3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Anne walked out of Doctor Mung’s office and into the busy street.

Just when she was about to cross the street, to her horror, Anne once again spotted him on the other side.

Anne turned around immediately hoping to once again avoid him. Her turn around was too abrupt and she bumped into an old lady. Anne quickly apologized and helped the lady up but before she could fly away from him…he tapped on her shoulders.

Wong He (now standing before her): Long time no see, Hoi Lan.

Anne (cold): He. (He as in Wong He)

Wong He: What are you doing down here?

Anne (looking straight into his eyes): What I do here is none of your business.

Wong He (shaking his hand in front of her): Ouch. Still tough with me even after all these years, aren’t you? Where’s the jinx?

Anne offered no reply, instead she just glared at him.

Wong He (sarcastically): OK,OK, where is your “Ah Tin” then?

Anne (looking away): I don’t know. We are no longer together.

Wong He (a smile of satisfaction spreads on his face): That’s good, he’s going to only drag…(suddenly interrupted by his ringing cell phone)

Wong He: (picking up his cell phone, his eyes never leaving Anne’s face): Hello……..Hello………Hello (he turns around from Anne and put a hand up to cover one of his ears hoping to hear more clearly) Oh Mr. Cheung. I’m sorry, I guess my cell phone is running out of batteries. Ok, ok, yes, yes. Yes. Of course Mr. Cheung, my pleasure, my pleasure. Ok, so we’ll meet each other tomorrow just as planned. Thank you Mr. Cheung. Bye Bye.

He immediately turned around, and not much to his surprise, Anne was already gone.

7 p.m. at Cecilia’s Mansion

The house looked especially warm today as huge “Merry Christmas” banners adorned the walls of the usual calm and sturdy living room. A tall Christmas tree, decorated with many different type of bright multicolored lights, stood in a corner of the living room. The tree was truly a sight to behold with its shimmering lights and the numerous gifts that were spread out under its foot.

With a glass of red wine in his hand, Andy Lau was thoughtfully standing in front of a life-sized portrait hung in the living room. Andy’s usually quick and sharp mind seemed for a moment frozen in thoughts of sorrow as he intently observed the portrait of Michele, his long deceased wife. Andy found his loving gaze commemorating every single feature of her face… beginning with the high forehead that testified to her intelligence… to the round, and dark jewel-like eyes that personified her mysterious, deep and sensitive soul…to finally settle on the red heart-shaped lips that especially put to emphasis, her sensual nature.

Andy’s gaze then wandered alongside every curve on Michele’s body remembering her touch and feeling the need to once again hold her in his arms while every single expression on her face and every gesture she ever made came back to fill his aching mind.

Andy admired the portrait in front of him as if standing before him was a living and breathing Michele instead of a black and white photograph that was taken more than two decades ago. It was Andy’s inability to let go of Michele that seemed to breathe life into the portrait and make it so real that anyone living in the house would feel its presence casting a shadow on what was once a perfect family.

The doorbell rang.

Without turning around, Andy just continued to silently observe the portrait while the housemaid hurriedly ran towards the door and opened it.

Louis entered the mansion holding GiGi in his arms and with Jessica beside him.

As soon as they entered the house, Andy turned around and greeted them both with a courteous nod of the head.

Louis and Jessica returned the greeting with a polite “Hi Uncle”.

Andy (to Louis): When you’re ready, meet me in my study room. (to Jessica) Cecilia will be back very soon and please make yourself at home while I discuss some business matters with Louis.

With that, Andy turned around and took one last glimpse at Michele’s portrait before he walked up the stairs and to his study room.

A little while later, in Andy’s study room

Andy was reading some files when Louis knocked on the door.

Andy: Come in.

Louis (opening the door): Andy.

Andy (motioning for Louis to sit down, once Louis had sat down): I have thought about your proposal and have made my decision. (He smiles) I will be happy to cooperate with Hung Sam.

Louis (smiles and hands out his hand): Hope that our cooperation will be a success.

Andy (shaking Louis’s hand, he smiles confidently): It will.

Louis: Let’s just discuss the formalities then.

Andy (smiling): Sure

Half an hour later in the living room

GiGi was curiously creeping towards the multicolored-packaged gifts at the foot of the huge Christmas tree while Jessica and Cecilia were sitting on the sofa chatting and at the same time, trying to keep an eye on GiGi.

Jessica (smiling): So, have you chosen a wedding picture to enlarge yet?

Cecilia didn’t answer Jessica. Instead she seemed pretty distracted the whole time not paying much attention to the conversation. Jessica noticed Cecilia’s eyes constantly surveying the balcony with a worried look.

It has been a long time and Stephen was still standing on the balcony gulping down a can of beer, apparently deep in thought.

Jessica (also looking towards the direction of the balcony, a worried look crosses her face): Did something happen between you and Stephen? He has been unusually quiet tonight.

Cecilia (doesn’t know how to answer Jessica’s question, she hesitates a bit): No, not at all. I think he is just tired from work. (suddenly standing up) I’ll go talk to him.

Jessica just nodded, seeming a little confused at Cecilia’s reaction.

On the balcony

Stephen sullenly stared at the exceptionally dark night sky as he downed another can of beer when Cecilia walked over and stood by his side.

Stephen (still looking ahead): Maybe I shouldn’t have come tonight.

Cecilia: Stephen…

Stephen: Do you think that I am wrong for not telling her the truth?

Cecilia (also looking ahead, contemplating an answer): I am not sure. I think that there’s no right or wrong thing to do…

Stephen: I know it’s unfair of me to keep the truth from Jessica but it’s just that…(looking through the large glass window of the balcony to stare at Louis and Jessica who were now playing with GiGi under the Christmas tree, he then looks at Cecilia) can’t you see how happy their family of three is? I can’t start to imagine what would happen if I had told Jessica the truth? I can’t bear to see her perfect world fall apart once again after all that she’s been through for Louis (he shakes his head in confusion) I don’t know what’s the right thing to do anymore……

Cecilia pulled Stephen tightly against herself.

Cecilia: Stephen, just do whatever you think is right and know that whatever decision you make, I’ll be there by your side to support you.

Stephen felt himself almost going slack in Cecilia’s embrace as her words of comfort cut through the tension and confusion he felt just moments’ ago.

Stephen (barely a whisper): Thanks Cecilia. (he hugs her tighter) Thanks.

---

10 o’clock p.m.

The party has come to an end.

After thanking Andy for hosting the party, Louis and Jessica carrying a sleeping GiGi, made their way to the car.

Louis unlocked the door to the backseat for Jessica to put GiGi into the baby chair and tied the seatbelt while he turned around and walked towards Stephen who was a bit tipsy from all the cans of beer he had consumed earlier.

Louis (trying to help Stephen to stand straight): Let me give you a ride.

Stephen (strongly jerking his arm off of Louis’ hand, he looks straight at Louis, anger flashing in his eyes): I don’t need a ride from you.

Just then Cecilia ran towards them.

Cecilia (to Louis): I’ll take care of Stephen.

Louis just nodded and left to join Jessica and GiGi in the car.

---

In the car

Jessica (referring to the incident just earlier): Stephen has been a little stressed out from work lately. Don’t mind him.

Louis: Of course not. Jessica, can you come to Hung Sam this coming Tuesday? We have to discuss some business matters with the other shareholders.

Jessica: Why? You can decide for me.

Louis: No, every shareholder has to be there for this important meeting. I’ve decided to cooperate with Andy and I need the agreement of at least 60 percent of the shareholders.

Jessica: It’s been so long since I last kept an eye on the company so I don’t really know what’s going on anymore. Tomorrow, I’ll just transfer all the shares I have in hand to your name so that you can make a decision for me.

Louis (seeming a little awkward with the idea): I don’t think it’s a good idea…

Jessica (her eyes serious): Louis, I trust you.

Louis just smiled.

Jessica (smiling back at him): Ok, I’m tired now. I’ll sleep a bit, just wake me up when we get home.

Louis: Okay.

Jessica closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.

At a red light, Louis stopped the car but he dared not look at Jessica as she slept. He took a deep breath as he looked out the window, suddenly feeling so utterly disgusted with himself.

---

10 p.m. the same day in a far off place

While Louis, Jessica, Stephen, Cecilia and Andy were having a warm and happy Christmas Eve celebration at Andy’s Mansion, Nic was alone, shivering outside in the cold weather.

He was on a mission.

It has been so long since Sunny had asked Nic to go on a mission. Since the day Sunny had arranged for Nic to be Louis’ special bodyguard, the only thing Nic ever had to do was to closely follow Louis’ every move and report them back to Sunny.

This time around, the person Nic has to kill is an ex-undercover cop who had had the nerve to infiltrate in their organization and caused some pretty serious damage to one of their branches. Afraid of revenge, the cop had quickly moved to this far off area once his mission was accomplished and his policeman status recovered.

The cop probably knew it himself that his time would come to an end soon because anyone who had ever been in the underworld or in the police force knew that there was no one that “Predator Syndicate” wanted and couldn’t get.

Nic raised the sniper he was holding up to his eye level and observed the situation inside the house. He was just waiting for the right moment.

Inside, a family of three: the cop, his wife and their 6-7 year old son were having a warm Christmas Eve supper. The father stood up and with a knife, he cut two pieces from the deliciously cooked turkey and proceeded to put down the pieces in the mother’s plate and then in the son’s plate.

Nic could have shot the man right there when he stood up but somehow, Nic didn’t. Instead, he unconsciously continued to stare at the beautiful scene… the epitome of the perfect family, as a heart-wrenching sadness washed over the deepest corners of his heart bringing out a side of him that he thought he had lost a long time ago.

But before his emotions overwhelmed his senses, Nic took hold of himself and focused back on the mission at hand as he aimed for his target.

It was the right moment, the perfect opportunity.

The man had stood up and walked over to the kitchen…he was alone and at a good distance from the other 2 inhabitants of the house.

Nic concentrated all his attention as he aimed for the man’s heart wanting the shot to single-handedly take the man’s life.

But as Nic was about to pull the trigger, the 6-7 year old boy had all of a sudden ran towards his father. There was something in the little boy’s round eyes as he looked at his father that prevented Nic from killing the man...from ruining their perfect family. It was a mixture of innocence and pure affection that mirrored that of another little boy Nic once knew……

Nic’s hand trembled.

Nic looked down at the ground in confusion as he lowered the weapon.

---

3 hours later. 1 a.m. back in the city

Nic was absentmindedly walking and walking, not exactly knowing where he was going when somebody dropped a huge bag on his head and dragged him to a dark alley nearby.

Once they were in the security of the dark alley, all the men gathered in a circle around Nic and had started to punch and kick him back and forth as a sort of fun warm up before they proceeded to punish him with baseball bats, steel pipes and various other weapons. Nic tried to ease himself out of the bag and fight back but they were simply too many and too strong against his limited strength.

After a while, when they were done beating him, they dragged him towards a white van and threw him in the trunk.

Sunny had been sitting on the backseat, waiting for him.

Sunny (turning his head to look at Nic): You know Nic, I’m very disappointed with you this time. You used to be the toughest among all of them and never once did you disappoint me. What caused you to be so weak now?

Nic just remained silent as he pulled off the bag that was covering his head and looked squarely at Sunny with defiant anger.

Sunny: I’m just giving you a small lesson this time. (shaking his head) Tsk, tsk, tsk…Look at your pitiful self now. Obey me and make your life easy. Disobey me and you’ll wish you were never born. That’s enough for now, I don’t wish to speak with you anymore. (motioning for his men to throw Nic out of the van)

As the men were about to throw Nic out, Sunny motioned for them to stop.

Sunny: Oh yeah before you go, I also forgot to tell you one thing. You know, the poor undercover cop you were supposed to kill? Because of your disobedience, his whole family had to burn with him until their last breath. Know that you are solely responsible for their death and suffering. Remember one thing, you’re nothing without me SO DON’T YOU FUCK AROUND WITH ME.

Tears of rage burnt in Nic’s eyes as he glared at Sunny.

Sunny (to his men): Throw him out!

---

Joyce was taking a night walk to clear her mind when she noticed an illegally parked van. Seconds later, some men threw a seemingly injured man out from the trunk of the van and drove off.

From afar, Joyce could see the injured victim lying on the ground. Joyce’s reflex told her to notice the van’s plate number. AC 6798, AC 6798, AC 6798, Joyce kept reminding herself of the numbers as she ran towards the victim.

She turned him around. And there lying before her was Nic.

Joyce (horrified inside but still calm on the outside, taking out her cell phone): I’ll call the police.

Nic (very weakly): No, don’t!

Joyce: Why?

Nic: I’m fine now.

Joyce: I’ll take you to the hospital. (she tries to help him, letting him lean on her)

Nic (he takes her hands off of him): It’s okay, I can manage. (he turns around and starts to walk away from her)

Joyce (getting annoyed): Why are you so reluctant to let other people help you?

Nic: Why should you care?

Joyce: Then why shouldn’t I?

Nic (taking a deep breath as unshed tears formed in his eyes): Because I don’t deserve it. I got what I deserve. (he continues to walk without turning back to look at her)

Joyce (looking straight at Nic’s back, she says in an exceptionally strong voice): No one deserves that kind of treatment no matter what they did.

For a moment, without turning back, Nic seemed to stop walking as he thought about Joyce’s words.

But the stop was only temporary.

Nic resumed walking.

---

Note: We made a trailer for the story so if u have time take a look at it. And sorry for the long update, we were having a huge block and were slacking off a bit but here we are! Hope that it won't disappoint you! We'll answer your comments tmr since it's very late now. Let us know what you think about this chapter! And Jessica finds out in the next chapter so stay tuned! Thanks everyone!