THE b***h

Chapter Six: "THE CHUA CLUB ?"

Christian Chua was in his room that evening,to his family,he was busy studying but that was besides the case. He was worried about whether his plan had worked,if she was finally dead,but the constant rhythmic knocking on the door was frustrating his efforts to think properly. Knowing it was that dumb younger sister of his,he frowned at the door.

"Come on out,come on out" She sang, following the rhythm of the knocking.

He turned to the door,stood up from where he sat and opened the door.

Joy was leaning by the wall, grinning,with a mischievous smile on her face,she chuckled.

"It,s time for dinner, and we are having a guest,so dress like it,s your last day on Earth"

"Get out"

"Don't worry,I am not staying more than a minute in your cubicle" She smirked.

He tightened his fists and made to hit her,but didn't even come close to her face,she laughed and walked downstairs.

The place wasn't silent anymore,voices of Aunt Genesis beckoning to the maids, Uncle Ivan scolding William downstairs and even the maids coming up the stairs with some bedding sets in preparation of a room. It seemed like it was an important guest, probably one of Grandmother,s old friends,but Christian wasn't to be bothered with whoever was coming,instead he was to think about the consequences of the whole family,s wrath upon him once his arranged accident fails.

The Chua estate was one of the richest estate in Sentosa island in Singapore,and Sarah Chua was very wise to buy many houses in that area because she knew the importance of investing in real estate,so she bought almost every landed property in Sentosa and thereafter named it after her favourite flower. Sarah Chua,s dream had come through,she had succeeded in owning so much in the space of ten years. A young girl from a very poor background,grew up to having so much and even more.

With a fairly large family like hers,she desired for something else, something called unity, a house where unity thrives, a family who would protect each other,a family without secrets,they would be what she always dreamt of,and she called them "The Chua Club".

In that club, everyone loved each other,there were no secrets,no rivalry,a problem regarding one member of the family was shared amongst all, they were their brother,s keeper. But nothing lasts for long, when the children were all grown and Sarah Chua had to share love to all,as she was supposed,she found it was different to not compare once in a while,to not choose one child over another,and so everyone knew things were different, everyone sorted for power,for recognition,for fame.

When she retired to her room after the meeting with the Chua Club, Sarah Chua searched for her notes in her drawers, looking through the sketches and her opinions of her little boy written in the notes,she couldn't understand what he was up to. Engaging Diana Han wasn't something Lucas would do,he wasn't the kind to hide his true feelings,and it definitely meant he was up to something. He wasn't little anymore,he was all grown now,and she knew he was still nursing a broken heart, still crying inside. When he struggled with being branded a murderer,she was the only one who knew that,that he ended up being called Rain. Knowing that the child she loved the most was going through so much,she seemed weak and powerless to act,a child she loved ended up being sacrificed for her desire for power.

The house was going to be quite noisy, Sarah noted, it was to be held here,at the main house and she could already feel the atmosphere of the lonely house coming alive with the arrival of Genesis and Ivan.

"Ma?" Genesis called,standing by the half opened door.

Sarah looked on,gently putting away her notes,as Genesis walked in,she locked the drawers and turned to her,but Genesis was looking at the drawers.

"What?" She asked, drawing the nosy woman's attention.

"Ma,I came early"

"Yes" She replied quickly,not hiding her irritation at being disturbed at that time. "And Eric?" She added,pouring herself a glass of water.

"He is very busy, Ma,the dinner plans came on such short notice that I could barely tell him"

"He is getting too busy this days, even avoiding family meetings"

"Ma,you know he is very busy helping us when we need help" Genesis almost shouted,mad that her mother was making her husband look worthless.

"How could I forget,that my son in law is still very useful" She said sarcastically, drinking from the cup.

"Ma,it,s Christian"

By five,the whole family had already arrived, except for Lucas and Diana,with curious eyes,the others who didn't know her,waited. Everyone was having their little talks in two's or three's,but Mrs Chua and Amore were locked up in the study and Christian,s frown was an indicator that something was amiss.

They arrived soon, Diana wasn't sure she expected those glaring eyes, when they got to the living room as the housekeeper ushered them in,it was like they were telling her with their eyes to do something,she wasn't doing.

"Ma,Lucas is here" Genesis Chua said,walking over to her mother who was standing by the study door with Amore coming out. Everyone turned to the women and Diana walked forward,with her head bent downwards,she said hello.

"It,s a pleasure to meet you, Mam" She said.

"Likewise" Mrs Chua replied, smiling. It was a new one for everyone,to see Mrs Chua smile that way.

"I have heard alot about you" Diana added. To Genesis,the woman was warming up to Ma,trying to flatter the old cunning woman and she couldn't help but smirk.

"I heard you lost your memory"

"yes,but the doctor says I can get them back,and soon"

"I will be very glad,we can't keep the others waiting"

The tablecloths was turquoise blue,with patterns of white and black,it was beautiful,it reminded Diana of something but she couldn't place what it was,and Mrs Chua was the first to say something before dinner.

With palms together,she broke the silence.

"Are you a Christian, Diana?" She asked,raising her head up to look at the young woman.

"Yes" Diana replied.

"In this family,it is a tradition for the guest to pray before dinner"

With her eyes closed,Diana said a short prayer and waited for Mr and Mrs Chua to take the first bite,as family tradition demands.

"Diana,what do you love doing?" Genesis Chua asked as everyone started eating.

"I don't remember what I used to love,but I definitely know traveling was something for me"

"You do?,that,s awesome,so is that why you left Moldova?" Genesis asked, looking up to find the glaring stares from Amore, Mrs Chua, Ivan and Lucas.

"Moldova?,what is that place?"

"You didn't know,but you lived in Moldova,I didn't really understand why you left Moldova in a hurry"

"What happened in Moldova?"

"That's what I want to know,what happened in Moldova?"

"I can't know unless I am told,I am as confused as you are"

"It,s such a sad thing that you lost your memories Diana, but I believe you must remember Vanessa Erhan"

"You tell me,what I was in Moldova,you can at least tell me what it is you are trying to say"

"We are going to be best of friends"

While they continued to eat in silence, William broke it again.

"I have heard alot about you in the magazine, auntie Diana"

"You have?,I am glad,and I certainly have heard about you too"

"You have?,how ?"

" School Gist, about bullying, didn't go unnoticed,you know"

"Wow,you watched that show?" William,s heart leapt for joy. "I thought no one would watch it" .

The whole atmosphere seems to be short of air and everyone was hardly breathing, because the those words brought total silence that even Diana couldn't say something to liven the current mood. But while everyone ate in silence, Joy Chua could not keep her eyes off Diana,the woman's disrespect to auntie Genesis and the rest of the family,greatly displeased her and she was already having a great dislike of her.

But family wasn't family anymore,while they all ate in silence,deep in thought, thinking about their problems, Sarah Chua knew her dreams of the Chua Club was coming to an end,and as she looked at everyone,she could sense their thoughts,but not Diana's or Lucas,she couldn't read their minds nor what they were, they were to her,her only hope.