Take My Breath Away

"Blair...my brother..." Niles paused, excited to tears. "He's still alive," he said, relaying the good news.

Cecelia had already heard the news. When she discovered Wesley survived the explosion, she didn't doubt a word of it. She knew it. Her older son wouldn't be taken down so easily. His funeral was tomorrow, but it seemed there was no need. She was right—Wesley was alive! When she heard about this, the happy mother took down the black and white portrait and destroyed all the decorations for the funeral. She was this close to setting off fireworks to celebrate.

Blair, lying in the hospital bed, widened her eyes in great shock. Did she hear him right? Wesley was still alive?

"Blair, you were right. My brother never lied. He didn't lie to you. His mission is going on smoothly, and he'll come back on time just as he promised."

Hearing only her breathing, Niles continued, "But don't tell anyone. His mission is top secret. In fact, he was on that ship and fell into the sea when the ship exploded. But someone rescued him and took him to safety. He was unconscious for a few days, though."

"W-where is he now?" It almost cost all of Blair's energy to get out those few words.

"He's back in D City now. He returned to his undercover work shortly after he regained consciousness. That's all I know. What he's doing there, I have no idea. I just wanted to let you know he's alive."

Her heart was full of happiness, and Blair broke into happy tears. Wesley was alive! She was so excited that it took a little for her heart to stop racing. 'Thank God! He's alive, and so am I.'

She was so grateful she thanked the powers that be again and again in her heart.

Joslyn couldn't help but cut in, "I'm really happy your brother's alive. But why didn't he call Blair and let her know? Does he really love her? It's lucky that we got Blair to the hospital in time. Who knows what would have happened otherwise!" Joslyn became angrier as she said it. "

Got Blair to the hospital? Why? What happened?" Niles asked.

Joslyn raised her voice. "Blair couldn't live without your brother. She took sleeping pills to commit suicide."

"Joslyn..." Blair called out in a weak voice to stop her. Now that things were over, she realized what she did, and how stupid it was. She felt embarrassed hearing Joslyn recount the story to others.

"What? Sleeping pills? Commit suicide? How many? How did she get them?" Niles asked worriedly.

That was what Joslyn wanted to know. "She just woke up. I haven't asked her yet, but the doctor said she swallowed at least twenty pills."

"Which hospital? I'd like to see her."

"Second General Hospital."

After ending the call, Joslyn stared at Blair angrily. "I never knew you were so ballsy. How could you try to commit suicide? Did you ever think about me? About your aunt and uncle? Just wait. You're gonna get an earful when you recover."

Adalson and his wife came to visit Blair earlier that morning. They had gone back home to get some rest.

Blair didn't say anthying and just listened to Joslyn scold her. She realized her mistake. But now that she was thinking more clearly, questions started to sprout.

Why didn't Wesley try to get a hold of her to tell her he was okay? Didn't he know how sad she was?

If he had called earlier, she wouldn't have gone to that extreme.

Niles hurried to the hospital. However, before he arrived, Blair had fallen asleep again. She was still very weak from her ordeal.

Joslyn talked with Niles in a low voice. "Your brother is such a jerk. He doesn't care about Blair," she said between gritted teeth.

Niles was baffled. "Yes, I know. He's a jerk." He didn't try to gloss over Wesley's flaws, but he still loved him. "I'm sure he had his reasons."

Joslyn didn't buy it. "Humph! Don't try to defend your brother."

Niles just dropped it. He knew how useless it was to argue with Joslyn. "How's Blair now? Did you ask her how she got those pills?"

"She was chickenshit. She wanted to die, but didn't want to jump out a window or slash her wrists. She didn't want to go painfully. So she bought thirty sleeping pills from the black market." Of course, Blair regretted her decision now. Pills were painful too. She didn't want to experience the pain of getting her stomach pumped again.

Niles didn't agree with Blair's extreme behavior, but he couldn't help but give the sleeping girl a thumbs-up. She did what she thought was right.

"Tell your brother to treat Blair better. Since she's willing to die for him!" Joslyn demanded.

Niles nodded his head vigorously. "Sure. Maybe we all need to be nicer to her."

On the day Blair was discharged from the hospital, she got a tongue-lashing from each member of the Ji family.

The whole Li family, including Keith, all called her one by one to give her a piece of their mind.

Blair merely listened to them without saying a word back.

Two days later, she secretly flew to D City.

Although they told her that Wesley was still alive and on a top-secret mission, there was no way she was going to get peace of mind without seeing him safe and sound.

She went to the same night club and waited there for two days. But he wasn't there.

Yet, she didn't know where else to look. He'd been there twice, so she figured he'd be there again.

Finally, on the fifth day, her persistence paid off. She found the man she had missed so much.

Eventually, she found Wesley, chatting happily with a woman in his arms. It was the same kind of thing he'd done before. He didn't even notice her.

But she saw him alive, and his usual self. It wasn't a dream. He didn't die.

Blair smiled with tears in her eyes.

Drying her tears, she put on her shades and silently walked into the club.

She found a seat away from Wesley's table. She probably wouldn't be noticed, but she could watch him.

It was like Wesley was a completely different guy. She never knew he could tease a woman like that. That evil, naughty smile was simply not him. This Wesley could flirt and even make out with a woman in public.

He was totally different from the righteous, boring, wooden guy she knew.

She ordered a glass of beer and discreetly stuffed a wad of cash into the bartender's hand. "Hi. Could you tell me who that guy is? And who's that woman he's with?"

The bartender quickly put the money into his pocket without being noticed by others. "Oh, that guy? That's Wayne Chen, Malcolm Chang's grandson-in-law. And she's Patty Chang, Malcolm's granddaughter."

"Grandson-in-law?" This address caught her attention. She held her glass tightly.

"Yeah. You're not from around here, are you? Don't tell me you have a crush on Wayne too. You girls are all the same. You all want to climb into his bed. Sure, he's a hot guy. Give it up, lady. A few days ago, you might have had a chance. But it's too late now."

"What do you mean?"

Blair was stunned.

The bartender flashed a naughty smile. "Sorry. I've said too much already. What you gave me only goes so far."

Blair took in his meaning. Luckily, she had brought enough cash with her. She generously stuffed another wad of bills into his hand. "Go ahead."

"Wayne's a playboy. He collects pretty girls like other people collect baseball cards. But he and Patty got their marriage licenses a few days ago. The old man warned him if he fooled around on his daughter, he'd cut off his little Wayne!"

"M-marriage... licenses?" Blair could hardly think of it. He was married to someone else?

"Yeah. They got married. A few days ago. Oh, right! Last Monday, Wayne booked our whole club and proposed to Patty. Patty was so happy she cried."

'Last Monday...' That was the day she tried to kill herself with pills.

How ironic! He married another woman while she tried to kill herself over him.