Refuge

Mei remained quiet as the car continued towards the Li mansion and Shun watched her look out the window as the city sped past. He didn't mean to be so harsh with her earlier, but since carrying her from his private jet, he was determined to keep her close. At least to figure out what had happened to her during the past four years. He had never seen her cry before and it bothered him.

Shun cursed to himself and turned to look out of his own window. Mei had bewitched him once, and had betrayed him deeper than she would ever know and yet he was already struggling to let her go again. Perhaps it was better to get her to the hospital as soon as possible and away from Shanghai before she caused any additional damage.

As the car pulled up to the Li mansion, Mei's breathing became heavier and her whole body tensed with fear at the prospect of having to face the woman who had once made her life a living hell. She was desperate to be anywhere else but here, and was already concocting a plan to sneak away at night to find a hotel close to the hospital. Given that Shun was hardly ever home, she doubted once she was gone, he would even notice her absence.

But when she stepped out of the car, she realised her plan would fail. She had forgotten that the Li's had one of the best security systems money could buy. On top of which the perimeters of the entire estate were heavily guarded. Mei didn't want to make a fool of herself by inevitably getting caught and nor did she want to embarrass Shun during this difficult time. His love for his grandmother was genuine, so Mei decided to try her best to tolerate Madam Li.

"All your things are where you left them", Shun said as they entered the mansion. "And if you need anything else, let me know".

"I won't need any of those", Mei told him. "And I'll stay in the west guestroom", she added.

Even though Mei and Shun hardly slept together after the first few months of their marriage, the bedroom she had used back then was technically both of theirs. She now felt that it was inappropriate to occupy it again.

"As you please", Shun said turning towards the housekeeper who came running out into the entrance hall. "Mrs. Lin, this is Madam Ren. Make her comfortable in the west guestroom, and prepare something for her to eat", he commanded. "Then come and see me in my study".

"Yes sir", the woman bobbed her head at Shun before turning towards Mei and smiling sweetly. "Come with me my dear", she gestured for Mei to follow.

The west guestroom was located on the second level of the mansion, in the west wing away from the rest of the house. Mei had often ventured here during her marriage for refuge. The first time she visited the wing, she found an old hobby room for painting close to the guestroom and when she had enquired about it, she found out that it was grandma Li's when she was young.

With grandma Li's permission, it was in this hobby room where Mei's passion for painting began. At first it was just an escape, a secret between her and grandma Li, but as time passed by her talent became more and more promising. "If only you weren't a Li", grandma Li had lamented. "Then the world could see your talent".

And after Mei had sent Shun the divorce papers it was also grandma Li who had come to the hospital to persuade Mei to formally study art when she recovered.

If she recovered.

"My dear, you are a natural and if you pursue your dream, then I can live that dream through you. It will give my old heart a world of joy", she had sobbed. She had always cried when she came to visit Mei during those days.

Mei's heart became heavy with sadness as Mrs. Lin lead her past that room and she thought of the old woman in hospital. She now desperately ached to see grandma Li and comfort her, just like she had done for Mei all those years ago. But Mei promised herself that she would not cry in front of grandma Li. She would make sure that she saw her happy.

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