Burning Passion

CHAPTER 292: MAPLE LEAF

* * *

Every moment passed, the more Nina felt suffocated to be in this room. She wishes to leave or prays for the ground to swallow her and disappears from this place. 

She is helplessly looking at her father with pleading eyes. Nelson understood her daughter. He knew very well that he should raise his voice and help his daughter to raise her voice.

He and his father already argued about it, and he will make himself clear once again that he is against that Nina would have an early marriage. Clearing his throat, he steals the attention of the two Elders.

"First, I have to clarify this matter." Nelson began. "I may sound disrespectful to what the elders have agreed. But I am Nina's father, and the final decision is in me. And since we are in this issue, I haven't fully agreed that my daughter will get married at such a young age." 

"Nelson Li!" Sonny Li called out his son. But Nelson is determined to go on. 

He stated, "Father, my daughter is still in college. I supported her wishes to get a degree." 

"She need not pursue such an education! That is why she needs a husband to support her and give everything she needs!" 

"Father, don't forget that I don't have another heir, but Nina," Nelson countered. "But I'm in no hurry to see any grandchildren yet." Nelson firmly stands in his words and his role. It was his daughter who's involved. He won't let his father decide what is best for Nina. 

He is thankful to his father for pursuing Dona's family to arrange with him. But Nina is a different story. He knew what is best for his daughter and who is best for his daughter. Besides, he could see that Nina doesn't want this arranged marriage at all. 

Sonny Li is in rage at how his son disobeyed him now. He is the one who arranged his marriage with Dona before. Why could he not decide for his granddaughter? "So, are you going against me this time, Nelson? What is different if your daughter will get married soon or in a few years?" 

"That is what I'm talking about, father. I want to give my daughter a few more years to finish college." After saying this, Nelson bowed toward Great-grandma Shang. "Grandfather Shang, I'm sorry if I have to hold up the marriage. Please understand my reason. Nina is my only child..." 

"It was the reason your daughter should marry early, for Li to have more offspring!" Sonny Li cut in. 

Nelson gritted his teeth. His father is too stubborn. And he knew this old man wouldn't change his decision, so he was as well. He was his father's son, so he got his stubbornness from him. 

"I'm not saying that I will not let my daughter marry her fiancée. All I'm saying is for Nina to enjoy her youth," said Nelson. He avoided mentioning Steven's name and uses the term fiancée. Who knows? Maybe things would change in time while the marriage was put on hold.

Nina is restless on the sofa; she keenly listens at the same time tries to remain calm, not shed tears. The moment her father and grandfather argued, it sent a great fear toward her heart. She doesn't want to see her family fought like this, especially if she is the reason. However, she doesn't want to marry Steven. If her father succeeded to pursue her grandfather to call off the wedding, she could have time to end her relationship with Steven. There's no way she will tie down to a guy like him. If her grandfather insists, she will run away! 

Steven, on the other hand, is displeased. He's not only hurt that Nina's father doesn't agree with the idea to hold the wedding next month. But he is more disappointed that his father keeps his silence and never voices out for him! 

He already has the idea that his father sided with Harry. And today, it proved how their father has favoritism. Steven clenches both of his fists, hiding inside his jacket. But at least his mother looked at him with pity. But he knew that even if his mother speaks up. She has no voice in everything that the elder's decisions. 

As the night gets older, the elders decide to take a rest. Nina heaves a sigh of relief. For tonight, she could sleep in peace. 

However, her mind wandered somewhere. Nina couldn't sleep yet. She went to the study to borrow some books to read until she fell asleep. 

Pushing the door open, it surprised her to see Harry was still in the study. He was in front of a typewriter, occupying himself to hit the tabulator keys.

Too late for her to turn back, Nina stepped inside the study. Since Harry hasn't talked to her in these past two weeks, she didn't spare a greeting but quietly walked toward the shelves. 

However, Nina finds it a little troublesome. She looked up at the shelves helplessly. She needs to use a ladder to reach the top. Making a careful movement, Nina pushes the ladder and brings it around to the shelves where she needs to place the books she borrowed last time. Gratefully, she manages to bring the ladder quietly but not the loud thud in her chest along with the noise of the typewriter every time Harry hits the tabulators.

Slowly, Nina climbed up the ladder and put back the books. She sighed with relief when she's done. She scanned the other books on the shelves, she stepped down from the ladder to move to the next shelves. Nina climbed the ladder once again, she tried to reach for a particular book, but it surprised her when something fell and almost hit her on the face. Startled, it was too late for her to balance herself above on the ladder. 

"Nina!" Harry shouted. 

~ ~ ~ 

Typing peacefully in front of the typewriter, Harry froze when the door opened, and the pleasant scent caught his nose. There is one person he knows who is using this flavor of shampoo. But he has to ignore her. 

Continuing tapping the tabulator, all of his senses were awake. Observing her movement in secret, Harry suddenly panics when Nina moves to the next shelves. He hides something above there! 

Harry made an abrupt rose from the armchair. He made hurried steps toward Nina. Exactly when the frame fell from the shelf, he was already behind, and Nina lost her balance. 

There she was, staring at him with wide eyes. And he could not help peering at her tenderly and held her for a moment. Her body is soft, and she was too beautiful flushing like that; it tempted him to caress her face.

But it must be an unlucky night for the three of them. 

~ ~ ~

Steven just finished having a heart-to-heart talk with his mother, Mely. And before he goes to sleep, he knocks Nina in her bedroom. But no one is replying. He guesses that probably she's already sleeping. Walking back to the bedroom he and Harry shared, Steven, hit with curiosity to go to the study. And the scene greeted him, boiled the blood in his veins, and climbed to his head.

What he saw shocked him greatly. Jealousy explodes in every part of his body seeing Harry carrying his girlfriend.

"What are you doing?" asked Steven. His face was all red with anger. "Put her down!" he shouted, rushing toward Harry and Nina. 

But before he could get near them, Nina already met him halfway and blocked his way not to reach for Harry. She already guesses Steven won't think twice he will punch his brother. 

"Steven, calm down! Harry, just help me out!" Nina tried to explain. She was racking her head for how to detail the whole situation that happened. Nina was sure that Steven won't listen but believe in what he sees. 

"Calm down? Why would I?" Steven yelled furiously. He tried to move forward, but Nina used her body to block him. And it pissed him even more, seeing Nina is protecting Harry. The more he desires to punch his brother. 

Nina, who is helpless at the moment, was struggling with how she could explain to Steven. He's in rage and ready for a brawl. She remembered the time when he and Albert fought on the Cambridge campus. They were punching each other like there's no tomorrow. To her annoyance, she left them. But this time, she could not let these brothers fight!

"Steven, stop! Listen up to me first!" Nina tried to hold Steven to stay still on the floor. "I was falling from the ladder, but Harry caught me!" 

"And why is he near to you!?" Steven asked doubly, he turned to Harry. He was throwing a furious glare as he shouted. "I told you to stay away from Nina!"

Nina gaped at Steven with great shock. She almost had an accident, but Steven only cared about his overbearing jealousy! 

However, she has to stay calm. She should not meet Steven's anger or it would worsen the situation. 

"Look, Steven! A book almost hit me! If I…" she paused when her eyes landed on the floor.

Nina was pointing at the book that fell on the floor. But she realized it wasn't a book. It was a frame. And the object inside the frame is a maple leaf!

Nina looked at Harry with questions in her eyes. And the way Harry stares back at her, she confirms that it was the maple leaf she gave him years ago. She fought back the tears in her eyes. 

Not now… Not in front of Steven. She must conceal her true feelings for Harry. 

However, seeing what is on the floor drives him crazy… It was the maple leaf he wanted to destroy! Steven's anger worsened. He took a long step to reach Harry's collar, but Nina grabbed him with full force. 

The only choice she has to calm down Steven is to kiss him in front of Harry.