Kevin left the army base early as yesterday. He didn't head for the Leng's house and instead went straight to his apartment. Kevin bought some cute gadgets on his way home -- he was going to decorate his apartment to make it look more cozy.
After he was done, Kevin leaned against the door, admiring his masterpiece, a comfortable apartment with a facelift. He smiled as he began to imagine life in this little space. Before meeting Leena, he never planned to live here forever. He had always viewed this apartment as a temporary residence.
As Kevin was enjoying his daydreams, what was happening at the Leng's house was another story entirely. Leena had showed Duke the marriage certificate. He stared at it with open-mouthed incredulity. His hands, holding the luggage, began to tremble. Leena looked at him, trying to gauge his reaction. To her surprise, he burst out laughing. That was typical of his sister, doing anything she had to in order to get what she wanted. She would even use the most serious things, like marriage, to avoid leaving home.
"Leena, a fake marriage certificate won't work. You hear me? This isn't going to get you out of studying in France." Duke had no idea why Leena hated to go there so much that she even forged document.
"Duke, we agreed that you wouldn't ask me to go to France if I got married." Leena's eyes filled with tears. Her brother was so fixated on sending her back to France that she didn't get a chance to tell him Kevin was coming by for a visit. Leena started panicking as Duke began to take her luggage out. France was far away from home and she had no friends there. Going back there was the least thing Leena wanted to do. The marriage certificate was her last chance -- Duke wouldn't go back on his word, would he?
"Yes, we agreed on that. But what I meant was that you need a real marriage, not a fake certificate." It's obvious that Duke didn't believe this really happened at all. He was so sure about it that his sense of amazement vanished.
"No, it's real. I never planned to trick you with a fake one. Are you calling me a liar? It's a real one. Look at it carefully." Leena said, raising her voice. The family had been spoiling Leena so much that no one was hard on her. She felt sorry for herself as Duke yelled at her -- she raised her voice to defend herself.
Okay, it's fake anyway. Looking at it carefully won't turn it into a real one." Duke responded with a sneer. Actually, he kind of looked forward to seeing how his sister would act after he proved it was fake. As he opened it, Duke was dumbstruck. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw what was inside: a picture of Leena and a man in an army uniform.
Duke... are you okay?" Leena asked carefully as she saw his face contorted in amazement.
Leena, who is this guy? Where did you find him? Why is he in a military uniform? Okay, forget it. I don't care who he is. Today, you are going to France. End of conversation." Duke said in a cold tone. He knew his sister staying at home would cause trouble and this just proved it.
"No, I am not going to France. I am an adult now. I go where I want." Leena had been the apple of her family's eye. They wouldn't force her to do anything. Leena was shocked by Duke's harsh tone and tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
"You think you have the right to go where you want? Okay, we'll see who's boss." Duke grabbed her arm and walked her to the door, forcibly. He was angry because Leena talked back to him. Duke knew he was part of the reason his sister became such a spoon-fed child -- he spoiled her too much.
"Where are you taking me? I don't want to go to France." Leena was shocked to see her brother was serious. She fought hard to get loose, but his grip was too tight. Leena didn't expect Duke could be so mad at her, forcing her to go to France. Leena panicked after Duke dragged her into the car.
Duke moved his fine eyebrows together. He didn't want to admit to the possibility that the marriage certificate was real, because he knew his sister would do anything, even marrying someone, to get what she wanted. Now he had to get Leena to France and needed some time to think about how to deal with the mess.
Leena felt a sudden rush of panic as the car roared down the road. She recognized the signs to the international airport. Duke was determined to send her to France today. But what about Kevin? Would he understand that she left against her will?
Suddenly, an idea occurred to Leena that she could ask Kevin to come to her rescue. Leena secretly took out her phone and sent a message to him. Then she gave a sign of relief and waited for Kevin to rescue her.
Kevin saw Leena's message when he was enjoying himself in his comfy apartment. He ran to his car, keys out. Leena was his wife now -- he had to protect her.
He got in the car and his foot stamped down on the accelerator as he recalled what Leena said in her text: Help! International Airport. He sounded the siren and hurtled onward to the airport.
Maybe he should have gone to the Leng's house instead of decorating his apartment. If he had done what he was supposed to do, Leena wouldn't be on her way to the airport. Now he didn't have the faintest idea of what happened to Leena. Why was she going to the airport? Was it her brother? Because they were married? Where was she headed? Oh right: France. Did Duke force her to leave before she could tell him they had got married? Kevin didn't know anything and all he could do now was guessing.
His Humvee was whizzing along the motorway with a loud siren. At the airport, Leena was restlessly waiting for Kevin. Boarding was in 15 minutes and he hadn't appeared yet. Did he get the text? Or were his hands full with work right now?
Duke was surprised to see Leena stop crying. Didn't she just shout that she would rather be dead than in France? 'Okay, no matter the reason. It's good to see her stop crying. Duke thought. Her tears might soften even my heart.