Burning Passion

CHAPTER 301: CALL OFF THE ENGAGEMENT

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Yesterday, Harry received a call from Lee that they were going shopping in Newark. He would live to join them, but he had important reports to give to his father. 

Harry drove home. He noticed Li's car in the parking space. He expected to see them in the living room, but it was empty. 

"Where are they?" Harry asked the maid, who is cleaning the coffee table. He saw teacups and teapots, but why weren't they in the living room?

"Good afternoon, Young Master. Your parents and the Li's are in the In-House Bar right now." 

"Okay. Thank you." 

The maid bowed and left him. Harry takes the corridor that will lead him to the Bar. The door wasn't closed, he could hear what they were talking about. 

His face darkened, clenching his free hand on his side. 'Steven! I'm going to kill you!' 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Before coming to the Shang Mansion, Nelson already notified Jerome that he wanted to talk to Great-grandpa Shang regarding the arranged marriage. 

Jerome has a hunch that this talk won't favor his grandfather's will and his son Steven. 

He understood why Nelson wanted to delay the marriage of their children. Nelson doesn't agree that Steven will be going to marry his daughter. 

His wife Mely already told him that both the twin loved Nina, and the latter loved Harry. But Mely doesn't want to hurt any of her sons. 

Even if he will argue with his wife, it will only turn into a big fight. So he could not suggest that Harry should be the best candidate to marry Nina. 

He kept his voice to let Li make a change of mind. And by then, it was his turn to take a step to commend his plan. 

It seemed like today is the day. Jerome mused inwardly. 

Across from them is the Li family. The elder Li remained silent. Probably, the family has made a final decision as Nelson who raised a voice to this meeting over his father. 

And not to delay, Jerome clears his throat, he asks their visitors. "So, what do you want to talk about, Nelson?" 

Nodding, Nelson glanced at his father, and then his wife, Dona. As for Annie, she takes a seat on the corner, casually sipping her tea. She was there to help her cousin if the elders would still insist on controlling the situation. 

'They're all the same.' Annie mumbled inwardly. She rolled her eyes and glanced at her uncle. He can do nothing now after she and Nelson keep bugging him about changing his decision for who should marry Nina. Pushing a smirk on the corner of her lips, Annie drew the teacup and sip her tea. 

"Jerome, we are here to call off the engagement of your son and my daughter." 

Jerome hid the grin in his mouth. Finally, Nelson makes a move. He casually glanced at his grandfather, Gilbert Shang, who widened his eyes and gaze furiously at Nelson before he turned his glare at Sonny Li. 

"What nonsense your son is talking about, Master Li!" 

His thunderous voice echoed in the entire room that was heard in the corridor. It was what Harry heard, and so he hid, eavesdropping outside. 

Sonny Li looked at his son. It was a sign that he surrendered, letting his son do whatever he liked to convince the Shang family to change the arrangement to unite the Li and Shang family. 

Heaving a long sighed, the elder Li uttered, "Either I will lose an heir or a huge scandal will come out. I better protect my family and the name Li." 

Elder Shang filled with confusion. He could not follow what Sonny Li was talking about. He looked at Nelson with a perplexed expression on his face. 

He said, "You need to explain to me very well." 

Nelson heaved a long sigh, he explained, "My daughter wants to break up with Steven because of his behavior." 

Hearing about this, Mely and Jerome shared a glance, the latter who raised a question. "What Steven did to Nina?" 

Nelson glanced at Annie. The woman understood that Nelson gave her the chance to explain things she knew the whole situation more than him. 

"Let me tell you this… Nina applied to the Exchange Student Program to see Harry. But Steven made his way to meddle between those two. Nina said she confessed to Harry last summer, but Harry ignored her letter. When Steven came for a Christmas visit, Nina learned that Harry has a girlfriend. With this thought, she gives Steven a chance. But your son just keeps taking advantage of my niece!" Annie's voice raised this time, anger flashing across her beautiful face as she continued. 

"Your son could not control his hands not lay on my niece even though she had a high fever! I'm so thankful that Jessica instantly called me the moment she saw the hickey on my niece's body. How dare he not spare a consideration that Nina has a high fever! And I'm upset that my niece keeps it a secret from her parents! If I didn't come for a visit, until now, Nelson and Dona blind to how scum your son is!" 

Annie never cared if her tone was harsh. It's the right moment to make these narrow-minded old men come to their senses. 

And after Annie delivered her statement, the room became suffocating for the Shang. Mely pressed her eyes from embarrassment, while Jerome's face twitched from rage. 'That son of mine! How he gave this kind of shame to the family they have known their whole life!? Dammit!' 

Jerome heaves a furious sigh, he makes a promise to Li. "I won't let this off. Let me discipline my son." 

"Please, let me talk to Nina and Steven first." Mely made a request. She understood that her son committed a crime. But she saw how Steven loved Nina. She is ready to ask forgiveness and hears Nina's feelings. And as for her son, he deserves punishment, but she wants to do it in proper talk. She wants to avoid family conflict. She witnessed how chaotic the relationship with Shang's family was. And she doesn't want to take the same path as them. She wants a peaceful life with her children. 

"Sister Mely, I'm hoping that you won't tolerate your son," Annie pointed out. 

Shaking her head, Mely responded to Annie. "Don't worry, Annie. But I want to do it peacefully. So please allow me to talk with Steven first." 

Nelson cut in, he declared, "I don't want Steven to come to the house from now on, or get near to my daughter. If you don't warn him, I might not hold myself beating up your son." 

"I promised, I will do a disciplinary action," Jerome assured Nelson. He glanced at his grandfather, who remained silent until now. He knew that the elder should not ruin this plan of uniting the two families.. They knew that they had another option… It's Harry.