Meanwhile, as Sebastian and Wayne ended their stunning investigative scenes and met with the director to evaluate the satisfactory outcome of footage, they were both equally surprised to find Sam with both their food packs.
"Why are you here? She decided to leave already?" Sebastian questioned Sam in a little disappointed voice.
Before Sam could answer, Wayne frowned with curiosity. "Who? What happened?" Wayne questioned Sebastian.
"Nothing…" Sebastian answered him flatly as Wayne frowned again while looking around for Pei Li.
"Wait, where's Pei Li? Oh, and Violet…" Wayne gasped when he finally understood who Sebastian meant earlier.
Sebastian looked away in agitation while Sam shook his head and sighed.
"Violet left? Then Pei Li… Where is she? Did she watch…" Wayne panicked as Sam sighed before putting a hand up to Wayne to calm him.
"Come on, boys… We have a lot to catch up on." Sam brought them both to his car as they sat behind, and he entered the driver's seat.
"What's going on? Did she really leave already?" Sebastian pestered Sam worriedly, who was about to explain, but was interrupted by Wayne.
"What? Wait? You are seriously dating Violet?" Wayne questioned Sebastian, who ignored his question.
"There's something else more important than that…" Sam began as Wayne turned back his attention to him.
"Where's Pei Li? She isn't here is she? She didn't watch the scene earlier, did she? I have specifically told Violet not to let her but I didn't get the chance to tell the reason…" Wayne explained in a haste as Sam nodded.
"Yes, your assistant watched the scene and had an episode of breakdown. Violet is with her in the hotel now. She managed to calm her, but you probably want to be careful. She seems a little violent towards males." Sam showed Wayne his scars on his arm.
"Oh no! Oh no… She wasn't supposed to watch the Clarin scene! How is she now? Where is she? Let's go… Bring me to her… " Wayne was frantic as he desperately pleaded to Sam who nodded before starting to drive.
"Mind to explain why?" Sebastian asked Wayne, who ended up sighing while trying to calm himself.
"Later…" Wayne wanted to call Pei Li, but Sebastian stopped him.
"Don't…" Sebastian gently halted Wayne's right hand from pressing the call button. Wayne frowned at him for a moment.
"Let the girls talk. Violet is a good moderator. She has helped me overcome my anxiety lately. I'm sure she has it under control with her." Sebastian explained himself.
Wayne's eyes were still in doubt. "Trust me. She will be fine." Sebastian said with conviction this time as Wayne finally gave up calling and could only hope Sebastian was right.
When they all finally arrived at the hotel, since the room was a dual-key, Sam led them into the next-door room which he had reserved for himself and Violet. As they went closer to the door linking the next room, they could hear the girls giggling over their small talk.
"Big sister, do you like Sebastian?" Pei Li's out of the blue question took Violet by surprise.
Her gaze met with Pei Li's innocent gaze, wanting to deny, but she was more interested in wanting to know if it was really so obvious.
"What makes you think so?" Violet prompted.
"Cause the way both of you look at each other is exactly the way I would look at Wayne…" Pei Li's honest observation took Violet off guard.
"I wonder if he looks at Penny that way…" Pei Li mumbled while sipping her hot milk.
"Doesn't Wayne look at you the same way, too?" Violet questioned, not wanting to answer her in case it disappointed her.
"You think so?" Pei Li doubted it and it hurts Wayne the most as he winced at her answer.
"You think so too? That Sebastian looks at me the same way?" Violet questioned back, which made Pei Li realise the person in question would never be able to notice it.
This time, it was Sebastian's turn to wince at Violet's question as guilt overwhelmed him.
"Does Wayne?" Pei Li asked again as though seeking conviction and confirmation from Violet.
Violet smiled, knowing it would be never-ending. To be honest, she had no idea the answer to her question because she wasn't close with them both due to the brief time they spent together. However, since they were married and knowing a little of their complicated background, she could tell Wayne was protective of her.
"Don't doubt how much he loves you. Penny and he love you the most. I may not know what all of you have been through, but the fact that Wayne could accept your weaknesses and protect you this way through marriage proves how much he could sacrifice for you. Give yourself a chance and love him with all your heart…" Violet's conviction moved Pei Li, who was still in disbelief that Violet could accept her so easily.
"Why? Why do you so easily accept my… my personality? Aren't you afraid I'm crazy?" Pei Li questioned with an almost cracking voice. Violet felt sad hearing her question and wondered just how much had Pei Li been through but she kept her composure.
"Why did you like me so much the first time you saw me? Even Penny was not as friendly as you are." Violet questioned her in return to help her understand.
"Really? She didn't like you? I must write to her about us…" Pei Li quickly took her notebook as Violet smiled and stopped her for a moment.
"She liked me. But not as much as you did…" Violet corrected as Pei Li sighed in relief.
"She must be crazy not to like you. How could she not after how I told her about you being such an efficient assistant to Sebastian. I wished I could be as competent as you." Pei Li pouted as Violet gently patted her back.
"You're already doing very well yourself Pei Li…" Violet encouraged her.
"I have also read about your encounter with Penny. I knew you were a very nice person from the start…" Pei Li smiled happily, even her eyes were nearly closed.
"You're so pretty, too. I have never gotten many friends back then. It's hard for me to meet nice people... They are hard to come by… I'm so lucky to just be here sitting and talking to you…" Pei Li admitted as Violet smiled sadly.
"Life must be tough for you and your twin?" Violet asked, recalling the brief background shared by Wayne and Penny back then.
Pei Li pouted sadly.
"Being here was not something Penny and I planned for. Heading this far with Wayne wasn't exactly the plan either. We both are grateful that he saved us from committing suicide that day…" Pei Li candidly admitted to Violet who was taken by surprise.
"Pei Li…" Violet wanted to say something only for Pei Li to shake her head.
"Penny has been encouraging me to live. To live for myself for once. To protect our Wayne with all I can… To ensure it was worth my twin's death…" Pei Li wiped away her tears as Violet passed her some tissues.
"I'm sorry… It's alright not to tell me if it's too difficult. Wayne briefed us before." Violet tried comforting Pei Li but she shook her head.
"Even on my father attempting to …" Pei Li tried to ask if Wayne mentioned about her sexual abuse, but it brought back memories of the scene earlier as her voice cracked.
Violet squinted her eyes at her suspicions while Pei Li blinked her tears away. Violet wasn't expecting such details, though she had a feeling of it and the only way was to face it with Pei Li one by one.
"Did he abuse you?" Violet questioned as Pei Li nodded into her hug.
"How bad is it, Pei Li?" Violet prompted, but Pei Li was sobbing.
Wayne couldn't bear listening any further as he teared up and wanted to push open the door, but Sam stopped him with a wait gesture.
"It's alright, Pei Li… You have me now to protect you, too." Violet coaxed as Pei Li sniffed.
"My father probably did what we saw earlier to my twin… I don't know if he did it to me or not. Only Penny will know… I don't dare to let Wayne know. I don't want him to worry any further than he should or feel disappointed…" More tears spilled from Pei Li's eyes as Violet wiped them away.
It was heartbreaking for Wayne to listen to her confession as Sebastian gently patted his back while he closed his eyes, forcing himself to stay composed.
"It will be fine, Pei Li…" Violet comforted.
"Someone is threatening us too... I'm afraid he'll find out about Penny, but I don't want him to harm Wayne or my mother. I don't know who to tell… I don't know who to ask for help. I liked you the first time I saw you. I felt safe, and I thought Wayne would feel the same with you…" Pei Li admitted as Violet nodded.
"It's safe. My brother has been making arrangements to ensure we are not bugged or chased by paparazzi. That's how tough their industry and life are as an artist. Since you have told me, why not let everyone know? It would help to keep us all safe cause there's also something happening on Sebastian's side." Violet tried coaxing Pei Li for agreement.
"What happened?" Pei Li asked, but it was instantly interrupted by Sebastian impulsively opening the dual key door, frightening Pei Li, who hugged Violet.
"What happened?!" Sebastian demanded again as he walked over to the girls. Violet was equally shocked with the boys barging in so suddenly as she made a wait gesture to Sebastian.
"It's alright. It's alright. They have returned. It's just Wayne, Sebastian and my brother, Sam." Violet gently patted Pei Li's back as she buried her face into Violet's chest.