Lucky Star

She sighed softly and closed her eyes, like crystals, tears slowly sliding down her cheeks, one after the other.

The morning sun was now high in the sky.

George and Frank were seated in the living room after having a quick power nap as sleeping in the day would do them no good at night.

They were discussing something when De Xi's room door opened and she walked out, dressed in a deep green business suit.

"Are you going to work?" George asked with a frown clearly not pleased with the choice.

"Eva, you just became good, rest up and recuperate for few more days?" Frank intervened as he knew that George might actually burst out in his anger, which might get ugly given De Xi's unpredictable temper.

"I'm going home." De Xi said calmly as she looked at the two men with indifference.

"Rest up, we don't want you looking weak and pale in front of them," George said as he continued flipping through the records he was reading.

"Little Princess will start doubting, as no matter how busy I am I would never go without talking for a complete week." De Xi answered calmly with a lot of patience.

Frank and George were silent, they agreed with her but they still want her to rest up before she starts with another round of emotional stress.

"I think it is time you give them their deserved explanation, especially... Bai... He is not what he used to be eight years ago, he has changed for good, for worse." George said with a sigh, as he looked at De Xi, his eyes full of weariness.

"Yes, Eva. He has learned his lesson now. He knows that just a keen sense of business cannot keep him and his business afloat." Frank said as he backed up George's idea.

"I think now he is more than capable of protecting you and your family all by himself," George said as he looked at De Xi, who looked at them calmly but her conflicting emotions and struggle were clear in her eyes.

"Do you think I don't wish to tell him everything already?" De Xi asked calmly, her tone sounding weak and tired, unlike her usual confident self.

George and Frank looked at her with a frown, confusion clear in their faces.

"What do I tell him? That he is the core reason for all of this mess? That he is the reason I left him and our family? Do I hold him responsible for Little Princess growing away from her culture and family for all these years?" De Xi asked as she looked at the two, range clear in her eyes.

"Answer me!" De Xi pressed when the duo was silent, lost for words of reason.

"I wanted to tell him everything on that night, eight years ago, but what do I tell him? Where do I start explaining the deep mess we were in, the mess we unknowingly created?" De Xi asked as she slumped down on the recliner chair near her.

George and Frank were silent as they knew, asking her to come clean with everything was easier said than done.

"How can I hold him accountable for someone falling in love with him?"

"How can I hold him accountable if that someone takes her life because she could not be with him when he is still unaware of this complete fiasco?" De Xi asked as she buried her head in her palms.

"If there is someone I should be blaming right now, it should be me. Had I met her before I went to that family dinner, I would have known about her love and..." De Xi blamed herself when George interrupted.

"And you would have never found someone who loves and cherishes you like him. And you would have spent all your life alone." George said clearly angry and annoyed.

"Everyone promises forever until they find someone better. I would have been better off alone." De Xi said as she chuckled bitterly.

"Not all men are unfaithful, there are men who love only one woman all their lives. Even when you are surrounded by such men how can you say that?" Frank asked in a clearly displeased and disapproving tone.

"Indeed I am surrounded by men who love or loved one woman all their lives but I and Bai were not married for love. I could have lived without him." De Xi said coldly as she reminded the two about a glaring fact.

"Be stronger than your excuses. That is what you said to me, remind yourself of that." George said calmly with a sigh of defeat as he stood up and went back to his room.

"Probably you should consider your thoughts again," Frank said with a sigh as he also left to his room.

De Xi looked at the duo who went to their respective rooms, clearly not ready to continue the topic with her.

She sighed as a sudden thought crossed her mind and she fished out her mobile from her blazer pocket, quickly searching up contact and calling it.

*********** Few Hours Later*************

De Xi was seated inside a high-end cafe, slowly sipping on her Americano, as she enjoyed the city view outside.

"What a surprise, even the great President Evelina De has days she needs advice?" a mȧturė and cheery voice came from behind De Xi.

"Mei, you are here early? Where you nearby?" De Xi asked in surprise as she looked behind her to find a younger woman dressed in a champagne A-line dress.

"Cong told me about everything, how are you feeling now?" Jiang Mei asked as she looked at De Xi with concern while taking her seat opposite De Xi.

"I'm good. Looks like you were returning to Rome after your London Fashion Week?" De Xi asked as she looked at Jiang Mei's earrings.

"I forgot to change the earrings right? Jeez, I should have let my ȧssistant help me get ready.." Jiang Mei said as she touched her earrings helplessly.