Burning Passion

CHAPTER 307: GOING TO CHINA

* * * 

Rushing to the living room from the kitchen, Mely was shocked seeing the mess in the living room and the bruises Harry and Steven had on their faces. If the maid didn't check out when she heard faint sounds of broken vases, Mely wouldn't know that her sons were beating each other. 

Worries written on her face, Mely asked her sons. "Harry? Steven? What's going on here?"

Harry and Steven shared a glance. No one responded to their mother. 

Steven wipes his nose with the back of his palm. Truly, his nose was bleeding after Harry punched him hard. 

He didn't notice the pain when he was more focused on contemplating what Harry just told him. He freaked out, and all he wanted to do now was talk to Nina and tried to explain with her to make her understand. 

"I want to talk with Nina, Papa..." said Steven. He walked past his father. 

But Jerome stops his son. "No. Packed your stuff. We're leaving for Las Vegas."

Confused, he asked, "What are we going to do there?" 

Jerome looked at his son. He wore a serious face as he replied, "There are problems with one of our investments in a Casino. We have a board meeting with Gibson Group."

"Why do I need to go with you? You can bring Harry. I'm going to see Nina." He replied coldly to his father. Mentioning Harry's name is now a difficult thing for Steven to spill out.

Instead, a stern look he threw to his twin brother, and this didn't hide from Jerome's vision. He shook his head with irritation, he had to calm down. It's not the right time, yet.

"You are part of the International Marketing team. Normally, you are the one I will bring to the meeting. We are leaving so soon." Jerome shifted his gaze toward his wife to hint to Steven that he didn't want to explain further. "Mely, did you prepare our luggage?" 

"Yes," Mely replied shortly.

Surprised, Steven wondered why his mother would come along with them. "Mama? Are you going too?" 

Nodding, Mely brightens her smile as she tries hard to conceal the trouble in her face. Gladly, Jerome cut in and the one replied to Steven. "Yes. We will go to San Francisco as your mother needs a check-up after." 

Hearing this, Steven's facial expression softened as he looked at his mother with pure concern. He asked in a low voice, "What's wrong, Ma?" 

"I think I was just under stress lately." Mely pursed a smile, not for Steven to get worried. Even Steven is short-tempered, but he is thoughtful toward her and shows his concern every time she's hospitalized, feeling unwell.

"Stress? Why?" asking this question, Steven glanced at his father. He wondered if his parents fought lately because his mom looked pale, which he didn't notice. In these passing weeks, all he was thinking is to separate Harry and Nina, watching them closely, not to have time to talk to each other. But the library incident!

Steven was pondering when he felt his mother's hand on his shoulder.

"Please, accompany me. Okay?" Mely approaches his son, she grabs Steven's elbow, dragging him toward the stairs. She is hoping that Steven would not ask further questions. She's desperate to take Steven away from this place before things get worse. Nelson already warned them, and Grandpa Shang was already disappointed by what Steven did to Nina and for compromising the opportunity of uniting the two families as soon as possible. 

To avoid more conflict between the families. They have taken Steven away before talking with him sincerely that the arranged marriage has been called off by Nina's family. She was afraid that Steven would create a problem once he heard about it.

She's already aware that her son has this behavior he didn't often show, but as a mother, she knew him very well. That is why she was thankful that Harry is the opposite and never tried to create conflicts against Steven. But not this time. The conflict their family has faced involves Harry.

While they ascend the stairs, Mely comforts her son. "I will help you pack your clothes. And look at you! Let's tend your bruises first." 

Steven was confused, but he didn't ask a question. Besides, he's also worried about his mother. He loves her as much as he loves Nina. And his mother suffered from an illness after she gave birth to them. 

That evening, Steven accompanied his parents and great-grandparents, headed to Newark International Airport, and boarded the private jet his father rented for this trip. After a few hours on top of the sky, they finally landed. But to his confusion, they weren't getting out of the plane, yet. 

"Where are we?" Steven asked after he could not keep these questions in his head. He notices that they were in a familiar airport in Hawaii. "This is Hawaii, isn't it?" 

Jerome, who was reading some reports on his hand, replied to his son without lifting a gaze. "Yes. We are in Honolulu, Hawaii for refueling." 

Shocked, Steven doesn't understand at all why they have to go to Hawaii just for refueling when they could do it anywhere in California. Why do they have to be in Hawaii? Steven looked at her mother.

"What is going on here, Mama?" 

Mely could only give her son an apologetic stare. She turned her head, looking outside the window to hide her tears. 

Steven notices the tears in his mother's eyes. Suddenly, the beating in his chest grows loudly. "What's the meaning of this, Papa? You didn't give me a chance to see and talk to Nina. You didn't explain to me how long we will be away. Where are we going exactly?" He had a bad feeling. His family seemed to hide something.

"As you could see, we are refueling to have enough fuel to reach China." 

"What? Why are we going to China!?" Steven unbuckled his safety belt and attempted to get up from his seat when his father warned him. 

"Don't you ever think to stand up from there?" It was an order.

"And why not!? If you don't turn around this plane or explain to me anything, then I will get off here and go back to New Jersey to talk to Nina! Why are you wasting my time, anyway?!" Steven raised his voice this time.

"You did only waste your time." Great-grandpa Shang finally spoke. He was seated across the aisle, prepared to do his part if Jerome could not discipline his son. He's still annoyed at how Steven created a mess!

"What do you mean by that Great-grandpa? What is going in here!?" 

Irritated, Jerome finally makes up his mind to tell Steven the truth. "Sit down, if you want an explanation." 

Even though confused and doesn't like what is happening, Steven wanted to understand the drama his family is playing right now. His father told him they have a board meeting. His mother said to accompany her for a checkup. But why did his great-grandparents also join them on this trip? 

Now they were telling him they will go back to China!? No wonder! And it looks well planned as they convinced him to board on this plane!

Heaving a long sigh, Jerome began explaining the whole situation. He said, "Nelson warned me not to let you get near to his daughter." 

"What? Why? Nina is my girlfriend! Aren't we supposed to get married sooner?" Stating this to his father, Steven looks at his great-grandfather. "Great-grandpa, do something!" 

"We cannot do anything about it anymore." Elder Shang said flatly, not sparing a glance at his great-grandson's direction. 

It shocked Steven, his face filled with confusion. "What do you mean by that great-grandpa?" 

Why is his grandpa giving up now? Isn't he wanting to unite Li and Shang? Steven thought. Besides, his only hope is for this old man to back him up. But as he could see, even the elder doesn't want to support him anymore! 

What happens? Did Harry say something to them? Voicing out his thoughts, Steven uttered, "Did Harry make up a story, and you believe in him?" 

Jerome glared at his son with disbelief. And when his twin sons hated each other? Steven is losing his mind!? Jerome mused.

"No. It's not Harry. It was Nelson and Annie." He replied flatly.

"Then Harry must have told them something, and they believe in him!" 

"Enough, Steven!" Jerome now didn't hold up to raise his voice. "Don't mention Harry in this talk! Because all along it was you who brought this to yourself! You heard me, the engagement is off, and you can't go near Nina!" 

"But why?" 

"Why? You bastard!" Yelled by Elder Shang. "You bring great shame to our family! I don't have a face to show to Master Li any longer!" 

"What have I done!?" Clueless, Steven keeps throwing questions to his father and Elder Shang.

"Steven, don't talk back to your elders." Mely couldn't take it any longer just to listen. She felt pity for Steven, but he made a mistake that could end the friendship between Li and Shang. Right now, they were trying to save this so-called friendship by taking Steven away and make sure that he won't bother Nina anymore. 

"But, Mama! Nina and I are supposed to have our betrothal ceremony soon if you talk to Li!" 

"You just wasted your chance, idiot!" 

"Why don't you just tell me what happens, and they change their mind!" 

"Steven.... Is it true that you tried to assault Nina the last time you were in England?"