Imperfect Desires

The coffee cup rested upon the table; within that cup of swirling golden glaze sat the swirling hues of the coffee, blended perfectly. Right beside the coffee cup, upon a minimalistic white plate was a muffin that screamed 'rich chocolate'. The top of the muffin bore a network of cracks, made as it rose in the oven and fell a small way on cooling. 

The elegant woman extended her hand to pick up the coffee cup but before she could bring it to her lips, her eyes wandered off to the person who came to stand before her. Raising a single brow at him, she put the cup down as she stated, "Ao! Xiao Zi, you're late!"

Xin Zimen didn't pay attention to her simple directness, he directly took a seat opposite her. Raising his hand, he called for the server and asked for tea. When he was done, he looked back at his sister-in-law, Zhao Huan. 

"So, why are you looking for me?" she wondered with her eyes on him. "There must be a reason why you called me early in the morning."

Xin Zimen contemplated for a moment. "Your intuition was right."

Zhao Huan's brows lifted slightly as she tried to comprehend his words. "My intuition is always right. But the question is, what exactly are you referring to?"

"Carina Novell and my elder brother indeed had a child," answered Xin Zimen with a heavy heart. He also slipped the DNA report towards her. "The DNA matched perfectly."

The corner of her lips curled up in a knowing smile. "Why is the report crumpled?" Xin Zimen wasn't willing to tell her that he crumpled it in frustration but she could tell it herself. "How childish of you!" She tutted in disappointment. 

"And Carina Novell is no more." Her smile fell as she heard those direct words from him. "Shouldn't you be happy to hear that? Why do you look so sad?"

"Why would I be happy about it?" she retorted.

Xin Zimen shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "Perhaps because she can't take your place anymore."

"She couldn't take my place anyway," answered Zhao Huan calmly as she took a bite of the muffin. "Where is her...?"

"Her daughter is in the same city," he continued even before she could finish asking. Seeing how she was lost in her thoughts, he speculated, "Do you think he knows about his daughter?"

Zhao Huan shook her head, "I'm not certain about that actually." She took a pause before adding, "How did Carina die? And where did she die?"

Xin Zimen frowned at her question but he still answered, "She died here." Zhao Huan couldn't help looking at him. "But we don't know how she died. We're still working on that."

"Can't you just ask her daughter? She must know," she suggested.

"We can't," answered Xin Zimen and explained Xiu's condition to her.

"Is she safe?" asked Zhao Huan. "Her daughter. Is she safe?" Xin Zimen really couldn't tell what was going on in her mind. "Xiao Zi, don't look so clueless. You just said that her daughter changed her identity right after her mother died. Don't you find that a bit strange? Why would a girl want to hide her real name? Being a Novell only had advantages for her and yet she chose an unknown identity? Why?"

Xin Zimen hadn't thought about this particular point at all. He was so overwhelmed to know about Xiu's relationship with Carina Novell that he completely overlooked the details. But now that he thought about it, why did she change her name? Why did she not go back to her Novell family? What exactly was happening with her?

"Don't tell me you think Carina Novell's death isn't as simple as it seems," voiced out Xin Zimen what's been bothering him.

Zhao Huan passed an old phone to him. He read the text message: "Boss, the work is done. Both mother and daughter are dead." His eyes widened as he read the message.

She pointed at the phone with her chin, "That's the reason why I don't want my husband to know about this. Because I am not sure what role he played in this. But I'm certain, Carina's daughter knew something. She chose to take a new identity to save herself."

"You think he could do it to his own daughter?" Xin Zimen was in disbelief now.

"To be honest, I don't wanna come up with theories right now. He's my husband and I know he's not that kind of a person. But I can't overlook the fact that the phone in your hand is his."

No matter what differences there were between Xin Zimen and his brother, he was not willing to believe that his brother could actually do this. 

"What are you thinking now?" she inquired seeing how he stared at her suspiciously.

"More than my brother, I doubt you."

She laughed at him mockingly. "He is always trying to tear you apart and here you are telling me that you trust him? What kind of a creature are you, Xiao Zi?" She shook her head in amusement. "And you're right. I do have plenty of motives to kill both Carina and her daughter. After all, Carina had an affair with my husband behind my back. I couldn't bear a child for him but she did. I should definitely be going crazy over this."

"Then why aren't you going crazy? Why do you look so calm?" 

"What will I get out of it?" she retorted back. 

Before he could answer that, his phone rang and first took the call, "Oh, hey Weiwei! Why are you calling so early in the morning?" He listened to the other side in silence before nodding. "Okay. I'll come for breakfast in half an hour." Then he hung up the call and looked at Zhao Huan who had been staring at him intently.

"If you want to know something, just ask."

She pursed her lips and waited for a moment before asking, "How is she?"

"Who?" He questioned making her glare at him. "Oh, you mean Weiwei? But if you want to know about Weiwei just ask her." Zhao Huan squinted her eyes at him. "Fine. I'll stop it now. She's good. She's as hyperactive as she had been since forever."

Zhao Huan nodded her head and got up to leave, "Thanks for the information, Xiao Zi. I very much appreciate it."

"Wait, you don't wanna know who Carina Novell's daughter is?" 

She shook her head. "I don't have to know that for now. It's not like I can bring her to the family before eliminating the dangers. But you make sure to keep her safe."