The Unfilial Daughter - Chapter 14

There was no doubt in his mind that his father would follow through with his threat. No one ever defied his father without paying a price. It was ironically probably the trait he had inherited to the fullest from his father.

His standing in Chen Corporation was as good as gone, all because he refused to withdraw from Chung Enterprises.

Had he made the decision out of pride? Or was it because of a promise he had made?

Edison wasn't sure of the answer, or worse, he was afraid of the answer.

His eyes remained glued to the road ahead as he continued to step on the gas petal, accelerating until the traffic in front blocked his path. In a split moment's decision, he swerved onto the next lane, causing a wave for angry honks to fill the air.

Amanda.

Why did his father have to bring her up again?

Just when he thought the images of her bright innocent eyes and luscious red lips had slowly faded away.

It seemed only like yesterday that he met Amanda at a fraternity party, but in actuality it was already eight years ago. He was only eighteen at the time, young and over-confident.

He could still recall sitting by the couch when she timidly walked into the room, in an oversized sweater and mini-skirt, avoiding the eyes of lust driven admirers. It had taken a bit of work before she finally warmed up to him but by the end of the night she had agreed to give him her number. During the next six months, they were inseparable; he was absolutely taken in by her innocence and gentleness.

She was an angel from above.

She was his first love.

Of course, it had been no surprise when his parents opposed of their relationship; after all, her family was mere middle-class, nowhere as prestige as his own. Despite, the opposition, his faith in their relationship remained strong, that is until he found out she had taken the bribe from his father to leave him.

The only woman he had ever entrusted his heart to, she had betrayed him. She had chosen money over him.

For a million dollars, she had left him.

Perhaps his father had been right, she had only been with him for his money after all. It had been a painful lesson but he had learned it well.

Since that day, he stopped believing in love.

Preparing to make another sharp cut to the next lane, his body immediately tensed when a warm gentle hand laid on his.

Gillian.

So absorbed in thoughts, he had almost forgotten her presence. Easing off the gas petal, he took a quick glance at the beauty beside him. Her eyes were filled with emotions he had never seen from her, worry and concern, but he reminded himself not to be overtaken.

He had married her for the sole purpose of revenge, to make her pay for the humiliation she had caused him but yet whenever his eyes rested on her porcelain face he found it impossible to mutter even a harsh word.

It was as if she had cast a spell over him. The harder he fought the more he felt drawn to her.

"Let's eat, I'm sure you are hungry by now," he suggested, void of any emotion.

Was this God's punishment to him?

*

She watched intently as her husband drank glass after glass of wine, finishing more than half the bottle while his plate remained untouched. Staring out into enormous window that displayed the nightlights of Hong Kong, his eyes barely shifted, she could only imagine what was on his mind.

Unexplainable uneasiness filled her worried heart as she continued to study his handsome features that remained unreadable. It was the first time since their marriage, she had felt a strong emotion of any kind, and even more surprisingly, it was for the very man that she had spent most of her adult life running away from.

Repeatedly, playing over and over again in her mind was the argument between her husband and father-in-law just hours ago.

Her husband had chosen to go against his father to remain in Chung Enterprises. She couldn't help wondering the true reason behind his decision.

Was it because of his promise to her? Or was she overestimating her importance?

There was just too much about her husband that she did not know. They were married in name but their hearts were so far apart.

What she did know was, he was a man of his words.

In return for her hand in marriage, he had promise to save Chung Enterprises, to bring it back from the midst of bankruptcy. And with her own eyes, she had seen how hard he worked to do just that.

An hour later, they reached the parking lot of their building with Gillian behind the wheels while her husband laid comfortably on the slid down passenger seat. The alcohol had taken effects particularly quickly and strongly due to his empty stomach, leaving him only semi-conscious.

Stepping into the apartment, she supported him by the side while he wobbled along. After clumsily removing his own suit jacket and tie, he landed heavily onto the sturdy mattress. From behind, she helped him removed his shoes and pulled the blankets over his exhausted body.

Sitting by on the edge as she tucked him in, she couldn't help pausing to take a long glance at the sleeping figure. This was probably the first time she had seen him asleep despite the months they had shared a bed together. He looked so vulnerable but his sleep was restless.

He was in turmoil.

Since the day of their wedding, she had resided to fate, living without really feeling, as good as dead in many ways.

Perhaps that had all been an effect of self-pity. Unknowingly, blaming fate for taking away her happiness, for taking her away from Daniel. In retrospective, having observed her husband these last few months, she couldn't help realizing his life was no better than hers, if not worse.

Everyday he was fighting a battle, a battle against the rest of the world, against competitors, against his parents, against his own executives. More times than not, his jaws were tightened from the constant stress.

A few times, she even overheard employees snickering about her husband being left at the alter by her. She couldn't help but feel she had wronged him.

In fighting for her own happiness, she had inadvertently chosen to sacrifice his.

Gently caressing the side of his face, she continued to stare at her husband's sleeping features until he finally found peace and serenity.

For better or for worse...until death.

*

Stumbling along unsteadily on a deserted street, a haggard figure leaned on light poles and telephone booths for support as he proceeded. Occasionally, crouching over to dispel the remains of his last meal.

A nasty bruise had donned his face from the brawl at the bar hours before, but he was too intoxicated to realize.

Alcohol had become his only salvation.

Solitude had become his only companion.

But such was probably the lesser of two evils; compared to the path he will soon choose.