Little Luke 1

"Little Luke! How are you? Auntie missed you so much!" Charmaine rushed to the little boy sitting on the floor and playing with his toys. She hugged him and pinched his chubby cheeks. He's such an adorable child and she couldn't get enough of him.

"Hello Auntie!" the boy greeted with a smile. "You finished work already?"

"Yup! All done! Your mama isn't home yet?" Charmaine uttered. She then looked around and only saw Luke's nanny coming out from the kitchen. She was taking off her apron and she seemed to be preparing to go home.

Charmaine glanced at the wall clock. It's already eight. The nanny should be off by six as Jienna usually comes home after five in the afternoon. She wondered what's taking her so long.

"Sorry Sarah. I was late. You can go home now." she told the nanny. She then picked Luke up and carried him into her arms. "Let's go to bed now, alright?"

The toddler shook his head at once. "It's still early." he protested.

Charmaine laughed at the little boy's expression. His wronged look and pouty lips just made him more cute! She ruffled his hair and let him play a little more.

Yeah. Luke is already three years old. In just a few months, he will already be turning four. Time really flies.

Four years ago, she came in the US to attend a well-known University. Everything there was new to her, but it didn't stop her from making her own life more difficult when she decided to work part time just for the sake of experiencing an ordinary life. After a while, she decided to take this 'independent lifestyle' a bit further and moved to small apartment.

She was living that simple life of a commoner when she came across Jienna in a shopping mall one day. She was already eight months pregnant by then. She invited her home and she was surprised by how simple Charmaine's life has been for the past few months. Soon, she decided to move in with her.

Jienna said Charmaine changed a lot. She wasn't the same old pampered little princess who smiles all day long. Well, Charmaine felt the same way about Jienna too. She doesn't like arguing with her anymore. She's a lot more matured and perhaps that was because she was about to be a mother.

That was four years ago. It's been a long time now but neither of them wanted to go home yet. Perhaps both of them have been running away from reality or maybe it's not the right time for them to face their true destiny yet.

"Mama!" Luke exclaimed when she saw a woman walking through the main door. Charmaine turned and saw Jienna coming in and removing her shoes before sitting on the couch. She's late and she looked tired.

"Come here baby!" she said, gesturing for the little kid to come over. Luke approached her, climbed the sofa and hugged her tightly. Charmaine watched as Jienna cradled little Luke in her arms and she couldn't help but be moved by their special bond.

"How's the office?" Charmaine asked. Jienna looked pale. She seemed to be very exhausted. "Did you do some overtime work?" she added.

Jienna turned to her and stared at her for a long time. Her eyes were unusually gloomy as if she was about to cry. She then closed her eyes and stood up. "Xiaomin, I'm a bit tired today. Can you put Luke to sleep tonight? I'm gonna rest first." she uttered.

Charmaine nodded and just watched as Jienna walked away. She wondered how much work she finished that she looked so drained. She then turned to the little boy again. He too was looking at her.

"Luke, you're going to sleep with Aunt Minmin tonight! Wanna play in my room?" she said with a smile.

Luke.... he resembles his father very much. In her premonition years ago, Luke grew up hating her. Jienna told him she stole Leo from them and so he despised her, making Leo think she was maltreating the child. That's why whenever she sees Little Luke's smile right now, it reminded her that she did the right thing of abandoning her engagement. In the end, she was able to change her fate a little. Jienna doesn't hate her anymore and Luke love her now.

***

"How is she?" Ji Chen asked. He was in a middle of a conversation with someone on the phone while he stared outside the window when Leo passed by. He immediately stopped and hid behind a pillar. "Well, that's very good. How about her love life? Is there someone?" ,the old man probed. "Oh! She started dating a co-worker?.. Alright... Just keep watching over her."

Leo stepped back and left. He knew his grandfather was talking about the secret Sentry he hired to watch over Charmaine. But... did he just say Charmaine started dating a co-worker? Leo also sent someone to look after Charmaine, but he didn't report anything about that. Was his grandfather mistaken?

Feeling uneasy, Leo Ji took out his phone. He then double tapped the screen and the phone lit up. There, as his wallpaper, an image of a girl smiling among bunch of flowers was displayed. "Have you found another?" he mumbled. Since he was young, he has always set his mind on her. Although he wasn't able to give her his heart, it wasn't because he hated her, but because his heart has been frozen for a long time.

Grandpa Ji looked behind him and sneered. Did Leo leave already? He is so not fun. He thought he knew things? He only learns what he was allowed to know.

***

In Jienna's room, the woman got up as she felt something stuck in her chest. Suddenly, she started coughing up. She covered her mouth with her hand and immediately rushed out of bed. She grabbed the tissue box on her vanity table and wiped her mouth.

Wet... her palms were wet. A red liquid stained her hands. She pulled some more tissue papers and wiped her bloodied palms. She rubbed hard until her palms hurt. She's scared now. Day by day, her condition was getting worse...