Hong Kong 5

"Please don't make things harder for me than it already is," she pleaded. "I wanted a fresh start for myself and if you keep your foot by the door but never intend on getting inside, then don't you think you're just wasting both of our time and energy?"

"All I'm asking is for you to wait for a little so I can find a solution that will best work for us."

"Beau… can you hear yourself? It's either you do it or you don't. There's no such thing as serving both masters at the same time. You can't have everything. You. Can't. Have. Me," Stellar exasperated.

Sparing a glance at Beau, she saw a flash of determination on his face. Whatever crossed his mind, he didn't intend to tell her because he just told her to go and take a bath first.

…

Later that night, up on the hundred and second floor of the hotel, Stellar and Beau were ushered to the private dining room that Beau reserved for them.

A panoramic view of the harbor and Hong Kong's skyline was their background while they had front-row seats to the executive chef and his team working their magic in crafting a special dish for the five-course meal.

It was an eye-opening experience, however, Stellar often found herself distracted, feeling that eyes were boring a hole in her.

She wanted to check the crew and size them up if she could guess their nationality, thinking that they were from the same motherland and they must have recognized Beau, that's why she could feel their curious gazes on them.

Or maybe, she thought, she was just guilty of sharing a meal with Beau, who was known to be engaged to her sister.

Overall, she didn't enjoy the meal no matter how mouthwatering it was because most of the time she was conscious of the position that Beau put her in.

"Beau," she called out to him in almost a whisper. They were standing by the elevator doors and were on their way back to his suite.

Tipping her chin up to face him, Stellar had a sad smile on her face. "I'd really appreciate it if we keep our distance from each other. I don't want to put unnecessary stress on Cassy right now, especially that she's with a child."

Silence was Beau's only reply. Well, if the tick of his jaw could count, then Stellar would take that as his reluctant 'yes', so she averted her gaze and focused on the moving arrow on the digital board above the elevator.

On their way down to the lobby, since that was the button Stellar pressed earlier, Beau convinced himself that there was nothing he could do but fix his problem first and let Stellar go free… in the meantime.

Forcing Stellar to stay still would just end up with her running away from him, just like how he forced her to have a meal with him that night. That awkward dinner service was painful for him, but he endured it just to spend more time with her.

After forcing the dessert down his throat earlier, he swore to himself that he didn't want something as exhausting as pretending that everything was fine would happen between them ever again.

When the elevator doors opened, Beau walked mindlessly, following the shadow of Stellar. Before he noticed it, the biting cold of winter air welcomed him as he stepped out of the hotel's comforting warmth.

"I can take the cab from here," Stellar uttered, her eyes trained on her boots.

"I can ask someone to drive you back."

"No, it's fine. I wanted to check out a spot first."

Beau's brow knitted. His eyes immediately landed on the slit of Stellar's skirt. The idea of her running around wearing that outfit made the monster in the pit of his stomach rear its ugly head.

"Or if you don't mind, I could accompany you on your quick trip to make sure you arrive safely at your destination."

Stellar bit her bottom lip. She could decline his offer, but she didn't want to further disappoint him, not after that wonderful meal she had. "Okay. But that place is close to the Airbnb, so you don't have to walk me all the way back."

"Okay," Beau easily agreed, afraid that if he answered a second later, Stellar would change her mind.

They rode on the same Rolls-Royce that picked them up earlier, and he busied himself with the passing view of the blinding lights of Hong Kong.

Deep in thought, Beau didn't know if he would get angry at himself or laugh at his situation. There was no one to blame but him in this situation.

He couldn't agree more with Stellar when she said that he had a choice, and he didn't choose her. Regret wrapped a rope of thorns in his heart. Deep in his soul, she was his only choice, but he couldn't just do whatever he pleased.

His hands were tied with his obligations, first of all, as a son to his mother. Who knew how Babes would react once the truth of Cassy's pregnancy comes out to light? Beau's conscience told him he had to put his mother's well-being above him.

He didn't know how far his father would go to cover up his clandestine affairs. A part of Beau wasn't sure how far Cassy could go with her relationship with his dad now that she was carrying Baron Spencer's child.

What if she had ulterior motives? What if she suddenly pulled a trick hidden up in her sleeve?

What if one day Cassy would convince Baron to divorce Babes for her? She could certainly do that, especially if she's carrying a son.

Babes and Baron's marriage were out of convenience, after all. And it wouldn't hurt Baron's reputation if he divorced his wife for a younger wife with a promising future like Cassy.

Something told Beau that his father was just using him as a safety net in case Cassy was carrying a girl which Baron definitely didn't need in his empire.

As usual, Beau agreed but took caution and had someone check Cassy's every movement. Recently, he was told that she scheduled an ultrasound check on the twelfth week of her pregnancy.

According to the doctor Beau spoke with, sometimes, if the baby's gender is male, it would show up as early as twelve weeks of gestation.

That check-up was scheduled in two weeks. Whatever the result was, it sure would change the dynamics of the web of lies and deceit that Baron and Cassy created.

Beau, on the other hand, had to prepare for the worst once Pandora's box opens itself—either he would save his mother from insanity for the betrayal of her husband or save himself from marrying a bitch.

Feeling a gentle tap on his hand, Beau jerked from his seat. His eyes wandered the area, a dimly lit alleyway with small mom and pop shops selling antiques. What bugged him more was how they were nowhere near a popular tourist attraction.

"We're here. Thanks for dropping me off."

"Wait," Beau trailed off. "This place doesn't seem safe. Let me walk you out."

"Are you sure? It gets pretty tight to where I'm going." Stellar cocked her head to the side, unsure if it was a good idea for Beau to tag along, but he alighted the car before she could explain to him where they were headed to.

A few minutes later, Stellar flashed her full set of teeth at Beau as he took a photo of her standing on the world's longest escalator—the Central–Mid-Levels Escalator.

Receiving her phone from Beau, she checked the photos and giggled. She couldn't explain why she was grinning like a Cheshire cat. Was it for hopping on the famous tourist attraction? Or was it the sight of an aggrieved Beau bumping arms with other people? Probably both.

Unbeknownst to her, Beau took a photo of her back and uploaded it to his social media account. 'Precious,' the caption read. When he exited the app, his wallpaper glared at him, hitting a punch in his chest.

It was a photo of them cozily laying on Stellar's bed, wearing those ridiculous matching hoodies she bought. They were hiding their faces, but their eyes were smiling. It was his favorite photo of them, hence it was his wallpaper.

Staring at it longer than he should, he wished he could move the heavens and earth to bring back what they shared.

Reality soon washed over Beau when the whirring sound of the escalator told him they were reaching the end where he had to part ways from Stellar, yet again.

Landing at the end of their ride, Beau cursed at himself and his stupid choices.