which now held tightly by Eric. She stared at his broad back and sighed, something she kept doing these past few days.


    "Is Olivia really your mom?" she asked.


    "Yes," she heard him reply without hesitation. She exhaled again.


    "I didn''t mean to hide it from you," Eric Wu spoke and released Bella Lim''s hand once they reached the front door of the cottage. He squatted and lifted the rug, underneath was a small hidden compartment. He took the key that was kept inside. Before he unlocked the door, he looked at Bella Lim.


    "Sorry," he apologized and realized that his apology startled her before she shook her head. "It''s okay," she replied.


    "Is it really okay?" he asked again. No matter how tolerable she was, in the end, she was still being lied to.


    Taking a deep breath, Bella Lim spoke. "It was my mistake to ?ssume that she was your godmother," she smiled a forgiving smile. Truthfully, she was surprised and felt cheated, but she was the one who chose to believe Olivia as Eric''s godmother. Plus, she remembered Madam Olivia saying that she was indeed similar to a godmother. She should''ve known that she referred her as being Eric''s maternal mother.


    Well, what was the difference? In the end, Madam Olivia was still someone related to Eric and she was still the same person who made them stranded in her own island. Bella Lim finally relaxed after she thought the whole thing through.


    "Thanks, come in. This is my mom''s cottage. You can look around," Eric Wu invited her into the small house once he saw the resolved on her face.


    Bella Lim nodded and entered the cottage. Despite its small structure, the area inside was spacious as most of the furniture being used was muti-purposes. However, there was no sofa or couch in the living room. The only comfortable thing for them to sit on is the cushions in front of a 40-inch television. Furthermore, that was the only area with a carpet.


    Bella Lim walked towards the carpeted area without further ado. Once her foot stepped on it, she exhaled. The floor without a carpet was cold to the touch. When she received enough heat, she continued her tour only to discover one serious problem...!


    "Eric!" Bella Lim called in a frantic. Eric Wu who was in the kitchen ran to her with a worry expression.


    "What happened?" he asked as he looked around, trying to see what made her scream in fear.


    "There is only one room!" she said with a grim look on her face while pointing to the only door available inside the house.


    Eric Wu blinked and a mischievous smile popped into his face. Seeing the smile, Bella''s eyes widened. "I''m taking the room and you the carpet!" she decided, looking smugly at Eric Wu.