My Beloved

Placing two ice bags on either of her cheeks, Han Luo was sitting at the table thinking about the events that unfolded just some moments ago.

Beside her, maid Eva had already covered Han Sheng Ming's cheek with a bandage after applying some ointment.

The living room was pin drop silent. Everyone was quiet. Truthfully, no one had the slightest mood to strike a conversation.

Sophia came into the room along with a tray from the kitchen. She placed two glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice on the table. She glanced at the children and sighed.

It had been ten minutes since Du Liu had left the house along with Han Luilui and Han Wanwan.

Just as Han Sheng Ming said, he took things into his hands to book hotel rooms and called a taxi for his mother and sisters.

After they left, Noah brought the first aid box to take care of Han Luo and Han Sheng Ming's wound.

Eva was diligent and good at patching up injuries. After she was done, she left the children alone in the living room.

Han Luo and Han Sheng Ming were both silent. None of them talked. They didn't know how to approach each other. Both of them were feeling uneasy which led to the current awkward silence.

In the end, Han Luo decided that it was better to break this discomfiting atmosphere and made a move first.

She reached out and took Han Sheng Ming's right hand in hers and patted slowly as if reassuring him. It seemed like she was trying to say that everything would be alright.

Han Sheng Ming who was still pondering about the turn of events glanced at her upon the thoughtful gesture and then lowered his eyes in contemplation.

Han Luo softly started, "Big brother Ming, I'm sorry. Because of me you-"

When he heard her apologize, Han Sheng Ming couldn't stay calm anymore. He didn't want to hear her continue her self-blaming speech and immediately interjected, "Little Luo Luo, don't say that, or I will blame myself even more."He sounded like a wounded animal.

Han Luo placed her head on his shoulder. She stated, "Big brother Ming, there is no need to blame yourself. You know it's not your fault." She tried to reassure him.

"It's not your fault either." Han Sheng Ming commented.

Han Luo bit her lower lip and said with a crestfallen expression, "But if I hadn't come to live with your family in the first place, things would have been considerably different than our current predicament."

The thing that hurt her most was the fact that because of her, her most favorite older brother and uncle couldn't have a warm, peaceful family. She could care less about others.

Han Sheng Ming frowned and turned to face her. He looked extremely serious while he asked, "Are you implying that you should have lived in an orphanage?"

Han Luo moved away from him and shook her head in denial. She mumbled imperceptibly, "Maybe a nanny would be fine. I could have managed my living fine with a nanny."

If she stayed at her home with a nanny, things would be a lot different. She knew that thinking like that wouldn't change anything but she couldn't help herself.

Han Sheng Ming's temper rose at her words. "Come on little Luo, you cannot say this. My daddy is your legal guardian. How can he let his only niece stay with a nanny? And I would never expect that."

Han Luo shook her head. "Still I don't like it when you argue with your mother. She really loves you."

"But she is in the wrong," Han Sheng Ming protested. He couldn't find a reason why Han Luo was supporting his mother after experiencing such horrible things.

Han Luo persuaded him, "Big brother Ming, you don't understand. She gave birth to you. She raised you. She never hurt you, nor will she ever harm you. You should never be hard on her let alone kick her out of the house."

As a person who had lost her loving mother, she knew the pain of not having a mother. She would do anything and face any difficulty if she was given a chance to have her mother back.

Han Luo didn't want her beloved big brother to go through such despair and regret his hasty decision later.

Han Sheng Ming grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Didn't mommy hurt you? Look at your face. How can you still take her side?"

Han Luo disagreed. "I'm not taking her side. It's just… All I'm saying that if someone hurts me, I can deal with them. But if you and uncle continue being good to me and get on the bad side of your family, it'll be very difficult for me to fight for justice."

Han Sheng Ming looked at her steadily and asked solemnly, "Are you telling me that you want to fight for yourself alone?"

Han Luo squeezed a small smile. "Who said I'm alone. I have Noah, big brother Yuan and big brother Yujin with me. They won't let me suffer."

"I want you to share your hardship with me too," he desperately said.

Han Luo responded, "Big brother Ming, I think you are mistaking something. As long as you and uncle are by my side, I won't suffer. I know you are shielding me and that's more than enough."

She added, "Just wait another four years. I'll be a grown-up. Then, I can support myself on my own. That's why I'm telling you that you don't need to fight against your mother to support me."

Han Sheng Ming couldn't believe her words. "Is that really enough?"

She sweetly replied, "You are already supporting me more than I needed and I'm very grateful for that."

Han Sheng Ming shook his head and lamented, "Little Luo, you are just too good to people."

"I don't want to hurt anyone who is your family." What Han Luo said was true.

However, it didn't mean that she would let go of those three; Du Liu, Han Luilui, and Han Wanwan. She didn't raise her voice today because she was feeling responsible for taking all the affection of her uncle and her cousin for herself.

She has no interest in fighting against Du Liu. Firstly, she won't raise her hand against an elder who is Han Sheng Ming's mother no matter how lowly she was, she has her own principles; and second, she won't stoop to her level.

Yet, it doesn't mean that she will let go of Han Luilui and Han Wanwan if they dare to harm her. She isn't a Mother Theresa forgiving people who scheme against her.

Not to mention, she was greatly pleased when Han Sheng Ming stood by her side. She wanted to provoke Du Liu but controlled herself.

Han Sheng Ming said, "I will do as you said but you have to promise me something."

"What is it?" She curiously asked.

He said with resolve, "Promise me that you won't let them go if they hurt you or I will personally hunt them down even if they are my family. Don't forget that you are my family too."

Han Luo chuckled. "Okay, I promise. My big brother Ming is too cool." She gave him a thumbs-up.

Han Sheng Ming told her, "Enough! Don't talk too much. Isn't your mouth hurting from talking so much? I feel like cutting off my cheek so that it wouldn't sting anymore. Mommy is so energetic, geez."

"Does it hurt too much?" Han Luo reached out and touched his cheek over the bandage.

Han Sheng Ming shivered. "Ah! Don't touch."

"Oh, sorry," Han Luo retracted her hand. She pondered deeply for a while and then said, "Big brother Ming, I decided that I'll do a part-time job."

Han Sheng Ming blinked. "Huh? Why is that? Do you need money? You can ask daddy-"

She shook her head. "No, not that I need money. I know that uncle had forked out half of his fortune to buy this house for me. I want to pay him back."

"Little Luo, don't do this…" Han Sheng Ming wanted to voice out his father's affection and responsibility toward her. He didn't want his little sister to shoulder these burdens. In his opinion, she could depend on him and his father, and they would fend off every obstacle in her path.

However, she was not going to let anything change her mind. "Let me grow up, big brother Ming.. Let my daddy and uncle be proud of me," her tone was pleading but her black orbs were shining with determination.