Burning Passion

CHAPTER 288: FAMILY'S DECISION

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Among everyone on that long table, the person who is most pressured in this situation is Nina. Since her grandfather decided on her marriage, she could not be at ease. 

She will beg her father to talk to her grandpa, not to be engaged with Steven. She has to do something about it. But at the moment, she is facing a bigger problem. Great-grandma Mei is requesting her to make tea. If she does that, her parents will see her bruises. 

What will she do now? She could not disappoint great-grandma Mei. 

Nina glanced at Steven. The guy is also looking at her with pleading eyes. She wants to slap him. 

He is the reason she is in the situation. Now how could they make an excuse? 

Nina is eating unconsciously, she did not notice the chilies hiding in chicken chunks. Her throat itching, and now she's coughing. Steven quickly handed her a glass of water, but she continued coughing. 

When she calmed down, her voice began hoarsely. 

"Great-grandma Mei, can we postpone the tea preparation? Nina hasn't got over her cough yet," said Steven.

Confused, Kristina, Seth, and Lucy shared a glance. Nina has not coughed yesterday or this morning. But she seems truly coughing this time. 

Gladly, the elder woman understood, instead concerned written all over her face when Nina didn't stop coughing. She excuses herself, Steven escorts her to her bedroom. When they were inside, Nina halted in the middle of the room, pressing her eyelids. Her throat is still burning. But if it didn't happen, she has no excuse to refuse to make tea. 

"Honey... Are you alright?" asked Steven worriedly. 

Nina made an abrupt turn. She stared at Steven emotionless. Suddenly her hand landed on the guy's face. It shocked him, but she remains silent when Nina is glaring at him furiously while.

Her teeth are gritting in rage. But she could not bring herself to yell at this guy because of her anger. 

She turns around and walked toward the sofa, ignoring Steven, who was in a trance after she slaps him.

Later, Mr. Feng knocked on the door. Steven opens it, the butler hands him a tray of herb tea. 

Nina dropped her jaw after she saw the teapot of ginger herb. She threw a sharp glare at Steven and sneered at him, "Do something!" 

Steven didn't counter her anger. He just let Nina feel fury at him. He reached her back when she was coughing again after she spoke. Her throat triggered when she spoke sternly. 

"Wait here, I will get you some cold water," he uttered. Steven leaves the room, Nina heaves a furious sigh. If she drinks ginger herb tea, the burn will only get worse. 

Meanwhile, Steven is on his way to the kitchen when he meets Harry in the corridor. He is carrying a tumbler. 

"Give it to Nina," said Harry. 

Steven's face darkened. He only glanced at the bottle in Harry's hand but did not take it.

Pressing his mouth, Harry scoffed. "This is not the time to be egoistic, Steven. We are talking about Nina here. She will feel worse after drinking that ginger herb tea. Coldwater will help ease her burning throat."

"I know that!" Steven growled sternly. "You need not worry nor remind me. I know how to take care of my girlfriend!" Steven snaps at Harry. 

It was Steven's harsh tone that annoyed him. Harry grabbed Steven's jacket, he sneered, "You know how to take care of your girlfriend? F...ck, Steven! Why does she have bruises!?" 

Steven met Harry's glare, he warned his twin brother, "Don't meddle in our business. You have your girlfriend! You should care for her instead, and not someone else's girlfriend!" 

Steven emphasizes the last three words to remind Harry that Nina's boyfriend is him. 

Harry retorted, "You are her boyfriend. I get that, Steven. But treat her well! Next time I see she had another bruise? You're going to…" Harry didn't finish his words when Seth suddenly appeared behind Steven. 

"Brother Harry, we are ready!" said Seth. He has no idea, nor can read the atmosphere. But Harry felt relieved… because he and Steven might have ended punching each other. 

"Good, then… Let's go." Harry casually letting go of Steven's jacket. He shoves the tumbler in his chest. Steven has no choice but to reach for the falling bottle. Since Harry already prepared it, he brought the bottle to Nina. 

"Goodbye, brother Steven!" Seth waves at him before he follows Harry, who will drive them home.

When he went back to Nina's room, he handed the bottle. "Honey, drink this for you to feel better." 

"Thank you..." she thanked Steven with a haughty tone. Nina emptied the bottle, and she got better after. She looked at Steven, who was seated silently next to her. 

After she slapped him, he still cared to get her a bottle of cold water. I touched her. But she won't forgive him or apologize to him. 

Later, someone is knocking on the door. She and Steven share a glance before their eyes landed on the teacup with ginger herb tea. Nina dropped her jaw, watching Steven drink the tea. It displayed on his face the unpleasant taste of the herb. But for her, Steven endured it. Somehow, she pitied him.

If only Steven won't do things that upset her, maybe it has a chance for her to learn to love him. 

Knocking on the door, Dona and Nelson entered the room. Nina's face suddenly brightens and a wide smile tore across her face. "Mama! Papa!" 

"Honey, can we talk with you?" said Dona, glancing at Steven. 

"Of course, Mama! I am waiting for you both." Nina also glanced at Steven, giving him a meaningful glare. Of course, he understood that it does not need him to be part of the talk, although he is curious, at the same time, he fears that Nina would mention her bruises. 

Before he gets up to leave the Li family to have a private talk, Steven reaches for Nina's hand and squeezes it. "Take a rest honey, Let's continue talking tomorrow," said Steven.

Honestly, Nina wants to slap him. How dare this guy give her warning stares? It was clear that he is afraid she will tell her parents of everything he'd done to her. 

But in Steven's mine, they were a couple. Kissing should be a normal interaction between them. He leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek. 

It surprised her, but she refrains not to frown. 'How dare he do this in front of my parents!' 

That it shocks the couple with Steven's behavior, most especially Nelson. He pressed his lips, looking displeased. That is why, when Steven bid good night, he didn't reply. 

After Steven left the room, Nelson rushed toward his daughter and wrapped her inside his arms. Instantly, Nina cried. "Papa, tell grandpa, I don't want to marry Steven!" sobbing, Nina continued crying. 

Nelson met his wife's pleading gaze. Dona sits next to Nina, Nelson reaches for his wife and hugs his princess and his queen tightly. When Nina calms down, he sincerely talks with his daughter. 

"I will try to talk to your grandfather when we go back to China," Nelson assured her daughter. It will not be easy. He might have a big fight with his father. But it was his daughter's happiness that was on the line here. He will give his daughter's freedom to choose who she wants to love and marry. 

Nina looked up to her father. She rested her head on his shoulder as she mused. She wants to marry someone like her father. A man who's loving and kind to his woman. Although Steven truly loves her, his love is dangerous to the point she can't stand it.

"Papa… I don't want to stay here in the mansion. I want to live in the dormitory." 

Nelson pondered before he replied to his daughter. "How about I bought a house for you to stay here?" 

Nina thinks about it. But it will be easy for Steven to visit her. What she needs is a place where Steven could not come to her anytime he wants. If she stays in the mansion, Steven is free to do things to her anytime he pleases. 

"Um, Papa… There's no need for that. I will be fine in a dormitory. Besides, Jessica will be here soon." 

"Nina, are you certain about this?" Worriedly, Dona asked her daughter.

"Yes, Mama. Don't worry, just…" she bites her lower lip, weighing if she should mention this to her parents. Nina inhaled, she breathed out. "I want to break up with Steven. I don't want to be engaged with him." 

Dona meets her husband's gaze. She muttered, "I better stay here, Nelson." 

Hearing this, Nina's eyes flickered. "Is that true, Mama?" 

Nodding, she combs Nina's hair. "Until your Papa hasn't convinced your grandfather to call off the arranged marriage. I will accompany you here in the US." 

"Thank you, Mama!" She hugs her mother tightly, and she feels warmth. This is a mother's security. 

"All right, if that's what you want, dear." Nelson had no choice but agreed with his wife. Besides, it also worried him about his daughter. Honestly, he doesn't trust the likes of Steven. Maybe, if Harry had arranged for his daughter, he might have agreed. "I will ask Jerome to help me find a house for you both to live in. I will try my best to visit you often." 

"Thank you, Papa!" 

She couldn't be happier! She is fine with this setup, as long as she could get rid of Steven. With her mother here, Steven can't do anything to her....