The Ageless Dream

17.2 Land of Xiang (66)

Seventeen years ago, Dong Family's manor.

"Qinling, you..." Dong Xu held back his anger. Disbelief written on his face with his gaze fixated on his sister.

"Its for the best. That foreign girl had influenced you too much. Xu'er, Im doing this to protect you as your older sister." Dong Qinling can see how far he is restraining himself. She clenched her fists in knowing Summer Basch had successfully caught Dong Xu's heart.

"Protect me? What you did is killing me instead! I loved my first wife but she died and you know how I love her. But ever since I met Summer, she brought me out of my grievances. Qinling, I can't afford to lose her. No matter what, I will protect her from this damned family!" he turned his back to leave when Dong Qinling grabbed his arm.

"Xu'er, are you mad?! What about the position as the headmaster of this family? How will you protect Xiao Zhen and Chun'er in the future? They will die here without anyone to rely on. Unlike us, we survived because of our mother's position as the first wife before! But what about them? Those elders are trying to covet the headmaster position. It's inevitable that Xiao Zhen and Chun'er will be in dragged in this dangerous competition!"

In the instant, Dong Xu froze. He blamed himself for being careless. Still, he has a child with Summer and he loves her. It's just that he has to choose between his two children or Summer instead.

"I was the one who threatened Summer to kill her if she won't leave China." Dong Qinling slowly explained. She looked downwards to avoid meeting Dong Xu's dangerous gaze. "She took away your daughter and went to the airport."

"Damn it!" Dong Xu broke free from her hold and rushed out of the manor to find Summer.

"Xu'er, its raining! Come back!" Dong Qinling panicked. She quickly called her driver to follow him.

"Why at this time? Why now? So unlucky!" Summer Basch walked back and forth in front of the entrance. Because of the storm, the flight she booked few days ago was postponed. She tightly embraced the infant in her arms, a single tear from her dropped on the newborn child's tender cheek.

"Summer!" a familiar voice called out. Dong Xu did not mind getting doused by the rainwater and ran directly to Summer in all worries.

"You..." she is about to leave but Dong Xu held her back. "Let go! Why are you still following me?!"

"Please, please stay." he embraced her in a second but unwilling to let go. "I can fix this. Everything will be fine. Please don't leave me."

"Fine? Your sister tried to kill me and take my baby away! If I stay, what will happen to my daughter then?! She'll be branded as an illegitimate child! Sir Dong, Im begging you to let go. What happened before is an accident, let us just forget and believe there is nothing than a mistake we did. I will just hold you back since you need a wife with a background unlike me who has nothing." Summer pleaded in hope of escaping. Her tears fell to show her remorse.

"Xu'er!" Dong Qinling had arrived. Summer Basch became terrified upon recalling how Dong Qinling pointed a g*n at her.

"Im sorry." she gritted her teeth and gave the infant to Dong Xu. Summer ran away through the rain, not even sparing one last glance. Her tears though, mingled with the raindrops.

Years later, the young Dong Li Hua can only helplessly watch her fellow classmates being attended by their sweet mothers.

"Daddy, where is Mommy?" the five-year-old Dong Li Hua curiously asked with her eyes settled on her fellow peers who were getting pampered by their mother outside the school gate. She envied them. Not even once did she saw her mother.

"Xiao Li!" Dong Qinling came out of her car while holding a box of sweets for her niece.

"Auntie!" Dong Li Hua's eyes brimmed when she saw Dong Qinling.

"Its your first day in Kindergarten. Here is a present I brought from London. There are more in the manor so do well." she gave the box to Dong Li Hua with an amiable smile.

"Mn! Even if I have no Mommy, I have Auntie! Bye Dad, see you Aunt!"

Dong Xu gave a low sigh after Dong Li Hua disappeared within the crowds of children.

"Summer sent another set of gifts and letters again." Dong Qinling's expression turned indifferent. "Should we burn them or throw them to the trash?"

"Is this right...? Li Hua is thinking more often of her mother. Don't you think it's better to-?"

"My dear brother, go ahead and give those gifts if you want Summer to take Li Hua away and hide her from us. Furthermore, you lied to Li Hua in the very beginning. Try and guess how will she react. I am quite sure she will choose her mother over you since you can even deceive your own daughter." she warned Dong Xu. Dong Qinling never liked Summer from the start. If not for that girl, Dong Xu would have been a headmaster six years ago.

Dong Xu started to hesitate. He had been refusing to answer all Summer's call and messages. She wanted to have Dong Li Hua back but he steel his heart. Dong Li Hua is his daughter with Summer, the only good memoir left after all those hardships they went through.

As years passed, he continued his lies and deception. Every single gift, letter and contact were blocked from reaching Dong Li Hua. There are manu times Summer Basch returned but she can't get close to Dong Li Hua because of his intervention. Using guards to surround Dong Li Hua, they tried all means to lure Summer Basch away from her.

He knew why she came back. It was to take Dong Li Hua with her but he can't hold himself in being selfish. Years had passed and he forgot what love feels like. Dong Xu then focused on the three children under his custody. But because of Dong Li Hua's strange circumstances, he worried for her and called Summer. From US to Xi'an, Summer did her best to arrive here.