253 Welcome back

Shanghai

The plane touched down at the Pudong International airport. After clearing the immigration, Samantha collected her luggage and headed towards the exit. She hadn't informed anyone about her arrival, apart from her mother who was on the verge of a panic attack.

She was coming back to the country after six years. Even though bitter memories tried to push her down, she held her head high as she hailed a taxi and headed towards her destination. The time for reckoning had come sooner than expected. She had been preparing for this day for the past many days, weeks, months now. Now that she was here, she was going to ensure that the culprits were punished and justice was meted out.

"Who are you here to see, Miss?" the security guard at the mansion's gate stopped Samantha and questioned her.

"Tell Grandmother Li that Samantha is requesting a meeting," she told him in a cold, haughty manner.

The guard was struck at the similarity between the stranger and the owner of the mansion. But he had not seen her ever in the past two years of his employment here. As he relayed the information to the head servant in the house, there were urgent summons communicated to let the young woman pass through.

Dragging her suitcase, Sam steeled her quivering limbs and marched ahead.

"Never let the enemy see or sense your fear."

And she was entering a den full of them.

"Hello Father, long time no see," Li Yichen was the first person to face her.

Disbelief and anger was etched on his face as he looked at this shameful girl.

"How dare you show your face in this house again? Did I not tell you that you were not to set foot here ever," he told her, blocking her entry into the house.

She shrugged her shoulders and replied calmly, "don't you think it is time for us to bury the hatchet? How long would you hold onto a grudge against your only 'blood descendant'? I have already apologised sincerely for what happened then. I was but a naïve child. Can't you be the bigger person and forgive me for it?"

She had changed. That was the first thought which registered in his mind. It wasn't so much the physical change but the way she was talking or rather the way she was conducting herself… it was almost emitting a lazy confidence, eerily similar to the style of his late father.

"I must be imagining things," he thought to himself.

In the meanwhile, Sam took advantage of his preoccupied expressions and slid past him into the house.

"Hello, Grandma Li. We meet again. I am sorry that I couldn't attend his memorial service. I didn't know about it till it was too late," she greeted the old woman who had come out in the living area after hearing the raised voice of her son.

At her pointed remark about being informed late of her grandfather's death, Li Yichen scowled at his daughter.

"I didn't see any need to inform you. Your presence would have only caused disruption on a sombre occasion," he spoke brusquely.

Samantha tried to hold back her tears and replied, "Grandpa Li was one of the few people who genuinely liked me and had faith in me. I had also grown fond of him during my stay here. I think he would have liked if I attended his last journey on Earth. Anyways, it doesn't matter now."

Grandma Li's gaze softened looking at her sad face and she came forward and engulfed Sam in her arms.

Surprised at the unexpected show of affection, Sam couldn't hold back the salt which flew down from her eyes.

"I missed you, Gandma. Hope you have been well," she spoke softly next to her ear.

The old woman nodded and kissed her on the forehead before releasing her.

"Why are you here, Samantha? Why did you not inform me before arriving?" he asked, still unwilling to show any softness towards her.

He held a deep seated grudge against her for what had happened six years ago.

"Had I informed you of my arrival, would you have allowed me to come?" she asked him, challenge in her voice.

"Hello Samantha, this is a surprise," her stepmother had come in to the hall as well.

Sam looked at her stepmother and bowed politely, "how are you, Aunt Li? Mother sends her regards."

Mrs. Li acknowledged her greetings with a guarded look. She was unsure about the motives behind Sam's arrival in the city.

Nevertheless, she directed the staff to show Samantha the room. Settling into her old room, Sam looked around before messaging her mother, informing her of her arrival. Irene had been dead set against Sam travelling to Shanghai. She couldn't understand her daughter's need for revenge or justice. She just wanted to live in peace, without any controversies or accusations.