The Australian air was hot. Summer was coming soon yet the heat was already quite unbearable. Cindy Richards put on her hat and walked out. She had been staying here for the last three years or ever since her sister Carmen Richards got married to the Icy president of the Sterling Empire, Alexander Sterling.
After the wedding had ended, Cindy Richards had asked her parents to send her to Australia to further her studies. When her parents heard that, they were skeptical at first but after some insistence from her, they finally relented.
She walked down the steps and met up with her dear friend, Olivia Ashford. She was also studying here and they met at a party and had been friends since. Olivia Ashford's voice was high-pitched as she greeted, "This weather is really going to make my glowing skin break out again! It is so hot!"
As usual, complaints were her greetings. Hua Jing looked at her and laughed, "You should sit under a tree for the whole day then!"
Olivia Ashford clicked her tongue, "If I could then I definitely would but Mr. Springsteen from Economics would definitely hang me upside down if I miss another class!"
Olivia Ashford was majoring in business while Cindy Richards focused on Fashion and Design. She had wanted to be a model back then but oh well, the dreams were shattered just like that first dream she ever had.
She laughed at Olivia Ashford, "You are lucky the teachers love you. I heard that you topped the class once more. I did not know that my friend's IQ was close to Einstein's!"
Olivia shrugged, "You flatter me, my Queen!" she said in the worst possible Australian accent she could master, which earned her a shove from Cindy Richards.
What she said was quite true. Olivia was a genius. It was always surprising how she spent almost all of her time partying and drinking, yet when the exams came, she still managed to come out first. Cindy wished some of that luck would fall on her.
They spoke about many other things before Olivia suddenly asked, "I will be going back home for the summer holidays. It is much cooler than here. Will you go back, or will you stay here?"
Cindy thought about it for a while before answering, "I will probably stay here."
Olivia gave her that look she always gave when she wanted more information, but she sighed at last because she knew Cindy would never tell her why she never went back home.
All of the holidays, she stayed here. She was tucked up in her one-bedroom house. Ever since Olivia had known her, she felt as though there was a mysterious energy surrounding Cindy. It was as if there was a bubble covering her which she wanted so badly to poke.
Cindy, on the other hand, could not say it out loud that the only reason she never went back home was because of her sister's husband, Alexander Sterling.
She had also never told anyone that when she was fifteen, she had seen Alexander for the very first time. He was twenty years old by then, yet he had an air of youthful immaturity. He was also the most handsome man Cindy had ever met and just by his face alone, she had fallen in love.
Alexander always came to their house especially when he accompanied his father, Roman Sterling, for some business discussions with her own father, Oliver Richards.
The children would stay outside while the grown-ups talked. Cindy would often sneak and bring Alexander outside to play. Alexander's face would always be very neutral whenever he was whisked away, but there was not a single day that he refused.
He once looked at Cindy who was playing with the flowers and asked, "Is it interesting, playing with the flowers?"
His voice was developing into that of a man and it was very deep. Cindy looked at him and smiled, "Yes…very interesting. They are very pretty but not as pretty as that face of yours!"
She always did this, complementing his face whenever she got the chance. Alexander stared at her for a very long time and said nothing. Cindy suddenly remembered something and smiled, "When you grow up, I know you will also choose a wife as beautiful as these flowers."
Alexander turned and his answer was not expected, "I would rather marry a stupid wife!"
At that time, Cindy had not understood but she also failed to understand when he married her sister, Carmen Richards.
Carmen was the smartest person Cindy knew.
Her trail of thought was interrupted by an insistent buzz of her phone. She took it out and was surprised to see it was her mother. She quickly picked it up, "Hi ma, did you miss your favorite daughter already?"
Her mother laughed dryly, "You wish. How is my princess doing?"
Cindy felt sweat trickling down her calves. She found a tree to stand under, "I have been fine ma."
There was a slight pause before her mother's deep sigh reached her ears, "Baby, I will need you to come back home for the holidays. Your sister wants to see you."
Cindy felt something was strange, "Did something happen to her?"
Her mother was silent for a few seconds before she answered, "No. is it possible for you to travel back home in the next two days?"