Chapter 1

The music was blasting as the car speed down the streets of the wealthiest families in the county.

This high-class neighborhood had its own shops, boutiques and schools. It was like its own town, and the people kept inside it, mostly associating with themselves rather than the lower classes.

The black glossy car pulled to a gate that surrounded a large mansion. The man waited, pressing a button on the steering wheel, until the gate opened. He drove to his parking space then turned off the engine.

This was the home of the Hiroshi family. They were one of the richest families in the country and although they were so great, they were very unhappy.

A man in a red and gold uniform rushed to open the car door.

"Welcome home, Master Hiroshi." The man greeted as he held the door open.

Zuko Hiroshi, a twenty-seven year old man, was the sole owner of the entire community neighborhood. He stepped out of the car, barely acknowledging a familiar car in the driveway that didn't belong to himself or his wife, and nodded to the man. He made his way following the stone that led to the front door of his mansion. He hesitated as he grabbed the knob and pushed it open slowly.

His home was filled with priceless antiques and with the most expensive household items, some which had never been used. Everything was neatly decorated and large and capacious but very lonely.

The Hiroshi family only consisted of two other members, besides Zuko, his wife, Mai and their precious child, Jeanne.

Servants pasted by Zuko, cleaning and doing their work, as he walked inside the parlor.

"Welcome home, Master Hiroshi." The servants would say to Zuko, even though he would hardly be aware of them.

He sat down on the couch and put his hands on his face.

Besides the fact of the loneliness in the mansion, Zuko was miserable. His once beloved wife turned into nothing more than a dull woman. Their love had been slowly dying and their was no more excitement, no more thrill to their marriage. It came to the point where they didn't even know how they fell in love in the first place. Neither of them knew what went wrong.

Zuko rubbed his face then looked up as he heard steps coming down the stairs.

"Nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four!" A young female voice counted slowly. "Twenty-four steps to get to the first floor."

Zuko looked up to the girl. It was his daughter's nanny, Joel.

Joel carried the three-year-old Jeanne in her arms. The little child seemed quiet content after counting with Joel.

"Daddy!" His daughter exclaimed once she noticed her father on the other side of the room. She opened her arms wide, wanting Zuko to hold her.

"Good evening, Master Hiroshi." Joel said, bringing Jeanne to him.

"Good evening. Has my daughter been good today?" Zuko asked to Joel but refrained from making eye contact, instead he looked into the eyes of his child, the only thing that brings him home and keeps him there.

Joel nodded. "Very. She is a very happy girl, Master Hiroshi. She is also very intelligent for such a young age."

Zuko smiled as his daughter began pulling out his tie from his jacket. "Thank you, Miss Joel. That will be all." He dismissed her.

"Master Hiroshi." She bowed then quickly left.

Zuko touched Jeanne's soft angelic face. "You're a beautiful girl, did you know that?" He asked.

"No." Jeanne said, not at all paying attention to him. Rather she was working on being able to play with Zuko's purple tie.

He smiled as he took off his tie and gave it to her. "Don't put it in your mouth." He warned.

She shook it up and down then looked to her father, as though waiting for approval. He began to laugh and she joined in then went back to shaking it. After a few seconds of that she put the tip of the tie into her mouth.

"No! Jeanne, what did I tell you?" He scolded taking the tie away. She began to cry. "Stop that. It's tough love. I don't want you to grow up being spoiled like your aunt was." He said stroking her thin black hair. She stopped crying but started hitting his face. "Ouch, no! Stop!" He said laughing but slowly becoming irritated.

Before he would spank her for her bad behavior, they both turned their heads when they heard laughter from Mai.

"Oh, Jet! Stop with that!" She said. There was an awkward moment of silence before Mai giggled. "Jet, stop that. Really, you should leave now before Zuko gets here."

Zuko stood from the couch with his daughter in his arms, waiting for Mai to walk in the parlor. As she did so, she had Jet's, a long time friend, arm around her waist. Jet came to an abrupt stop as he saw Zuko, with a fury burning in his eyes.

"Oh, hey Zuko." Jet said letting go of Mai, feeling uncomfortable. "I was just-uh- waiting for you to get back. We haven't talked in a while."

"Really? Ok then. Let's talk now. You can begin by telling me what you and Mai were doing." Zuko said. He had a hunch that the child shouldn't be present, he wouldn't want to scare her. "Joel!" He shouted.

The young girl ran to the room. "Yes Master?" She said out of breath.

"Take Jeanne to her room." Zuko ordered with fire in his voice.

She quickly took the baby then rushed away.

"Zuko it's not as bad as it looks." Mai began to say. "Don't jump to stupid conclusions."

"Tell me what's going on." Zuko said in a firm voice.

"I was just hanging around with Mai. That's it." Jet said.

"Looked more like hanging on her! What were you doing?" He pressed.

"Its none of your business." Mai muttered walking to the couch.

"Excuse me? What did you say?" Zuko asked loudly.

"You can't talk to me like that! I'm not one of your servants. And it doesn't matter what I did with Jet." Mai felt guilty with every word but made it as though she didn't care.

Zuko turned to Jet. "What did you do?"

"Just relax Zuko. Ok? Mai told me that you guys have been having problems with your marriage. I just wanted to help." Jet explained.

"How?" Zuko's rage wasn't lowering.

"Giving her advice. Like three or so years ago I told her that having your baby could help your marriage." Jet spat out to keep Zuko from charging at him.

Zuko snapped. "You told her that?", he turned to his wife, "the only reason why you wanted Jeanne was cause," he pointed to Jet," HE told you?"

"Listen, relax! Ok, I just gave her advice and it helped as I got to know her better." Jet said remembering something he hoped he wouldn't have to tell Zuko.

"How good to did you 'get to know her'? I see it in your eyes! You're trying to hide something from me!" Zuko shouted.

"It was only one time. I'm sorry but she was depressed and she said that it would help her." Jet said looking at Mai. He felt blameworthy but didn't regret it.

Zuko spun around to look at Mai. Her eyes were down and a tear went down her face. "You just don't understand the situation I was in Zuko! You are never home anymore."

He turned around and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Mai called out.

"Out!" Zuko yelled slamming the door behind him.

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