ALIBI

ZHAN POV

I ran my hand through my hair and jumped onto the bed opening up my laptop, work and trying to infiltrate G-Industries was the only way I kept myself sane. I couldn't let myself dwell on just how much I'd lost; the pain itself was bad enough.

My eyes wandered around my suite and it was comfortable, not the 5 star ones the Wangs were accustomed to but it was okay.

With my promotion last year my paycheck was substantial enough, I could afford a new small wardrobe that was mainly inspired by Ai and Zed. I also rented the latest GTI, and in a moment of impulse I thought about buying. I slightly smiled, Yibo's love for fast cars rubbed off on me.

My smile fell all too quickly, maintainingroutine and a sense of continuity was the only way I could deal with everything. But coming back to an empty suite with no one here to hold me, kiss me...never got any easier.

I shook off the wave of misery and willedmyself to concentrate. I looked at into G-Industries' company records and management structures. It was every hard to get concrete information, every thing was very vague. I mostly hit a dead end, I sighed Yibo was very private, even when it comes to his company. If I was going to succeed in ensuring Danny does not take it away, I was going to need help from the inside. I thought about who could possibly help me, I needed someone with influence, and someone I could trust.

Chen came into mind, he has proven that Icould trust him countless times and he's a member of the board. He and Yibo are close, if I asked him to meet me would he come? Even so, he'll demand answers first; that was fair enough but could I trust that he wouldn't tell Yibo first chance he gets? That would ruin everything. If Danny were to learn about what I was trying to do he might follow through with his threat and pull the plug on everything. Then all of this would be in vain.

Just then my phone rang and I groaned; Icompletely shut out the entire world. I didn't take calls or make them, except to my kids. Bin is very upset that I've beenpushing him away over this. He's far too suspicious, he doesn't buy the whole I slept with Danny story, he believes I'm hiding something and he seems determined to find out what.

My phone rang again and I sighed sneaked a peek at the caller ID, I almost knocked my laptop over trying to reach for it. I quickly answered

"Yibo" I said, and then cursed inwardly atmy tone of voice.

"The kids miss you, they want to see you." He said and I sighed inwardly, closing my eyes at the sound of his deep voice

"I know. I miss them too." I said and Imiss you I thought helplessly.

"Meet us at the Clover Park, tomorrow atnoon." He said and I looked down at my hands, feeling stupid that I thought he might be calling me for me.

"I'll be there." I said and then the linewent dead. I slowly put my phone back on the nightstand, and closed my laptop too. I wrapped my arms around my legs.

What has become of my marriage? I thenglanced at my vacant ring finger and I remembered that there is no marriage.

I lied back down on the pillows, sobsstarting to shake my whole body. I woke up with sore eyes from crying myselfto sleep; I even fell asleep in my clothes. I glanced at the clock and it was 8 am, I quickly sat up and cursed, I was late.Then I remembered that it was a Saturday, I fell back down on the bed in a fit of humourless laughter.

I'm a mess I thought pathetically. After showering I threw on a green longjumpsuit, leaving the two first buttons undone and I put on my locket. I never went anywhere without it.

I wore a pair of black outdoor shoes and fix my hair with ponytail. I was excited to see my kids, I missed them but I was nervous to see Yibo as well. I haven't seen him since I left the estate that day.

I grabbed my bag and walked out of my suite.

After I went to the hotel's diner for a quickbreakfast I got in my red car and started it, after it purred to life I set up the GPS. I wasn't sure where that park was but I knew it was in the Central, which was a 15-minute drive.

I put on my sunglasses, silently appreciating the sunny weather. I arrived at the park and I looked around, then I saw the familiar Mercedes SUV parked from afar.

I parked and got out, walking towards thecar, I smiled when the doors opened and Fan Xing and Zhen Xin both camerunning to me.

I slid my sunglasses to the crown of my head and caught Fan Xing in my arms

"Ah you get bigger by the day." I teased him and he giggled,

"I'm just growing mama." He said and Ismiled at her then hugged Zhen Xin, I playfully pinched his cheeks knowing that he doesn't like it.

"Mom!" he said leaning away.

"Don't take that tone with me young man,you're still my little boy and call me Papa!"

I said with mock anger and he laughed

"I missed you too Mom." He said.

We walked back to Yibo, who was leaningagainst the car watching us. After spending so much time not seeing him, the force of how truly gorgeous he was hit me anew.

"Hey." I said self-consciously.

"Hi." He replied but there was no feeling init. He was wearing a brown tee and a pair of black jeans. My eyes lingered on how the tee clung to his muscles and I was suddenly overcome with the urge to touch him. If my mind wouldn't admit I missed him my body certainly did. I blinked twice and willed myself not to blush at my own indecent thoughts.

"I'll be back to pick them up later." Hesaid, then he affectionately patted Zhen Xin's hair and leaned into me to kiss Fan Xing's forehead. His close proximity allowed me a whiff of his unique and delicious scent.

"Or...you could stay?" I said and it wasn'tsupposed to be a question, there was something in his eyes but before I could read it, it was gone.

His gaze went to the locket around my neck

"I thought I made myself clear the other day."

He said, his voice and expression giving nothing away.

I don't ever want see you again how could I forget that? I dropped my eyes unable tomeet his indifferent gaze anymore. With that he got back in his car and Fan Xing waved at him,

"Bye Daddy." He said "Goodbye lil' buddy" he said over his open window

"Bye Young Man." He added to Zhen Xin

"Sure thing Dad." He replied and the car pulled out of the parking lot, I watched it until it disappeared.

We walked over to my car

"Mommy? Why won't Daddy stay with us?" Fan Xing asked and I sighed inwardly

"Daddy's very busy sweetie, he'll be back." I said.

"Where are we going Mom?" Zhen Xin asked and I smiled at him through the rear view mirror

"To the pier, I heard there are some newrides." I said and he smiled.

"Cool." He said then he frowned

"Mom where have you been? Dad said you had to go somewhere." He said and Ipaused.

Yibo didn't tell them the real reason why Ileft, but then if I were in his shoes I wouldn't have either.

"I had to go out of town for a research program." I said.

"Are you going back?" he asked and I nodded frowning at his disappointed expression

"Yeah, unfortunately." I said.

"When are you coming back home Mommy?"

Fan Xing asked,

"We miss you, Daddy misses you too." He added and I paused in slight shock. I quickly dismiss that thought; refusing todelude myself into thinking Yibo cared anymore.

"I'm not sure honey." I said, that couldprobably be never and that thought brought me extreme sadness. I pulled up outside of the pier

"Let's go have some fun!" I said and theyboth smiled getting out of the car.

We sat on the park bench finishing up ourcotton candy as we waited for Yibo to arrive. Minutes later the M-Class came into view.

"Daddy's here." I said to them then it parked in front of us

"Dad!" Zhen Xin said to Yibo when he stepped out

"Hey kids, did you have fun?" he asked with a smile.

"Yeah, you should've been there Dad the new rollercoaster is awesome." He said getting in the front seat.

I put Fan Xing in the back seat locking in his seatbelt and he tugged at my arm "Mommy I don't want you to go back, I want you to come with us." He said in the brink of tears.

I hated putting them through this; I could see that even Zhen Xin was upset in our car ride to the pier, except he was trying to be strong. Not knowing what else to say I turned my gaze to Yibo silently asking him for help. I breathed easy when he worked his magic on him.

"Thank you." I said to him,

"Sure." He said then he got in the driver's seat.

I leaned into Fan Xing's window

"I need you to be a big boy for me okay?" I asked and he nodded

"Don't give Daddy any trouble, I'll see you soon. I love you." I said and he slightly smiled at me.

I went to Zhen Xin in the front and kissed him on the cheek, he actually smiled at the gesture

"Be good." I said and he chuckled but I could see a glint of sadness in his eyes.

"When am I never Mom?" he said and I smiled at him.

I stepped away from the car then the engine purred to life. I turned my gaze to Yibo and he spared me a brief look before the car moved. I watched the Mercedes drive away with every last piece of my heart; I touched my locket absently as I turned and walked back to my car.

I got inside and sat just trying to get agrip on my emotions. We couldn't keep this up; sooner or later we were going to have to tell them the real reason why I can never come back home. I chuckled without humour, the real reason? None of them knew the real reason. The line between truth and lie tends to get blurred, even to someone who knows both. I even had myself convinced that I deserved something I truly didn't.

The sad part was that my kids were the ones suffering the most, they wanted both Yibo and I together. That was home for them.

I didn't want them to grow up like this;every child deserves to grow up in a home where both the father and mother are there for them. I was fortunate to have that before my Dad passed, and I hated depriving my kids of it.

I wiped the tears that managed to escape and I started the car.