The Enchanted Night

Somewhere in the medieval city of Rome, as the moon cast a mystique glow out of the pitch-dark night, a white luxurious cruise ship silently transcended the calm torrents of the ocean. The festivity in the ship was heightened as it was filled with singing and dancing. Everyone on board was in a sprite, enjoying the lively and cordial atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in a deluxe room of the ship, the silhouette cast on the glass door was blurred by the steam of the hot shower, making it mysteriously attractive. The sound of water dripping on the floor strikingly contrasted the silence of the night. Inside the room, the ambiance was cozy and charming.

On the other side of the glass door, a man was patiently waiting. He leaned himself against the board of the bed. Between his slender fingers, a half-burnt cigarette lay pinched. Sipping his cigar, he felt boosted knowing that smoking was regarded as the symbol of masculinity. Gently tapping the ashes of his cigar, he took a heavy breath and spluttered out a beautiful array of smoke rings. He regarded the playful smokes as an art piece. The man's wheat-colored skin exuded a healthy glow under the dim light. His build was lean and firm without any extra trace of fat. Every aspect of his appearance was just so perfect.

He slightly narrowed his eyes. Those eyes that were so sharp - eagle-like sharp, emanated a strange sense of sinister languidness. His well-sculpted face was so irresistible, with his sexy, thin, and pinkish lips nicely tilted with faint mockery. His eyes, blazed with fire and desire, fixed the gaze through the glass door. He was carefully examining every inch of crease and curves of the woman inside the bathroom.

The door slowly opened. Alas! The white silk bathrobe worn by the woman showcased her alluring figure. She was drying her long black hair with a towel. Adjusting her robe, she turned towards his direction and gave him an enticing smile.

He was overwhelmed by the sudden burst of hormones at the sight of her. She looked sexy as she was still rubbing her hair. Beneath her hair was her adorable face, honed to perfection. It was a definition of astounding beauty. That trace of rosy redness on her cheeks was a feast to the eye. He wondered if maybe there was something on her skin that made it red after every bath, as he couldn't keep himself from staring. For him, she resembled a delicate flower in full bloom.

"Awake from alcohol now?" the man asked, still tapping his cigarette which made him feel like a real macho. "Yeah," she answered raising her eyebrows an inch.

Swiftly, the sturdy and handsome man lying on the bed moved to her. His hands were widely extended to welcome her. He ran his fingers on her back as he gave her a hug. With his lips against her ear, he whispered,"Hhhhmmm you smell great." The hidden sexiness of his low voice made her so sensitive that she shrank her head back. He did it intentionally.

Teased by the mischievous man, the lady blushed in red with great introversion. Her head was still a little heavy from a tinge of wine. If she hadn't blanked out that night, there wouldn't be a chance for her to have a roll in the hay with this man.

She remembered that it was already the second half of the night. Before that, she was so drunk that she could no longer remember how she got there. The crazy moments with the man, followed by a hot bath, almost sobered her up or at least revived her sanity.

"Please let me go. I must go," the damsel implored the man.

Her mind was cleared and was gaining full consciousness. Covered under the bathrobe, she felt a dull pain in her body and total chaos on her mind. On the night of her graduation, she couldn't believe what had happened to her on this foreign land with a strange man.

"My name is Rufus Luo," the man introduced himself instead of attending to her small request.

The lady's cold tone failed to drive the man away, but only induced him even closer. The deep and low voice was so enthralling, and the smile on his handsome face was so wickedly tempting and charismatic.

"Look Mr., you don't have to tell me your name. We're just satisfying our individual needs. After tonight, there'll be nothing in between us. No strings attached."

The girl seemed to be annoyed by his action of introducing himself, which for him indicated his interest in further development of their one-night relationship. The lady turned around, with her elegant, wet hair leaving a cool and gentle touch on his skin.

"You have been great tonight. Will there be a next time?"

The man named Rufus Luo slightly raised his eyebrows. The smile on his face was so dazzling that the woman, who tried so hard to keep a safe distance from him, was somewhat dazed too.

"I'm sorry. I have to go now." The damsel finally pulled all her strength and decided to leave.

Without hesitation, the woman took off her bathrobe under the man's gaze, and quickly put on the clothes that were scattered on the floor. When she was dressed, she picked up her purse in panic. With her slender hands quivering, the purse dropped onto the floor, with everything in it littered on the floor.

She frowned and let out a profound rustle. Clipping her long hair on the back of her ear so that it wouldn't block her eyes, she squatted down to pick the scattered things. This made the man draw a coy smile on his face. This time, it was a meaningful smile as if he discovered something really interesting.

Crawling swiftly down from the bed, before the woman had any chance to stop him, he picked up a passport lying at the corner. Naturally, he flipped through the pages of the passport. His smile couldn't help widening.

"Cassandra Qin?" he read out the name.

"Give it back to me!" shouted the young lady.

Upon hearing her name being called by the man, the lady who was busy collecting things on the floor, sprang up hastily to grab the passport from his hand. Her beautiful eyes were blazed with fury and fire, glaring at the rude man who took her passport without her consent.

Probably she wouldn't have anticipated, that what happened next was even ruder. He suddenly pulled her into his arms, enjoying the familiar aroma of the woman lingering in his nose. Being held so close to the man in her conscious state for the first time, she started to become nervous and her heartbeat started to race. Together with her heartbeat was her breathing, which sped up accordingly. Suddenly, the senses of that crazy night crept into her mind.

"Are we having a goodbye kiss?" asked the naughty man in a playful tone.

Though disguised in the question form, this sentence was actually a statement, to show that he was polite enough to ask for the opinion of the girl in his arms. However, there seemed to be only one answer for her, for the woman had nowhere to escape. As soon as he finished the sentence, he gave no time for the damsel to respond. He sealed her mouth with his sexy lips.

With his arms around the lady's waist, the man didn't give her any chance to resist. After the prolonged kiss, the lady could barely support herself, so she had no choice but to continue lying in his arms. Staring at the man with her elevated rage, she felt more precarious with each second passing. The next instant, she waited no further to escape from the place, leaving her still scattered pieces of stuff on the floor and a blatantly wicked smile behind.

With a loud "bang" of the door, the spacious room now was left with the man, surprised and alone.

His eyes glanced around as if trying to find a trace of the woman's presence and finally landed on the smears of something red on the blanket. His smile now turned more mysterious and harder to interpret.

This man had lived in Rome for many years. Just last night, he was invited to a wine party, where he met the enchanting damsel. In his many one-night stands, it happened so rarely that his partner was a virgin. Was that considered luck? He couldn't give himself an answer, at least for now.

What he knew was, this woman had left an indelible impression on his mind. Until now, he was still savoring the crazy night he spent with her as her scent still lingered under his nose.

The long night in Rome was freezing cold.

Cassandra Qin ran to the deck in haste. The chilly breeze blew against her hauntingly beautiful face as she stared aimlessly into the distant sea. Her past saddened her. She rhythmically tapped her forehead absentmindedly. She looked rather bothered with her own thoughts.

Today was her last day in Rome. She was due to graduate from her university shortly and would soon have to bid farewell to this beautiful country.

The student union had scheduled their graduation ball on the cruise ship. She had been so enthralled with the celebration that she had drunk more than she could handle. Things went out of control and Cassandra held herself tightly in the wind to allay her fears. She felt herself slide into the past memories. 'Why on earth have I done that?' thought she.

Her head throbbed steadily thanks to her heavy consumption of alcohol. The hangover didn't allow her to remember much from the last night except for the sharp pain that she had experienced. "Rufus Luo," she murmured the name unconsciously. The image of this man was not quite clear but haunted her like a ghost.

The wind was howling on the deck. She didn't retreat to her cabin instead, she stood in the cold, to try and sober herself. Her mind was a mess, however, old memories flashed through her mind unexpectedly. It had almost been four years since she came to Rome.

"Cassandra, it is fine that you decided to go abroad to further your education. However, you always need to remember that you are a married woman.

I am sure you are aware of the things that are expected of married women. There is no need for me to nag you with the details anymore."

Her mother's words still rang in her mind.

Cassandra's lips curled up bitterly as she remembered her mother's face. Before she came to Rome to study, her mother had given her detailed instructions to govern her daily life. Usually, married women were not supposed to venture abroad without their families. It was quite uncommon in her family. However, her mother had supported her and eventually, she got to realise her dream. The cruise ship continued its course on the calm ocean. Stars shone brightly above Cassandra's head as she was lost in nostalgia. The night breeze seemed to be chronicling the past against her ears.

Cassandra Qin suddenly realised that she was married and her face twisted in a scornful smile. 'How ridiculous, ' she thought to herself, 'I am indeed married to someone.' The funny thing was, she had been married for almost four years now. However, she only met with her so-called husband four times. The whole marriage thing was just a farce for her.

They were married not because of love but for the union of two families. In order not to disappoint her parents, she had to contract an alliance with a wealthy man. However, she had no feelings toward him. Similarly, he couldn't care less about her either.

"The only thing I can give you is a marriage certificate. Apart from that, do not expect anything from me,"

said Lionel Tang, the man whose name was written against hers on the marriage certificate. The irony of the situation was not lost on her. His cold words slashed through her on her wedding night and he was serious. He never touched her. The marriage certificate was just a piece of paper. It brought Cassandra no joy whatsoever. The thought of Lionel Tang depressed her. She quickly shook her head against the wind, trying to rid her of her foul mood.

She had absolutely no impression of Lionel Tang. He was a total stranger to her before the wedding. After four years of marriage, the situation was still the same.

He hated her guts. Cassandra Qin had no idea why he was so hostile towards her to start with. 'Some questions might never be answered, ' she thought as she sighed and gazed at the dark swirling ocean.

What a complete and utter joke her life was! Without any warning, she had unintentionally lost her virginity to a stranger ten hours ago. She didn't even know him!

She had cheated on her husband!

The thought exploded in her head like fireworks. Cassandra Qin buried her face deep in her palms. What had she done to herself? Her head now ached like hell. She agonized over the thought and the fact that she did not have the guts to face the consequences.

The overwhelming guilt was devouring her. Cassandra's beautiful face twisted. She closed her eyes in agony and stumped her feet on the deck. She was agitated and didn't have any clue as to what to do next.

All she could remember was the steaming hot sex she had had with Rufus Luo. She was the one who took the initiative and was completely indulged in the lust. The way she moaned in the bed... Cassandra couldn't believe what she did back then. Horrified by her own crazy drunk behavior, she bit herself really hard in the bottom lip. Blood came out but she didn't have the time to wipe it away. Her mind was fully occupied with her own stupid farce.

She, as a married woman, had dared to sleep with a complete stranger on the cruise. How could she possibly do this to her husband? How drunk was she? Cassandra shook her head rapidly, hoping to get rid of the unbearable shame. Why did she keep picturing herself with Rufus Luo? 'What is wrong with me?' thought Cassandra shaking her head vigorously. The image was so vivid that every time she closed her eyes, she could see his handsome face and fit body. The way she had felt when she had been underneath him... Cassandra's eyes suddenly widened. She couldn't carry on thinking about him anymore. This needed to stop right now.

She blamed the whole incident on the alcohol. She should have never drunk more than she could handle. She should have known better. The alcohol had made her do crazy things like that. She didn't know that such a pliant girl like her could actually be capable of such wild things under the effect of alcohol.

Her study in Rome had, now, come to an end. Tomorrow she was scheduled to depart and return to her home country. Was this one-night-stand a gift from her fate? How interesting it was! Her graduation gift was "this unexpected intercourse" on the cruise ship.

How was she going to face her husband and his family? Cassandra looked around herself and was glad that the incident had taken place far away from home. She couldn't bear the consequence of her husband finding out the truth. Thankfully she had trespassed her own boundaries in Rome. The Tang family would never know about what happened here. Cassandra sighed softly as she thought about Lionel's wrath. She was sure that he would literally kill her.

Tossing her hair back against the wind, she tried to calm herself down. It was now critical for her to think of a solution in case things got worse. She found it quite comforting that she was still in Rome, not back at home. Right now, it was essential she buried this secret. No one should ever know about her one-night-stand. If the Tang family knew about the scandal, her family would suffer greatly.

She couldn't hurt her mother. The scandal would literally kill her. Cassandra thought about her mother's hurt face and took in a deep breath. She made a promise to herself that under no circumstances would she tell the truth to anyone. Cheating on her loveless marriage was almost inevitable, however, she could get away with it if she played it carefully. Tomorrow she would leave this place forever and the incident would not bother her anymore. She should imagine it was a beautiful dream. For the sake of her old mother, she couldn't afford to tell anyone about her Roman incident.

The night was long and the ocean was calm. Apart from the splashing sound from the waves beneath the deck, the only sound she could hear was her own steady breath. It was time for her to move on. Cold yet determined, Cassandra calmly made up her mind. She would never ever let anyone else know about this cruise. Her life depended on its secrecy. She would never let anyone ruin it.

The sun beat down hard at the airport in G City, making everyone sweat with its oppressive heat. Summer in G City was always like this. No one ever looked their best; women's hair frizzed up, and their makeup slowly began to slide down their faces. Men bore sweat stains in their armpits, and their clothes clung in places they'd rather they didn't. But at the airport's exit, a beautiful woman, seemingly untouched by the elements, strode out, pulling a huge suitcase behind her. This heat wasn't getting her down. She was in a great mood.

"Cassandra! Here!"

A middle-aged woman dressed in a stunning dark-colored floral print cheongsam waved her arm, calling out to Cassandra. Clearly, she was excited to finally see her. The older woman looked quite elegant for her age and had a shapely body. Her name was Edith Fang, and she was Cassandra's mother.

"Hi, Mom!"

Cassandra immediately spotted her mother through the throngs of people waiting to be picked up by their loved ones, and waved back. Though she hadn't heard it in four years, she was far too familiar with her mother's voice to not recognize it.

Edith Fang was already past 40 years old, but you couldn't tell by looking at her. It was obvious she went to great pains to take good care of her skin and body; she didn't look a day over 30. She wore a loving smile on her face and had a twinkle of pride in her eyes when she looked at Cassandra. The two easily could have been twins; they wore the same expressions on their faces. Yes, it had been four long, excruciating years without any meeting between them. They missed each other like hell. It was hard for most people to imagine the pain of being away from your family for so long, especially your mom. It was a bittersweet reunion. But at the time Cassandra went away, there simply was no other choice.

Cassandra excitedly ran towards her mother, dropping her suitcase on the ground. She threw her arms around her, hugging her tightly. She never wanted to be away from her mother again. As soon as they touched, tears started streaming down Cassandra's face. She was so choked up with emotion that her voice became shaky.

"Mom, I'm finally back! I missed you so much!"

They locked in an embrace, breathing in each other's familiar scent. Four years ago, Cassandra married Lionel Tang to please her mother. She endured all the harsh conditions and rigid rules the Tang family had imposed upon her but finally achieved her dream of studying abroad.

During the past four years studying abroad, she hadn't been allowed to contact anyone in her own family. For Cassandra, the most important person in her life was her mother. That was why she missed her most of all. She couldn't believe she was seeing her mother in the flesh after all this time. To be able to touch her and see her face brought her so much joy.

"You are back now. That's all that matters, my baby. You are finally back."

Edith Fang's own voice, too, was shaky and overwhelmed with emotion. Neither of them could stanch the flow of tears from their eyes. Edith Fang looked at her daughter, her vision blurred by the stream of tears. This was really her Cassandra. At long last, her Cassandra was here. Edith Fang gasped, but no words could escape from her throat. Cassandra, too, was speechless at the sight of her blubbering mother, though she flashed a knowing smile to Edith Fang.

The brief reunion was interrupted by the ring of Cassandra's phone. They reluctantly let go of each other, trying to compose themselves. Wiping her tears with her sleeve, Cassandra took a deep breath and reached for the phone in her pocket.

Cassandra subconsciously raised her head and glanced at her mother as she saw the name of the caller on the screen. Cassandra turned the phone so Edith Fang could see the caller's name, as if to silently ask whether she should answer it. Something indefinable flickered in Edith Fang's eyes, but she quickly composed her face and glanced back at her daughter.

"Now that you are back, there are things that you just can't run away from anymore. You just have to face them. But pick up the call first,"

Edith Fang said in a gentle voice. Cassandra nodded her head, picked up the call and put the phone to her ear. A powerful yet gentle voice spoke to her.

"Cassandra, I have a very important meeting today. That's why I couldn't come and pick you up myself. I have already told the driver to pick you up at the airport."

The man behind the voice was Horace Tang, her so-called father-in-law, her husband Lionel's father.

"Oh, that's all right. My mom is already here to pick me up. I can go back myself. No need to bother the driver,"

she said quickly. Her voice was polite but distant, as if she was speaking to a complete stranger, not her father-in-law for over four years. Clearly, she didn't consider this man her family.

"That's nice to hear. Then I don't need to worry about your transportation arrangements. I've already arranged for us to have dinner together. Spend some time with your mother. I know that you haven't seen each other in a very long time."

Horace's tone was still gentle and caring, just like how it usually was.

"Okay. See you later,"

Cassandra hung up the phone. She tried to pretend the call hadn't taken her aback, that hearing her father-in-law's voice hadn't rattled her. She slipped the phone back in her pocket, and acted like nothing happened. She clung to her mother's arm tightly like she was still a young girl waiting to see what her mother would surprise her with next.

"Mom, come on, let's go. There are so many things I have to tell you."

Edith Fang glanced at her daughter with adoring eyes. She knew the past four years had been tough on Cassandra, but she didn't know a fraction of the things Cassandra had endured. Her heart ached for her daughter. She didn't mention Horace's call and didn't try to pry with any questions. All she wished for her daughter was to have a happy life. That was all she ever wanted.

Cassandra and Edith Fang got in the backseat of the waiting car. During the drive, Cassandra regaled her mother with funny stories and interesting things that had happened to her during her years abroad. Edith Fang listened intently, even laughing here and there at some of Cassandra's tales. Seeing her daughter's happy smile after four years, Edith Fang's eyes couldn't help but redden again. She felt guilty.

She knew Cassandra wasn't happy that Edith Fang married her off to the son of the Tang family. But seeing Cassandra had finally achieved her dream of studying abroad, Edith's guilt diminished a bit. Cassandra's educational goal was her only solace.

"Cassandra, tell me. During your years abroad, have you ever..."

Edith Fang's voice trailed off. She scrunched her face because she knew she really shouldn't be asking this question.

Cassandra's pretty smile suddenly disappeared when she realized what she was asking. The handsome stranger's face flashed through her mind, and she was suddenly reminded of the hot night of their passionate lovemaking. Cassandra grew flushed and panicked.

"Mom, of course not! What are you talking about?"

Cassandra placed her hand on Edith's to comfort her. She looked uneasy, but only for a moment, so Edith Fang didn't notice. She calmly smiled at her mother through the panic inside her.

"Cassandra, I'm so sorry. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had to..."

Edith Fang's eyes welled with tears again. The mix of the awful past and the joyful present was a jumble of emotions Edith Fang couldn't quite parse. Cassandra immediately interrupted Edith Fang before she could finish her words.

"Mom! It is all in the past. Besides, it was my own choice. I have a good life now, and I will continue to be happy in the future. Please don't worry about me."

Cassandra held her mother's hand tightly. She didn't want her mom to feel guilty over things that couldn't be changed now. Cassandra had made her way back home to her and everything would be fine.

Yes, she didn't really have a choice in her marriage. That was something she couldn't control. But it didn't mean that her life would automatically be a tragedy. Marriage was simply a part of her life, and she still had plenty of other things to concentrate on.

She believed strongly that as long as she worked hard enough and became powerful enough in the future, she could break free from all her shackles and provide her mother and herself with a fabulous life.

Meanwhile at the presidential suite of a grand hotel, two lovers frolicked on a big red bed.

They made out with a fiery passion and then took a breather. The woman, lying seductively on the bed, began to pout to the man in an overly sweet voice.

"I heard that Cassandra is back? Huh? She still came back, after four years?"

The man scoffed and snorted.

"That's not important. Why do you care?"

The man's voice was breathless from their rigorous activities. But she discerned the disdain and coldness in his voice at hearing his wife's name.

"Of course I care. She is your wife, Lionel."

But the woman's mood immediately lightened after hearing Lionel's cold attitude towards his wife, and her now sing-song tone reflected that.

"She is just a puppet. She has nothing on you,"

Lionel said with a smirk on his face. He didn't bother waiting for her reply. He just flipped her on her back and started kissing her passionately while his hands explored the rest of her body. Instinctively, she pushed her body against his and moaned seductively. The air in the room began to feel like a sauna again.