Chapter 451 - NEGOTIATION: PART V

It was the break of dawn when everyone was wide awake and were all in a bad mood. 

"What do you mean you wish to let her return to China? Didn't we lose her there?" Elder Lord Knightley shouted at his son annoyed by his decision. 

"Boy, despite how much I wish my granddaughter to be with me. I too do not wish for her to return there if I end up losing her again. It's best she stays here." Elder Chief Zhao added. 

"Rob, what are you thinking? Didn't you yourself say that you won't let her go?" Lady Zhao looked confused at his husband's decision and wished to know what the man was thinking. 

"She made a promise, that she wont run away and I'll allow her to look for the person she is looking for. At the same time, she is staying in the estate, she'll have four guards following her all the time and other distant from her. If within three months she does not find any clue about this person, then she will return and will live her life here and forget all that happened in the past." 

"WHAT?"

Lord Knigthley took out a piece of paper which had Elizabeth's hand writing on it. They all look at it at the same time as Elder Lady Knightley read through it out loud. 

It was late that night when Lord Knigthley agree to his daughter's request, but he asked what she'll do in return. So, she took a clear piece of paper from his father's desk and a pen and started writing a written oath. 

.... I, Elizabeth Knightley, promise to follow the set rules Robert Knightley has for me. During my stay in China, I will stay in the estate and will always be surrounded by my guards. I shall not make any ideas or plan to run away nor will I try to escape without letting anyone know. If I do have plans to visit a certain place I shall inform everyone.

They all continue to read through the well detailed written oath and were all speechless by it. 

..... If I do not find any clues of the people I am looking for within the set time, then I shall return home and live my life forgetting the past. I shall not look for them and all investigations being done shall be put on hold. I shall live my life with my family and follow what my family wishes for me to be. 

"Darling, is this for real?" Lady Zhao looked at his husband with disbelief. Who would have thought that their daughter would go this far. Not only did she sign it but also signed it with her blood. 

"Then, we have no choice, she is to go back to China with me." Elder Chief Zhao could not believe it but must accept the situation and that is his granddaughter is to return to the place where they lost her for almost four years and the thought of that frightened him. 

"You'll go along with them. I'll attend your meeting today and reschedule all your appointments this week. Help her settle down. I fear she will be surprised with all the changes back home." Lord Knightley informs his wife who couldn't respond at all for everything has been arranged even if they disagree with everything. 

In the end, the family meeting was not for them to discuss about it but for them to just be informed of his and the girl's decision. So what was the point of all of this when he had already planned everything. 

.....

The sun had risen already and Elder Chief Zhao was outside waiting for the two ladies. Elizabeth was busy saying goodbye to her grandparents and Jackie. 

"How could you do this to me? I mean, we only had a few hours last night." Jackie was all in tears and hungover when Elizabeth woke her up to tell her she was leaving. 

"I promise, once this is over with, I'll go on a long holiday with you." Elizabeth said with a bright smile. 

"How can you, when I'm about to get married." 

"What?" Elizabeth was shocked by the news. 

"Oh, did I forget to mention last night, I'm getting married and now that you're awake I can finally get married. You don't know how long my partner has been waiting for me because of you. You..." 

"Jackie, thank you, I know you'll be the most beautiful bride and even if I wasn't there, I know you'll be happy." 

"You-" 

No more words were said and both girls just embraced each other. 

"Now, now, you'll be late." Elder Lord Knightley went over to embrace the girl. "Dear, be careful and come home when things don't work out well." 

"I will." she said, as she went over to embrace her grandmother as well. 

She only needed to say farewell to one person, she went over to him and said, "In three months, I shall be back." 

"Three months." Lord Knightley kissed the girl on her forehead as she went ahead and got inside the car. 

"Don't worry, I'll watch over her." Lady Zhao kissed the man farewell as well as she got inside the car. 

"Then we'll be off, will see you soon." Elder Chief Zhao said as they all got inside the car including the guards and left the estate. 

.....

In the busy airport, Elizabeth was a bit awkward and troubled. The place was so familiar to her that it brought back memories of her visiting the place. Flash of memories of her traveling with her family and the other. 

"Is something wrong?" Lady Zhao noticed the distressed look on her daughter's face.

"It's fine, I just suddenly recall memories of me visiting the airport." 

"If you feel uncomfortable just tell me. We can rearrange to travel another time." 

"No need, I'm fine..."

At the same time in the same airport, a young man was on his way to his gate when he stumbled upon some trouble. 

"Sir, watch where you're going?"

The man was foreign and did not understand what the old lady said. The man ignored the old lady and was being arrogant and rude towards her. 

Soon crowds form around as they witness the event that was happening. As the arrogant man was about to hit the old woman, the young man stepped forward and stopped him. 

"Sir, aren't you being too much." He spoke the arrogant man's language. 

"Let go of me, who do you think you are?" 

"Just a passerby trying to get to his gate but you have caused quite a scene and I just can't let you do that to this poor old lady." 

The arrogant man pushed the young man aside and started venting out. "You think your so tough huh, come at me." 

As the arrogant man tried to hit the young man, the young man was quick on his feet and grabbed hold of the man's hand, locking it preventing him from doing anything. 

"You son of a b*tch let go of me!" 

"What's going on here?" Elder Chief Zhao who went ahead witnessed the scene unfold. 

The young man quickly let go of the man and stepped back. The old lady went forward and explained everything to Elder Chief Zhao. The arrogant man also went forwards to explain everything. Seeing the situation was being taken care of by someone else, the young man left without saying a word. 

"Grandpa, what's wrong?" Elizabeth arrived with her mother at the scene.

"Don't worry darling, this man was causing trouble." 

"Grandma, are you alright?" 

The old lady smiled seeing the refreshing smile she was receiving from the beautiful girl. "I'm fine child, lucky this young man-"

When the old lady turned to thank the young man he was no longer there. 

"Is something wrong?"

"He left without me even thanking him." The old lady had this solemn look on her face. 

"Don't worry Grandma, I'm sure he did it out of good will and does not need any reward."

As she watches the scene flash across her, she recalls a familiar event. It was the time she was heading to China, she recalls that was the first time she had encountered Yun Shen. Strangely, the situation now felt so familiar that it brought a smile on her face. It made her wonder if the strange could be Yun Shen as well. But that was her wishful thinking, for such a situation to reoccur was too impossible.