At least leave him his kidneys, she silently willed the universe. Losing one of her students would not go down well with the university. But what could she do? Threaten him with bad grades, or expulsion? If his parents were as wealthy as she’d heard, that would only invite a lawsuit, which her bosses would take just as badly.

And Hui Cheng was an adult, responsible for his own actions. If he wanted to go, she couldn’t stop him. Could she?

That thought kept rolling around her mind even as she headed home, distracting her from the big night to come.

Chapter 2

2

‘Happy birthday, Daddy!’ trilled Macy Wilde Chase. The sentiment was echoed by the others around the restaurant’s table.

Macy’s father was considerably less enthused. ‘Yeah, loads to be happy about,’ groused Eddie Chase. ‘My hair’s gone, my eyesight’s going, I’m half deaf . . . and the worst part is, I’ll never feel this good again.’ The guests at the birthday dinner laughed.

‘Look at it this way, honey,’ Nina told him. ‘You’ve got all your body parts, you’ve got your friends, you’ve got your family – and you’ve got an amazing daughter. When I get to fifty, I’ll feel pretty thankful to have all that.’

Eddie gave her a half-smile. ‘Careful what you wish for. When you get to fifty, Macy’ll be fifteen, and she’ll hate you.’

‘No I won’t, Mom,’ Macy insisted.

He looked to his sister for support. ‘Sorry, Nina,’ said Elizabeth Chase. ‘I remember when Holly was fifteen, and oh, there’s so much I’d rather forget.’

Holly Bennett, now twice that age, nodded. ‘Afraid it’s true.’ Unlike her uncle, who had retained his gruff Yorkshire accent even after seventeen years in the United States, she had developed a transatlantic twang after only two years working in New York.

Nina pouted. ‘Well, enough about me. Everyone can pile back onto Eddie now!’

Eddie’s father, Larry Chase, clapped his hands. ‘We can? Excellent!’ His wife, Julie, jabbed him with an elbow.

‘Tchah!’ Eddie exclaimed, before standing. ‘I didn’t want to make a big deal of turning fifty, but Nina went behind my back to organise this do . . . and I’m glad she did. I’d no idea so many of you would come such a long-arse way just to say happy birthday to a bald bloke from Brighouse.’ He gestured at his friends. ‘I mean, we’ve got people from Israel, Russia, Brazil, the Congo, even bloody Australia! It’s a real honour to see you all.’

‘Our pleasure, mate,’ said the Australian Matt Trulli, who was here with his husband Pat. ‘I mean, you’ve saved the world a few times! Least we could do in return.’