"No, actually, most of the food here is pretty familiar. My mother cooks a decent oriental meal. I believe she learnt it right after marriage because Mr… I mean, my father preferred Chinese food over the English fare," she answered with a studied casual air.

It was good to see her father, Li Yichen redden with guilt, or at least she hoped that it was guilt. For all that her mother did for him, he hadn't taken long to move on and away from her.

Everyone looked at Irene in surprise.

She shook her head and replied in plain honesty, "the most that I can cook are dim sums and noodles with a couple of side dishes. Those cannot be compared to the delicious spread here."

Sam looked at her mother in exasperation. Why could she never accept a compliment on face value and continue to put herself down at every possible instance, especially in front of all these people?

"Right, I almost forgot. Samantha, you will accompany Yimei tomorrow. She will help you pick a suitable dress for the engagement party," Grandpa Li announced.

"There is no need. I have got my prom dress with me," she announced decisively.

"Samantha Li! Your grandfather wishes to buy you a dress on the occasion of your sister's engagement. Please show your manners and express sincere thanks to him," it was the stern voice which her mother seldom used.

Bowing her head slightly, she murmured her thanks towards Grandpa Li.

Irene had been given a different room from Sam, where the girl currently lay sprawled.

"Look at this room. Our entire flat can be nearly adjusted into it. Looking at all this… how can you stay calm or worse, ask me to show affection and grat.i.tude towards this family?" she cried to her mother.

Irene's eyes held hollow sorrow in them. The tears and complaints had long evaporated and she had made peace with her fate. Of course, looking at the genteel woman next to her ex-husband, made her want to go back home right away but she didn't say any of it to her daughter. She wanted Sam to know her paternal side of the family and wanted to give them a fair chance at some sort of a connection.

"Mom, let's go back. I will think of an excuse. I don't want any pretty dresses, nor the fancy big room. I don't want to stay here, please," Sam begged her impulsively, getting up from the bed suddenly.

Present Day, Room 3018, St. Regent Hotel, London

"How I wish that mom would have agreed to my wish that night," Sam thought ruefully.

The man next to her was thras.h.i.+ng his head from one side to another.

"NOOOOO, don't say that, please don't," he begged and pleaded in his state of inebriation.

Those words, that tone… they were really familiar, she knew them well.

"Shhhhhh, it's ok. You are fine. It will be fine," she tried to soothe him by touching his forehead with her free hand.

Suddenly, Wei opened his eyes.

Looking at her with unfocussed eyes, he said on a broken voice, "you are not her. Why are you not her? Please… please."

She couldn't hear his pleas anymore and did the only thing she could.

Bringing her fingers to his chin, she held it and meshed her lips onto his. Wei blinked his eyes for a second before giving into the delicious honey which was making its way into his mouth.

Sam gazed at the man who was returning her kisses intently.

"Does he even know who lips are these?" she thought wryly.

But then she also was using him as an excuse to not think of a pair of deep brown mesmerising eyes, which still taunted her after so many years. Shutting her eyelids, she gave into the sensation of discovering a new texture, new taste, new feel.

Atleast the guy knew how to kiss, the thought registered dimly at the back of her head. Even though she was sitting sideways, he had blindly brought her head down and laced his fingers through it. Warm fingers at her skull were pulling her hair painfully and she decided to punish him for it, by biting his lip fiercely. Thinking that it would release the pressure, the gesture seemed to excite him instead and he returned the favour by nipping her lower lip and then bringing her tongue deep inside his mouth.

Till now, Sam had been the one in control, kissing the stranger out of misguided pity. Suddenly, the tables had turned and the victim had turned into a predator.