It was fairly late at night as only a few maids and butlers nipped around a high-class mansion in a gated community. One butler made his way to the door in the eastern wing of the house and tentatively knocked to let those inside know of his presence.

“Come in.” It was a female voice. The man obliged, his slicked-back black hair giving off a slight sheen. 

A beautiful older woman could be seen sitting in the reception room, a maid silently pouring some tea for her mistress. The lady smiled at the man and gestured for him to come closer.

“So?”

“The young miss was given the key to that room, as instructed by the Master. She moved the contents to another location.”

“Mmn” She nodded. “The contents?”

“Nothing of use, only some photos, notebooks, jewellery and toys.”

She furrowed her brows. “That’s it?”

“Yes, Madam.”

A thoughtful look crossed her face. It seems Liu Suya was a lot more sentimental than she thought. “Well no matter, you may leave now.” She waved him away. 

“Thank you, Madam.”

***

Her hand delicately smoothed over her dress. She’d never felt anything like it, it was probably the most expensive thing she’d worn to date, not that that was a difficult hurdle to top in her case. It hadn’t yet sunk in that this was only the beginning and that her life had really changed in ways she couldn’t even imagine. 

She looked at her reflection in the full-body mirror in front of her. The dress was made from silk and was just tight enough to hug her slim figure, it was a striking mauve that complimented her already elegant features, giving her the aura of sophisticated beauty. The stylist had told her that it was Alexander Macqueen. She fit seamlessly into the luxurious setting around her. The young lady was brought out of her reverie by a knock at the door, as she was about to ask who it was, the door opened. 

Recognition enters her caramel eyes and she loosens her defensive stance into an open one. She knew this man. She loved this man. He walked into the room unfazed by his significant other’s defences. He thought it was a good thing that she was vigilant against possible assailants although any dumb enough to target his woman wouldn’t have been able to get so far. His dark eyes turned to her person, as he slowly made his way to her.  

She held his handsome face in her hands as he bowed to give her a light kiss. The girl’s eyes peeled open as she stared into his, their foreheads and noses touching. They separated.

She spun around one last time, giving a once over to her appearance. The trace of anxiety on his lover’s face causes the young man to frown. 

“You look beautiful Ting’er.” He said twirling a ribbon of her deep brown locks in his hand, before leaning down to give it a kiss. In Zhou Wei’s eyes she looked perfect, she remembered. Just that alone seems to calm her nerves, she felt like she could take on the world. 

“Are you ready?” He watched as his lover took a deep breath before the same fire he fell in love with came ablaze in her eyes. 

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

***

The evening goes swimmingly from start to finish. She is officially introduced to the rest of high society as the missing daughter of the Mo family and is taken to with high regard. Zhou Wei’s and the rest of her friends’ assurances give her the confidence boost to greet many high-ranking officials and socialites, causing her to make a good lasting impression. 

It’s in the middle of greeting the heir to the Yan family, that she spots someone she hadn’t thought would show up. Her parents had made her familiar with some of the most important names and faces in the capital and even without her near-perfect memory, she would have remembered this man. After all, he was the father of her once good friend. 

Finding the appropriate timing to excuse herself from Yan Hui is easy and Mo Ting impulsively weaves through some of the other guests, only to be stopped by a girl calling her name. 

“Ting ting.”

She turns to see her friend with a beautiful older woman, in an elegantly styled qipao. She vaguely recognised the woman. “Madam Rong, Yaoyao. ” She greeted her friend and the lady next to her, this was Liu Suya’s stepmother after all. If she wanted to make up with her, getting along with her family would help. She’d be lying if she said that she didn’t miss being friends with her. 

Rong Yaoyao smiled and introduced her aunt to her. Rong Nuan stepped forward to greet her. “I just wanted to congratulate you on your official debut. Everyone is expecting great things from you.”

“Why, thank you. You’re too kind.”

The three talked for a few minutes before she noticed something off about Madam Rong. She watched as Rong Nuan’s eyes seemed to trail someone further off to the right of her. She remembered that Liu Feng was in that direction and wondered if he had anything to do with it. The slightly forlorn look in Rong Nuan’s eyes only served to confirm her suspicions. Mo Ting knew that Rong Nuan and Liu Feng had divorced more than two decades ago though any information on the separation had written it off as an amicable one. 

However, Mo Ting couldn’t help but think that there was more to the story. Not to mention that there was barely any information on Liu Suya’s birth mother. As close as they had once been, Liu Suya always refrained from mentioning anything about her family. She’d always been pretty secretive but that never bothered her, as Mo Ting felt that she had always been good at reading people, well, that is until she met Liu Suya.

Her former friend – she is currently hoping to change that – had always had a certain spark to her that had allowed her to just know how people ticked. Mo Ting hadn’t really understood the implications of this beyond surface-level until much later after she looked back on their friendship.

In doing so she’d soon realised that Liu Suya’s hostility toward her had started even prior to her realising her own feelings for Zhou Wei. She had ignorantly wondered why it was at this time that her friend had started to put some distance between them, and it soon became clear. Liu Suya had known. The very idea of it shook her to her very core. After that, she had done a little research on her hoping to find out more about her former friend, because normal people don’t notice things like that.

Soon enough she’d come across rumours that the head of the Liu family would be remarrying after almost 20 years of remaining as a widower. That last fact had especially surprised her. She hadn’t known that Liu Suya’s mother had passed.

Just as Rong Nuan was about to leave, she stopped to complete the mission she had set out for. “Madam Rong, you wouldn’t happen to know if Liu Suya is attending as well, would you?” She’d sent her an invitation against Zhou Wei’s will, but she had hoped that in doing so that she would demonstrate her sincerity in burying the hatchet. 

Rong Nuan’s look of surprise enters her eyes before it morphs back into a sweet smile. “Why? Did you invite her?”

Mo Ting nodded in response. Madam Rong’s eyes narrow ever so slightly before she answers. She shows a fairly complicated expression. “Well, you see...”

Rong Yaoyao takes the bait, sneering as she answers, “She left on holiday sometime a week ago.”

“H-holiday?”

“Yes, it seems she saw your debut to be of lesser importance. I apologise for her oblique behaviour, that child can be fairly sensitive, you see.” Rong Nuan explains, her face perfectly encapsulating the emotions of a concerned adult. 

“No, no it’s fine really. I just didn’t expect that.”

“Ting ting, you’re too nice to her, she obviously doesn’t take you seriously. There’s no need to be so understanding. Aunty too, she didn’t even tell Uncle Liu she was leaving until the night before. Never mind everyone else who found out after she’d left.”

Mo Ting was a very high-profile character this evening, so there would be eyes on her at all times. This is only becoming especially important when realising that nearby guests would eavesdrop to hear the contents of their conversation. Budding rumours about the youngest miss of the Liu family and her lack of tact and out-of-control behaviour begin to flourish. Rong Nuan inwardly smiles at the result.

Mo Ting notices that they’ve garnered the attention of those around them and quickly excuses herself. She hurries to meet her new family along with Zhou Wei and his parents. Her lover gives her an endearing smile, but they couldn’t show any physical affection just yet. 

Her mother Mo Xiang smiled at her lovingly. “Ah’Ting’” The deep baritone of her birth father drew her attention. He also smiled at her letting her know just how proud he was of her despite not having been unable to be there most of her life. It caused her heart to swell. She’d always thought her parents had simply abandoned her. It was gratifying to now know that she was wrong.

Zhou Wei then took her by the hand and escorted her onto a stage at the front of the guests. Mo Ting felt an indescribable sense of happiness. She had the man who she envisions spending the rest of her life with and they would soon make it official. But as usual, her happiness was tainted with what could only be the remnants of sin. Guilt. 

She still thought about Liu Suya from now and then. Most notably the look on her face when she’d found them that night at her 20th birthday party behind the venue. If it were perhaps just betrayal or sadness, she honestly may have had an easier time letting go of this drudge at the bottom of her stomach. But no, of course, things were never that simple. Not with Liu Suya involved at least. That night Liu Suya's eyes also gleamed with a sick satisfaction, as if to taunt her by saying ‘See, I was right. Traitor.’

And she had been right.

But before she could help it the part of Mo Ting that wanted to deny everything also came tumbling in, entitled and defensive. Whispering into the recesses of her mind that it was for the best. That Liu Suya didn’t love Zhou Wei. That she’d get over it. That it wouldn’t hurt her as much to lose him as it would her. Liu Suya would understand sooner or later that it was better this way. That Mo Ting was simply saving her from a life she’d hate.

This had not been her intention. Initially, she’d chosen to get close to Zhou Wei out of curiosity and the benefits that were to be had for being connected to the heir of the Zhou family. But never to steal him away. Just to get to know him. But as life would have it, she got too close. She fell in love with him. She hadn't meant to though. Really. 

But it was so hard not to. He was smart, considerate, sweet and most importantly he swept her off her feet and made her feel things she never had in her 21 years. And like a fool, she had allowed herself to be swept. 

And in turn, she had so deeply betrayed someone who had been nothing but good to her. She wanted forgiveness. But even now she chose to ignore the smaller, more fragile voice inside her that told her that forgiveness never comes so easy.

She looked around the large venue, just last year she'd been in awe of when Liu Suya had - ever so kindly - asked her to attend her birthday party last year. 

The hall full of people went silent after a couple of words from the host. The two of them were signalled to then take two steps forward, into the centre of the stage. The announcement of the lost princess of the Mo family and the infamous heir to Zhou Corp.’s engagement would shake the imperial capital and soon after the rest of China. 

Some would choose to inquire about the Zhou heir’s previous engagement to the Liu family’s only daughter and of the latter's whereabouts. Neither would be answered. 

***

Several days prior to this, two young women can be seen alighting a plane at London Heathrow Airport.

3risu

This is the last chapter in this volume. The next chapter will be 2.1 and I'll be posting it this Sunday. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.