Burning Passion

CHAPTER 325: THE NECKLACE

* * *

The next morning, one of Shang's bodyguards came with a car to drive around the island. Nina and Dona visited different shops, buying clothes and bags they found had unique styles. 

Both wished that Nelson was with them, to have someone carry the shopping bags while they continued buying more clothes and women's stuff. Nelson is a slave by his wife, and her daughter thinks it was sweet of him to carry their things.

It was something Nina misses. It may that her father Nelson assigned a personal driver and bodyguards to follow them around every time they went to public and crowded places.

But during shopping, Nelson would order them to scatter around from a distance. 

In the first year of their marriage, Dona doesn't like being followed, walking around with a bunch of bodyguards. It upsets her that Nelson is overprotective of her, which in her opinion, it was overbearing.

So then, Nelson came up with an idea to accompany her when she went shopping and if she would like to visit certain places. 

Ever since then, it has become their setup. Nelson would be carrying the shopping bags and acting as Dona's bodyguard while his men followed in silence. And even after Nina is born, Nelson is proud to go shopping with his Queen and Princess.

"Mama, look! It will be perfect for Papa!" Nina found a polo shirt worn by the mannequin holding a surfboard displayed in a store window.

Dona widened her eyes upon staring at the shirt. Nina was planning naughty acts toward her father, which brought a funny scene playing in her head.

"You know that your father doesn't like vibrant colors," she told her daughter, shaking her head.

However, Nina only beamed. "But Papa can wear them when we go to the beach!" 

"Then you convince your Papa." Dona was actually like the idea. She wanted to see what would be her husband's reaction.

The mother and daughter laugh after they join forces planning to prank Nelson. 

~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, across the Pacific Ocean. Someone suddenly sneezes while preparing for work. He scheduled for an early Board Meeting today, so he wanted to be at his office before everyone else.

Nelson wiped his nose. The moment he opened his eyes, he instantly thought of his wife and daughter, as he's missing them badly, at the same time worried about their safety.

Even though Steven was already in China, he's still feeling anxious. He will only be at ease once Dona and Nina were at his side, or he was by their side. 

Since he arrived in Zen City, he works hard to finish all that needs his attention, especially the problem his cousin created.

Nelson was eating his breakfast when the butler approached him. 

"Master Li, President Jerome Shang was on the phone." 

Nelson nodded. He walked toward the telephone. He sat down on the accent chair while picking up the receiver. 

"Hello, Jerome?" 

"Good morning, Nelson!" 

"Good morning. What can I do for you?" He already guessed that it must be something about their family. Jerome will not make a call this early if it's about business.

"I'm calling you first thing in the morning, hoping you can free your time tonight."

"Hm… Well, I will only work overtime tonight." 

"Ah. I'd like to invite you for dinner and a drink after if you are available." 

"I guess I'm fine with it." He accepts Jerome's invitation.

He already guessed that it would be about Nina. Jerome still pursues the engagement, but this time, it was between Harry and his daughter Nina. 

Well then, he will take this as a chance to tell Jerome about what he and Harry agreed already. 

~ ~ ~

Back to Hawaii… Nina and Dona had lunch at the restaurant where she and Harry met Mrs. Harris. 

She instantly loves the food, and now she wanted her mother to try it out. 

"Did you like their food, Mama?" she asked. Nina is stuffing her mouth with pork barbecue. She loves how the meat tasted.

"Yes, honey. It was great! I love shrimps and vegetable salad! Let's come back here with your Papa. How about on your birthday?" 

Hearing this, Nina starts feeling troubled. She and Harry plan to get married on her birthday. 

They plan a road trip to Las Vegas, where they could get married without consent from their parents. 

Now how can she make an alibi to stay in New Jersey to pretend to celebrate her birthday with her family? 

She could not think of anything yet, so Nina smiled and nodded at her mother. She needed to talk to Harry and make a plan on how they could elope that day. 

"What's wrong? Don't you like the idea?" Dona notices the trouble in her eyes. She wondered if her daughter has a plan already.

"Hm? Oh, I do, Mama! I'm just missing Papa. I wish that Papa would come back too soon." 

"I missed your papa too, honey."

However, it was opposite to what she is praying now. When her father was here, she and Harry could not meet in secret. 

Ah, Jessica! She was always with her, so then, she could not make an excuse to go somewhere. 

"Where do you want to go after lunch?" asked Dona after a long silence. She didn't know that her daughter was thinking of eloping soon.

Nina replied casually, "Ahem. It's up to you, Mama. How about the beach?" 

"Hm. Let's do that!" 

Dona and Nina went back to the hotel and changed their clothes into a one-piece swimsuit. 

Dona would celebrate her 40th birthday soon. However, she was still fit as she had a slender body and looking way younger than her present age. But since Nelson wasn't here, Dona wore something around her body.

"Mama, you're still so sexy! You need not hide your beautiful figure." Nina was praising her mother.

"What are you saying? I'm not shy about showing my body in a foreign land. But your Papa wasn't here. He's the only one I want to look at me in a bikini." 

"Ah! Mama!" Her eyes glimmered, scanning her mother's sexy figure. She admires how in love her parents are with each other, something she dreams for herself. 

And that dream will come true soon after she will marry Harry and become Mrs. Shang. 

"Honey, where is your necklace?"

Nina froze on her feet. She already noticed how her mother often glances at her neck since last night. Even though she already anticipated that her mother would ask about it and prepared an answer. Still, it surprised her. 

"I keep it away, Mama. It's not safe to be in contact with salt and chlorine from the pool." 

"Hm, right? It has a chemical reaction. What pendant it has? Can I see it?" 

Nina couldn't decide if she'll show the necklace to her mother. She knew that she could not hide it forever. But she's afraid that her mother will see the ring!

But she's out of excuses. So then Nina gets the necklace she keeps inside the secret compartment of her suitcase. 

"Oh, a heart-shaped one. It's beautiful, honey! I know it was Harry who bought it. Am I right?" 

She nodded. She bites her lower lip, afraid that her mother would open the pendant. 

"Did you already place a picture inside? I think since it was Harry who gave it to you. It should be a picture of you and Harry's photo you'll place inside." 

"You are right, Mama! I—"

Oh, no! She hasn't confessed to her mother yet that she and Harry were already in a relationship!

"Mama...."