Domineering Love

"I understand your time spent with William. This money is my personal gesture to you. As a woman living on your own, you’ll need it," said May Campbell, taking out a check from her purse and handing it to her. "The old man isn’t well and can’t stand to be upset. Can you let William visit him?" Cherish Turner didn’t say anything and quietly listened until May finished. She slowly raised her head, only to push the check back to her. In a soft voice, she said, "Madam Griffith, I don’t need the money. Actually, without me saying anything, he will go see the chairman. They are family, please don’t worry. Madam Griffith, I’ll be leaving now."

Cherish smiled, got up, and left the place politely.

Looking at the check, May seemed to realize something was wrong, and though her lips moved, she never said anything in the end.

The weather in July was really beginning to heat up.

Cherish walked silently on the street, thinking about the novel she had read by Zhang Ailing: To meet someone among the millions of people and among the endless wilds of time, not a step too early or a step too late, just the right encounter.

William, I met you - and I’m just grateful, with no regrets.

Whatever the outcome may be between us, I think I won’t ever have any regrets in the future.

As the days went by, it seemed that nothing had changed. Cherish and William still saw each other, and they still loved each other.

On this day, with Yannis away and William attending a temporary meeting, Cherish had to find a restaurant on her own for dinner.

As it grew dark, the neon lights began to flicker.

She saw a small restaurant offering special Cantonese cuisine with a thriving business. Through the glass windows, she could see that it was fully occupied. Cherish thought the restaurant must be good, and without giving it more thought, she walked in. The waiter showed her to a table for two, surrounded by a group of people.