Chapter 23 (part 1)

"Gege, what does it mean that we've been discovered? Explain yourself...Why aren't you talking?"

The anxiety in Claire's voice rumbled wildly in his head. Adam no longer knew what to think; the turmoil in his mind and the tumult in his heart prevented him from speaking.

"Shàng Wèì?"

"Claire? Is it really you?" He asked stupidly, already knowing the answer. But, unfortunately, he hadn't been able to formulate anything sensible to ask.

"Adam?!"

"Yes, it's me. Why are you in contact with Shàng Wèi? What have you got to do with this?" He asked her.

"Big brother, put Shàng Wèi on the phone, please," his sister ordered him.

Adam was incredulous. Not only had he just found out that his sister was involved in that welter of lies and subterfuge, but on top of that, she was refusing to talk to him, preferring that he put her through to the man she had claimed to hate until her last message.

"No," he thundered into the mobile phon