Unforgiven

"Where are we going?" Mei asked looking out of the car window as Shun turned onto a road heading in the opposite direction of the way to the Li mansion. Mei had noticed a significant change in his demeanour over the evening and it came as a pleasant surprise at how relaxed and sociable he had been with the Chen's. The only time she recalled seeing him like this was during the first few months of their marriage when their relationship was still blossoming. And to this day she still didn't understand why he had suddenly put a stop to it.

Shun remained quiet as they approached a tall residential building and drove into the underground car park. After parking he got out of the car and opened Mei's door for her. "This is my private penthouse", he told Mei as they entered the elevator. "We'll stay here tonight".

Mei stared at Shun with surprise. She had never been here before. Shun's private penthouse had always been off limits to everyone except him. Not even Shun's mother knew where it was located and there had even been salacious rumours during their marriage that perhaps it was because he hid a mistress here. A rumour that had hurt her deeply and one he had never denied.

As they stepped out of the elevator and stood at the front door, Mei hesitated. "Are you sure it's okay for me to be here?" she asked, uncertain of what she might find on the other side.

"Yes. In fact, you're the only person I'd be okay with being here", Shun replied opening the door. He took Mei by her hand and guided her into the penthouse.

As they walked into the living room, Mei gasped in surprise. "Shun … you … how …" he watched Mei stammer as she spotted the large painting hanging on top of the marble fireplace. "Why?" she looked at him with a confused expression..

"Why do I have a painting by Clara Comtois?" Shun put together the sentence that Mei failed at.

"Yes", Mei said.

Still holding Mei's hand, Shun guided her to the sofa and sat her down while kneeling in front of her. Looking her into her eyes, he spoke softly. "I'm sure you are aware that I'm not a yielding man", he said. "But I am not a man who does not take responsibility for my mistakes. And today I realised that the biggest mistakes I've made in my life were towards you".

"You know …" Mei's voice quivered with realisation as tears started to stream down her cheeks.

"I know", Shun repeated, pulling her into his arms and holding her tight. "I'm so sorry Mei. I did so many terrible things and I don't know how to make them right".

The rush of emotions that ran through Mei at that moment were indescribable. She felt happy, angry and sad at the same time. She also felt light, like a huge weight had been lifted from her chest. But as she had hoped, the hurt Shun had dealt her all these years did not disappear. She was not expecting this. And she wasn't prepared for this. Her heart wasn't ready to forgive so easily.

Mei pulled away from Shun and wiped away her tears. "I'm glad you know", she sniffed. "But the worst thing you can do is pity me", she said.

"Mei …" Shun reached out to hold her again. But Mei stood up and moved away.

"I'm tired Shun", she said trying to regain her steady voice. "Where is the guest bedroom?"

"I'll show you", Shun replied standing up as well.

"No! Just tell me where to go", Mei stopped him from coming any closer.

Shun pointed to the stairs leading up to the second floor. "You can have any room you want upstairs. I'll stay down here tonight", he said and watched as Mei left him standing in the living room alone. She wasn't going to forgive him. The thought passed through his mind as his heart stabbed with pain. But then, would he have forgiven her if it had been him? The answer was no.

Shun turned towards the painting hanging above the fireplace. He had initially bought this piece out of spite. Or so he had convinced himself. He would build Mei's career up only to crush her hopes and dreams, like she had his. But the more pieces he bought, the more he wanted, simply because she had painted them and it was the last connection, he had to her.

Mei was indeed a talented artist. The landscapes she painted were so vivid you felt like you were stepping into another world. An escape from the reality which Shun now realised he had created for themselves and often he had wondered if the emotions they evoked in him of beautiful, but sad and lonely places were what Mei was feeling so far away in France. That's probably why he had asked his art agent Mr. Yang to commission Mei to specifically create a painting depicting human emotions.

He didn't need that painting anymore. He now saw every emotion he needed to see in her. The inner hurt, suffering and pain she covered so meticulously with her outer strength. She was courageous without deception, or ulterior motives and he had let her down in so many ways. He had to admit that he harboured a small hope that she would forgive him easily. A sliver of a hope. But he wasn't going to give up, he was determined to spend the rest of his life to make it up to her.

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