A Moment in Destiny

“Hmph! Very good!” Vincent’s tone which had embodied profound meaning coupling with chilliness sounded from the other end of the phone, and each single word of his was hammering on her heart, pricking and suffocating her.

“Don’t ever try to push my buttons, or else you know the consequences of doing so!”

“I know what you mean, I will miss you!” Leila curled up the edge of her mouth to force a smile onto her face, but her despairing eyes had given away her distressed state.

“Hahahaha…” His convoluted laughter was accompanied by the sound of him hanging up on her, and anxiety started to gnaw at her heart as she knew that he would not get on well with her.

After Leila had hung up on her phone, she looked up only to stare into Mabel Ross’s worrying and contemplative eyes.

“It has never crossed my mind that the one whom Vincent likes is you, Leila. Oh, dear! I’ve always thought that he likes your sister, but it is a crying shame that she is unfaithful to him! Your father is really adamant in not letting you marry Vincent at first, but he has unexpectedly changed his mind and given his approval after the two of them have a talk in the study.”

“They had a talk about it?” Leila was taken aback by the revelation that Vincent had had a conversation with her father.

“Yes, they did. When I ask your father about it, he just stays silent and puffs at his cigarette, so I have no idea what the dialogue is about as well!” Mabel sighed heavily and continued, “If not for Macey’s scandal, this wouldn’t have happened. Oh God, it is a relief that Vincent at least treats you quite well, so that makes my heart eased up a little. You have no idea how worried sick your father and I are for you these past few days.”

Vincent had gone to her father to have a talk?!

Leila was still trying to digest the sudden divulgence of information as her father was the mayor of F City, so how could she not perceive Vincent’s true intention behind his action?

However, why had her father consented to his proposal of marrying her instead?

Brian Hunter clearly was fully aware that Vincent had the tape of her sister having a roll in the hay with someone else in his possession, and it was evident that his intention of holding on to that was to threaten the Hunter family with it. Brian must have tried to get his hands on that tape, but it was likely to no avail.

She could not bear to continue down her train of thought as it had started to overwhelm her. No wonder her father had urged her earlier to try every means to make Vincent fell in love with herself. Did Vincent really have something on him?

“Leila, is Vincent really treating you…”

“Don’t worry too much about me, Mom. He has been nice to me. I’ll head upstairs to take some nap now, alright? I’m exhausted from last night!” Leila cut Mabel off abruptly and continued to console her, “Everything’s alright, Mom. I’m really fine and happy, so stop worrying about nothing, alright? Just try to be happy for yourself, I know happiness has not come easily for you, and all I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy!”

Leila had not gotten any sleep last night, but her words had other implications to Mabel instead as she thought that the reason for her daughter’s weariness was due to the newlyweds enjoying conjugal bliss on their wedding night. After hearing Leila’s affirmation, she nodded while putting on a relieved but glum expression, “I’m sorry that you have to go through this, Leila!”

“Here you go again, Mom!” Leila hugged her mother and gave her a peck on the cheek as she said, “Alright, I’ll head upstairs now! Good night!”

felt an inexplicable feeling that her daughter’s demeanor

could see her sister whom was staying in the room opposite hers at first sight when she raised her head after coming out

table yesterday during dinner, so it was to her surprise that she had gotten up early

shot her a piercing gaze as she uttered in sarcasm, “If I have not been caught cheating on him, the person whom gets to sleep beside Vincent will not be you! How was it? He didn’t disappoint at all, am I right? I do think that our fate is the same as our mothers’ which is such a satire, Leila. How does sharing a guy with

to silence. That’s right, Macey was Leila’s half-sister, but her mother was also Leila’s aunt and Mabel’s sister. Her aunt had passed on after shielding Leila in a car accident, and it could be said that her life was saved by Macey’s mother. From that day onwards, Leila and Mabel had felt that they owed Macey for her mother’s death, hence no matter what Macey had done and what she wished to do, Leila had

her head as she spoke with a soft tone, “I’ll try to think of a

Dad’s power and dominance, not you!” Macey’s cruel words were like an edged sword that had pierced her heart although she knew that was the

back and not dwell on anything else, but deep down in her heart, she knew that Vincent would not let her

manner while tugging at the corner of her lips, “He obviously will only be interested in

of contempt, “You are indeed not as attractive as I

body was

woman whom exuded elegance and quiet charm, and if the sisters were to be described as flowers metaphorically, Macey would be like

downstairs now and get some breakfast, Macey!” Leila uttered softly

the back, she immediately scoffed bitterly at her, “Why, is Vincent too vigorous in bed to the extent that you are not able to walk properly after two days? Look at the way that you’re walking right now. Are you

few seconds as

and gotten the cold shoulder from Leila’s

lied down quietly on her bed as she cast her sidelong

to sleep again after a full meal, and it’s only early in the morning, Leila!” Mabel pushed open the door and

blushed instantly due to mortification as she was surprised that even her mother

it? I’ve been through it as well, so don’t be!” Mabel smiled at her, “Get some sleep if you’re still tired, and you can

had approached in the blink of an eye, and it was today that Leila had to report to duty at the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Municipal

which had prevailed an atmosphere of solemnity and reverence. The towering trees had provided welcome shade in the courtyard, and it was a mystery as to how long did it take and how much wind and rain had washed on these platanus orientalis for them to

of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office outside a room, she took a good look at it and breathed in deeply to calm her nerves. It’s right here, she thought

husky voice sounded from the inside of the room, and when she had walked into the room, her eyes were laid on an extremely young face and a pair of optical glasses that was hanging on the countenance of the man. It turned out to

turned back to look at the name tag outside the room of the Director of the Political Research

questions that she had wanted to ask him were whether he was a taxi driver and the reason that he was

my father, and I’m here to talk to him about

just as she thought. He looked twenty-three or twenty-four years old at most,

the glasses as he put on a relaxed smile while staring intently at