Thank you for enjoying the story and leaving your comments! I promise to get back on schedule now that the Holidays are over and I can focus more on writing. Hope you enjoy this chapter! Leave a review and let me know of something you are excited to see, or even some predictions!

-Samantha


Brielle tugged at the hem of the pale blue dress as the car pulled into the driveway. She had gone shopping for a dress the day before the party, but couldn't find anything she thought Ah-Si would "approve" of. Why do I care if I have his approval? She thought to herself as the car pulled up to the front of the large house.

"I'm nervous." Shiuri whispered as she looked up at the white mansion. "Do you think Mei Zou will like what I wore?" She asked brushing her hair off her shoulders.

Brielle looked over her friends outfit. She wore a black floral romper that swept the floor when she walked. The top of the garment cut open at the chest, revealing some cleavage before closing and wrapping around her neck in a choker strap. Brielle smiled at her friends new found fashion confidence. "You look stunning. How could he not like it?"

Shiuri smiled in appreciation. "Where did you get this?" She asked, her fingers admiring the diamonds along the neck of the dress.

Brielle tugged at the dress again. "Ah-Si got it for me." She suddenly felt embarrassed. "I wore it for my mom's birthday party." She exhaled. "*I feel so stupid."

Shiuri took her friends hands in hers and smiled. "You look great. He's going to think you're beautiful no matter what you wear." They both looked up as their doors opened for them. "Come on. Let's have some fun."

Brielle stepped out of the car and turned to thank the person who opened her door, and froze. "Lei?" She asked, looking at him dressed in a dark grey suit and floral tie. His eyes smiled down at her as he shut the door and extended his arm to her.

Brielle hesitated, then looped her arm in his. He looked at her through his bangs, his eyebrows raising as his gaze trailed over the dress then back to her. "*How did you manage to get your hands on a designer dress?" He asked, his subtle smile growing bigger.

Brielle froze at his words. "Designer?" She asked, looking down at the dress and running her fingers over the diamonds. She knew the dress was expensive, but she didn't expect it to be designer.

"Don't worry. You look great." He whispered, placing his free hand on top of hers.

Brielle felt her stomach flutter when his cold hand touched hers. She quickly looked away, and followed him into the mansion. "*Why is everyone so dressed up?" She asked, noticing more people throughout the house were all dressed in elegant eveningwear. She suddenly felt cheap in her short diamond studded dress. "*I thought there would only be one or two people I didn't know."

"*Daoming Si's birthday is more of a charity banquet than a birthday." Brielle looked up as Ximen joined her side and forcefully folded her hand into his arm. "*Important families donate items for auction, and all the proceeds go to local charities." He motioned his free hand to a large round table of presents.

Brielle raised her eyebrows, realizing she had forgotten to get him a present. "I didn't bring a gift." She immediately stopped walking and froze in place. "*I have to get a gift!" She tried to turn from their arms, but was held in place.

"*You being here is the only thing Ah-Si wants from you." Lei said, placing his free hand on her head. "*Calm down." He smiled down at her as he ruffled her hair, then removed his hand. Brielle looked up at him, noticing his expression seemed softer than usual.

Ximen pushed open the doors to the great hall, exposing the abundance of party guests all dressed as if they were at the royal wedding. Brielle's entire body tensed as she froze in place, still unable to move. "I can't go in there." She whispered, her fingers gripping around Lei and Ximen's jackets for support.

Lei pulled back his arm and wrapped it around her back, resting along her shoulder blades. Leaning down, he set his chin on her shoulder and looked out at the crowd. "*Don't be so scared." He whispered into her ear. "You look beautiful. Own it." Straightening his back, he pushed against her and forced her to enter the room.

Brielle looked around at the dangling white lights that hung from the ceiling. The room was decorated in white and grey, with a large buffet table and a tall chocolate fountain. At the far end of the room sat a small band that played classical music, each member dressed in black suites and gowns. Out of instinct, Brielle wrapped her arms around Lei's, and followed him towards a table near the bar. As they approached the table, Brielle noticed nametags on the plates, each reading the guests names in Chinese characters. She looked at the tags, noticing her name written in beautiful cursive. She placed her hands on the back of her chair and looked up at Lei. "*Where are you sitting?" She asked, noticing Shiuri and Ximen were placed on each side of her.

Lei pointed to the placemat beside Ximen. "*Don't worry. I'll be nearby." He smiled and walked over to his seat.

Brielle looked around the room again, dazzled by the elegance and beauty. Everyone appeared happy and content as they sipped their wine and discussed topics amongst themselves. Finally her eyes fell upon Daoming Si, his hair brushed back out of his face and wearing a black tux. He took a sip of his wine as he spoke with a slender girl, her dark hair cascading just at her hips. Brielle suddenly felt nauseous as she watched the exchange of words between them. She had never felt jealous before, but as the girl reached up and placed a hand on his arm, the emotions began to consume her. She quickly looked away and picked up the chilled wine glass before her.

Taking a sip, she looked over at Ximen as he sat beside her. "*Do you know where Sun Shiuri is?" She asked, swallowing back the rest of the drink.

Ximen shook his head. He looked different without his glasses; softer and charming. "*Last I saw she was dancing with Mei Zou." He raised his eyebrows in surprise as he noticed her wine glass empty. "*Nervous?" He asked, looking up from her and snapping his fingers to call over a butler.

Brielle watched the golden liquid refill her glass and looked up at the server. "*Thank you." She replied, taking a small drink then setting the glass back on the table. She looked back up at Ximen, noticing Lei was now watching her. "*I feel very out of place." She looked down at the short dress she wore, then back up at the gowns. "I feel," She pulled at the hem of the dress, trying to force it closer to her knees. "Slutty." She looked back up at the boys, their eyes watching her in amazement as they both fought back laughter.

Lei chuckled and quickly covered his mouth. Ximen reached out and smiled as he took a sip of his wine. "Slutty." He laughed and set down the glass. Looking back at her, he raised his brows. "*If you're a slut, I can't even imagine what I must be."

Brielle smiled, realizing how exaggerated and dramatic she was being. "*I mean, I feel so cheap compared to everyone else here." Her eyes darted back to the beautiful girl who stood beside Ah-Si, her ruby red dress perfectly synched around her and sweeping the floor.

Ximen leaned over and draped his arm over the back of her chair. "*See that couple over there?" He pointed to a larger man in a grey suite and a woman in a silver sequined dress. "*His suite is made with cheap fabric and only cost sixty dollars, and she wears that dress to every event for the past three years." He pointed to another group of men who huddled around the bar. "They all rented their suits and are using their boss's card to pay for it."

Brielle looked up at him, shocked. "How do you know all that?" She asked, looking back at the group who were obviously already drunk.

He smirked and sat back up. "*I have an eye for the finer things in life." He winked as he reached out and picked up his glass.

Before Brielle could react, Ximen stood from his chair and walked from the table. Brielle watched as he joined a small group of girls, their eyes scanning over every inch of him as he approached. Brielle shook her head and looked back to Lei. "*Is this what his birthday is always like?" She asked, her fingers playing with the stem of the glass of wine.

"*Ah-Si has had these parties since he was a young teen." He said, picking up his glass and taking a sip. "*After the party, we all usually have our own private gathering at Ximen or Mei Zou's house."

"*She's here." Mei Zou appeared out of nowhere and sat beside Lei. Brielle looked to her side and smiled as Shiuri sat in her seat, her eyes wide with excitement.

"*Who's here?" Brielle asked looking back to Lei and Mei Zou.

Lei set his wine glass down and swallowed hard. "*You're going to scare her." He said flatly, looking sideways at Mei Zou with a straight face.

"*She should know, right?" Mei Zou said, his eyes falling over Brielle.

Lei fidgeted with his wine glass as he thought about what to say next. After a moment of silence, he turned and looked at Brielle. "*Daoming Feng. Ah-Si's mother."

Brielle felt her heart drop. From what she had learned from Shiuri, his mother was never around due to working in London. She hadn't thought about having to meet his mother tonight. When she was in town, everyone was on edge, afraid to make any mistakes. She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. "*She's not as scary as people say, right?" She asked, looking up at both boys.

Both boys watched her, then looked at each other, before turning back to her. Lei drank the remainder of his wine, then sat up straight. "*Ah-Si, how is your mom tonight?" He kept his eyes fixated on the empty wine glass, his voice low.

"*Is she here?" Came a deep voice from behind her. Brielle quickly looked up, seeing Daoming Si standing beside her. He looked down at Brielle and smiled. Looking back at the boys, he took a drink of his wine. "*I haven't seen her yet today." He continued. "*My guess is she will be her usual cheery self."

Brielle couldn't help but hear the sarcasm in his voice. She quickly reached out for the glass of wine and took a drink.

Daoming Si sat down in Ximen's seat and placed his hand on her knee. "There is no need to worry. My mom most likely won't even notice you're here." He sat up straight and looked over at Lei. "*She's too busy making business deals during the whole party to even notice me." He took a drink of his wine and looked over at Brielle. His eyes were heavy, as if he lacked sleep. "You look beautiful." He smiled at her as he brushed her hair behind her ear.

"*I feel very under dressed." She replied looking away from him. "Everyone here looks amazing." She scanned the room and noticed that the girl Ah-Si had been talking to was now staring at them. She narrowed her eyes and lifted her head when they made eye contact. Brielle quickly looked away and back at Daoming Si. "*I wasn't expecting this many people."

Ah-Si Looked around and smiled. "*This year has had a better turn out." He took a sip of his wine. "*Lots of families kissing up to my mom and the Daoming Group." He looked back at her and touched his finger to her nose. "*Just give me one more hour and I promise we will leave and go have some real fun." He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head, then stood and left the table.

Feeling her stomach grumble, Brielle relaxed back in her seat and looked over at Lei, his eyes already watching her. "*Anything to eat around here?" She joked, looking around the table. As if on que, a white plate was placed in front of her with what appeared to be salmon on a bed of rice. Brielle thanked the waiter and sat closer to the table, picking up her fork and separating the fish.

"*Salmons a little dry." Mei Zou muttered as he stood with his plate and headed towards the kitchen.

Brielle took a bite and smiled. Though it wasn't as good at the restaurant back home, the flavor still sent goosebumps down her arms. "This tastes amazing." Brielle took another bite.

"*Careful. We wouldn't want you to choke." Brielle looked up at the mysterious voice beside her and froze realizing it was the girl Ah-Si had been talking to. "*May I sit?" She asked, gesturing to the empty chair.

Brielle looked over at Lei, then nodded. She quickly grabbed her napkin and dabbed her face. "*I apologize." Brielle looked up at the beautiful girl as she gracefully sat in the seat and turned to Lei.

She smiled and nodded to him. "*How are you Lei?" She asked, placing her hand on the table and looking up at him. "*I feel like it's been years since we last saw each other."

He calmly glanced over at her then looked at Brielle. "*It has." His voice was dry as he took a sip of his wine, then stood from the table and walked away.

The girl turned back to Brielle and smiled. "*We haven't been properly introduced yet." She extended her hand. "*I'm Xiao Zi."

Brielle shook her hand carefully and smiled back. "Brielle." She looked over her shoulder for Shiuri but realized she had disappeared and immediacy looking into the crowd, trying to figure out where Lei or anyone else she knew had disappeared to. She hated meeting new people, and it didn't help that she was surrounded by so many people she didn't know.

"*So how do you know Daoming Si?" She asked, resting her chin on both of her hands and looking up at Brielle with curious eyes.

Brielle swallowed back the lump forming in her throat and put on a brave smile. "We're friends from school." She kept her voice calm even though her heart was racing.

Xiao Zi raised her eyebrows in suspicion. "*Just friends?" She laughed and covered her mouth. "*I've never seen him interact with anyone other and F4." She narrowed her eyes. "*What makes you so special to join their group?"

Brielle shook her head confused. "*There's nothing special." She began asking herself the same question. Why did Daoming Si like her so much?

"*Your family must be really important then." She nodded her head as though she were answering her own question. "*A business marriage can be very exciting if it's with a guy that looks like Daoming Si."

Brielle shook her head. "*My family owns a company in America, but it's nothing compared to the Daoming Group." She replied, thinking about the business her father started. "*And, it's not like that with Ah-Si."

Xiao Zi's face twisted in confusion as she looked down at Brielle's dress. "*You're on first name basis?" She clicked her tongue. "*Are you a gold digger?" She asked, her brow furrowing.

"*Excuse me Xiao Zi, but you're in my seat." Ximen's voice was soft as he placed a hand on the chair and looked down at her over his glass of wine.

Xiao Zi turned in her chair and batted her eyes up at Ximen. "*Come on Ximen. Why don't you come sit next to me?" She patted Lei's spot beside her.

Ximen smiled down at her calmly, and stepped sideways. "*I believe you are at the wrong table. Yours's over there, isn't it?" He took a sip of his wine, then cocked his head.

Xiao Zi rolled her eyes and stood from the chair. "*So grumpy." Without excusing herself, she walked away from the table and disappeared into a group of women.

Ximen sat in his seat and placed his hand on Brielle's shoulder. "*Don't listen to her." He reassured. "*She's an entitled brat that doesn't like competition."

Brielle looked up at Ximen and tried to smile. "*Competition?"

Ximen nodded. "*She's been trying to join the Daoming family since we were in grade school." He rolled his eyes and laughed.

Brielle scoffed and pushed her food away. "*I need some fresh air." She stood from the table, but Ximen grabbed her hand.

He looked up at her with a worried face. "*Do you need me to come with you?" He asked, rising from his seat.

Brielle shook her head. "*I'm fine. I just need a minute to myself." She smiled down at him, and pulled her hand free. "*I'll be right back."

She turned from the table and moved through the crowd, trying not to trip over her own heals as she did so. As she left the large room, she turned and noticed the gift table was fuller now, stacked with presents. She cocked her head to the side, and moved towards the table. As she approached, she noticed a box opened and displaying a beautiful sapphire necklace. Beside the necklace was a sticker reading it was worth over $100,000. Brielle gasped and turned from the table quickly. There was no way in hell she could ever offer something that would be worth anywhere near that amount.

As she passed back by the entrance to the party, she looked in and noticed Shiuri back on the dance floor with Mei Zou. They both smiled at each other as their bodies moved to the music. Brielle scanned the room unable to see any of the others she recognized. She looked towards the front door, trying to talk herself into going back to the party. But all she wanted was to head straight home. Gathering her strength, she stepped back into the party looked around the room for a familiar face.

As her eyes landed on Lei, she took a step forward, only to trip over something in the way. She reached out in front of her, trying to gather her balance, but fell into a table, knocking the contents onto the ground, followed by a loud crash as wine glassed shattered against the floor. Brielle landed on the floor and immediately cradled her damaged hand against her body. The cast had just been removed that morning, and was still healing.

She remained frozen on the ground, terrified to look up at the millions of eyes she knew were on her. She suddenly felt two large hands grip her shoulders, then move down to her hand. She looked up, noticing Lei before her, examining her wrist.

"Are you okay?" He asked, looking back up at her.

Brielle suddenly felt all the eyes on her. She looked from Lei to the crowd of people who had formed around them, her lips trembling with fright.

"*Excuse me." Came a softer voice from behind her.

Brielle spun around to see two guards standing before a smaller woman. The woman was much older than her, with short black hair that came to her shoulders. She wore a silver gown, simple yet elegant at the same time. Lei immediately jumped to his feet, pulling Brielle up with him. He bowed to the woman, and Brielle followed his actions, quickly bowing in respect.

"Brielle!" Brielle shot up straight and looked towards where her name was called. Daoming Si pushed through the crowd of people and joined her side, checking her body for injury. "Are you okay?" He asked, looking down at her injured wrist.

Brielle brushed his hands off of her and tried to collect herself. "I'm fine, I'm fine."

"*Ah-Si?" The woman voice was cold as she spoke. Daoming Si turned around and faced the woman. She raised her eyebrow as his arm settled on Brielle's back. "*Who is this girl?" She asked, pursing her lips as she spoke.

Daoming Si looked down at Brielle, then back to the woman. "*Mother, this is my girlfriend, Brielle." He straightened his back with confidence as his fingers gently massaged her back with reassurance. .

She tilted her head and looked at Brielle, her stare colder then Ah-Si's. She turned her head and looked at one of the guards. "*See to it that she is removed from this house, immediately." Her eyes fell back over Brielle and Ah-Si.

Daoming Si gripped Brielle's side and pulled her tighter. "*She is not leaving." He replied as one of the guards stepped forward. "*She is my guest here."

Brielle looked over as Ximen, Mei Zou and Shiuri joined the front of the crowd and stood beside Lei. Each of them wore a look that made Brielle's stomach flop in fear. She quickly looked back at Ah-Si's mother and bowed her head in respect. "*My apologies ma'am." She felt her voice quiver as the anxiety filled her. "*I will leave right away."

She tried to step forward, but was pulled back by Ah-Si. "*If she goes, then I go." He looked his mother directly in the eyes, his face strong with determination. Brielle shook her head and tried to pry herself from Ah-Si's grip.

Daoming Feng took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes at her son. "*Now is not the time to defy me Ah-Si." She looked over at Brielle and took a step forward. "*The Daoming Group is no place for a common girl like yourself. I don't know what Ah-Si had planned by using you today, but it did not work."

"*Mother." Ah-Si's voice was low as his eyes grew dark. "*Enough."

Daoming Feng ignored her son and took another step forward. "*Please see yourself out." She stayed in place, waiting for Brielle to make the next move.

Suddenly, Daoming Si's hand was laced with hers as he pulled her towards the exit. Brielle looked up at him as he led her from the party, his face hard with anger. As they entered the corridor, she fought to free her hand from his but his fingers gripped tighter as he opened the front doors and pulled her towards a parked car.

"*Ah-Si." She tried to pry her fingers free, glancing over her shoulder to see the others following behind them. "*Ah-Si please stop, it hurts."

Daoming Si immediately stopped and released her hand. He turned to face her, cupping her face in his hands and pressing his lips to hers. "Don't listen to her." He whispered as their lips parted. Releasing her, he pulled a set of keys from his pocket and looked over her towards the others. "*Let's go to Ximen's." He shouted across the driveway. Brielle spun around to see the others stepping out of the house behind them, their faces blank with emotion as they pulled on their coats and walked towards their cars. Brielle made eye contact with Shiuri who stared at her with big round eyes, full of concern.

Daoming Si gripped Brielle's arm and pulled her back to his car.