Burning Passion

CHAPTER 290: DO YOU LOVE NINA?

* * *

After they check out the Library, and her classes will begin tomorrow morning, Nina requested Steven to go home. She wanted to talk to her parents to purchase a house near the University. She saw townhouses, just ten minutes' drive. 

And when they arrived home, they overheard their parent's conversation. Now Steven is fretting over his disappointment in silence. 

"Uncle Nelson, Aunt Donna, you need not worry about Nina! I promise to take care of her!" Steven begs the Li couple. 

Dona glanced at her daughter. She looks at her husband, who gives assurance that he won't give in. They already talk about this. And he could see that his daughter badly wanted to get out of her relationship with this guy. 

If Mely didn't stand as Dona's older sister, he might embarrass Steven and treat him roughly. Nelson mused. 

"Ahem. Steven, Nina will live with her mother, so I'm going to purchase a house for them." 

Hearing this, Steven cannot counter it. But his dream seemed cracked. Now that Nina's mother will be with her, he couldn't spend more time with her alone, but he needs to watch his actions. 

He wanted to marry Nina as soon as possible, but her parents didn't seem to agree! There is a solution to that, and he needs to make Nina agree. Right now, he has to calm down and clear his mind. 

It worries him. He could not let Harry get a chance to talk to Nina about her confession letter. How if Harry makes a move? 

Nina belongs only to him. No other man could steal her away. Not even Harry! Steven gritted his teeth, but he hid his fury and disappointment. 

Jerome, on the other hand, somewhat breathed with relief. It's the best thing to do. He is truly guilty that he is not in favor of Steven's relationship with Nina. But he could not show that he is unfair to his children. And to arrange for Harry to marry Nina is not a good move this time. It will create big chaos for his sons. Besides, his wife Mely, they already argued about it before. Right now, he could not make a wrong decision but have fate in how life unfolds the future. 

That day, the family had lunch at their favorite restaurant in Monmouth, the same restaurant Harry brought Kristina. 

Harry, who was still in the company, Mely called his son to let him follow them as soon as possible. The moment Harry showed up in the restaurant, it displeased Steven, but he could do nothing since their father rented the exclusive hall for three hours. 

At a long table, Nina is eating quietly, but Steven keeps filling her plate with different dishes. She couldn't take it anymore, so she refused him. 

"Enough Steven, let me finish the food on my plate," Nina tried to calm down, but her voice could still sense the anger in them.

Feeling rejected, Steven smiled bitterly as he nodded. Nina is getting colder toward him, even in front of their family. But soon, she could not refuse him. 

Eating quietly across the table, Harry tightened his grip on his spoon. As days passed, he grew irritated watching Steven and Nina together. The thing is, Nina looked not comfortable, but he was persistent. But if he will give Steven a word, he could already perceive, it will become a fight. 

It was clear that she wants to breathe some room, but Steven is clingy. His twin brother doesn't seem to see his action upset Nina. Harry mused. 

Steven, on the other hand. He lifted his gaze and stared at Harry. He asked him, "Why didn't you bring Kristina with you?" 

Everyone at that table glanced in Steven's direction. Since yesterday, they noticed that the twins didn't talk to each other. But Mely could feel the tension between her twins, and she had no courage to talk to either Harry or Steven, but definitely, it was Harry she could talk with easily. She needs to ask his sons if something was going on. She could tell that her children were distant from each other. 

Being asked, Harry pushed a faint smile as he replied to Steven. "She has a class by now. I don't want her to miss her lessons." 

Listening to Harry's reasons, impressed Nelson. He always knows that Harry is a perfect boyfriend. If he is not mistaken, it was Harry who Nina first met. If his memory is correct, Nina was turning nine, and Harry was twelve. The two were cute playing together. 

~ ~ ~ 

Wearing a pink dress, Dona introduced Nina to Harry. Nina is too shy. She remains staring at Harry, who was seated quietly on the opposite side of the sofa she was sitting at. Getting bored, Harry took out a comic book from his bag and began reading it. 

Nina, who already loves reading illustration books, her eyes glued into the comic Harry was holding. Later, Harry realized that Nina was interested in what he is reading. He moved next to her and showed the book to Nina. 

Her eyes gleamed from delight. Good thing that her mama knew to speak and read the English language. Slowly, she read the comics. Harry, who is fast reading them as it is what language he grew up with, waited patiently for Nina to finish reading every page before she flips to the next page. 

Not long, their parents notice what is going on. It was Jerome who joked at Nelson. "It looks like I already have a daughter-in-law." 

Nelson followed where Jerome was looking at, it was her daughter Nina. Shaking his head, he responded, "My daughter is yet young. But your son seemed an obedient child. I might consider if my Nina is the right age and your son will become a great man." 

Jerome laughed. He assured Nelson, "My son is a smart kid. He graduated as a Valedictorian and I assure you, Harry behaved well." 

Nodding, Nelson concurred, "I could see that, anyway." 

Mely and Dona shared a glance. It seemed like their husband agreed already. But looking at Nina and Harry, they looked so cute together. They could hear Nina asking Harry how to read a word that confused her and then Harry patiently teaching her. The two truly look so cute together. 

But then, when the Li's attend a banquet at the Shang manor, Steven met Nina. He is already a naughty kid. He teases Nina, which makes her cry. It upset Jerome how Steven behaved like that. Since then, Nina avoids talking to Steven even in their next visits to China. Nina was eleven by then, and the twins were fourteen. 

Jerome and Mely brought their four sons when they visited the Li family. However, the only one Nina talks to is Harry. Ignoring Steven, Nina pulled Harry's hand and took him to her bedroom, and showed the comic books she collected. 

~ ~ ~

It was Harry who Nina liked even in the beginning. But it was Steven who became Nina's boyfriend. Mely mused. She heaves a silent sighed. She was afraid that the twin had a conflict because of Nina. Because in later years Steven has been trying to win Nina's attention. 

Harry and Steven were like the same toys, clothes, or things to own. The only things that can differ are the colors they like and the way they behave. Even so, they never fight over their toys because both have the same things, but different colors. They both like the same clothes, but the color is always not the same. 

So it makes Mely have this question in her head. She is curious if Harry was serious about his girlfriend Kristina. Because it was in the point of fear that maybe her twin sons love the same woman. With the attitude Harry had, he would give way to his brother. But she could feel the tension between the twins, and it must be related to Nina. 

What is she going to do if that's the case? She doesn't want to choose a side between Steven and Harry. It was one of the hardest jobs of a mother. 

~~~~~ 

After having a wonderful late lunch, the Shang's accompanied the Li family to the nearby Real Estate from Collins University. 

Mely rode Harry's car to take this opportunity to talk to her son. Along the long drive, she frequently glanced at Harry, who could see her movement. 

"Ma, do you have something to tell me?" Harry asks his mother, who seems uncomfortable in the seat. He noticed her often glances in his direction, but she could not bring up any topic to talk about. 

Mely heaves a sigh after her son reads her behavior. Maybe this is the right time to open a sensitive topic to Harry. She gaped at the car ahead of them, Mely shifted her attention to Harry, she asked, "Are you and Steven are in a fight, Harry?" 

This caught Harry off guard. But maybe mothers truly have a strong sense of what's going on in their children. 

He replied, "I don't know, Ma. For Steven, it seems it's a big deal when it isn't for me." 

"It involved Nina, so why are you both distant from each other?" 

Harry could feel that he could not deny but admit to his mother. He nodded. 

"Do you love Nina, Harry?"