Ryu stared at the beauty who had just a.s.saulted him.He could feel his shock and another emotion.It seemed his senses did remember her.In the past many years.innumerable women had thrown themselves at him but he had only felt repulsion.But just now when Alicia Lu 'demonstrated' her point,he only felt...loved?Shaking his head out of such muddled thoughts,Ryu glared at the woman and said poisonously,"Ms Alicia,I can sue you for molestation for what you did just now.."

Alicia smiled calmly at him with a twinkle in her eye and said,"Of course you may Sir,but then you will have to explain to the law enforcement officers that why are you accusing your own wife of hara.s.sment!You see,YOU have forgotten but the law has not!Since I have introduced myself for today already,I will take your leave and I will be reporting to you tomorrow."

With that Alicia turned to leave.Her legs were s.h.i.+vering and she could feel her nose getting blocked.Very soon she was going to start bawling if she looked at his indifferent and cold eyes again.From the very beginning,he had lookedat her with a gentleness and care.She had gotten used to seeing his loving and caring glances.Seeing this side of him was like having her worst fear confirmed.She now needed time to gather her thoughts.

Before she could reach the door,he voiced a command,"a.s.sistant Lu,I wish to see the last quarter's sales and marketing reports from the subsidiary tomorrow when you report to work.And they should be organised exactly the way I prefer.By now you must know my preferences.Please come prepared."

"Of course Sir."As soon as Alicia closed the door behind her,she fell against the wall as her legs gave out.She wanted to curse and howl at the fates for giving her something so precious and then s.n.a.t.c.hing it away even before she had a chance to cherish it.

Just then she heard the sound of footsteps running towards her.She immediately wiped the tears that were flowing freely from her eyes and looked up to see Ru running towards her at full speed.Seeing is mom on the same eye level as him,Ru was even more excited and jumped into his mother's embrace who wold have fallen if she was not leaning against the wall.

"Mother!I missed you!"

"I missed you too silly baby."Alicia said while caressing his hair.

Ru gave a laugh and then ruffled his mother's hair,"Silly mother,How can you miss me when we only met this morning!"

Alicia made a face at him and said,"You said it first."

"That is because I am small so I can miss you!"

"So!I am big and I can miss you more!"

"Mother!",Ru whined and made sad puppy eyes at his mother.Smiling at his antics,Alicia smiled and asked,"How was your day at school today?"

"It was fun!We played games,made drawings of our family and learnt to write big words.!"Ru talked continuously while his hands moved in different directions as if creating the scene with his hands.Alicia just listened to Ru's soothing chatter and the resolve in her heart strengthened.

Nothing and no one could take away her hubby and her family from her!Not even the mighty Ryu Long himself.

Once Ru paused for a breath,Alicia broke the news of his father's return to Ru.Excited and energized all over again,Ru quickly got out of Alicia's embrace and rushed into the study.His short legs carried him really fast and he was inside in a minute.Seeing his father sitting behind the table,Ru rushed around it and with a yell jumped into his arms.And suddenly, Alicia who had followed Ru,could see her husband.His eyes had softened and there was warmth in them for his son.

"Father!I have something to show you!"Ru had turned to rush out of the room when he was apprehended by Neil.picking up the little boy,Neil hugged him and said,"Ru ah!!How can you not give me a hug."And then proceeded to tickle Ru..Happy at the attention of his uncle as well,Ru placed a kiss on his uncle's cheek and then started to wriggle out of his uncle's embrace.On the way he gave a high five to uncle Yang and then ran out of the door.Just then,Alicia's and Ryu's eyes met and the atmosphere turned awkward.Sensing this and with the door open,Neil and Yang finally made themselves scarce.Just then,the fully automated awkwardnedd diffuser Ru rushed back inside with a book in his hands."Father!See this!We were supposed to draw in cla.s.s today!I drew you and mother!It was fun!My teacher even laghed and said that this was the best drawing.I drew it like that creature that mother gave you!"

Ryu:"creature?"Taking the drawing,Ryu stared at the drawing with confusion...What creature..

Curious at Ryu's and Ru's expression Alicia came forward and moved behind Ryu's chair to get a look at the 'creature'.On seeing the drawing Alicia let out a small giggle and said,"Ru my baby that is a caricature and not a creature."

Sagely nodding Ru agreed,"Yes that."

Alicia remembered she had given Ryu a caricature him juggling b.a.l.l.s with the family's face..But this had been drawn from a child's imagination!In the drawing,a bird like creature was emitting fire.Though the drawing was childish,the dragon looked fierce(and somewhat like Ryu).But what was funny was the fact that two stick like figures of a woman and child had their hands extended with sticks in them looking as if they were trying to ward off the dragon but on a closer look you could see there was something on the end of the stick...The stick figures were actually roasting marxhmellows while the dragon breathed the fire!

Ru had unintentionally drawn reality.No matter how fierce Ryu turned,they would just roast marshmallows and win him over.It was that easy.