“What are you doing here? You haven’t slept a wink…” Before Jazzlyn could nag further, Ethan hugged her.

  “What about you? You must be very tired too. I have napped in the plane for a bit, but I cannot bring myself to sleep at peace knowing you’re so miserable.” Ethan explained.

  “I’m sorry… I have a lot to explain.” Jazzlyn began as she blinked her brewing tears away.

  Ethan helped her dry her tears before giving her a peck on her forehead. “We have plenty of time. Let’s head to my place first. We are driving up to my hometown early in the morning later.”

  “Where?” Jazzlyn asked. “Malacca,” Ethan said while holding her hands in his as they waited for another e-hailed taxi.

  As no one was home in Ethan’s brother-in-law, Hilbert’s, house, the couple rested in Ethan’s room. Ethan tugged her into the blanket in his single bed while she held his hand.

  “Are you taking the couch?” She asked guiltily as he nodded. “Could you stay with me for a bit?” She pleaded as he nodded and sat on the floor but she offered him space by her side on his bed. He hesitated for a bit thinking they were going too fast but she had already rolled down onto his lap.

  “Don’t you want to go slower?” He asked as she traced the bridge of his nose.

  “I still can’t believe we’re here and I am your girlfriend?” The new status made her fidget a little as he grinned. It made their hearts flutter for a bit.

  “How did I not realise I do like you? The discreet coincidence you made… The coffees... The hesitation of trying to confess…. Just how long have you liked me?” She asked gently.

  “Love you…” He corrected while holding her left hand in his. “Many years… I’m glad you’re finally here with me, too.” He kissed her forehead, noticing her sleepy eyes.

  “Ethan…” She called out softly in a drowsy tone.

  “Am I your girlfriend? I mean… Right, I need to explain a lot…” She tried to stay awake as he chuckled at her struggles.

  “Yes, you are my girlfriend. Today. Tomorrow and for many more days…” He kissed her forehead again, feeling very grateful.

  “We have plenty of time to talk later. Sleep…” He coaxed as she nestled her head comfortably on his lap. He carried her back to his bed, but she was holding tightly to his shirt. So he had no choice but to snuggle with her in his squeezy bed as they slept for a good couple of hours, surprisingly comfortably.

  At dawn, around five in the morning, Ethan woke Jazzlyn up as he led her groggily to his car with their packed luggage he had brought along from Pahang.

  By the time Jazzlyn finally got herself to wake, she found herself staring at a pretty sight of sunrise by the highway to Malacca. She smiled, counting her blessings for being able to enjoy such little excitement in life for once.

  “Hmm… Where are we going?” She asked while yawning and stretching, almost forgetting she was no longer single overnight.

  “Morning… Malacca…” Ethan greeted softly as he kissed her forehead at a traffic light while she beamed, still could not believe he was hers.

  “Morning… How did you get me in the car?” She asked in her hoarse voice as she cleared her throat. He chuckled, recalling carrying her nimble body.

  “If you were kidnapped, what would happen to you?” Ethan teased as he gently patted her head. She smiled shyly.

  “We will be reaching soon…” He finally answered her first question as she watched him drive the car to the nearest highway exit.

  “Right, your hometown… I remember now. Where do we live?” She asked, forgetting they were heading to his hometown

  “My family house… We are nearby… ” Ethan announced as she panicked.

  “Oh no, could you drop by the pit stop to freshen up?” Jazzlyn was reminded of her teary face, but Ethan shook his head.

  “Too late. You look good. Don’t worry.” Ethan smiled as he cruised down to his family's house's alley while Jazzlyn struggled to make her puffy face look more presentable.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  At the entrance of Ethan’s family's house, Jazzlyn was nervous, though she could feel a familiarity with the place. Somehow, the comforting look of the old antique frame of the Baba and Nyonya house managed to terrify Jazzlyn.

  It was because it was a new relationship that she had not made herself clear yet, but she was already on the verge of meeting his family. They had not even given their situation a breather to sort out.

  Ethan pulled her in only to find her staring back at him blankly at the entrance with weariness. He knew she was worried and lost as he stepped closer to her.

  “Trust me. We will sort things out… Come in first. I will explain one thing at a time.” He urged as she frowned in a confused state. However, she still reached out for his hand skeptically, closing her eyes to leave everything into his hands for once to take the lead to a heightened height of uncertainty.

  The first person she saw was his father, Wang Su Loong. “Uncle Loong!” She was caught off guard at the sight of her father’s nemesis since young. The sight of his sisters made her even more worried that trouble was brewing.

  Old Wang was pruning his plants by the side of the house when the couple stepped in and he was glad to see his son finally returning with their family’s gem, Jazzlyn.

  “Little Wei, good to see you after so many years…” Old Wang greeted happily.

  “Meet my father.” Ethan introduced him as Jazzlyn worried’s gaze met with Ethan, nearly tearing up as though she was making a huge mistake.

  “Why didn’t you tell me first? No, you knew from the beginning, didn’t you? You were that little boy who was born after our family fallout?” Jazzlyn reprimanded Ethan as he still managed to give her a silly smile. Old Wang chuckled watching the couple bickered.

  “Then why did you…” She sighed, holding her head heavily.

  “Do you know what our families are fighting for over those years? My father is against traditional medicine practice cause of the fallout he had with your father! Our family is basically a nemesis! How could you put yourself through such torture to pursue me, Ethan?!” Jazzlyn was on the verge of breaking down when a soft, stern voice was heard.

  “You didn’t think that way when you saved me…” Jazzlyn turned around to the source of the voice to see a very pretty lady in her kebaya and sarong sitting on a wheelchair being pushed out by someone she felt familiar but her mind was still digesting the fact that she met with one of her patient whom she had tried very hard to rescue from a freak accident.

  “Wang Su Lan?” Jazzlyn’s voice nearly cracked as she approached her.

  “Su Lan! How have you been?” Jazzlyn went to hug her as they both chuckled.

  “I’m good, Dr. Su… As you can see…” Su Lan smiled happily.

  “Jazzlyn, please…” Su Lan held her hand in hers.

  “Welcome to my family, Jazzlyn.” Su Lan introduced them as Jazzlyn’s gaze turned to Ethan.

  “My eldest sister… And my brother-in-law, Hilbert.” Jazzlyn looked up at him.

  “You…” She stood recognising him finally as the interviewer she had met for her freelancing offer.

  “Yes, it’s me! So, have you considered our offer at Ipoh on rotation?” Hilbert asked as Jazzlyn's glances kept returning to Ethan in a mix of confusion, gratitude, and anger at herself for not recognising all his efforts before this.

  A tear slipped from her eyes as she wiped it away.

  “Now, don’t just stand there. Come and join us for breakfast…” Another voice was heard, followed by two persons’ footsteps.

  The slimmer figure came skipping to her while the other was serving breakfast on the table. The smell of freshly made congee wafted making her stomach grumbled.

  “Elder sister Jazzlyn! I’m the second youngest, Su Huang, and that’s our second sister, Su Qing.” Wang Su Huang introduced as Jazzlyn nodded with a smile at Su Qing who seemed to be more reserved and at Su Huang who was very excited to see her.

  “Welcome to the family…” Su Qing said sincerely.

  That verse alone again unexpectedly touched Jazzlyn’s heart that she began to tear up at the warmness of the Wang’s family. Su Huang passed her some tissues as Jazzlyn dabbed her tears away.

  “Looks like Little Hong must have been slow in explaining things to you, Little Wei…” Old Wang said while gently patting Jazzlyn’s shoulder.

  “I’m sorry, Uncle Wang…” Jazzlyn sniffed apologising for tearing up as Old Wang chuckled.

  “There’s no need to be sorry for anything, young girl. We have plenty of time to catch up…” Old Wang said while making his way to the dining table.

  “Come, Little Wei, join us for breakfast… Make yourself at home…” Old Wang coaxed but Jazzlyn still felt guilty of the family situation between the Wang and Su.

  “Dad had already let the past go long ago. It’s just Uncle Su was still holding on to the grudge.” Su Huang explained while leading Jazzlyn to the dining table and seated her next to Ethan’s seat. Jazzlyn sighed at her own issues with her own family.

  “Yes, it’s the sins of the past generation. It has nothing to do with your generation. Besides, my family owes you alone, Little Wei, for saving Su Lan during her accident. If it were not for you, this family wouldn’t be this harmonious…” Old Wang, praised as Jazzlyn, was reminded of that fateful day when she met with Su Lan.

  Su Lan’s car was hit and run, on fire, and she nearly lost her life. She nearly missed the golden hour, but fortunately for her, Jazzlyn was traveling along the road and rescued her from the car before it exploded. Since then, Jazzlyn helped her through her therapy sessions as Su Lan lost her will when both her legs had to be amputated up to knee level due to the fire.