It was past midnight when Miya finally sobered up from the drugs. Xenon asked a female doctor to come and check on Miya. The doctor cleaned up all the tiny pieces of rusty metal on her wounds, stitched the deep cuts, and bandaged the minor ones. When Miya woke up from a long and deep sleep, she opened her eyes a bit and quickly closed them, finding it hard to adjust to the bright light. It must be midday now. She thought. She tried to stretch her body, but the sharp and sudden pain all over her body shocked her. She then opened her eyes wide open and saw that she was sleeping in Xenon's arms. He was cuddling her tight, fast asleep.It took a while to sink in as she slowly recalled what had happened yesterday, from being kidnapped and Xenon coming to rescue her to the wild and crazy experience in bed last night.Gently, she put her arm around him and kissed his lips softly. Startled, Xenon awoke, cuddled her tighter, and looked at her with a content smile. Miya blushed and looked awa
Sincerely, Miya said, "Look, I know they are just using me to harm you, but I'm not even someone important. I can't imagine what kind of danger you have been through. Though people look up to you, you have fame and power, and you are very successful, but what you have been through to get what you have now must be crazy. I really hope that at least your friends and the woman you love will love you truly and stand by you forever." Xenon seemed touched. He looked at her quietly. "You know, in the very beginning, I hated to be with you, but I don't know since when it started to change, this feeling...I don't regret having married you at all. It doesn't matter how long our marriage will last, I will always remember and cherish the time I've spent with you." Miya went on. "Do you look forward to the end of it?" Miya shook her head, "No. It would be best if it could last forever, of course. I wish it would. However, if it won't be just the two of us anymore, I... I will leave. Xenon, don
I'm sure you know better what the best choice is in the long term." Xenon sneered. The Uba Corporation had been growing too fast and too big, especially in the past years since Xenon took over. Their markets are covered all over the world. Their success had, as expected, brought jealousy from other big businesses, not only in City X but in the whole country.As Jacob was Xenon's best friend, the Morgans would support the Ubas. However, one should not expect other businesses to do the same. Even Sean Smith wasn't very supportive.The Moores had gradually built and expanded their business in City X, and now the mysterious Chris Butler was also targeting City X. Sean thought he had to be more cautious. He doesn't want to interfere with the rivalry between two giant companies to avoid any problems in the future.The Smith Group was the second biggest corporation in City X, and naturally, the Moores had tried every way they could to collaborate with Sean to defeat The Uba Corporation. Se
Though Miya had been preparing herself to leave Xenon once Sol returned, she had not expected it to happen so fast. Is this the end? Miya thought. Am I to leave Xenon now? "Ha. Do you want to be with Xenon for longer? If you do, then do as I say." Chris smiled.Miya thought it over and said, "Where should I meet you?" "If I remember correctly, you've once said that you would cook for me to thank me. Why don't you come to my house in Green Valley Ranch?" Miya hesitated for a while. "Alright." She agreed. He seemed to show up whenever I needed help, and now he's got me to do what he wants. But what does he really want? To use me to harm Xenon? But if he has found Sol, he can use her as bait instead. She's the one that Xenon really loves, not me. She wondered and hurried downstairs. Jeff, the bodyguard Miya chose the other day, came to meet her. "Are you going out, Mrs. Uba?" "Right." "Does Mr. Uba know?" Miya was going to meet Chris, and it was for the reason that he had found
Miya watched Chris closely, hoping to see if he was telling the truth, but he appeared to be so serene yet emotionless that she couldn't guess his feelings at all. "Do you find me good-looking, Miya?" Chris teased, seeing that she was watching him.A bit embarrassed, Miya smiled and said half-jokingly, "You are absolutely charming, Mr. Butler." "Good. Why don't you come and be with me when you leave Xenon Uba?"Startled by the suggestion, Miya shook her head immediately, "Thanks for the offer, but no. I want to focus on my career.""Your career? Do you think that you can still be a designer at The Uba Corporation when you and Xenon Uba separate?" Miya thought it over and shook her head. She knew that even if Xenon and Sol asked her to stay, she would not. She could not. "I can help you with your career if you are with me.""Thanks, but I will find another job somewhere else, or I don't have to do jewelry design but switch back to interior design. That's what I studied anyway." Miy
Miya felt humiliated, and tears streamed down her face. "No. Xenon. No..." she shook her head as she held his stare. Xenon sneered and demanded, "Take it off." "No. I won't. You are humiliating me." Miya retorted. "How could you meet him in private without my permission?! I have to check if you did it with him.""I only cooked lunch for him. That's it. If you don't believe me, then shoot me, but don't humiliate me." "Now you are feeling humiliated. Why did you lie to me and go see him then?"Miya couldn't tell him that Chris had found Sol. "I wanted to thank him for saving me and to tell him then from now on, I don't owe him anything, and we should not speak to each other again." She lied. "Is that so?" "Yes. I swear." Xenon watched her closely for a while, then put the gun away. Miya closed her eyes and heaved a sigh of relief. She felt weak. "Thanks." She muttered. "I asked you to stay at home so you can recover well. I didn't give you the chance to meet other guys secretivel
Miya tapped on his c.h.e.s.t and asked, "What are you thinking about?" "You do look like the girl, Coraline. Actually, you, Sol, and Coraline all look very similar but your eyes. Perhaps Chris Butler will fall in love with you because you look like her. If he wants to have you, what will you do?" Xenon asked, looking at Miya.Impossible. Just because I look like someone that he loves?!" "What if?" "Xenon, I'm your wife." "What if we separate one day?" "Then I don't know." Xenon looked upset and serious. He grabbed Miya's chin and said, "Miya, you'd better behave yourself. If I find out that something is going on between you and him, you will be in trouble." Miya was as frightened as upset. She had learned how cruelly Chris Butler would treat the fairy-like girl with the floral head wreath, and now she was again reminded how cruel and dominating Xenon could be.Why are they given the power to decide on others' lives? Is it just because they are billionaires? She couldn't help w
Chris coughed a deliberate cough, and the girl paused as if Chris had given her a warning. Miya felt a sudden relief. She flipped through a catalog of the auction items on the desk, hoping to divert her attention and ease her worried mind.Chris went over to Xenon with a smile and extended his hand for a handshake. "A p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to see you, Mr. Butler. Who is this? May I ask?" Xenon stood up, shook Chris' hand, and said as he looked at the girl casually. The girl trembled slightly. She wasChris smiled, and the charm of his smile excited every woman present. "My partner. I guess she knows very well that she isn't capable of stealing Mrs. Uba's thunder, so she might as well wear a mask to cover her face and be a bit mysterious tonight. However, I do much prefer Mrs. Uba's attire." He turned to look at Miya. "You look gorgeous, Mrs. Uba. I wonder if I can have the honor to have a dance with you later.""I'm afraid not," Xenon said instantly, with an icy smile. "She still needs pr
Two days later, Levi knocked at Chris' office door, carrying a bag of doc.u.ments and photos. "Come in," Xenon said, his eyes fixed on his laptop, trying to focus on work and not to think about Miya."Good Morning, Mr. Uba. Here are some doc.u.ments and photos of Mrs. Miya Uba." Levi handed Xenon the bag. "Have you spoken to her mother?" Xenon asked. He somehow felt that he was going to discover something that would change everything.Yes. I have. There was something in particular that I think you should probably know. It happened when Mrs. Miya Uba was about eight years old." Xenon looked up at Levi, surprised, expecting. "According to Mrs. Sue Loran, Mrs. Uba had a fever when she was around eight years old and lost part of her memories." Levi went on. "Did she say how and why?" Xenon asked eagerly. "She said Mrs. Uba had fallen into icy water that winter and caught a bad cold. She also mentioned that she probably had the accident of saving a stranger, but she had never seen th
The next few days, Xenon and Miya hardly saw or spoke to each other. Xenon had arranged a few more bodyguards to keep Miya safe. He felt that he needed some time for himself. The moon was up in the clear sky. Standing at the balcony, looking at the moonlit garden, with a cigarette in his hand, Xenon recalled the last few months spent with Miya, from the first time he saw her drugged and vulnerable outside the lift at Turn On Bar to the time when she risked her life to save him and the other day when she tried to take Chris' punch for him. There was a voice telling him that he had grown attached to and even fallen in love with her. He had to admit to himself that he missed her though he was the one that decided to have a break. As he pictured her face in his head, he suddenly thought of the little girl that saved him on the icy winter day again. Why do I always relate her to the little girl? Sol is the girl that saved me, not Miya. He thought to himself, then an idea occurred to him
Xenon dragged Miya into his office angrily and slammed the door shut. All the secretaries stared in disbelief. Though everyone was curious, no one dared to utter a word. He threw Miya onto the sofa and looked at her furiously, "No lies. Why were you at the restaurant with Chris Butler?!"Miya held his stare with her lips pouted. She remained silent.Xenon suddenly sat down next to her and pinned her down on the sofa, with his face right above hers, glaring at her threateningly. "Tell me." Miya felt that she had done nothing wrong and Xenon was being unfair. She heaved a sigh and said plainly, "He said he knows where my mum is, and he threatened me, so I had to go see him. You and Sol Keaton arrived just two minutes after I got there. I didn't know you were coming." Xenon looked into her eyes for a while as if to confirm if she was lying, then he got up, walked over to his desk, with his back facing her, and said, "I will take care of your mother. Now you can go back to work." Miya
Miya acknowledged what Chris said but made no reply. She was literally dragged away by Xenon. He walked faster and faster, and she had to rush to catch up. At one point, she almost twisted her ankle, but she bore the pain and said nothing. The bodyguard held the door open for them, and Xenon pushed Miya into the car rather violently and slammed the door shut.Miya shivered, frightened. She rubbed her ankle gently and accidentally saw through the window that Sol was running after them. She stumbled and almost fell over, but Xenon went over to her quickly and held her arm.Seeing that she was struggling with her twisted ankle, Xenon lifted Sol up and carried her to the car. It hurt Miya to see how much Xenon cared about Sol. It's obvious who he really loves. He won't divorce me only because he's being possessive. He doesn't want other men to have me.Xenon's phone rang. The bodyguard helped answer the phone and held it by Xenon's ear. "Mr. Uba, our team has studied the record of the
Both Xenon and Chris' bodyguards stood aside and watched cautiously. There was only limited space in the room, and even if the bodyguards wanted to help, they couldn't squeeze in. There were a few times when Miya felt fists flying right next to her cheek, and her heart was racing fast, frightened. Miya had learned how good Xenon was, and she was very impressed, but little did she expect Chris, who seemed so calm and elegant, to be another Kong Fu master. Hugging Miya with one arm, Xenon wasn't as swift as Chris, and suddenly, Chris threw a fierce punch towards Xenon. Miya screamed and held up her palms, intending to block Chris's punch.Both Xenon and Chris were shocked, and at the very same time, Chris retreated his fist while Xenon covered Miya's hands with his. That brought an end to the fight. "Didn't you want to leave me? Why did you try to take the punch for me then?" Xenon chuckled and teased. "I, I didn't mean to...it just happened," Miya explained feebly."Didn't you?" Xe
They arrived at one of the best high-end restaurants in town. Chris was looking out of the window, enjoying the view while waiting. He heard the door open and Miya's footsteps. Without turning around, he said quietly, "I'm glad you made it here." "Mr. Butler, why did you pay for my mum's treatment? I don't want to be in debt to you or anyone.""You are not. I have my own intentions." He replied without giving her any further explanation. "What do you mean?" Puzzled, Miya asked him again. Chris looked at her, smiled, and said, "No worries. I just want to see you and buy you lunch." "I have no appetite." She refused his offer. "Ah. It's alright. I do. Two more people are coming, by the way." "Who?" Miya snapped. "Take a seat. You will find out soon." Chris stood up, pulled out a chair for Miya, and gestured to her to sit down. Miya felt more worried, but knowing that there was no way she could leave without Chris' consent, she obeyedDid you finish the books I gave you?" Chris
Xenon bent down immediately to check. "You ok? Did you hurt your ankle?" Sol nodded. "I'm afraid so." Then she had a glance at the secretaries' office and saw that Miya could see them clearly. "Oh. Silly me. I shouldn't have worn heels." She said regretfully.Xenon put one arm around Sol's back and the other under her knees and lifted her up, so Sol wrapped her arms around his neck. "Xenon, I think I can manage. I'm worried that your staff will think it inappropriate to see you carrying me like this.""Inappropriate?" Xenon knitted his brows and marched towards the lift. "Whoever thinks it inappropriate should get fired." He said it aloud. As soon as the secretaries saw them get into the lift, everyone exclaimed, and soon gossip followed. Everyone saw and heard clearly how much Xenon cared about Sol, including Miya, especially when Sol smiled at her victoriously over Xenon's shoulder.She didn't need to do that. Everyone knows she's the one that Xenon loves anyway. Miya thought. Al
Miya was startled. She had forgotten the fact that she and Sol looked like. "No, she's not my sister." She shook her head. "But my goodness, you two look just the same." Jodie looked at Miya, then at Sol, and back at Miya, in disbelief.Sol had a closer look at Jodie, noticing her attire and her pretty face. She asked cautiously, with a smile, "Who are you, may I ask?" "Jodie Field. I work here. And you?" "Sol Keaton." "Nice to meet you. Do you work here as well?" "No, not yet. Perhaps in the future. I'm here to see Xenon." "To see Xenon? Mr. Uba? You know him well?" Jodie looked at her suspiciously. "Yes. I want to keep him company." "Huh? What do you mean? He's got his wife to keep him company." Jodie said matter-of-factly. Nice one, Jodie. Miya thought gratefully. Sol looked displeased at first, then she smiled and replied, "The thing is, his wife isn't the one he loves. I am. Those who are just a replacement will have to leave sooner or later now that I'm back." Jodie po
Irritated, he turned around and glared at Miya, "What do you want, huh? You were just saying you are jealous of Sol, and now you want to leave me." Miya smiled a helpless smile. "What do I want? Mr. Xenon Uba, I've told you that I love you, but we can't be together, can we? What do you expect me to do? To be your secret lover to humiliate me? And shouldn't you be loyal to Miss Keaton?"He didn't like seeing her smile. It upset and angered him at the same time. Without another word, he turned around and left. "Will you let me leave? Make up your mind, please..." Miya muttered.Xenon hurried back to his room. He didn't have an answer. Feeling helpless and hopeless, Miya collapsed onto the bed and stared at the ceiling all night long. She didn't get up till the maid knocked at her door in the morning to ask her to have breakfast. Seeing the tired and drawn face of herself in the mirror, she pinched her cheeks and said to herself, "Come on, Miya! This is not you! Cheer up. Life goes on