Chapter 500 - ACQUAINTANCE: PART I

Elizabeth puts her phone away whilst wondering where the man could be. In the end, she was unable to find out which family he was from. 

"I better get some rest."

Goldsmith's Main Residence.

Meanwhile, Jackie was preparing for the engagement dinner with her family and fiance's family. The reason for her excitement was not the fact she'll be celebrating it, but because her best friend can now attend one of the most important parts of her. 

"Seems like my baby sister is no longer a baby?" 

Jackie turned, startled from the back hug she received. "Big brother." 

Jackie's second brother Jackson is a tall, dashing man. He always has this friendly smile on his face, but one should never judge a book by its cover, nor should one be easily deceived by his charming smile. For once you get on his bad term, don't think you'll be able to show your face in front of him again. For he too is a top lawyer who basically now assists his brother with their business. Being one of the top law firms in the state, means they get loads of cases which he normally supervises. 

"Big Brother, are you here to help me or bother me?" Jackie childishly pouted her face.

"My, my, my baby sister is indeed still a child. I don't think you're at the right age to get married?" He continues to tease her as she embraces her tightly in his arms. "I can't believe you'll finally be getting married soon." 

Jackie's tears soon fell from her face, she couldn't bottle up the joy she was feeling. It was thanks to her brother that she reached her dreams. It was thanks to them that she met her fiance and also her best friend. "Big brother, don't say that. I'll always be your baby sister." 

Jackson turned his head away from his sister, he looked up the ceiling as he avoided seeing his crying sister. He snuffs heavily as she hides and locks the tears away. 

"Big brother?" 

"Don��t look up, just stay like this." He said as he was barely holding on was on the brink of crying. 

"Okay, thank you." Jackie didn't let go of her brother until she calmed down. She realizes she won't have this opportunity again. She will soon be a married woman, which means she can no longer act like a child. 

After a few minutes…

"So, what can this big brother do?" 

"Well, can you please pick Liz later?" 

"No worries, why, is she?"

Jackie giggled, "Of course, she rather play low and see how the snakes will play later."

"So, you told her?"

"Yeah, she was quite shocked and something else happened…"

Jackson sighs as he realizes it must have something to do with the girl's fiance. He rather not ask and confirm what he's suspecting, for he might kill the man later. "Very well, I'll pick up Liz later." 

Jackie went back to check the preparation whilst her brother followed her from behind. 

"Speaking of Liz, how is she?" 

"She's doing fine, actually, she's better than what I expect…" 

"What do you mean?" 

"As you know, she is searching for someone and Uncle Knightley gave her a deadline. She's running out of time, but she seems like she doesn't care."

"Maybe she has given up on the man."

Jackie shook her side from side to side. She was aware of the girl's personality, she was not the type of person to easily give up, "I don't think so… Could it be, she has found him?" 

"What makes you think that?" 

"She has been acting quite suspicious lately. She would normally ask for my help, but lately, she hasn't…"

"Then I guess she gave up, I mean, the person doesn't exist anyways." Jackson was also one of the people who was asked to help search for the man. Yet, despite all his connections he was unable to find the man at all. He found it strangely as if he never existed… Even if the person is dead, at least he would have been buried or some strange person would have known of his existence. But no, not even a normal person knows the man.

"Hmm, maybe you're right. But, it doesn't seem right. I mean, she asked me if I met him. She also explained that we actually went on a trip together." 

"Who knows, maybe what she thought was a memory could be a dream." 

"True, since I don't recall any such memory at all and I never disappeared." 

"Yeah…" 

Jackson looked at his pitiful sister, he felt guilty for hiding something important to her. But, he had no choice, it was for her safety… 'Sorry Jackie, it's for your own good.'

As the two were busily working with the preparation, Jackson suddenly received a call. 

"Hello?" 

"Man, does it take that long to pick up the call."

"B*stard, what happened to you?" 

"Ha-ha, nothing much…"

"Nothing much my *ss, I bet you ran away again." 

"What made you say that?"

"Whatever, where are you?"

"I just arrived,"

"Where? Where are you? Let me pick you up."

"Why do you think I called you?" 

"B*stard, wait for me…" Jackson laughed as he was about to see one of his old friends. 

Jackie was curious as to who this friend could be, that his brother's smile is almost reaching the moon. Since she needed to get some stuff, she decided to tag along. "Brother, since you're picking up your friend, can you drive me, I need to get some flowers." 

"Sure, but I'll drop you there, then pick you up." 

"It's fine, your friend is waiting for you. Why don't we pick him up first, then you can drop me off, and I can ask Steven to pick me up so he can help me decide on the flowers?" 

"Ah, sure, no problem" 

Jackie called Steven as they were picking up his brother's friends. 

On the way…

"Big brother, what's this friend of yours like?" 

"Ha-ha, his one spoiled b*stard, that's all you need to know." 

Jackie smiled even more curious, he does not think the person is a bad person since his brother was complimenting him with a smile. "Hmm, did you always see eye to eye." 

"Eye to eye my *ss. But, we did, in the end." 

"Oh, so both of you started on the wrong foot?"

"Yeah, he was a b*stard anyways. He had everything but, let's just say he has his own predicament."

"He almost sounded like Liz." Jackie giggled as the more his brother tells her about the man, all she can think of was her best friend.

"Now that I think about it, the two actually almost have the same circ.u.mstance in life. Believe or not, they're both from a powerful family and both the only heir." 

"What a coincidence."

"I know right," As Jackson focuses his attention on the road, he suddenly thought of something quite idiotic which could cause him his life but it was worth the risk. "What do you think if we set them up?"

"What? Brother, are you out of your mind? Uncle Knightley will kill us." 

"He does not have to know, I mean, why don't we invite him to your engagement party." 

"Brother, I don't like this idea at all." 

"Come on, wouldn't it be better if Liz settled downs as well?"

"True…" Jackie was hesitant at first because she was uneasy with everything. 

"Good, once we pick him up. I'll invite him."

"Fine, if you say so." 

Jackie didn't say argue further for she saw there would be no end to it. Her brother was better at reason and making ridiculous excuses than her. He is a lawyer and for every reason he gives you, he'll always have a good back up excuse for it. 

Meanwhile, the person who called Jackson was waiting near the airport. He didn't have anything on him, but just a small bag with maybe a change of clothes and some cash. As Jackson stated, he is on the run. 

"Yo, over here." 

"Jackson." 

"Cris, you damn *ss." 

The man was dressed in plain t-shirt and ripped jeans. He looked like a bagger than a son of a billionaire. 

"What happened to you? Why do you look like sh*t?" 

"Hey, hey, mind your language, there are people around us." 

"Ha-ha, you haven't changed at all. Where did you go anyways?"

"Where the sun rises." 

"Where exactly?" 

"The land of Kung Fu." 

"China? What the heck were you doing there?" 

"I'll tell you some other times, but for now, can you take me somewhere to eat. I mean, I'm starving…"

"Wait, did you just call me to pick you up and bring you somewhere to eat. Am I your servant or something?"

"Kind of, so can we go now." 

���Darn it, Cris, you j*rk. You really haven't changed at all." 

"Ha-ha, it's good to see you too Jackson." 

As the two headed to the parking area, Jackson continued to question the man about his crazy adventure. But, the man was not telling him anything and instead kept giving him excuses. 

"Man, I don't know what you're up too, but, seriously, when was the last time you had a shower?"

"Don't even ask." 

"You should have told me you'll be looking like this, how am I supposed to introduce you to my sister." 

"Wait, you brought your sister along." 

"Uhuh, since she needed to get some stuff for her engagement party." 

"Wow, your sister is getting married? Is she even old enough to get married?" 

Regrettably Jackie was at the right age to marry which brought such a gloomy expression on Jackson's face as he sighs, "How I wish I could turn back time." 

"If such a thing exists, tell me, I need one too." 

Jackie noticed her brother walking to the car with his friend, she got out to welcome them but dumbfounded by what she was seeing. She froze as she continued to stare at the person her brother was with. 

"Jackie, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." 

Cris gave off a friendly smile as he was being introduced to his friend's sister. It was the first time he was meeting his sister and he was surprised how beautiful and similar he was to the man. But, there was something strange by the way she was looking at him. 

"Jackie, this is my friend Cris. Cris, my one and only baby sister Jackie." 

"Miss Jackie, nice to meet you, and congratulations on your engagement." Cris said but was confused as to why the girl continued to look at him so indifferently. 

"Have we met before?" Jackie said which brought a moment of silence between them all. For, it was the first time the two will be meeting yet it seems like Jackie somehow has met the man before.