423 Past Reunion (1/2)

Seeing that woman beside Francesca, Xiu's heart went cold. She had decided to forget the bitterness of past life but how was she supposed to forget the pain of feeling wronged? The pain that people like her brought to her, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Even when she wasn't the one in the wrong!

That woman's polite smile and elegant bearing reminded Xiu what was the difference between these two in the past life. One got the status of 'wife' and the other was labeled as 'mistress'.

”Child, don't just stand there. Come,” Francesca was the one who noticed Xiu just standing there and gestured her to come out while the woman beside her also turned to look in Xiu's direction. ”Oh, this looks good on you just as I had thought.” While Francesca was assessing the dress Xiu wore, Xiu couldn't help staring blankly at the woman beside her.

”And who is this?” Xiu heard that familiar soft voice that she had come to hate at one point in her life. How sweet she sounded and yet how much poison she held in her heart only Xiu knew.

Francesca placed her arm over Xiu's shoulder saying proudly, ”This is my daughter. Isn't she beautiful?” She didn't wait for a reply as she went on, ”She is gorgeous.” Francesca was like a mother flaunting her daughter around without any shame or hesitation.

”Daughter?” The woman was startled a bit. ”Auntie, when did you get married?”

Francesca gave her a displeasing look as she replied, ”Liu Nuan, I didn't get married. She is my Regi's bride, Xiu. Bai Xiu.”

The smile on Liu Nuan's face stiffened as she heard the name and couldn't help repeating, ”Xiu?” Then her eyes shifted to glance at Xiu's face who still wore a blank expression. But that look in her eyes shook Liu Nuan's heart as if her consciousness was shaking her and reminding of someone she was desperately trying to forget.

Francesca wasn't really paying attention to the strange tension between the two people beside her as she went around to look for some other dresses for Xiu leaving only Xiu and Liu Nuan alone.

Xiu was the first one to look away as she put on her indifferent look saying, ”It seems like my name caught you off-guard, Ms. Liu.”

”Huh?” Liu Nuan was taken aback when Xiu's voice broke her trance.

”Well, you acted as if you heard about a ghost or something. Your face paled,” stated Xiu as she pointed at her face.

Liu Nuan touched her face while saying, ”It's nothing like that. Your name just reminded me of an old friend.”

”Old friend?” Xiu snickered in her mind at that reply.

~~

['Can't you let him go Ms. Chen?' Liu Nuan's words were still fresh in her memory. 'You're a superstar. Everyone loves you. Millions of people love you but all I have is him. Please, give Jinhai to me. I can't live without him.'

Liu Nuan fell on her knees as she pleaded, 'Please, I'm begging you. I really love him. I have loved him since childhood. This love is deep-rooted in my bones. I have only dreamed of marrying him for all my life. How can you be so cruel to break this dream of mine?'