The plane touched down at the Pudong International airport . After clearing the immigration, Samantha collected her luggage and headed towards the exit . She hadn't informed anyone about her arrival, apart from her mother who was on the verge of a panic attack .

She was coming back to the country after six years . Even though bitter memories tried to push her down, she held her head high as she hailed a taxi and headed towards her destination . The time for reckoning had come sooner than expected . She had been preparing for this day for the past many days, weeks, months now . Now that she was here, she was going to ensure that the culprits were punished and justice was meted out .

"Who are you here to see, Miss?" the security guard at the mansion's gate stopped Samantha and questioned her .

"Tell Grandmother Li that Samantha is requesting a meeting," she told him in a cold, haughty manner .

The guard was struck at the similarity between the stranger and the owner of the mansion . But he had not seen her ever in the past two years of his employment here . As he relayed the information to the head servant in the house, there were urgent summons communicated to let the young woman pa.s.s through .

Dragging her suitcase, Sam steeled her quivering limbs and marched ahead .

"Never let the enemy see or sense your fear . "

And she was entering a den full of them .

"h.e.l.lo Father, long time no see," Li Yichen was the first person to face her .

Disbelief and anger was etched on his face as he looked at this shameful girl .

"How dare you show your face in this house again? Did I not tell you that you were not to set foot here ever," he told her, blocking her entry into the house .

She shrugged her shoulders and replied calmly, "don't you think it is time for us to bury the hatchet? How long would you hold onto a grudge against your only 'blood descendant'? I have already apologised sincerely for what happened then . I was but a naïve child . Can't you be the bigger person and forgive me for it?"

She had changed . That was the first thought which registered in his mind . It wasn't so much the physical change but the way she was talking or rather the way she was conducting herself… it was almost emitting a lazy confidence, eerily similar to the style of his late father .

"I must be imagining things," he thought to himself .

In the meanwhile, Sam took advantage of his preoccupied expressions and slid past him into the house .

"h.e.l.lo, Grandma Li . We meet again . I am sorry that I couldn't attend his memorial service . I didn't know about it till it was too late," she greeted the old woman who had come out in the living area after hearing the raised voice of her son .

At her pointed remark about being informed late of her grandfather's death, Li Yichen scowled at his daughter .

"I didn't see any need to inform you . Your presence would have only caused disruption on a sombre occasion," he spoke brusquely .

Samantha tried to hold back her tears and replied, "Grandpa Li was one of the few people who genuinely liked me and had faith in me . I had also grown fond of him during my stay here . I think he would have liked if I attended his last journey on Earth . Anyways, it doesn't matter now . "

Grandma Li's gaze softened looking at her sad face and she came forward and engulfed Sam in her arms .

Surprised at the unexpected show of affection, Sam couldn't hold back the salt which flew down from her eyes .

"I missed you, Gandma . Hope you have been well," she spoke softly next to her ear .

The old woman nodded and kissed her on the forehead before releasing her .

"Why are you here, Samantha? Why did you not inform me before arriving?" he asked, still unwilling to show any softness towards her .

He held a deep seated grudge against her for what had happened six years ago .

"Had I informed you of my arrival, would you have allowed me to come?" she asked him, challenge in her voice .

"h.e.l.lo Samantha, this is a surprise," her stepmother had come in to the hall as well .

Sam looked at her stepmother and bowed politely, "how are you, Aunt Li? Mother sends her regards . "

Mrs . Li acknowledged her greetings with a guarded look . She was unsure about the motives behind Sam's arrival in the city .

Nevertheless, she directed the staff to show Samantha the room . Settling into her old room, Sam looked around before messaging her mother, informing her of her arrival . Irene had been dead set against Sam travelling to Shanghai . She couldn't understand her daughter's need for revenge or justice . She just wanted to live in peace, without any controversies or accusations .