Imperfect Desires

Just as Xiu and Darren said, they were indeed going towards the stage but along the way, Xiu stopped and Darren only realized it when he looked back. Seeing her frozen to her spot, he rushed back to her.

"Sweets..."

"Hm?" 

"Why are you shaking?"

Darren hurriedly held her hand and his eyes widened, "And why are you so cold? What's wrong?" He tried to unclench her hands and when he did, his eyes almost popped out, "Sweets, what the hell! Stop it! Your hands are bleeding."

Xiu hadn't heard a word. Not one thing went through her brain which was buzzing right now. She couldn't help the trembling whether it was because of anger or cold, she couldn't tell. What she did know was the reason behind this buzzing in her brain.

Her eyes were constantly focused on the woman who now was congratulating the newlyweds with a big smile. Seeing that woman's face was enough to make her remember the helplessness, betrayal, and every other emotion she went through before she decided to take her own life.

It was none other than Liu Nuan's mother, Xin Suyin.

Xiu didn't have many encounters with this woman and yet, she became her life's nightmare without her realizing it...

***

'I've seen plenty of cheap celebrities like you,' was what that woman said to her as her hand pinched Xiu's face painfully. 'Just like your mother tried to snatch my husband, do you think you can snatch my daughter's husband? Like mother, like daughter indeed. You both are nothing but cheap whores!'

'Please, talk about my mother with respect. You have no right to talk about her like this.'

No matter what kind of a relationship Xiu had with her mother, she never could bear hearing anything against her. If anything, she respected her. At the end of the day, she was her mother.

The woman ruthlessly shoved Xiu aside making her fall on her knees. A pain shot through Xiu's knees making tears brim in her eyes.

'Respect? Does she even deserve it?' sneered the woman.

'I never thought of doing it. I've told your daughter already that we broke up, what else do you all want from me? Stop dragging me and my mother into this.' Xiu's tears were trickling down her face. There was a bruise on her face from how much force Xin Suyin had used.

Pulling Xiu's hair to make her look up, the woman snarled, 'Do you think that's enough?'

'Ahh!' Xiu couldn't help exclaiming in pain.

'Your mother is still a pain in my ass after all these years, do you expect me to believe that you won't be like her? I don't believe it! Not even for a minute.' She pulled her hair even more as her face came closer to Xiu's and added, 'You're just an eyesore like your mother. I hate you beyond your imaginations. So, get lost from my daughter's life. You better get lost before I make you disappear.'

Xiu sobbed and said through her tears, 'Why do you all come to punish me like I'm some kind of a criminal? I've lived my life honestly. I've never even thought of hurting someone with my words. All I wanted was to give love to others around me.'

Xin Suyin sneered, 'Cheap people like you don't deserve the luxury of love. If you wanted to be a small-time actress, you should have stuck with that. Who told you to go and seduce my daughter's life partner?'

'I don't know why you hate my mom but I promise you that I'm not trying to snatch anyone. That relationship ended for me already. Besides, I never seduced anyone.'

'Listen up, little girl! You better disappear or I promise you, I'll make you regret ever been born.'

***

Those were the last words she said to her that day. Who knew she would really end up regretting been born? And now seeing her again, affected her. Seeing Zhou Jinhai, Liu Nuan, Zhou Liqiu, none of them brought such resentment and helplessness. But this woman literally pushed her to death, how could she not get affected by her sight?

Darren held her shoulders and shook her body to get her attention. Xiu's eyes slowly focused on his face. She only realized that she had tears in her eyes when Darren's warm hands touched her face.

"Sweets, you're scaring me now."

Xiu clenched her chest saying with difficulty, "Regan, I can't breathe. Can we go out for a while?"

"Of course!" replied Darren without any hesitation as he rushed her out of the hall. He brought her to the garden and wanted to put her coat on her shoulders but she refused to take it. "Your body is cold already. And don't forget you have to take care of another life now."

That reminder made Xiu take the coat from him. She was breathing heavily. In cold winter, she was sweating as well. She turned around and looked up at Darren as she asked, "Can you hug me? I need you."

Darren frowned slightly but gladly embraced her. Even when he hugged her, he could feel how tense her body was. Seeing her like this really startled him. Especially because it reminded him of Gigi's warning, 'Your wife needs you, Mr. Salvay. Something is eating her inside and making her hollow. You're the only warmth that is filling that hollowness. You're the only one who can save her.'

Darren suddenly felt regret that he completely looked over Xiu's mental state when he heard about her pregnancy. He should have remembered, how difficult it was for her to take this new responsibility in her condition.

He wanted to ask her why she reacted this way but he didn't want to push her either. That's why he was silently hugging her while caressing her head.

"Xin Suyin." She suddenly said out that woman's name.

"Huh?"

"I didn't think I'd see her here," said Xiu.

"She is not only Liu Nuan's mother but she is also Uncle Zi's cousin sister. Of course, you'd see her here."

Xiu looked up at Darren as she snickered, "Never thought that an angel like Ah-Xin would actually have a monster like her as a sister."