Charmaine stared at the burning candles above the small white cake and closed her eyes for a while. After that, she blew the candles out and Luke started clapping his little hands.
"What did you wished for, mommy?" Luke asked.
Charmaine smiled and shook her head. "It's a secret! Let me take a photo of this vanilla flavored cake first before giving it a taste!" she said before taking out her new camera and shot a few pictures.
"Let's ask someone to take a photo of us too!" Luke blurted. "We need a family photo as souvenir!"
Leo laughed and called someone to help them take a few photos: the three of them with Charmaine in the middle holding her birthday cake. In her heart, she felt complete. This is the happy family she wished to have. Does she finally deserves it?
"I'll go over there to take some photos of the ponds." she said pointing to the japanese garden. There were a lot of koi fish there and she loves them. Leo watched as Charmaine rushed to the Kyoto garden like a child running around a field. Finally, he was beginning to see the old Xiaomin in her again.
"Congratulations. You just earned yourself a lot of good brownie points there." Luke joked.
Leo gave Luke a piece of cake and opened a canned soda for him. "All thanks to you, buddy! I owe you one." he said with a smile. When they were in Paris he asked Luke what Charmaine likes. He said she likes eating a lot. She's a foodie and loves taking pictures of dishes before eating them. That's when he remembered Charmaine's childhood dream of being a nature photographer. Charmaine loves animals, flowers and trees. She likes a peaceful and quiet environment. That's why he chose to buy a house in the suburbs instead of the city. He was hoping Charmaine would join him in that house someday.
"I'm glad you're sharing the credit. Can I have soda everyday?" he mumbled.
Leo looked at him coldly. "Nice try." he answered.
***
"I wish they were mine. I wish this is my family. I wish I can stay with them forever." that was Charmaine's birthday wish. If this was her family, then she will do everything in her power to fight for them.
"Please take me to the Ji mansion." Charmaine told Leo after they left the nature park. "I need to talk to grandpa about something."she added.
Leo was startled but didn't say anything. There was something in Charmaine's determined eyes that tells him she was about to deal with something of great importance. He just silently drove the car until they reached their destination after 56 minutes. "Do you want me to wait for you?" he offered when the car stopped in front of a huge iron gate. He can't be seen entering the Ji household though, so he can't accompany her inside.
"It's alright. You can go back first. I'll just catch a cab later." she replied before alighting from the shotgun seat. Leo watched as the security guarding the gate allowed her in. Somehow, he was worried. It was a ridiculous inkling that his mind couldn't explain but was there. Was something bad about to happen? Or maybe he was just overthinking.
"Laura!" she called. "Is Grandpa inside? I need to talk to him about something." Charmaine asked when she saw Laura walking on the front lawn. She was about to turn to the garden when she saw her and she halted steps at once.
"Xiaomin, what are you doing here?" Laura asked. She suddenly looked so troubled upon seeing her. Did something happen? "Grandpa isn't home. I think you should come back some other time. And do call first before paying us a visit!" she said.
Charmaine furrowed her brows. She knew she wasn't engaged to Leo anymore and weren't connected to the Jis but they were friends at least. Why would Laura treat her with indifference all of a sudden?
"I think you should go now. Believe me, you don't want to be here." she said, making it obvious she's driving her out.
Charmaine sighed. She was about to turn her back and walk away when they suddenly heard a man's voice from a distance. It was calling both Charmaine and Laura's names.
"That's not the right way to treat a guest, Laura!" the man scolded her as he walked closer. "You shouldn't be rude to visitors."
Laura looked away. Charmaine noticed she was pinching her arm. Was she nervous? But why? It was just Jun, her eldest brother telling her off!
"I'm sorry about that." Jun told Charmaine. "What did you come here for? Let's have a seat and talk about it." he suggested, gesturing to the small garden hut a few meters away from them.
"No, I just came to see Grandpa and chat a little. Since he isn't home, I'll just come back another day." she replied.
Jun smiled but didn't back down. He put an arm around her waist and dragged her to a seat. "Well, I have something to discuss with you myself so maybe we should sit for a while and talk for a bit." he stated. Charmaine tried to pry his hand away but she couldn't so she just went to the garden hut with him. First, Laura was acting strange. Now, Jun was being weird too. What's wrong with them?
"Tell me the truth... Are you here to see Leo?" Jun asked as soon as they were seated.
Charmaine quickly shook her head. "I told you, I'm just here to see Grandpa." she replied.
Jun nodded. "Alright. You also know that Leo was never interested in you. You should stay away from him from now on. He's not worth your time anyway." he remarked.
Charmaine furrowed her brows. "What are you talking about?" she asked. Why would Jun suddenly comment about her private life? They were not close friends! Laura could tell her off but not Jun!
"Am I not right? You've been chasing after him since you were eleven. I didn't say anything before because he's your fiance but not anymore. Sooner or later I will be the one standing next to you." he replied with a smile.
Standing next her? Why would he say that? "I don't... get what you're saying Jun!", she uttered. She's getting annoyed with the way he talks to her.
"Simple! I'm now the newly appointed heir in the Ji Family. And as you know, the rules of inheritance stated that only your fiance can become the next successor. There's no official statement about the engagement yet but... it's just a matter of time." Jun declared with full confidence.
Charmaine was silenced by the news. Jun... will be her new fiance? The engagement wasn't dissolved but instead the fiance had been replaced? What kind of a joke is that?
Enraged, Charmaine stood up from her seat. "I'm sorry for bursting your bubble, but I will not marry you." she stated. "I will only marry the person I like!"