Burning Passion

CHAPTER 299: A MOTHER'S REQUEST

* * *

LI MANOR, New Jersey, sometimes in the 1980s… 

That night, a great fight erupts between the father and son: Nelson Li and Sonny Li. 

Elder Sonny Li glanced at Annie with the stern. In his mind, he cusses. If this rebel woman didn't arrive, everything would go smoothly. He mused. 

Annie, who keenly watched her uncle, knew that this man was cursing her inside his head. But she doesn't care. She won't let this narrow-minded person control her niece's life the same as hers back then. 

"Uncle Son, if you have less care for the feelings of your granddaughter. I'm sorry, but I will make a scene in front of the Shang family," Annie said emphatically. She's never afraid of going against the elders. She never let them control her life.

Veins coming out on Sonny Li's forehead, he was in a great fury that his niece is always disrespectful to the elders. He rants, "Huh! This is what you've learned by marrying an ordinary man!" 

Annie darkens her face. She bravely returned to her uncle. "Don't you dare to insult my husband!" 

"Watch your mouth! I'm still the head of the Li Household!" Sonny Li yelled back.

"You're kidding me, right? I'm no longer a Li for a long time already, remember?" 

Sonny Li could not contain his shock at how Annie became insolent. He exclaimed, "Ungracious woman! You turned into a disrespectful person!" 

Annie remains head high, meeting her uncle Sonny Li's furious glare. "I would not be disrespectful to the elders if their mind is in the right place." 

Sonny Li's eyes gaped shockingly. How dare this woman! His outcry on his head.

It feeds Nelson listening to the clashing words, yells. "Enough!" Afterward, he then fixed his gaze on his father. "Listen, father. I want you to take back your words to Elder Shang. I won't allow my daughter to marry such a man!" 

"I won't take back what I agreed with Gilbert Shang! Nina will marry Steven, and it should be sooner!" 

Annie cut in, she stated. "Why don't you understand, Uncle Son? Nina doesn't love Steven, and that guy is assaulting your granddaughter!" 

"They were in a relationship. Steven is Nina's boyfriend," Sonny Li answered flatly.

It didn't surprise him how narrow-minded his father is. Nelson mused. Now he is thankful that his father didn't have a daughter. It seemed like he would also arrange her marriage, worse to the man she doesn't like! 

Clenching his fist on his sides, Nelson yelled. "Father! If you do not call off the arrangement, you can forget that you have a son and granddaughter!" 

Hearing this, Sonny Li shudders with anger. "How dare you threaten me! You let this rebel woman influence you, Nelson!" Sonny pointed out Annie's direction. His gaze shifted between his son and niece.

Sonny Li rendered speechless in disbelief. Nelson knows very well how to threaten him. He only has one sibling, a brother who only has a daughter because Simon died young. The only Li that could inherit everything is Nelson, but he only has one child and a daughter! And there's no way he will let Annie's family be Li's heir! He would not allow that! 

"My mind won't change!" His final words. Sonny Li, stood on his feet to head toward his bedroom. But before he could take more steps, Dona sat up from the armchair she seated in the corner. 

"Father-in-law… I'm begging you! If you don't want to take back what you promised with the Shang… At least, let Nina marry Harry instead…"

It surprised Nelson and Annie how bravely Dona raised her voice. A mother's love is one thing that can make a person stand on her feet and become strong to fight her belief that is best for her children. 

Nelson questions themselves why they haven't brought up this very important matter. What Nina likes is Harry, and the first thing they should consider is Nina's feelings. 

Sonny Li glanced at his daughter-in-law. It surprises him that for the first time, Dona raised her voice. He mused what to reply, and he clearly knew that he could not treat his daughter-in-law harshly, especially not in front of his son Nelson. 

"What do you mean by that, Dona?" he asked in a low voice.

Nera, who merely spoke every time of an important discussion among the family, felt relieved that her husband calmly talked with Dona. She was aware of how Sonny favored Dona all these years. Her husband always wishes to have a daughter. The reason he helped to persuade Dona's family, even if she was too young by then.

Now that Dona brought this up, it's her chance to chime in. Annie thought. "Uncle, the better man who should marry Nina is Harry. The one your granddaughter loves is Harry. It should be Harry…" 

"I heard enough!" It irritated him, hearing Annie keep repeating Harry's name. 

Annie intended to mention Harry's name over again to make this old man understand. She pushed a playful smirk on the corner of her mouth. Feel so good to annoy this narrow-minded old man. Annie mused.

"I'm tired. I want to go to bed." Sonny Li declared nonchalantly.

This time he doesn't raise his voice anymore. After the elder Li disappeared from the living room, Annie raised a thumb at Dona. 

Honestly, Dona was shivering in nervousness. She never talked back or was demanding to her in-laws, but she could not remain silent. It was her only daughter's happiness that was on the line. 

Before her body dropped on the floor, Nelson caught his wife. "Dona! Are you alright, honey?" Nelson carried his wife and put her on the sofa. 

Dona nodded lightly. She has been dealing with things emotionally; stress triggered her body to give up. She has been worrying about her daughter. Lately, she became depressed, thinking that they were forcing Nina to marry at such a young age, which her daughter doesn't love that person they arranged her with.

"Honey, just calm down. Let me handle things from here. Nina would be so worried if she saw you being affected like this…" Nelson soothes his wife. "So stop worrying a lot, okay?" 

"I'm worried about our daughter. I'm trying to look strong in front of her. And I won't allow your father to decide for our daughter." 

"Yes. So, please, don't worry. Okay?" 

After Dona drank the glass of water, Annie handed her, she and Nelson headed upstairs to their bedroom. 

"Just rest now, Dona. I will check out Nina and explain to her what we have discussed." Annie said before the couple walked toward the master's bedroom. 

She heaves a long sigh.. Finally… Just a little more push until her uncle changes his mind.