Chapter 19 Back To Square One

Chapter 19 Back To Square One
The festive and jovial mood along the streets in Chinatown did nothing to ignite neither Ethan's nor Moriah's somber heart.

Unable to find an appropriate word and timing to strike up a conversation with her husband, she remained silent as they stroll.

They walked side by side, so near yet so far with the thick invisible wall parting them. Like the people of China built the great wall to protect the country from invasion, so is Moriah, protecting her heart from Ethan's invasion.

A burly man was moving quite fast towards Moriah and Ethan and collided with Moriah.

The collision took Moriah by surprise and was unable to balance herself. With a cry she fell face first to the ground but in the nick of time, a pair of strong arms surrounded her and pulled her back.

Ethan protectively embraced her and pressed her head against his chest. The loud beating of his heart was like a symphony of music in Moriah's ears. In her daze, she momentarily forgot that she wasn't supposed to allow herself to be intimate with him.

Regaining her senses, she slightly pushed his chest and pulled away from him; however Ethan wouldn't let her go.

"Are you hurt somewhere?" His gentle voice had undone Moriah.

She looked at the man towering over her, his usual distant and cold demeanor now replaced by warmth.

Smiling at him genuinely, she reassured him, "No, I'm fine."

Heat crept up to her face as he smiled back at her revealing his ever so cute dimples making him more gorgeous.

With nowhere else to hide her face, she buried her face in his chest.

Since the night was still young, the two of them wasted no time to enjoy the night. They wandered Chinatown leisurely. Stopping in every shop that interests them both.

Retiring for the night, Ethan didn't forget to tell her his appreciation, "Thank you for tonight."

She smiled acknowledging it and turned her back to him, she then said, "Good night."

All of a sudden an arm snaked around her waist and felt she'd been drawn to him, her back touching his hard chest. She could feel the heat emanating from his body penetrating the thin layer of her silk pajamas.

The room was absolutely silent, and she was achingly aware of how loud the thudding of her heart sounded to her own ears and of how ragged her breathing had become.

A shiver shot and coursed through the entirety of her body as he whispered in her ears, "Wife, I need you."

"I... I can't, please I don't want to do it," Moriah pleaded, she still can't bring herself to accept the fact that he's having an extra marital affair.

Her self respect nudged her not to allow him to have sexual contact with her. After all the humiliation she went through, she craved respect.

Ethan unwound his arm from her waist and turned his back at her.

His reaction toward her refusal left her feeling utterly deflated, losing her hope. She had high hopes that they will be getting along after they spent harmonious time while wandering around Chinatown.

She was hoping at least to have an argument-free relationship with him. If he can't stop himself from touching other women, at least he would respect her wish not to touch her.

In the dead of the night, Ethan was awakened by Moriah's sobs.

"Shaun, don't leave me," pleading in between her sobs while her eyes were tightly shut.

Morning came, as she expected before drifting off to slumber, she won't be seeing her husband beside her. The coldness of the bed where he laid down told her he'd been up for a long time.

A flurry of emotion made Moriah's mood sour. Inhaling deeply, she shut her eyes as she tried to push aside any thoughts about Ethan as she liked to enjoy this short vacation.

Coming out of her room after having a shower, she scanned the room to look for her husband.

While reading a newspaper, Jianyu was aware of his daughter's presence in the living room. Putting aside the newspaper, he looked up, saying, "Ethan went back to London, there's an urgent business matter he needs to attend to. He didn't want to disturb your sleep so he told me to tell you about it."

Moriah sneered inwardly, brushing off the pestering thought of 'business matter' he had to attend to. A tryst it is. "Baba, what's for breakfast?" Moriah sat carelessly beside her father and laid her head on his shoulder.

Jianyu patted his daughter's head gently and answered her, "All your favourites, Bao zi ( steamed fluffy bun stuffed with juicy pork), Da Bing (Sesame Pancake) and Wonton," he stood up while pulling Moriah up and continued, "Call your mama, we've been waiting for you to wake up so we can have breakfast together."

Moriah obediently but lazily walked to her parents room while Jianyu headed to the kitchen.

Food was already at the table when Moriah and Anastacia emerged to the dining room.

The food that's on the table seemed to call on Moriah, making her drool the longer she looked at them. Succumbing to their call, Moriah clapped her hand while she sat. She sniffed the aroma wafted through the air and licked her lips.

"Wow! How I missed these foods," her eyes on the foods at the table and then she looked at her parents with much adoration in her eyes, "How I missed having meals with you, mama, baba."

Jianyu and Anastacia couldn't help but laugh heartily to see their princess display a childlike attitude in front of them. They're delighted that she's the same Moriah they had raised. They had worried so much that she would change after what happened to her.

Wiping the tears at the corner of his eyes, Jianyu said, "Alright, let's eat. The food is getting cold."

Anastacia and Jianyu felt like they had travelled back to the past where Moriah was just a little girl. Talking with them about her day and what she had done, telling them even the silly things she had done.

One of the things Moriah hated was saying goodbye to her parents each time her vacation comes to an end. How she wished to take them along with her. She had talked about it with them several times. She told them to move to London with her, however, Jianyu didn't want to leave Manchester.

"You're such a cry baby, you're already married and you'll soon have a baby" Anastacia teased the crying Moriah beside her.

The last word that came out from Anastacia caused Moriah to pull back from her mother's embrace.

"Mama, though I'm married, it doesn't change the fact that I'm your baby," Moriah pouted as she wiped her tears. "Alright, alright, don't be crossed. Yes, you'll always be our baby. Our princess," Jianyu, hugged his daughter and ruffled her hair, and added, "Visit us again when you have time."

"I will, baba," she said, looking up at her dad, feeling so proud to have a father like him. Moriah had always been so proud of her dad and mom. She admired them for the love they have for each other.

The love of her parents gave her stability despite the bullying she experienced from outside. The harshness and coldness she experienced outside of her home are instantly erased whenever she's welcomed by the warmth of her home. The welcoming lug and kisses of her parents were like balm, healing the injuries caused by other people. "Bye, baba and mama," Moriah waved her hand as she boarded the car.

Moriah alighted from the car after hours of drive, she stared at the magnificent but devoid of warmth, mansion.

She hugged herself as the coldness of the mansion was now seeping into her heart replacing the warmth her home in Manchester had placed in her heart.

Would a baby bring warmth into this cold and impersonal place? Moriah smiled bitterly, she felt it would be unfair for the child if they can't provide a warm home for their child. She wanted to give all the best for her child. She wanted her child to have a warm home just like her baba and mama did to her.

Surely, she could be a warm and loving mother. But that isn't enough, a child needs the love of a father too. She doubted Ethan could be such a loving father. With a cold and remote iceberg like personality he has, she doubted he would be a good father. Added to that, he didn't love her, definitely he wouldn't like to have a child with her.

"Ahem," butler George cleared his throat seeing Moriah stayed rooted near the door for a couple of minutes apparently mulling something.

Moriah was brought back from having deep thoughts, she smiled sheepishly at butler George.

"Welcome back, madam," butler George said with amusement flickered in his eyes.

"Thanks, Uncle George," Moriah said as she walked towards the staircase, but before she could get to the first step, butler George spoke up.

"Do you want your dinner to be served in your bedroom, madam? Mr Miller said he wouldn't be coming home," butler George observed her reaction towards the information she just heard from him. But to his surprise, she just gave a cold shoulder and wasn't in the least affected.

Smiling, she answered butler George, "I'll have my dinner in the dining room. I'll come down after freshening up."

Moriah ascended the stairs, her sunny disposition turned as bleak as midwinter's day at the thought that their relationship got back to square one.