Fanny and Cassie were silent for a few seconds, tactfully choosing not to continue the conversation.

"Come on, drinking and singing karaoke is no fun. Let's go to the usual malatang restaurant! I'm sure Ann misses the taste."

"Well, you called me right after I landed. I'm so hungry now."

"It's time! Let's go now!"

Fanny moved quickly and pulled them both away.

They tucked into a small shop in north street of City A. It was getting late, and Ann refused Fanny's offer to take her home. She stood at the end of the street waiting for Jimmy Wilson to pick her up.

Ann was distracted by the crowds coming and going across the street.

Brandon's angry eyes amused her today.

Why should he be angry? Her going abroad was to his liking, but his reaction made her look like a woman who had abandoned her husband and children.

She closed her eyes slightly.

The cold voice came to her again at the engagement party.

"I would rather marry a hostess in a nightclub than marry you, Ann!"

The sudden sound of a car horn woke Ann from her silence in memory.

Unconsciously she looked in the direction of the voice.

A black car was parked by the side of the road. The window was rolled down and Jimmy waved to her from inside.

Ann got on and the car slowly drove off north street.

"As soon as you get off the plane, you go out and play. It's a good thing mom and dad are away on business, or they would criticize you again."

"I didn't dare see Fanny until I knew they were out. If mom and dad were home, I'm sure I would have raced home and confessed as soon as I got off the plane."

Jimmy gave her an indulgent look and shook his head.

"What are your plans for your return?"

"I don’t wanna talk about that. Jimmy, how are you?"

Jimmy's smile froze, but he soon recovered. "You don't have to worry about me," he whispered. "I'm fine."

Ann nodded her head slightly, her eyes drooping slightly, so that Jimmy could not see the complicated emotions in her eyes.

Jimmy has a congenital heart disease. He had surgery when he was young, but he had never been well, and he fainted at work a month ago.

Her parents had called Ann and told her about this a week ago.

That's why she's going home.

It's midnight at the Wilson house.

Brandon came in drunk and saw Bruce Evans sitting on the couch, his face darkened. He strode past him and straight up the stairs.

"Stop! Won't you greet me when you see me? I’m your father!"

Brandon stopped, and without turning, gave a cold snort of disdain, curling his lips.

“There is only murderer here, not my father!”

Bruce's face went black and he slammed his hand on the coffee table in front of him. "Brandon! How did you say that? I'm your father!"

"What did I say? Are you not now being told the truth, and beginning to resent it?"

"You..."

Bruce pointed at his finger and shook with anger.

"Your grandmother is not so well, and I don't want to argue with you. I just wanted to tell you that you must be there tomorrow night for the birthday party of the president of W Company's daughter."

Brandon turned and stood on the stairs looking at Bruce coldly, as if he could see into his mind.

"Bruce Evans, I'm warning you, stay out of my business!"

He knows Bruce’s trying to set him up with Fiona, the daughter of the president of W Company.

He would never accept a commercial marriage for profit!

Bruce was so angry that he threw out "Asshole!" He turned and went out the door.

Brandon stood in front of the window sill and smoked cigarette after cigarette.

His long fingers stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.

He took his cell phone and dialed a number.

"It's my... I need you to look into something for me. How long has Ann been back in China and..." Brandon paused, his eyes shining. "Did she go home alone?"

On Fiona's birthday, the secretary told Brandon the schedule. He was about to refuse, but he changed his mind.

H Hotel, Fiona's birthday party.

Brandon was holding a glass of wine and standing stony-faced as Paul winked at him.

"Well, I didn't expect you. Is it true that your family is thinking of you marrying the daughter of H Company?"

Brandon looked at Paul coldly until his back shivered. "I was only joking, don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously..."

Paul whispered to Gavin, "Brandon, what the hell? That look in his eyes just scared the hell out of me. Who has made him angry again? Fiona?"

Gavin stared at Brandon for a few seconds, then said with a half-smile, "Fiona hasn't been able to piss him off yet. Ann is back home and they ran into each other at B Bar last night."

And he made himself drunk with wine.

“Did you say Ann has returned to China? !" Paul said in amazement.

Gavin's eyes smiled even more. He tossed his chin. "Speak of the devil. Look, here she comes."

As Gavin spoke, Brandon's eyes fell on Ann at the door.

Ann wore a black dress with a full neck, revealing her delicate collarbone. The waist-in design accentuated her delicate figure.

Her skirt was slit down to the waist. Her long, white legs were visible as she moved.

When Ann entered the meeting hall, she saw Brandon in the crowd and frowned.

Why did I run into him here again?

When Jimmy saw her stop, he followed her gaze.

"Why is Brandon here? Is he really going to marry Fiona?"

Jimmy looked down at Ann beside him and said, "Why don't you go home first? I'll explain to mom and Dad."

"No, now that I've decided to come back to work, there’ll be plenty of chances for me to run into him on such occasions. Must I avoid it every time?"

Ann looked back casually and greeted Jimmy and some people she knows.

Paul exclaimed, "Is this still Ann? ! She didn't even run towards Brandon or give him a second look!"

Gavin was unsurprised by his surprise, as he had seen Ann's transformation last night.

'Who is this woman? I've never seen her before. Is she Jimmy's girlfriend? Her thin waist and long legs are really..."

The man stared at Ann with ugly greed in his eyes.

The next, the man's hit in the back of the head with a glass. He held his head, grinning in pain. "Who is that?!" He shouted. “Who dares to hit me?"

Brandon, standing behind him, immediately withdrew his throwing hand.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to."

The man's face was red. Everyone knows Brandon clearly did it on purpose.

That's Brandon. He can't afford to offend. His companion dragged him away dejectedly.

Paul and Gavin look at each other and smile knowingly.

Brandon didn't pay attention to the people whispering around him. He saw Jimmy walk away and Ann, who was so comfortable in the crowd, walked up to her with his thin lips clenched in anger.