 
The same night at Louis’ rented house
With his white shirt half buttoned and the gray tie loosened around his neck, Louis was half-sitting and half-lying on the sofa, holding a bottle of wine in his hand.
He raised the bottle up to his mouth and poured the wine down his throat in one go, without stopping to catch his breath or to swallow it. The liquor entered his mouth and directly flowed down to his throat as it created a hot burning sensation all along its path. Louis closed his eyes as he continued pouring the wine in his mouth. For the past hour or so, he had been drowning himself in alcohol. It was both a way out and a way for him to punish himself for what he had done.
Somewhere deep inside Louis, it hurt immensely. And where it hurt almost unbearably was the painful realization that nothing he could ever do would be able to mend the pain he had caused to both Anne and Jessica.
Alcohol was the coward way out, he knew that, but if only it could help him forget everything for a little while, even just for a little while, Louis was glad to plunge forward. If only it could numb all his senses and take away the unbearable guilt he was feeling right now...
7:00 a.m. the next morning
Comfortably tucked in bed with a cool towel on his forehead, Louis woke up with a pounding headache and a slight fever. Last night was a blur to him. He couldn’t remember much except that he was very drunk. Someone had obviously taken care of him while he was drunk. Otherwise, he probably would have woken up somewhere on the floor.
Louis took the towel off from his forehead and sat up in bed. He held his hand against his forehead and closed his eyes as his head ached. When the pain slowly subsided, he opened his eyes and that was when he saw the cup of tea that was placed on his bedside’s night table.
Louis touched the cup.
It was still hot.
His eyes lingered on the cup of tea and, for a while, he just stared at it, unmoving and motionless. His eyes then averted to the towel in his hand.
Anne.
Obviously, she had discreetly come here yesterday to take care of him while he was drunk.
Immeasurable contempt for himself stirred in his heart as it dawned on him that what he was doing, which was to purposefully torment himself with guilt and regret, was hurting and worrying the ones who loved him more than anything else.
Since when had he become so weak, allowing himself to slip into such a pitiful state where he needed Anne to take care of him and worry about him?
What he and Jessica had was a mistake from the beginning; he had known that all along. It was his fault for allowing himself to fall in love with her and it was also his fault for putting Anne in such a state where she always has to be considered by others as the third person. What he owes both Jessica and Anne is something he never will be able to repay to them, not in this lifetime and not in the next.
But he had made a choice, and with that choice he had to take all the consequences. There are a lot of things he has to take care of. He can’t allow himself to wallow in self-inflicted misery. He should have been clearer, harder and stronger in his feelings before and he wasn’t. That was why he had caused to both Anne and Jessica so much pain. And as much as he didn’t want to admit it to himself before, the damage is already done and there is no turning back. What he can do now is stop, while he still can, what could be lingering pain for all three of them.
And for the first time in three years, Louis was finally clear in his mind, his feelings and clear on what he has to do next.
Some things need to be done no matter how much it will hurt to do them.
And if some things were to happen, he would know how to deal with them.
7: 30 a.m. in Stephen’s car
Stephen was driving Jessica and GiGi to the airport. Both Jessica and Stephen have each been keeping to themselves during the ride, each seeming occupied with thoughts of their own.
Jessica had been so unusually silent and distant this morning when Stephen had come to pick her up that it had started to scare and worry him. Afraid that one wrong word spoken might upset her, Stephen had chosen to keep silent. But through the rearview mirror, he has been observing Jessica out of the corner of his eyes.
Gone was the cheerful, chatty and optimist Jessica. The Jessica sitting beside him was nothing like the sister he had known all his life. It hurt him beyond words to see his sister so emotionally worn out and despondent to all things around her. She looked tired, she looked exhausted and she looked sickly pale.
Through Stephen’s eyes, Jessica was the perfect image of a broken woman, one who seemed to have lost all hope in life as if she had gambled her entirely life and happiness on something and had lost; she was so emotionally cold and distant to her surroundings that it was as if, to her, nothing really mattered anymore…
Nothing.
Except for one thing.
And that was GiGi.
Jessica held onto GiGi with such unusual closeness and tightness as if she was afraid that if she didn’t hold onto GiGi firmly enough that GiGi would be taken away from her anytime.
She held onto GiGi as if GiGi was the only thing precious left in her life.
Regret was evident in Stephen’s eyes as he looked at Jessica through the rearview mirror. He regretted ever having invited and coaxed her into attending his “welcome back to Hong Kong party” 4 years ago. It would have saved her so much pain if she never went there and met Louis.
And Louis…it was with bitterness that Stephen regretted to have ever befriended him and loved him as a brother.
At the airport before the departure gate
Stephen (handing the luggage to Jessica, concern and worry written all over his face): Take care Jessica.
Jessica (she takes the luggage from Stephen and feeling his concern, she assures him): Don’t worry, I will. (she then looks down at the diamond ring that was still on her finger, her eyes lingering on the diamond ring that still linked her to Louis, she then looks up at Stephen, her voice full of conviction) I might not be able to fully let go of everything yet but with time, I will. When I’m ready, I’ll come back here.
Stephen (relief reflected in his unusually serious eyes, he smiles slightly and tenderly pats Jessica’s shoulder in comfort): I know you will. It’s almost time, you should get going. (Stephen then bends down to caress GiGi’s sleeping face and kiss her forehead, and then looking back up at Jessica). Goodbye Jessica. Cecilia and I will be waiting for your return.
Jessica (with a weak smile): Goodbye Stephen.
8:00 a.m. in Louis’ office
Louis slammed the newspaper down on his desk.
He was in enough trouble now; he didn’t need all these reporters to make his life harder.
Damn all of them, he didn’t think he was that interesting of a subject until today.
He could care less about what they had to say about him. What he was afraid of was that this compilation of lies, would at the end of the day, do nothing but hurt both Anne and Jessica more than anything else.
With a remote control, he switched the TV on.
In front of a jewelry store
Reporter: After three years of marital bliss, Mr. Koo Tin Lok, chairman of Hung Sam (Holdings) Limited, once again disappointed his beautiful and loving wife as he was caught having an affair with another woman. Here are the juicy details coming from someone who had witnessed the whole story.
--Reporter moving forward to enter the jewelry store to interview a woman—
Reporter: Hello Miss. I’m a reporter from the Hong Kong Entertainment Daily News. Is it true that you had witnessed the whole tear-inducing scene of Jessica Fung discovering her handsome husband cheating on her with another woman?
Jeweler (carefully putting away her diamonds, she sighs): You’re right. I saw the WHOLE STORY with my own eyes. And when I think back about yesterday’s scene, I feel like crying, crying and crying, crying my heart out for Jessica. I, as a woman, feel so sorry for Jessica. To be the loving wife to such a heartless husband! Men are nothing but jerks, and stupid jerks at that.
Reporter (getting impatient with the woman’s unnecessary ramblings): M’am, so what was Jessica Fung’s reaction to the scene? And how was the other woman like?
Jeweler (sighing again): What did you think happened? Of course, Jessica cried when she saw her loser of a husband with another woman. Who wouldn’t? If it was me, I would have come over and slapped the hell out of that slut! But Jessica didn’t, she is too nice. She seemed so hurt when she saw them together and then she just ran away. And THAT OTHER WOMAN, I knew the moment I saw her that she was nothing but a slut! She basically dragged Louis Koo into the store and forced him to buy her a diamond necklace! And the most expensive one at that! See how stupid men are? Here here, I’ll show you the diamond. It’s a very rare diamond, it was manufactured in France in very limited quantity. My store is the ONLY ONE in Hong Kong…
Louis (dialing some numbers on his phone): Joyce, can you come in here right now?
A few minutes later, Joyce knocked on the door and entered the room.
One look at Louis’s face and judging from the newspapers and the remote control that now laid on the floor, Joyce knew that the man must be very upset. Even when he called her in, she could sense a surge of anger in his tone. Louis had never spoken to her that way nor did he ever lose his cool over anything. It was the first time that she had seen him exploding like this and she could guess immediately what he wanted her to do.
Anne.
He wanted her to take care of Anne.
Louis (polite but with an imperious tone): Joyce, could you take care of Anne for me? I don’t want those reporters anywhere near her. And as soon as you reach her, call me.
Joyce (nodding): I will arrange something for her.
After hearing Joyce’s words, for the first time in a long time, Louis smiled.
Louis: Thanks. I know I can always count on you.
Joyce just smiled back at his comment.
Joyce: Also, Mr. Fung called in this morning and said that he would be leaving for a few days.
Louis: I know, thank you.
Joyce: If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work.
Louis just nodded and Joyce left.
Outside Louis’ office
As usual, Nic was standing before Louis’ door. Today is his first day back here after he was beaten by Sunny’s men… after Joyce had tended to him, offering him her help…while he once again rejected her kindness. This morning, he had not wanted to report back to work. He didn’t want to see Joyce, fearing awkwardness.
But here he was.
Just then, Joyce came out from Louis’ office.
Nic (mentally debating with himself, he hesitates a bit and then finally decides to call out to her): Joyce.
She turned to him fixing him with her eyes. He hesitated.
Joyce (she then smiles): It’s okay, forget about it. (about to walk off when she suddenly thinks of something, she turns around) There’s a place I want to go this Saturday, mind to keep me company?
Nic: …
Joyce: Take it as your apology to me?
Nic: Hmm…sure.
Joyce smiled again and nodded her head.
Joyce then left to take care of what she had promised Louis.
At Anne’s House
When Joyce got off of her car, she couldn’t believe her eyes. It was as if every single reporter in Hong Kong had decided to turn up for a party here, right before Anne’s house.
Poor Anne, Joyce thought.
Joyce then quickly dialed Anne’s number.
Anne picked up the phone right away.
Anne: Joyce? There are too many people in front of my house right now. How about we meet each other at the back of my house? There are people there too but a lot less.
Joyce: Okay. I’m right here in front of your house. I’ll drive to the back now.
Anne: I’ll be there in 2 minutes.
After work hours
Louis (dialing Sunny’s office number): Don’t go. Wait for me, I need to talk to you. (he hangs up)
A short while later in Sunny’s office
Louis opened the door and walked towards Sunny.
Sunny (with a sarcastic tone): Hello Mr. Koo. Glad to have you here.
Louis: Cut the crap Sunny.
Sunny: Then what can I do for you?
Louis: Don’t touch Stephen.
Sunny: What are you talking about Mr. Koo? Mr. Fung is in Australia now probably relaxing under the sun and enjoying the landscapes.
Louis: I’m not a fool Sunny so don’t play games with me. I repeat it again. Don’t you dare touch Stephen.
Sunny (his eyes suddenly turning very hostile): Louis, don’t you ever forget that everything that you possess today is given to you by ME.
Louis (smiling mockingly): Sunny Chan, you know very well that you need me just as much as I need you.
Louis took great satisfaction that Sunny couldn’t find any come back to his words and was fuming with anger for that same reason.
Louis smiled again and then turned around and walked towards the door when he suddenly turned back around and said:
“One more thing, I’m no longer a puppet in your hands. Don’t you think I don’t know what you’ve been doing… the stolen HSBC file (chapter 1), the accident at the beach (chapter 4), the car accident (chapter 4) and even the kidnapping (chapter 5)...it’s you and no one else.”
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It’s very late tonight. We will write our thank you list tomorrow. Just wanted to say THANK YOU to our readers for bearing with our long updates. We hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you have time, tell us what you think so that we can improve :)
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