Imperfect Desires

Nora found Xiu's cough to be quite suspicious as she eyed this pair of husband and wife. 

"You both are hiding something from me?" she questioned with squinted eyes. 

"What can we possibly hide from you?" retorted Darren. 

He had really learned to act from his wife. One couldn't possibly find a single clue from his expressions unless he wanted to give some clue. And currently, he was inclined on playing out the act with his dearest wife. In fact, today Darren was willing to do anything for her. The happiness that she had brought into his life couldn't be described in words. So, he thought no matter what he did, it'd never be enough to show how thankful he was for having her in his life.

But if anyone else heard his words, they'd be like, 'Bro, when were you not willing to do as she said?'

He already knew how the news or evidence got reported in such high profile way. Obviously, he had a hand in it as well. When Xiu got the medical report, she had almost broken her laptop in rage. She spent years in trauma and guilt over something that never even happened. Even when she knew she wasn't at fault, she ended up blaming herself!

And in the end, she was told that someone was bloody messing with her already fucked up mind? Just what kind of psychotic person had the leisure to play around with her like that?

However, none of that mattered now! She wanted revenge, she would take it from the first person before her eyes! And that was indeed Liu Nuan. The first to burn under her rage had to be that woman whom she once saved without even thinking once!

And that's why she provided the evidence to Darren who in turn used his contacts to release the news in a way that no power would be able to suppress it. But he didn't think that no one would be willing to put out this fire for Liu Nuan from the beginning. He didn't have to exert any energy at all. 

At this point, no one cared about Liu Nuan's existence. If someone did, then someone would have noticed her absence for over a week and yet, not a single soul cared about her disappearance. 

She had isolated Chen Xiu from the world but she had to swallow the same medicine herself now. Just a little more bitter. After all, what Chen Xiu lost was other's trust but the people who left Liu Nuan were all she once called her family.

Nora sat down beside Xiu and continued to rage, "I'm really feeling pissed off. People really did that poor girl dirty. I never thought Liu Nuan was such a snake. She bit the hand that fed her. Didn't Han Bohai say that Chen Xiu saved her life, and yet she did something so horrendous to her? What a fucked up woman!"

Xiu was amused by Nora's reaction. And yet she felt kind of, touched as well. She already knew that her best friend loved to fight for justice. But she didn't think she would have such kind of a reaction for someone she didn't even know at all.

Xiu patted Nora's head saying, "Calm down. There is nothing you can do now."

Instead of feeling better, Nora felt worse, "Xiu, I'm mad like super-duper mad! I wish to take your bat and crush every single bone in Liu Nuan's body right now. I can't imagine what kind of a monster is she. And I'm even more unwilling to believe that she is Ah-Si's cousin."

Xiu looked at Darren before saying softly, "Stop being so angry now. It's not good for you. If you went to see your daughter with this look on your face, you are gonna scare the little girl. So, calm down for a minute. You won't achieve anything from this anger and sense of justice."

Nora's shoulders slackened as she heard her words and lamented, "That's true. Even if I crush Liu Nuan to death, it won't bring that person back. She is already dead." Then she looked up at Xiu resolutely, "But just because she is dead doesn't mean she deserves to carry this blame! She deserves justice! And I'll do anything in my power to add fuel to this fire that has broken out now."

"And why would you wanna do that?" questioned Xiu as she stared at Nora. "You had nothing to do with Chen Xiu. Why is it riling you up so much?"

Nora stared back at Xiu's face for a long while before saying, "Isn't it because of you?"

Xiu was startled and her heart thumped wildly as she asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Nora turned her eyes away as she went on, "Chen Xiu saved your life. She gave me my best friend back. How can I not feel anything right now? Just the fact that she saved your life is enough for me to tell that she was a beautiful soul. And I don't think I can stand aside doing nothing for her. Since she is no longer here to fight for herself, someone else has to do it for her." She took a brief pause as she added, "And I'm sure whoever revealed those medical reports had the same thought as me. The death of one person doesn't end the battle. It only rages it!"

Xiu's eyes softened as she continued to look at the side of Nora's face. She touched Nora's head before she lifted her body to kiss her forehead saying, "I didn't know I am that important to you."

"Well, now you know," replied Nora. "And by the way, I thought your kisses were now reserved for your husband?"

"I can make you an exception once in a while," retorted Xiu making Nora's lips curve up slightly.

After fuming for so long, Nora finally managed to vent her frustration. Even if she had nothing to do with Chen Xiu, she still felt sick to her stomach thinking about how Liu Nuan played with Chen Xiu.

"How about I make you happy now?" inquired Darren.

"You?" Nora stared at Darren doubtfully.

"You're trying to spoil my wife's mood, I have to make sure you're happy. How else would my wife feel happy now?"

"In the end, it's still for your wife?" Nora snickered. 

Darren pulled out his phone and placed it right beside Nora's ear as he played a recording. Nora heard the sound of the clear heartbeat and frowned.

"Why are you making me hear a heartbe..." Before she could even finish her words, she saw Xiu's hand on her abdomen while both Darren and Xiu passed her a smile that made her breath hitch. For a long while, she wasn't able to say anything. Finally, she choked out, "It's the baby's first heartbeat?"

"Yes, it is! Aunt Nono!" said Xiu happily making Nora's lips tremble before her tears poured down her face. Xiu was startled to see this. What just happened? Was this enough to make her best friend cry? And soon, she found Nora crying hysterically right before her. Xiu was left speechlessly staring at her.

"I thought you'd be happy to hear your nephew's first heartbeat. Why did you start crying instead?" asked Darren in shock as well.

"I am happy," Nora managed to say. "I am so happy that I can't stop my tears anymore."

She pulled Xiu in a hug and didn't let her go for a long time. Xiu continued to pat her back soothingly while Nora continued to shed tears. In fact, Nora would usually not cry so badly. But since the time, she had experienced the loss of a child, she had become very sensitive about kids.

Although she found her daughter back now, it didn't change her nature. It only made her even more emotional now. 

And even though Xiu couldn't tell why Nora was crying, it was already obvious to her that she cared a lot about her unborn kid. And that's why she couldn't help smiling to herself as she thought, 'My son is gonna have the best aunt in the whole world. How lucky!'

"Nora, if you cried like this, I might end up crying as well," said Xiu.

"And I won't be happy seeing my wife cry because of you," Darren chimed in supposedly in a bad mood. But it was clear he was only faking it. 

Nora finally stopped crying like a baby and wiped her face as she said, "Xiu, you better take care of yourself. I don't want my nephew to suffer at all."

"I thought you didn't believe me when I said it's a son," Xiu couldn't help reminding her.

"Such a strong heartbeat it is," said Nora. "It's definitely my strong nephew!"

"That logic makes no sense," retorted Xiu.

"You never made sense, did I ever complain?" Nora shot back, in the same manner, making Xiu grumble at her.