Hidden Desires - Family Secrets

Chapter 002 Laura Brown and Michael Justin Davis Part 1

Due to political turmoil in an Asian country, the government forces and the opposition have plunged the nation into chaos, making life unbearable for its citizens. This country's every move has already become headline news around the world, prompting our TV station to send war correspondents.

Given the generous salary and bonuses, I volunteered to go. This assignment isn't just up for grabs; first, it's extremely dangerous. Even though we're protected by the local United Nations peacekeeping forces, there's always a risk of dying in the conflict. Second, it's a great opportunity to build a career and reputation, and any ambitious journalist would be willing to take the risk.

Thanks to my qualifications and extensive experience, I was the obvious choice. Before leaving, my wife Betty spent a long time trying to dissuade me. She was worried about the dangers, but danger wasn't new to me.

I've always believed in fate—if I'm lucky, I'll survive the worst; if not, even hiding at home could end in disaster. After a recent illness, I've lived more freely. With no children, just my wife Betty, there wasn't much holding me back.

So, I packed my bags and headed to the war-torn nation in Asia. Only upon arriving did I truly understand what war was.

The refugees along the way, the constant sound of gunfire, the ruined cities, and the rescue organizations carrying bodies and the wounded—it all seemed like hell on earth.

After arriving, Betty called me every day to check if I was safe, never missing a day. Her calls were the only warmth I felt in that chaotic country.

During the day, I'd head out with my camera and a partner, dodging gunfire and narrowly escaping death. At night, sleep was impossible with the ongoing sounds of gunfire and explosions, never knowing when a shell might hit our room.

After a few days, we visited a United Nations relief hospital with the peacekeeping troops to interview and film the wounded and civilians, capturing the horrific scenes to raise global awareness and hopefully, to stop the atrocities with the conscience of the world.

Unexpectedly, Laura, so understanding and kind, had parents who were so materialistic and pragmatic. After visiting her home, I barely saw her again.

I tried to contact her repeatedly, but her phone was unreachable. When I visited her house, her mother answered the door and simply said, "She's not home," shutting me out. Later, I learned that her parents had confined her at home, forbidding her from seeing me and even confiscating her phone.

The reason was simple: my family was not well-off at the time, and her parents believed Laura could do better given her looks.

Thus, they firmly opposed our relationship, and a decade of feelings shattered under their interference. That's just how society is today.

Later, I heard that a college mate of ours managed to win over Laura's parents and she ended up marrying him.

This classmate was mixed-race, with a Singaporean father and an American mother. He had studied in the U.S., and his family was quite affluent in Singapore. He had pursued Laura during college, but she had always rejected him because she was with me.

But after Laura and I were forced apart, he swooped in, leveraging his economic status to meet her parents. With his family's wealth, Laura's opportunistic parents were all too eager to comply, and Laura, the ever-obedient daughter, followed her parents' wishes and married him.

Hearing about this had devastated me for a long time, but eventually, time dulled the pain. Later, I heard she resented her parents for losing the love of her life and marrying someone she did not love. Eventually, she followed her husband to his family's home country, Singapore, far from her roots and the mundane world.

And now, unexpectedly, I've encountered her here.