"Rise and shine sleeping beauty!" Jayden's voice pierced through her dream bubble pulling her harshly back to reality. She slowly opened one eye and saw him drawing the curtains to let in the light.

"It's not even eight yet!" She complained in a hoarse voice. From what she could tell it was still dawn.

"Yes well, I need your decision, NOW!!! Or I leave you to figure shit out on your own," he said

He sat on the edge of the bed looking down at her.

"I've been summoned by my parents to talk about their condition, Lord knows what is the truth, then after that, we could go on a short road trip, deal with your heartbreak, and get back to the real world... How does that sound?" He looked at her anxiously waiting for her reply. Now that she took a good look at him, he was impeccably dressed. His hair was held back neatly and he was in an impressive grey Armani suit.

"You clean up well," She said in a sly tone pushing his shoulder playfully.

"I always look good. I'm just in official clothing which I guess you've never seen me in. And you're drifting away from the topic. I need your decision now, Jiaye"

She shut her eyes for a few seconds. She'd already come to a decision... But saying it out loud makes it all too real.

She g.r.o.a.n.e.d out loud and sat up.

" Do I also need to be officially dressed?" she asked

She watched as a triumphant smile made its way to his face.

"We are gonna kick a.s.s together!" He stood and began taking his leave before he abruptly stopped.

"Yes, you need to dress officially. Have you forgotten my parents? Be downstairs in 30 tops."

Oh, she hadn't forgotten his parents. If anything she remembered the Tian family too well. They were the epitome of the perfect family.

"Stop zoning out. Hurry!!!" Jayden shouted from the corridor. He knew her too well.

She followed his voice and found herself in the dining room talking on the phone. He watched her come and added something brusquely to the other party, then hang up.

"Your darling husband is looking for you. Apparently, he or his team are on their way here. They managed to track you maybe with your phone... What do you want to do?" He looked at her seriously waiting for her reply.

She honestly hadn't thought he'd even be bothered by her absence. It made her kind of happy actually in a bit. But, he had to know she wasn't going back for round two of his bullshit.

"Nothing is going to make me change my mind, Jayden. The sooner we leave here the better. I don't want to run into him."

"Good." He took the last sip of his tea, she presumed, then stood up grabbing his coat off the chair.

"Let's go," he said

She followed him out making sure to leave her phone behind. She didn't want him on her trail anymore. It was time for them to live away from each other. She won't dare to come back into his life.

She went up and grabbed a rucksack she'd quickly filled with her essentials.

"Your husband is crazy," Jayden muttered between chuckles as they walked to board the plane.

"He just doesn't want bad publicity because he is rich and people know he was married, without my presence, it will be a big impact in his credibility," she muttered softly. She'd been thinking about the whole scenario the ride to the airport and that's the only explanation that made sense.

"Hmm," he tossed her a look over his shoulder but added nothing further.

"Anyway, why do we have to be so official and it'll be 7 hours before we even get there?"

"Again, do you know my parents?" he asked

Well, she did. But what did that-oh right-since their son was coming they'd probably be at the airport waiting or something just as grand?

"Well, this is going to be fun." smile let out from her gritted teeth slowly beginning to regret the decision she made.

Anyway, the upside was after all this was over... They were definitely going for a road trip. She uses that as a mantra to keep her going. She nodded slowly agreeing with herself as she took her seat.

"Try to not get too intimidated by my parents okay? The last time you saw them it was a fleeting experience, I think. This time you'll actually be having dinner. I don't know if they know you're married, but if they don't, then don't tell them okay?" Jayden rushed out anxiously as he pulled into their driveway.

" Not a lot of things scare you, but your parents are a different story huh? "

She was actually a bit amused by the way he was acting. Did she also look and act like this when she was preparing to meet her dad? Man, if that was so, that was just sad. Shouldn't there be a bond between parents and children? Anyway, whatever. It doesn't concern her in the least.

"Our luggage will be handled. Don't worry." He said softly opening the door and holding his hand out for her. He'd somehow managed to gather himself enough to look like a focused businessman.

"I might spout some lies in there, so I need you to flow with me okay?"

"I got it!" She punched his shoulder playfully and tossed him a grin. To ease his nerves she added, "Don't worry, I'm the master of pretense and elegance. I won't embarrass you."

"That's the least of my worries." He raised his hand to ruffle her hair then thought twice about it. Before he could ring the bell the double doors swung open, a bit dramatically may she added, and a formal looking, probably English, butler stood on the other side with a no-nonsense expression on his face.

"Young Master! We were expecting you." He did a slight bow and invited them in.

"May I take your coats?" She shrugged off her and handed it to him then watched as he removed Jayden's. Okay, maybe she was supposed to wait for him to remove her. Oh well. What's done is done.

"The old master and mistress are waiting for you in the tea room."

Tea room?! She managed to hide her surprise and planted a small smile on her face. Action time she said in her mind.

Jayden rested his hand on the pocket of his pants and led her to their tea room. It was very elegant actually, she was grateful Jayden warned her earlier to dress professionally. There was a beautiful complex golden chandelier in the middle of the room, a couple of seats scattered around. An intricately designed coffee table in the middle with two of those semi-circle sofas on either side. Such a blinding white that she was scared just looking at them would stain them. Before she could keep surveying, she noticed Mr. and Mrs. Tian standing up to invite them.

Mrs. Tian rushed over to Jayden and brought him in for a fierce hug. She could feel her fondness for him rolling off her in waves. Mr. Tian followed his wife right behind and pulled his son in for a brief hug then stepped back, circling his wife's waist.

"Glad you finally decided to grace us with your presence, son." there was a faint French accent in Mr. Tian's voice as he acknowledged Jayden.

Mrs. Tian rolled her eyes at her husband's words.

"We missed you, honey. How was your flight?"

She was beginning to feel a bit awkward just standing there.

"It was fine, mom. Thanks for asking. I'd like to introduce you to my friend," He pushed her forward and his parents looked at her like they'd just noticed Jiaye in person.

"Mom, Dad, this is Jiaye. Jiaye, Mr. and Mrs. Tian." he introduced.

She smiled and outstretched her hand to the head first.

"Jiaye Zhi, sir. A p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to make your acquaintance." Mr. Tian took her outstretched hand in a firm handshake and she reached over and gave Mrs. Tian a peck on each cheek. Maybe she was being too friendly. There was a moment of awkward silence as they both stared her down. She noticed a weird expression on the mistress's face but she just couldn't pin it. Mr. Tian was trying to read her like a book and she was getting a bit uncomfortable.

"Are you Roman and Amanda's daughter?" Mr. Tian's deep voice cut right through her.

She gulped nervously. There's no way that question was in good intent. She noticed the flash of recognition in Mrs. Tian's eyes as she waited for her response.

"Yes I am, sir." Jiaye resisted the urge to wipe her suddenly sweaty palms against her skirt.

"Oh." Her voice was suddenly so degrading, the only thing keeping her from slapping the shit out of her and keeping out on them was Jayden's palm on her waist that was getting tighter and tighter as they kept talking.

"Mother, Father." Jayden's voice was tight.

"You must be tired from your flight dear, let's have a cup of tea and have dinner then you can rest for the night." she sliced right between the two of them and grabbed his arm leading him towards the coffee table. They were having a conversation in low tones, she couldn't quite catch what they were saying.

" So how's your family business?" Mr. Tian asked her as he led her to join the wife and son. Low blow asshole. Literally, everyone in the business world knew of their current state.

"It's pretty rocky, but I'm currently underway making alliances with some companies to build back our empire." She managed to let out as politely as she could.

"Really?" he asked her clearly not believing a word she'd told him. They'd already joined the rest and mother and son were still in a deep conversation.

"Like which one?" He took up his tea and looked at her from over the rim as he waited for her answer.

"Actually, many companies are still quite reluctant to invest in us, but I've managed to come to a favorable agreement with some of them. I'm just waiting for them to-" suddenly Jayden shouted something to his mother angrily in French and stood up.

"We're leaving, Jiaye. This wasn't a good idea." He threw her a glance signaling for them to leave then stormed out.

"Excuse me, sir!" She muttered softly and followed him out. She quickened her steps trying to catch up with him.

"Jayden! Slow down!" she complained still struggling to catch up. He grabbed their coats from the weirdly efficient butler who was waiting for them by the door and tossed her coat. The car that dropped them pulled up and Jayden went round to the driver's side.

"Get out." He let out coldly frightening even the driver who quickly got out without arguing. She took the cue and got into the front seat. She felt like she would be treading on dangerous waters if she even let out a peep so she chose to stay quiet until he was ready to talk. He rarely ever got this mad. She'd seen it once, and she wouldn't want to relive it again. At least she learned silence was the only way to be safe around him.

"Can you put on some f.u.c.k.i.n.g music!" he let out from between his teeth.

She rushed to fulfill his command without saying a word. Music blasted through the car filling the silence. The rain had begun pouring down heavily and it was getting hard to see. But it seemed like it wasn't even getting to Jayden. If anything he stepped on the gas driving even faster. The last thing both of them expected was a huge lorry that had lost control. All she remembers was screaming profane meaningless words as Jayden tried swerving to no avail. Their car collided hard and she immediately lost consciousness.