Because I simply love you

Nana closed the door shut and rested her back on it. She finally collapsed on the floor. She hugged her knees and started sobbing uncontrollably.

She was wet and cold but that didn't even compare to how frozen her heart felt. After crying for a long time, she got up and stood in front of the mirror. She looked at her reflection.

Her sight went to her lips, and the scar it had.

She slowly raised her hand. She touched her lips with her fingers. His face appeared in her mind. How his lips refused to give up on hers. How he had pressed her body on to his leaving no space in between. How he bent her head to kiss even deeper. How he gently caressed her cheek with his thumb to ease her pain. How their breaths still connected them even when the kiss was over.

She looked at her wrists. They were slightly red now. She could see some faint finger marks. She thought back to how he had tightly locked her hands in his grasp. It was impossible to escape.

She saw herself in the mirror again, a tear rolling down her cheek.

---

When Jinhai reached home, everybody was in the living room.

Liu Chunhua saw him coming and said, "Jinhai! You are all wet. What were you doing out in such heavy rain? You wait here. I will make a hot cup of ginger-tea for you. You won't catch a cold", she sighed, "Geez, you are all grown up but I still have to take care of you like a child.", she pouted.

He smiled, "Thanks, mom."

She left and Jinhai immediately turned to Huian. She stiffened under his gaze. She already felt terrible because Liu Hai's gaze was not any less intimidating. She shuddered whenever he pointed his piercing gaze at her.

"Huian.", he said detached with any emotion.

She was startled.

Jinhai has never talked to me so coldly and indifferently before. Is he that angry? But why!? Why for that Nana? Who is she to him?

She looked at him and tried to smile, "Jinhai, you are back. I-"

He cut her off, "Make sure you properly apologize to Nana tomorrow", he looked straight at her, "with every ounce of your sincerity."

She froze. Tears welled in her eyes.

Liu Hai stared at him.

Grandma Liu asked, "What happened? Why is Huian crying?"

"Jinhai…I…I know I made a mistake but everything is cleared now, isn't it?"

"Who said everything is cleared?"

"Huh?"

Liu Hai asked, "What do you mean?"

Jinhai looked at him and said, "Nana has decided to stop working with us. She said she is ready to breach the contract and pay the compensation."

He widened his eyes, "What!? No! I will talk to her."

"Dad don't. She won't…listen to you this time. No matter how much you try to convince her. I could see it in her eyes."

"So, Huian. Is everything still cleared according to you?"

Huian didn't know that it will cause such repercussions.

Author – Like seriously? *rolls eyes*

Not only she hurt her but they also lost a business deal. It wasn't that big as other contracts but it meant a lot to Liu Hai and all Liu Corp's employees.

Jinhai smiled, "Why? Are you feeling insulted now that you have to bow down and say sorry to her?"

That hit her hard. Yes, in spite of all that happened, she thought that everything was resolved so she didn't feel the need to apologize.

"Didn't you think even once before slapping Nana, humiliating her, without even giving her a chance to say anything in her defense?"

She bit her lips hard and started crying. She didn't have any choice to admit when both father and son were standing against her.

"I-I'm sorry…", she clenched her fists seeing her husband and father-in-law taking a girl's side to whom they met hardly a month back against herself who they know since her childhood.

She gritted her teeth and suppressed her resentment and jealousy.

Grandma Liu said, "Enough. Can somebody tell me what happened?"

Liu Chunhua just came when she saw her sobbing.

She widened her eyes, "What's wrong? Everything was fine when I left. So why is she suddenly crying? Jinhai, did you bully her?"

Liu Hai said, "I will tell you both later."

Jinhai took the cup of tea from his mother's hands and said one last thing before he left, "I'm disappointed in you."

Liu Hai saw him leaving but his sight fell onto something. He raised his eyebrows.

---

Late at night.

Somebody knocked on the door to the study.

"Come in.", a voice said.

The door opened and driver Mu stepped in.

"Master Liu, you called for me?", he asked.

Liu Hai raised his head and looked at him.

"Yes. I want to ask you something."

"Yes, sir?"

"How come Jinhai was wet when he came back? Didn't he use the car? What happened that he had to go out in such a heavy storm?"

He stiffened. "T-that…"

"You must know. You were with him, weren't you?"

He gulped. How could he rat out young master? The truth will bring a storm even fiercer than what they faced outside.

Liu Hai narrowed his eyes. "I want the truth."

He crumbled under pressure. When Liu Hai wants to know something, it's impossible to ignore it.