Chapter 54

It wasn't long before Marian opened the door with a pleasantly surprised look on her face. "Chan, good God, come on in," she said. "And what do you have in your arms?"

Chan chuckled. "Some strawberries. My sisters and I went to visit Grandma Su yesterday. She has an abundance of strawberries, and I thought Lilly, Sam, and you would like some. There's a box for the Harringtons and a box for you and your family."

Marian smiled with delight. "Oh, Chan, you're such a dear." She took the two boxes Chan offered, and they both went into the kitchen area.

Halfway, Marian couldn't help herself and opened one of the containers. When she saw the plump, bright-red fruits, she took one. She popped it into her mouth and gushed with delight. "Oh, Chan, they're so sweet."

"Aren't they delicious?" Chan said.

"Yes, they are," Marian commented.

"Oh, and I have these for Lilly." Chan showed Marian the books.

"Wow," Marian said. "Why don't you drop them off in Sam's office?"

"I was just thinking of dropping them off in Lilly's room," Chan said, turning her attention toward the stairs.

Marian shook her head. "No. No. Sam's office. Up on the third floor. You can't miss it." She even nudged Chan toward the stairs. "Go on. It's the last door along the corridor."

Chan nodded and then headed that way, wondering why Marian was so adamant she drop the books off in Sam's office. Not to mention the fact she hadn't been there before and wondered if she'd find the right room.

On the third floor, she noted there were five doors, three to the left and two to the right. She wondered which of the last two, the left or the right, was Sam's office. Her chances were fifty-fifty. Thus, she headed toward the one on the right and opened the door slightly. Inside, she noted formal couches, chairs, furniture, and antique furnishings and art. It must have been one of those formal lounges. Closing the door again, she headed to the door to the left side of the corridor. She knew that particular room out of all the rooms on this floor would have the best view of both the beach and ocean beyond, as well as the street. Surely, Sam would choose that room for an office. She'd do the same.

Clutching the books against her chest with one hand, she touched the doorknob with her other. Knowing there was no one inside, she didn't bother to knock and lightly and gently opened the door.

The moment she took a peek inside, her eyes widened in shocked at the sight she beheld.

The door swung open, and Chan dropped the books to the floor, drawing the attention of the two people inside.

Sam and Nina were on the couch. Nina was on top of Sam, kissing the man. So shocked at the scene she beheld before her, Chan just stood there and stared, her eyes wide as tears began to brew.

The moment the thud was heard, Sam pushed Nina back in frustration. When he moved his eyes to the door, he sucked in his breath and felt as though his world had shattered. The look on Chan's face made him sick to his stomach.

He rushed off the couch in an instant and came to her. The moment he was close to her, Chan hastily took a few steps back and said shakily, "Sorry… I didn't know. Sorry, I… I bothered you."

She bent down and picked up the books as Nina said, "So you should be. Have you ever heard of knocking?"

Chan felt sick to her stomach.

Hastily, she returned her attention to Sam and gave him the books. She said, her voice weak and shaky, "These are for Lilly."

Sam noted the paleness of Chan's complexion and the tears in her eyes. He said, concerned, feeling the need to explain, "Chan, it's not what it seems."

Chan swallowed hard at his statement. "Yes. I understand. I shouldn't have been so stupid. It was so clear all along, wasn't it?" She gazed up at him, shaking her head in disbelief.

She'd known all along Sam and Nina were kind of an item. They were always together, weren't they? That Sunday at StarFish Café, they went out as a family for lunch, then again at The Twilight for dinner, and the woman had also been the one who'd organized Lilly's birthday party. It had always been so obvious, yet why did Chan disregard it as nothing? Because deep down, she'd hoped it wasn't true. Deep down, she'd hoped she'd have a chance with this wonderfully kind, handsome man. Deep down, she was in love with him. Had loved him, in fact, since that first day she'd kind of met him at the Thursday market.

So far, she'd been so naive and stupid, wishing and praying for what could never be, placing a blindfold on herself and giving herself false hope. Now the blindfold was released, finally revealing to her the real, hard truth like a splash of ice-cold water, waking her from her dream.

Why? Had she been too lonely for too long? She was sick with herself.

"I'm sorry I bothered you two," she said, glancing away. With that, she turned on her heel and headed toward the stairs.

Sam went after her. "Chan," he called out. "Chan." He caught her by the wrist and pulled her into his arms. "It's not what it seems. What you saw—"

She cut him short. "What I saw was you two kissing."

Yes, she was hurt. Yes, she was fragile. And yes, she was human. Even if she knew it wasn't his fault. Even she knew it was her own fault for having such high expectations of what could become of them, she couldn't help but put the blame on him.

"Do you do that all the time, Sam? I understand you've been wifeless for three years. I understand you're lonely. But at least have the decency to tell me it's only a fling between us. I don't want to be your plaything, Sam. My previous life was shit enough. I don't want any more of that."

"Chan," Sam said pleadingly. "Sweetheart."

The word sweetheart riled Chan. She swung her hand wide and slapped him on the face. She was shaking hard once she realized what she'd done. Oh God! She'd just slapped Sam. She wasn't different from Dave after all. She'd just slapped another human being, an innocent person, because of her own frustration and anger. She was sick!

The word sweetheart and the way he said it reminded her of Dave when he'd seduced her. It reminded her of her dark secret, of the years being molested, of the deep hurt and the dark fear residing within her being. That was why she couldn't control herself. That was why she'd become who she was… A sick woman.

"Please stop," she said, her voice shaky, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I'm not your sweetheart. I'm no one's sweetheart. Don't come near me, Sam." She took a step back. "Just don't."

With that, she turned on her heel and ran down the stairs, tears blinding her.