Instead of answering her mother’s question, Annie walked forward and took her hand, saying softly, “Ma, even if I tell you something happened, will it change the fact that it has already happened?”
Mrs. Lin shook her head. “Annie, did anything happen?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Annie replied. “It’s all in the past, Ma. And you know what happens when you dwell on past events. Looking back brings many regrets. Focusing ahead gives you the hope for a brighter future instead.”
Hearing the girl’s words, Mrs. Lin’s mind went back to a few years ago. Annie was right. Dwelling on the past only opens up old wounds and regrets.
Sometimes, Mrs. Lin would wonder if she was the one who raised this girl. She rarely spoke, yet each of her words carried wisdom. As if she’d lived a thousand years.
“Ma.” Annie tugged at her hand, dragging her back to the present. “I am standing right in front of you in full health. What else do you have to worry about what happened some years back?”
“You’re right, Dear.” Mrs. Lin’s eyes softened. “I shouldn’t have disturbed you with this matter. The important thing at the moment is focusing on your wedding. It doesn’t matter if Sara comes or not.”
But Mrs. Lin hoped more than anything that Sara would come. Her daughter’s words made sense. Then again, how could she be at peace when she was left in the dark?
She couldn’t get the words out of her daughter. It didn’t mean she wouldn’t force them out of her Sister-in-law.
Sara had always acted suspiciously. If Mrs. Lin had a second choice, she wouldn’t have sent her daughter to live with her three years ago.
…
The Apartment Building was in a celebratory mood the next morning. Some neighbors who would accompany the bride to the wedding were busy trying to make sure they looked presentable.
One neighbor would peek through the other neighbor’s room to see what they were wearing, so she could wear something better.
“Mrs. Ming, do you still have that stylish dress from the New Year’s celebration?”
Mrs. Tan went to Mrs. Ming’s apartment who looked a bit disoriented this morning. “Mrs. Ming, since you’re not coming, you could lend me the dress, right? It’s not for me, it’s for my daughter. She doesn’t want to wear anything that isn’t yellow.”
Mrs. Ming paced around as if she hadn’t heard the woman’s words.
“Mrs. Ming, stop ignoring me. You know I don’t beg around. I just need something for my daughter to wear. She’s desperate. Among us all, you managed to keep your shape for many years. Your size is the same as my daughter’s.”
Mrs. Ming sat on her couch, looking lost.
“Urgh! Mrs. Ming!” It was only after Mrs. Tan yelled that she snapped back to the present.
“Gosh, what do you want, Mrs. Tan? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“I’ve been standing here for some minutes. Mrs. Ming, what were you thinking about?” Mrs. Tan put both hands on her wait. She looked a bit irritated.
Mrs. Ming only sighed before she stood up and continued pacing back and forth. “Have you seen Little Chen?” She asked.
“Huh? What’s my concern with your Little Chen?” Mrs. Tan stared at her confusedly. “Are you going to lend me the dress or not?”
“What dress?”
“Ah– You.” Mrs. Tan pointed a shaking finger at her. “It’s okay, I get it. Is this your way of denying me your things, Mrs. Ming? You can just tell me you don’t want to borrow it. You didn’t have to step on my pride.”
Mrs. Tan left in rage while Mrs. Ming sighed helplessly.
She was dealing with a lot already. Yesterday, she had managed to restrain her Little Chen. The boy went missing this morning and she didn’t know where he was!
Should she call someone for help? Or should she alert Mrs. Lin first?
…
Annie was in the living room of the apartment. Standing in front of her were two girls who were helping her get dressed.
As no one else was in the room with them, the apartment echoed with the girls’ chatter.
“Mmm. Annie, why do you seem to be so beautiful in whatever you wear?”
“Your skin is soft and fair like a jade. You’re not wealthy, so I’m not sure if you’re using some expensive cream. Could you tell us the secret?”
“Stop acting dumb. Everyone knows Annie’s beauty is natural. Her skin has always been like this for as long as I can remember.”
While the girls complimented her looks, they couldn’t help but wish they had the same kind of beauty. Like a sparkling gem among normal stones, Annie stood out from every other girl in the neighborhood.
Her beauty wasn’t flashy. It was the kind that carried elegance and a gentle temperament. Like a dove that had transcended into the heavens, her ethereal beauty managed to outshine them all.
For her wedding, she didn’t wear anything fancy. Just a plain white dress with some lacey outlines.
It didn’t fade her beauty though, it complimented it, cascading her in a veil of innocence.
“Mr. Ju’an must have done a formidable deed in his past life to be blessed with such a beautiful wife.”
“Among all the boys chasing after you, Annie, he should be counted as lucky. I heard a wealthier colleague has courted you before.”
“Annie, once you become Mrs. Ju’an, don’t forget to shower us with gifts.”
“You girls talk too much!” Mrs. Lin barged into the room. “Are you not done helping her get dressed yet?”
“Oh, we’re almost done, Mrs. Lin.”
“Please give us a few seconds.”
The girls replied concurrently and quickly fastened the white veil to Annie’s hair. They wondered who got on the woman’s bad side. Mrs. Lin was jolly a while ago.
Well, only Mrs. Lin knew why she was mad. Not long ago, she received a call from her sister-in-law that she wouldn’t make it to the occasion. Sara complained that the weather in the other city was not promising.
Which made Mrs. Lin more suspicious. Sara was avoiding her for a reason, right?
“Chop chop, Annie, time is not by our side.” She chased the girls out and helped Annie up. “The chauffeur is already here. We must get to the wedding venue in thirty minutes.”
With Mrs. Lin’s hastiness, the neighbors who would accompany them piled up in one car and left. And she entered the Limo with Annie and Dylan.
But they didn’t make it out of the neighborhood yet. The road was blocked with a pile of car tires, and some strange-looking teens stood in front of the car.
“Dylan, do you have a death wish!? Didn’t you promise me your sister’s hands!?”