LITHIUM

ZHAN POV

I woke up trying to open my eyes but myeyelids felt a little too heavy, I struggled again and my eyes opened.

"There you are." I heard a woman say but Iwas too baffled by the strange room I was in

"Where am I?" I asked my voice sounding coarse.

I shifted and pain shot through my entirebody

"Ow" I said lying still again

"Be careful, we have to get some food intoyour system before we give you painkillers." The woman said but I didn't know what she was talking about.

Then I noticed all the hospital equipment, I was in a hospital.

"Why am I in a hospital?" I asked with slight alarm

"You were hit by a van, the doctorsay you are very fortunate, you didn't sustain any serious injuries." The lady said,

"You don't remember?"I shook my head

"Well that'll explain why my entire body is sore." I said and she smiled at me. I studied her more, she was young, probably even started working here.

"Don't worry about the loss of memory, itsonly temporary. Everything will come back when the sedatives wear off completely." She said and I nodded.

"I'm nurse Fei, you can call me anytime."

She said with a warm smile, which I returned. She then started taking my blood pressure

"Oh a woman named Bin was hereyesterday, he said to tell you he'll be back as soon as he can."

She said and I nodded.

"So was that hunky lover of yours. A friend of mine said he stayed the whole night. He must've been pretty shaken up."

She said and I started in shock.

"Yibo was here?" I asked stunned; he came to see me? He stayed the night?

She nodded

"Oh is that his name? Suits him."

She said,

"He's quite a sight, I'm green with envy." She said playfully.

I was the last person who needed a reminder about Yibo's attributes.

"W-where is he? Is he here?" I askedstill shocked.

"Oh no honey, he left really early. Is theresomewhere he has to be?" she asked and bitter disappointment quickly replaced the shock. Yes, as far away from me as possible I thought.

"I'm not sure, but he's a workaholic." I saidlamely and she nodded.

How could I delude myself into thinking him being here means he still cares? He hates you remember? I thought pathetically. He probably didn't even want to be here, but they called him because legally he's still my husband. I wondered how much longer I had to call him that.

"Are you okay Mr. Wang? You in pain?"

Fei asked and I shook my head, not the kind of pain she was referring to.

She finished doing her little tests with me

"We're looking good, Doctor Yen will be with you shortly." She said,

"I'll see about your breakfast," she added and I thanked her then she walked out.I finished eating and they gave mepainkillers that numbed the throbbing soreness, but I felt even better when I saw Bin come in the room. He smiled at me and I did as well,

"You have no idea how happy I' am to see you with your eyes open." He said carefully hugging me

"It seemed like you'd never wake up." He added sitting on the chair beside thebed.

"Don't ever scare us like that again." He said and I grimaced

"I'll try my hardest." I said,

"The nurse told me you were here yesterday."

"Yeah, I was with Yibo too. He's the one who called me," he said and I just nodded.

"I don't know what to make of him beinghere." I said

"It means he cares." He said; I shook myhead.

"Or that he wanted to finish the van's job."I said and Bin frowned,

"Did those sedatives get into your brain,because you're talking crazy," He said and I slightly smiled at his mock anger.

He eyed me for a while

"How are you feeling?" he asked,

"I'm fine, I guess." I said slightly shrugging

"I still can't wrap my head around all of this." I added gesturing at me being in a hospital.

"But I remember being on that road watching my impending doom and thinking about moving. I knew if I didn't I'ddie, all I could think about was Yibo and my kids, what a sad memory I'd leave them with." I said.

Bin continued to listen silently; I wincedwhen I turned abruptly, he leaned in concerned and I shook my head at him.

I chuckled without humor

"Don't sympathize, maybe God is just punishing me for hurting Yibo." I said,

"I could've died yesterday."

"But you didn't, maybe that's a signinstead." He said,

"A sign?" I asked.

"That you need to come clean about thissituation, that you need to start telling the real truth Zhan."

He said and I sighed inwardly. He was never going to let this go, was he? Then I remembered him telling me that investigative journalism was his second passion.

"What makes you think I'm not telling thetruth?" I said and he threw his arms up

"Because I know you! I know how you feelabout him. I was there when you thought he died, that's the reason why I refuse to believe you slept with that pig!" he said raising his voice then paused taking a calming breath

"I'm sorry." he added.

I shook my head at him

"I made a mistake Bin, and I'm paying for it," I said,

"Bullshit, you're not fooling me. You'rehiding something Zhan, I can feel it," He said then I averted my gaze keeping quiet.

Bin was this close to blowing my secretsky-high and there was no stopping him once he thinks he's onto something.

He paused

"You know I love you and that you can trust me right?" He asked more softly and I just nodded.

"Tell me what's going on in that head of yours?"

"Nothing's going on." I said and hesighed

"If so then make me understand why you'd do this. Why you'd put yourself, him and your kids through this hurt.

Why you'd break up your whole family. What was it all for in the end?" He asked.

His questions struck a chord but I keptsilent. He took a long look at me then stood up to leave

"Wait...don't go, please." I said and he stopped. I swallowed the lump in my throat

"I'm all alone, my Mom and Han are milesaway, my kids are not here right now and my husband wants nothing more to do with me. I sort of need my best friend right now." I said and he sat back down with a remorseful look

"Aw Zhan I wasn't...I wasn't leaving you." He said,

"I was going to get us coffee and pour some truth serum into it," He added and I chuckled then nodded.

He stood up again heading for the door,

"You want anything with your coffee?" he asked and I shook my head

"No truth serum." I said and he laughed.

"Scout's honor." He said, and then paused

"Remember that all of the people you just mentioned love you very much Zhan." He added, and simply I nodded there was no use in arguing with him.Later in the day Bin had to leave, butbefore I could lose myself in depression I was shocked when Mari and Zela walked into the room.

They both smiled taking turns kissing mycheek

"My God, its so good to see you." I said smiling.

"You too babe, we thought we lost you back there." Zela said

"Yes and I dropped a very expensive vase in shock" Mari said in mock anger and I chuckled

"Sorry." I said.

"Where are my kids?" I asked and they both took seats on both my sides

"They're back home with Yibo." Zela saidand I nodded.

"Did he tell them about me?" I asked andMari shook her head, I breathed easily. I didn't want them to worry over nothing.

"Does he know you're here?" I asked staring at my hands

"We told him we're going to the shops." Mari said and I nodded, it made sense now.

"Would he have let you come if he knew?" Iasked and they both gave me a knowing look.

"Honey you know him better than that."

Mari said, and I sighed. I was making him sound heartless, which is the last thing he was. Just because he didn't want to be anywhere near me didn't mean he'd stop others from coming to see me as well.

"I know, I do. I just...I wanted him to be here." I said without thinking, and then Icursed inwardly. I just made it sound as if I didn't want them here,

"I didn't mean it like that." I said and Zela shook her head smiling.

"We know." She said and I blushed.Later that evening my doctor discharged under very strict instructions to take it easy. Which included work or any straining activities; that was going to be harder than I thought.

Jeffery was kind enough to bring me back to my hotel as well as fetch my car, they're all jewels, it was nice to know that they never left my corner and I missed them a lot.

Like the doctor ordered I mostly stayed in my suite but I couldn't keep my promise on not working from there.

I was also able to contact Chen; he wasshocked to hear from me. After explaining that I wanted us to meet and that it was important he shocked me by agreeing to flying to Beijing. Though he said a trip here was long overdue, I didn't know ifhe meant that or he was just trying to put me at ease. All that mattered was that he was coming and hopefully I'll get somewhere with this plan.

On the day of his arrival we agreed to meetat a very quiet restaurant at a mall. Malls are normally busy and everyone is minding their own business, no one would pay close attention to us.

I arrived at the restaurant and I found himalready seated, he saw me and stood up to greet me and pull up a chair for me.

Wang men were gentlemen to the death except that pig Danny.

"You look good Zhan" he said and I smiled at him

"I heard you had an accident, how are you feeling?" he asked and I shrugged

"I'm fine. It wasn't that much of a bigdeal." I said and he just nodded but I could see he wanted to add something but decided against it.

"Thanks again for coming to see me." I said and he shook his head

"Of course. Zhan when you married Yibo Iaccepted and loved you like another son of mine. As things stand at the moment I'm in a very compromising position." He said and I nodded in understanding, he meant my cheating and hurting Yibo.

"I know you love Yibo and you might feellike you're betraying him by seeing me. I wouldn't want to put you in that position any longer, I just want you to hear me out." I said and he nodded.

"I also love you, that's why I'm here. I'll hear you out and help you with anything you need if you just give me truthful answers." He said.

I'd expected him to want that so I didn'thesitate in nodding, he eyed me carefully

"Do you love my nephew Zhan?" he asked and I paused, I didn't expect that.

"Yes...more than life itself." I said lookingdown at my hands. He nodded

"Did you sleep with his cousin?" he asked and I looked up at him,

"No, I didn't." I said and I saw slight relief in his eyes, but I could also see that he also had the same outlook as Bin, he'd found it hard to believe I ever did. He didn't even bother asking me why I lied.

Just then I was overcome with a feeling ofbeing watched, I quickly shook it off, with the media following you around all the time, who wouldn't be paranoid?

"Thank you Zhan, that's all I needed toknow." He said with a warm smile then his phone rang

"Excuse me."

he said looking at the caller ID.

"Its Yibo." He said and I tensed before heanswered,

"Yibo its so good to hear from you." He said pleasantly.

He then covered his phone

"He knows I'm in Beijing and wants to now where I 'am" He said to me and I shook my head.

"Don't tell him you're with me." I said quietly.

"I'd love to but I went straight down to the next town to visit an old friend. I'll call you when I'm back in the city and we'll chat then." He said into the phone.

"Alright, bye." He added then put his phoneback in his pocket.

I breathed easily

"I'm guessing you don't want him to know what ever it is we'll be discussing?" he asked solemnly.

I looked around and saw nothing suspicious, and the feeling of being watched left me. It must've been anxiety from Yibo calling.

"Its better that way, you'll understand why." I said and he nodded.

"Okay, what's the matter?" he asked and Itook a deep breath before speaking.