章節 39: Back to the beginning

The black, luxurious Lamborghini sped through the capital city, astounded people left gaping at the speed freak driving.

Lina was going way above the speed limit but she didn't seem to be too bothered by rules. Hubby was powerful and he would allow her to drive like a maniac, like the other day when they were returning home from the Moshi Corp offices.

She missed Shen already, since this was the longest time they had been apart since she had woken up from her coma. It was half a day!

Lina rolled her eyes at herself.

Was this the kind of person she was? Why should she miss that bossy man after just half a day!

As she reduced the speed at which she was driving, she spied an extremely familiar looking place. It was a small, neat-looking café. There didn't seem to be a crowd there even though the streets were busy.

Something made her want to stop by.

As she parked and walked in, she felt like she had stumbled upon a far off dream. De ja vu hit her like a rock slamming her head. Suddenly, a migraine snuck up on her.

Lina rubbed her temples and tried to focus. Something triggered a memory and she had to keep pushing herself to remember. Her eyes turned cold, as if in surveillance mode.

She scanned the place and took in every detail.

White walls, clean Scandinavian aesthetic, modern, bare, indoor plants, wooden furniture and light pastel pillows.

Even though the Moshi mansion was fancier and more decorative, she was convinced Shen would love this. He loved being awoken by the sun pouring in from their big windows -- just like the first afternoon she woke up from her coma.

This café was angled so the sunlight was pouring in directly. It gave the place a soft glow. Lina felt at peace, and a familiar warmth filled her heart.

"Miss? Can I get you something?"

She turned around to see an older man standing at the counter. As soon as his fell on her face, he gasped.

"Madam, it's you!"

Lina looked confused as she walked up to the counter.

"Do you know me?"

"Of course, Madam. We haven't seen you in ages, though! Sir has been away as well."

Then, she realised where she was.

"This is where we first met..."

As Lina said those words to herself, the picture in the album came to mind. She was suddenly swept back to that morning.

She turned to the little table for two by the window. He was sitting opposite her, the first rays of the sun illuminating his profile as he sipped on his coffee.

Shen had taken her breath away, his tall, elegant figure towering above her. His dark eyes sparked with interest when he looked at her holding his coffee.

He didn't order a new one, even though she'd sipped out of his cup. Instead, he'd invited her to sit down with him. They both had files in their arms and looked like they were heavily consumed by work.

She didn't deny his request and they had talked for a couple of hours at least.

A snippet of their conversation floated to her mind.

"My name's Shen. What's your name?"

"Shen...I like your name" she smiled at him sweetly. "I'm Lina."

"Suits you."

He didn't talk very much, but his face was pleasant. A soft smile played on his lips and his eyes were indulgent.

She remembered how she'd fallen in love with him.

She remembered how his suit fit.

She remembered the slight darkness under his eyes, betraying his sleepless, overworked schedule.

She remembered how soft his skin looked and how dark his hair was.

She remembered the light swimming into the café at the crack of dawn and realising the budget was incorrectly calculated on a sheet that was sticking out of one of his folders.

Lina's eyes were suddenly filled with tears. She wanted to rush back home to him now, more than she wanted to before.

"Madam...what's wrong?"

It was the older man at the counter.

Lina quickly wiped her tears away.

"Nothing nothing! Actually, I'd like to get two coffees to go!"

"Yes, absolutely Madam! The usual?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

Lina nodded happily.

"Yes, the soy milk cappuccino and the dark roast americano!"

The barista laughed. "I'm marking the americano for Sir, so you don't have to check which one is yours."

Lina hated straight, black coffee. Shen couldn't stand milk in his.

As she took the coffees and walked out, Lina was filled with a sense of achievement and excitement.

This was progress, recovery and success! Her heart was full...she'd just remembered the moment she fell in love with Shen, and couldn't wait to tell him.

The coffees would be a great midday surprise. He was working from home today and his favourite brew would be very welcome, especially from their little café!

Lina unlocked the Lamborghini with the coffees in hand, when she felt a sharp object held closely to her back. She froze in her spot, her mind going blank for a moment.

Then she heard a cold, sharp voice whisper into her ear.

"Finally out and about, are we?"

The voice sent shivers down her back. It was extremely familiar, but her heart was pounding. Her brain was on high alert, sending her nonstop warning signals.

She knew this voice from a far away dream, someone she used to know, and yet she felt like she knew this man in this life too.