The Unfilial Daughter - Chapter 7

"Why do you insists on marrying that girl?" his mother's voice rang over the dining table.

In her mid-forties, his mother, Rosamund Chen was still able to make heads turn wherever she went. Paired with his handsome father, Andy Chen, the duo was well known amongst high society as the most powerful couple, for his family possessed enormous wealth and influence due to his father's amazing business mind.

Similar to many prominent families that indulged in fame and recognition, his lived to project the perfect image.

Imperfections were not allowed. Perhaps even despised as in the case of his older sister who had lost the favor of his parents merely because she was introverted and stuttered from nervousness.

It was therefore not surprising that his parents were against the idea of him marrying his former runaway bride.

In their eyes, the Chungs had insulted them, tarnished their perfect image. To make matters worse, Chung Enterprises was failing. They were definitely not the ideal in-laws that his parents wanted to allied with. The only reason they agreed to the marriage six years ago were because the Chungs had been socialites in high society for generations and his father wanted to reinforce his legendary reputation in the business world by saving Chung Enterprises.

Like them, he felt insulted by the Chungs; but unlike them, he was not satisfied with just sitting back and watching Chung Enterprises fall, watching the woman that rightfully belonged to him in another man's arms.

"I know what I'm doing," he replied curtly as he continued to cut into his sirloin steak.

His was not a family of love. He was not close to either of his parents. His parents were always too busy attending to business or social balls. His older sister and him had grown up under the care of their nanny.

"You are not to speak to your mother that way," his father's powerful voice roared.

Hastily he stood up, throwing his napkin on to the dining table, and headed towards the door, disregarding his sister's anxious calls.

*

The weather was bright and sunny, matching his mood perfectly. He had arrived home a day earlier than planned, wanting to surprise his lovely fiance. In his mind, she was home sitting idly in front of the wide screen TV flipping through channels out of boredom. The thought made him chuckle.

Stepping through the door, he could not hear any noise coming from the TV; on the contrary the entire apartment was quiet.

"Gill," he called, hoping for an answer but was only met with silence.

Slightly disappointed by the absence of his fiance, he settled his luggage by the door and briefly surveyed the apartment for traces of her whereabouts. A shiny object on the coffee table caught his attention. Walking closer, he realized it was her engagement ring.

Immediately, his heart dropped as an uncanny feeling washed over him. Picking up the ring, he also picked up a note from that was slipped underneath. He recognized his fiance's handwriting instantly, his entire body dropped on the couch after reading the brief message.

"I relieve you of your promise."

Despite the lack of explanation he knew what she meant, he knew what promise she was referring to.

She was letting him go.

He shook his head in disbelief.

Deluding himself to thinking it was possibly some horrible joke; he searched from room to room calling her name, only to discover all her clothing and personal belongings were gone.

Why?

Questions filled his head as he disbelievingly collapsed onto the bed.

*

He stood silently by the door, watching his younger sister sit motionlessly on her bed. The tray of food on her desk untouched.

"Gillie," he said softly, "you have to eat."

When she made no attempts to move, he slowly walked over. "You're going to make yourself sick if you don't eat."

He could still recall the day his parents brought his baby sister back from the hospital. Only four at the time, he watched in fascination as she wiggled her tiny hands and feet. His heart wrenched, witnessing her cry from hunger. Not knowing any better, he stuck his small index finger into her mouth, in hopes of temporarily relieving her distress until her baby bottle was ready.

But now, he could only watch helplessly as she starved herself.

"Gillie," he said, kneeling until his head was leveled with hers. His heart twisted when he noticed the tears that were sliding down her face. "Leave. Go back to New York."

It didn't matter that Chung Enterprises was going to fall.

Not when it meant sacrificing his baby sister.

His father.

He would take his father's place in prison.

He would claim all the responsibility.

"Kenny, I'm not going to leave," despite the weakness in her tone, the determination in her voice was obvious.

"Yes you are. I will take responsibility for everything," his voice boomed.

"I already left for six years. I can't be so selfish and leave again," her arms wrapped around his neck as she sobbed into his shoulder.

Wrapping his arms around her, he slowly rocked back and forth for minutes until her sobbing had subsided and her breathing had become regular.

She had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Gently, he placed her onto the welcoming mattress and covered her fragile body with a heavy blanket. Taking one last look, he couldn't resists stroking her sleeping face before he started towards the door.

His baby sister.

*

"Madam! Madam!" the maid's cries startled her as she tried to put the finishing touches on a design.

"What is it?" Charlene asked looking at the flustered maid.

"There's a man outside that wants to see Miss Gillian when I told him that Miss Gillian weren't seeing visitors he still wouldn't leave. He said he would stand there until she came out but Miss Gillian is asleep."

"Okay. I will deal it," she said.

Must be Daniel, she sighed.

She wished that her in-laws or her husband were home so that the responsibility would not land on her shoulders but unfortunately her in-laws had went out early in the morning and her husband had just left as well.

As she predicted, it was Daniel's expectant face that met her at the metal gates. His haggardness immediately triggered her sympathy.

"Charlene, where's Gillian? I have to see Gillian," he asked anxiously.

"That won't be possible," she replied, deliberately using a cold tone, wanting to dash his hopes before more pain bestowed upon him. She knew it was what her sister-in-law would have wanted.

"Why not?" he pleaded desperately.

"Gillian is going to marry Edison Chen in a few weeks. It would be best if you didn't see her anymore," she averted her eyes from him to a spot on the brick wall.

"Why are you guys forcing her to marry him? How can you guys be so heartless?" he screamed.

"We're not forcing her. She chose this on her own will."

"You're lying. I don't believe you."

"Believe whatever you want but for you own good and hers, stay away," she warned before turning to leave, not wanting him to see the tears that were beginning to gather in her eyes.

The two were so in love yet they couldn't be together.

"I won't give up," she heard Daniel shout from behind but she only quicken her steps, wanting to reach the safety of the house as soon as possible.

She had said the same thing once.

She had waited days for the man she loved once.

But one day, she stopped waiting.