215 The Apology 13 (1/2)

There was a special meaning in Xiu Ling's reply. It was observable from the grammar structure of it. First of all, she used 'your relationships' instead of 'our relationships' to remind Joann that she was referring to more than the immediate relationship between the two women. Other than that, another conspicuous hint that Xiu Ling had dropped was the 's' appended to the end of relationship to signify plurality.

Xiu Ling hoped that her best friend understood what she had left unsaid. She wanted to remind Joann that she could be quite domineering in most of her relationships and that was something that she could reflect on.

Joann nodded slowly like she was trying to process what Xiu Ling was saying. It was hard to tell whether she had truly digested the meaning in Xiu Ling but she did have a follow-up question, ”Then why did you choose to tell me now? Why this particular moment in time?”

”Because Sylvia told me to. It was for her sake,” Xiu Ling answered. She did not know where her friend was going with this line of inquiry but she was glad to oblige. If this would help Joann come to term with the whole situation then she was willing to be open and honest.

Joann mulled over that answer and she added, ”That might be true but there's something else that plays a big role here.”

”Hmm?” For some reason, Xiu Ling suddenly felt like she was the one on the witness stand. She came that day hoping to help her friend but she felt weirdly interrogated. ”Joann, what are you talking about?”

Xiu Ling was there to help Joann but her friend had put her under the spotlight with these continuous questions of hers.

”Let's put it this way. As you've said earlier, you didn't say anything to me before because you were afraid of me so what changed? What gave you the courage to finally broach the news with me?” Joann asked with an inquisitive gaze.

”I...” Xiu Ling was stumped. To be honest, she had been so busy trying to help Joann with her extra-marital affair that she did not have the time to reflect on her own situation.

Joann looked at her friend and flashed a knowing smile. ”Perhaps it is really clearer from the outside because the answer is quite obvious from my perspective. It is because of that husband of yours, Lin Kang.”

Joann allowed Xiu Ling some time to register the news before she continued, ”He has been giving you the space and resource to grow and gather confidence. I can see day by day you're slowly morphing into the powerful woman that you're meant to be, Xiu Ling and I'm proud.”