Chapter 2 An Expensive Shirt Was Scrapped

Teresa took the pill, smiling silently. 'The man really was thoughtful. He even noticed my diarrhea.'

After taking the pill, her stomach had calmed down once the medicine kicked in.

She took her neck pillow out of her bag and leaned on it comfortably. She slept comfortably after that, probably one of the pill's aftereffects.

She had a dream that hour, a dream that she never had.

There were ghosts surrounding her with bright ugly faces, looking as if they were about to eat her alive. They had talons for fingernails and fangs for teeth, and they neared, about to tear her to pieces.

It was so terrible that their screams echoed in her eardrums.

Jerome Gu's body popped out of thin air. His body was peppered with scars and cuts, white shirt stained with blood. He looked like a zombie that just popped out of film.

He looked at her, holding back his tears as his voice cracked. "Abby, just go..."

She couldn't leave, couldn't bring it in herself to. This was her home. She just couldn't.

Her heart clenched at the sight of Jerome Gu, covered in cuts and bruises.

But even if she wanted to, she couldn't bring it in herself to help him.

Jerome Gu had accepted the family punishment. He did everything to shied her from their family's cruelty. All he ever wanted was for her to live the ordinary life she deserved.

How could she do this? After everything that he'd done for her?

"Brother, no!" Teresa screamed, jolting herself awake. This time, she was back in the airplane, a thousand feet above her home.

The man sitting next to her made an annoyed sound, giving her a look.

'It was just a dream, just a dream.' She calmed herself.

It was one she didn't have since three years.

"I'm sorry." Teresa turned to the man beside her, flushing in embarrassment. "It was...I just had a bad dream."

The man merely nodded, turning back to the window.

Just at that moment, the pilot had finally announced that they were about to land.

That dream...

Perhaps it was because she was finally returning back to her home land that her dream finally returned.

There were just memories that were hard to forget, no matter how desperately she tried to hide them.

Once the plane landed, Teresa came out of the passageway. No more was the silence that she appreciated in the plane. Instead, it was replaced by chatter and noise from different types of people. There were some holding up their signs as they waited for the passengers to come for them, while others were waving their hands to greet their friends and families.

She walked alone, dragging her luggage. Many drivers of unlicensed taxis waved her way, but she ignored them.

It had been five years, and she was finally here...

This time, it was to participate in a jewelry making competition.

When she was abroad all these years, she majored in jewelry design. She had become very talented in this field and was at par with many outstanding foreign designers.

She came back to take part in behalf of her university.

As long as she got a place, she'd be able to graduate easily and get a job almost immediately in one of the university's partner companies.

Teresa was determined to win this.

As she was waiting for a taxi at the airport gate, Teresa turned her head at a group of men coming out of the airport gates.

The man protected by the group was wearing a white shirt with a grey vest and white suit pants. His tall figure and gentle were hard to miss, even when he mingled with the crowd. This must also be due to the suited men that surrounded him, all holding their own radio.

'He must be famous,' she thought. 'With that many bodyguards with him, he must be an important man.'

The man, seeming as if he had seen her, started to walk her way.

She furrowed her eyebrows.

Although she was not the one to obsess over looks, she couldn't help but appreciate the man's angular jaw line. It wasn't her fault. She was still a girl. It was normal to appreciate good looks as they came by.

He was just too hot for her to ignore.

Thinking back to what happened on the plane, Teresa winced at embarrassment.

"You..." They started to say, only to pause as the awkwardness hung between them.

"You can say it first," he said.

Teresa rubbed her hands. "Actually, I don't really have much to say. I just thought that it's a coincidence to see you here again. Thank you also for the pill." She extended her hand.

He shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Enrique Shen."

'A polite man, this one,' she thought.

"Teresa Gu," she introduced herself easily.

'Gu?'

Something flashed in Enrique Shen's eyes, but it was too fast for any of them to notice.

But even then, he shrugged. There were plenty of families with 'Gu' as their last names. She couldn't be part of the family that he thought she was, right?

Their hands clasped for a second before they retreated.

"I'll leave you then." She nodded. "See you around."

However, as she was already walking away, Enrique Shen stopped her.

His eyes were gentle under the glasses. "I see that you don't have a car." He motioned at the empty road. "It's not easy to call for a taxi at the airport now. How about I give you a ride?"

"No, thank you. That's nice of you, but really, I'm good."

They just met by chance, and he'd already done so much for her. She couldn't just step in his car!

However, Enrique Shen only waved his hand in dismissal. "It's really no problem. We're going in the same direction anyway. Besides, it's hot out. You might get a sunstroke."

Seeing as he wasn't going to take no for an answer, Teresa conceded.

Sure enough, as she went inside, she found herself appreciating the cool air conditioning of the car.

It was summer now, and the temperature outside was close to forty degrees. If she were ice cream, she would've melted minutes ago.

Enrique Shen's car was a limo.

There were different types of beverages and fruits in the refrigerator. He offered one to her.

She took it, filling the cold liquid slip down her throat.

"Thank you." She bowed her head shyly.

At this time, Enrique Shen just finished peeling an apple and handed it to Teresa. "Would you like some fruit?"

Teresa took the apple over at once and said thank you again.

"I saw your shirt in the trash bin," she stated. "You got rid of it because of me. How about I gave you another one? Or pay you for that? I'll feel guilty if I don't."

Although she spoke elegantly, she couldn't help but ache at the possible price of that shirt.

It must've cost thousands of dollars, and she still didn't have a job yet!