Chapter 1 (part 1)

The three weeks flew by.

Adam had spent the last few days of his stay in London sorting out the last few things before his departure. First, he had sent some of his belongings to the apartment he would be living in the Shuangjing district.

The colleague he would be replacing had been kind enough to provide him with a list of things the flat had, so it had been easier for him to sort out what to bring and leave behind. In addition, Claire, his younger sister, had promised him that she would take care of the house in his absence, so he had one less thing to worry about.

Next, he had taken care of booking his plane ticket and picking up the certificates he needed to work in China. Luckily, the boss had lightened his workload a little, so he could get everything done before the move.

That morning he had packed the last of his things and was now ready to enjoy his final evening before leaving the next day. The night before, he had said goodbye to his friends and colleagues, while that evening, he would have dinner with his family.

His parents and older brother had returned from Paris, where they now resided. Both his father and brother worked in diplomacy and were currently on assignment in the French capital.

Adam, for his part, had opted for a career in journalism. In contrast, his sister, free-spirited as she was, had opened a café-bookshop in the center of Notting Hill. It was definitely a more bohemian lifestyle than the elegant and sober canons to which both their parents and older brother were accustomed.

It was no coincidence that his mother had decided to organize the family reunion at the Savoy's restaurant. The hotel's refined ambiance was one of her favorites in the city. This environment, however, was disliked by Adam and Claire; both found it too pretentious for their tastes.

Given the chosen venue, Adam felt compelled to wear one of the many elegant suits his mother bought him, citing his son's age and position as an excuse. "You're twenty-eight now. You can't go around dressed in jeans and a T-shirt every day," she used to scold him good-naturedly. Too bad that he punctually abandoned those purchases in the most remote door of the closet.

The choice fell on the only carefully hung suit. A charcoal gray two-piece; white shirt, silk tie, and Italian leather shoes would have completed the outfit as a stuffed penguin.

So as not to be late, he decided to call a taxi; better to squander a few quid than face his mother's annoyed gaze if he was late for his appointment. His sister was enough to wreak havoc on Hui Ying's meticulously studied plans.

The car stopped in front of the hotel entrance just as the car his parents were in arrived. The slight advantage allowed Adam to take a moment to admire the trio from afar. The understated elegance of his mother, dressed in a long pale pink couture gown, matched well with the imposing charm of his father and brotherly figure, both dressed in elegant dark three-piece suits.

"Honey, you're here!" Adam recovered from his musings, hearing a sweet voice call to him.

He approached the three of them with a warm smile on his face, lowered himself first to place a kiss on his mother's delicate cheek, and exchanged a vigorous hug with his father and then his brother. He and George were only two years apart, yet they were as different as night and day.

George was a handsome, tall boy with a robust build; his haircut was always in order. His face was always perfectly shaved, accentuating the severe expression that characterized him. Because of this haughty appearance, he aroused a little awe in people who met him. Still, as soon as he showed everyone his bright smile, the discomfort was replaced by a warm sense of security.

There was no doubt that he had inherited all the charm of their father, and thanks to this and hard work, he had managed in a short time to hold significant positions despite his young age.

Adam, on the other hand, did not possess such a vibrant appearance. He was a few centimeters shorter and had a slimmer build. His hair formed small rebellious curls on the top of his head, and his chin always had a slight shadow of beard; consequently, he appeared more easy-going than his brother, but, unlike the latter, he was less talkative and more reserved.

"Darling, fix your tie better. Can't you see that the knot is too loose?" His mother did not even give him time; she was already there to tinker herself with the object of his disturbance.

"My dear, you should let him do it himself. He's not five years old anymore," her husband good-naturedly teased her.

"Daddy is right! Besides, the looser knot is all the rage among young people nowadays," her brother added laughingly.

"Not in my presence!" protested the woman, "my children must always be impeccable, exactly as their father is."

George let slip a slight, embarrassed cough. In fact, he was the first to notice the arrival of their little sister, clearly late and dressed in a less than 'impeccable' manner. Her long braids were gathered above her head. She was wearing a long rust-red coat with a black kaftan showing off, a pair of sneakers, and a series of tribal ornaments completed the outfit.

Her mother squinted as she saw her.

"My child, for once, could you make your poor mother happy? Why are you dressed like that? You're such a beautiful girl. You should value your person more," she complained, hugging her youngest child.

"Mom, the choice was between changing my clothes and arriving very late or not changing and arriving almost on time. I thought you preferred the second option," the girl said lightly, shrugging. Being the darling of the family, she knew very well that they would have forgiven her this time too, as they had always done in her twenty-four years of life.

Without further ado, the group headed for their designated table, accompanied by a zealous maître. The atmosphere at the table was one of the most joyful. After all, the Carter family had always been very close, despite the differences between the various members. His parents had been married for more than thirty years now. Yet, they never missed an opportunity to flirt discreetly with each other.

Mr. Philippe Carter and Ming-Hui Ying had met in Hong Kong at a formal dinner at the British Embassy. That had been one of his father's first assignments, while his mother's family had been invited as guests of honor. According to the account of the two concerned, theirs was love at first sight. Hui Ying was dazzled by his powerful presence, while Philippe was captivated by her beauty and grace.