PearBlossom

Gemma Liu is thick skinned, out going, and most importantly, she knows what she wants. She is the personal assistant for Charles Wen of Wen Technology. He also happens to be what she wants. 

The problem with that, however, is that Charles is immune to the charms of women—including her. He is cold, harsh, impatient, and people often leave his office in tears. That doesn’t deter Gemma in the least. She’s declared war on his heart of stone. 

Just when she thinks he’s finally succumbed to her charms, she finds herself in a precarious position. In a moment of fear she marries another man; a man loves her enough to salvage her reputation. The years pass and Gemma finds herself suddenly widowed with a child. Coming home to Shanghai, she feels defeated. 

Meanwhile, a tragic accident leaves Charles Wen disfigured and in need of long term and in-depth care. Gemma is ready to stay by his side and care for him but Charles is anything but happy about it. Unfortunately for him, his family thinks she’s the perfect person to be his caregiver...She’s the only woman not afraid to look upon him. His grandfather decides that Gemma must become the daughter-in-law of the Wen family. 

Charles says he will marry no one, because what woman would love a monster? Will he let down his guard long enough to give Gemma a chance? And can he accept the child that she adores? 

“I’ll Never Let You Go” is a story about the power of unconditional love forged by trial of fire.

I’ll Never Let You Go

Everyone in the room focused stunned and surprised eyes in Gemma's direction. She had jumped to her feet when she yelled out her objection. 


  "What do you mean, no?" Her father asked in deadly calm and low voice. 


  "You will not end the relationship with my husband. And you will not end your friendship in anger! Father, you don't know the whole story! You don't know what he's sacrificed to salvage your honor—what he's paid for my…indiscretion." Gemma's voice had started loud and firm with her fiery nature but with her last words her voice faded in shame as she chocked back tears. But her eyes blazed and snapped like logs in a fire. Passion flashed through them, and they shined with the wetness of us he'd tears. 


  "What are you talking about, child? What could you possibly do that I can't make right? What could you possibly have done that would harm our family's honor?" Her father asked in confusion. Her father, he'd always doted on her. He'd allowed her more freedom than some daughter's were afforded. He'd never denied anything she wanted and he'd never believed that she could be in the wrong. Had Gemma been of a lesser personality it may have spoiled her or made her unkind. But Gemma and her father had always seemed to wordlessly have a tacit understanding. Gemma sometimes wondered if his care for her had been partly because of her missing mother. 


  Anne had no such assurances in her innocence. 


  "Gemma, what have you done?" Anne's voice was cold. 


  "Gemma." Henry spoke up, now standing beside her. He shook his head as if to tell her to keep her secret. He knew the complicated nature of the Liu family. Gemma squeezed his hand. 


  "Father, I have brought shame to you. I found out this morning that I am with child—Henry is not the father." She rushed to clarify. 


  Phil's face grew pale and he fell back against his chair. 


  "You shameless bastard! The bastardized daughter is having a bastard child! How ironic!" Anne shouted as she jumped to her feet. 


  "Anne! Shut your mouth immediately! How dare you speak to my daughter so disrespectfully!" Phil shouted. And Henry looked as though he were ready to commit murder himself. 


  "How dare I? You've never disciplined your daughter. Ever since you brought her back from that woman you have treated her better than anyone—except maybe your son. Lianne and I have lived in her shadow while she could do no wrong. Now she's pregnant but the man she's married to isn't the father? You tell me she isn't shameful? She is more shameful than the rest!" Anne shouted. 


  "I'm her father! Of course I doted on her! Of course I treated her well! She is my warm cotton jacket. She my beloved daughter. And you will not speak on which you have no right.  If my sins have come back upon me then so be it!" Phil now stood on his feet and in a rare burst of anger he shouted at Anne. 


  Anne looked hatefully in his direction and stormed from the room. 


  Henry stood and gently helped Gemma to sit down. She settled back and felt Henry's arm on the back of the sofa as it just barely caressed her shoulders. Unconsciously she relaxed against his side as though taking shelter from a storm. 


  "Who is the father? I assume Charles?" Her father quietly asked. But there was an edge in his voice when he said Charles's name. Gemma could only nod in embarrassment.


  "I can't give this baby up—it's a part of me. But I can't marry Charles either. So Henry said he would give my baby his name and a future that wouldn't bring embarrassment to the child, or to myself. So that's why I ask that you not be angry with him. He's doing this for you. And for me."Gemma earnestly explained. 


  Phil took in the oddly matched couple before him. He sighed. It was not what he wanted for his daughter, to be sure. But what else could be done? It seemed that he owed Henry a debt. Finally he nodded his head in approval. 


The Fire In Her Eyes