Forced by fate – Destined to be his Wife

“To never taking these off again. Don’t cry, Tang.” YuZhi leaned in and said it only to her, giving her a small hug and brushing his thumb over her cheek to catch a stray single tears that managed to escape. Giving her a moment to compose herself by lifting her hand with his and placing a kiss right under her engagement ring and grinning at her with glee.

He stepped back to turn them both and display their hands to awaiting photographers by holding them up while clasped together firmly. They were cheered on by everyone present, an eruption of applause and whoops, and then he dipped in and delivered a kiss on her lips. A chaste respectable show of affection for the event. Cupping her chin with his hand and pressing their mouths together but she could feel his sincerity and love. His warmth and care for her as he protected her in the moment.

“When will the wedding be set?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Can you turn this way, Mr Leng, over here?”

“Do you feel you have dated long enough to warrant marriage? Isn’t it all a bit rushed?”

“Why is Miss Cheng absent, is she unhappy with this development?”

The questions came fast and thick, some rude reporters, and crossing agreements made on what they should ask as the allowed media got in near the front of the podium first. Security had already been prepped for this and started moving them back, hushing their questions and filing them out once they had enough pictures of the happy couple. They had an understanding that reporters had to leave once the announcement was made so party guests could enjoy the rest of the evening, but it was also to safeguard speculation over Rhea not making it back, and rumors about the relationship being rushed. Not that YuZhi cared anymore because they could follow him all night and would only find genuine love between them.

ZhengLi said a few words of thanks to the media, made all the right sounds and noises in dismissing them from the hall. He thanked guests and informed them of the dishes being brought out for dinner and bade them all a good night. Bringing an end to the speeches and the formal part of the evening.

All three of them on stage bowed amid another cheer and applaud, and then YuZhi led TangShi down the runway to walk off the end and head for the main dining table. There were flashes, music started playing as they ventured down, and she was aware of so many eyes on them as a spotlight tracked their progress. The moment she had been dreading the most was this and concentrated on her steps, her arm in his, her smile pasted on and made sure to keep her chin up. They walked down and off to the main table for the bridal party where their head of families sat and the merciless bright glow slid away from them finally.

“You’re doing great. You look beautiful.” YuZhi guided her to their seats, pulled hers out and sat her down before leaning over her and kissing her on the cheek from behind, his hand trailing her face before he sat next to her. All eyes at the table aimed their way and she could feel the hatred from her sister and Aunt, zoning in like lasers from two directions.

“You look very handsome.” TangShi turned to him, adjusted his dark red bowtie for him and smoothed his lapels down. Savoring the way his closeness could anchor all her nerves and make her feel sheltered.

“Ignore the haters.” He smirked, slyly nodding his head at her family and she burst into giggles.

“I think Aunt is the leader.” She joked, covering her mouth and leaning in so they didn’t hear.

“Give it time. Once she sees how in love we are, she’ll lay off. She adores me in her own way and just wants me to be happy.”

TangShi glanced around the table and caught Grandfather Leng’s eye, as he raised a glass to them. They both responded by raising their own and midair saluting with red wine. Smiles passed between them as the nights entertainment took the stage and got underway, making conversation impossible, much to her relief. Grandfather seemed happy tonight, a faraway look on his face and he was smiling more than she had ever seen him.

“Why does grandfather seem drunk already?” She whispered leaning up to reach the side of YuZhi’s face. YuZhi flicked a look his way before sliding his arm across the back of TangShi’s chair to angle in close as possible and tilted his head to talk directly into her ear.

“He’s happy. He knows about the new developments between us and wasn’t shy about the fact he supports us outlasting the contract. He wanted this marriage to be a permanent thing from the start, so now he’s the happiest guy on the planet, beside me of course.” YuZhi tilted her chin to him and kissed her deliberately. A gentle almost nothing meeting of lips while he held her still and then smiled while still against her mouth. “He can actually build a relationship with you now, given he didn’t want to before because you wouldn’t stay.”

“I thought he didn’t like me?” She faltered, pulling back a hairsbreadth and gawped at him with wide eyes. Sure grandfathers coolness all of this time was because she wasn’t worthy. Feeling ostracized by his entire family and assuming it was due to being a forced bride for money purposes.

“He’s the one who picked you. He was adamant you would be my forever wife. He just didn’t want to form bonds with a granddaughter if I was going to send her off in two years. He’s a very sentimental man and family means a lot to him. He doesn’t do separation of loved ones very well.”

TangShi was surprised by this. Always believing he remained cold and aloof with her because he was disappointed in the girl they had chosen. Sure they thought Juefeng had been the right daughter. Yet, if he chose her then he knew who she was even on that first day.

“I only found out earlier today that Grandad knew your mother’s family a long time ago, and your mother as a child. He told me you look just like her. That it was the reason he singled you out among all other families.”

“What?” TangShi blanched in shock, stunned into silence as her heart lurched and she blinked at YuZhi.

“Yeah, was news to me too. We can ask him on Sunday when we go for dinner. He seemed to have fond memories of her. Weird that our families knew one another before we even met in Beijing. Must be fate.”

YuZhi sat back in his seat as the starter was laid down in front of them and TangShi pressed a palm to her racing heart. Overcome with a mix of conflicted and painful emotions and had to swallow hard and take a deep breath to not react. Not sure how to process this revelation and confused over it.

Her mother was an enigma in her life. The cause of so much misery and loss and yet she never knew her at all. Knew nothing of her past, her family, or anyone she had known. TangShi’s birth took her mother’s life, and her father forbade any mention of her in her entire existence. Her mother’s family had never been a factor in the Lei empire either. She didn’t know them, only that they were no longer in Shanghai, and they had no contact with her.

No pictures, no memories, nothing of hers handed down to let her know anything about her at all. She didn’t even know if her ability to paint came from her or what she looked like. Her father blamed TangShi for the reason he lost her and pushed TangShi aside like a black spot in his perfect life, so he never shared anything to feed her need to know.

She wanted to cry, that grandfather was willing to give her something she had ached for all these years. Some incite into who she was, what she was like, and whether TangShi was anything like her. It was something she had always wanted, more than anything and she dabbed her eyes as her heart filled to bursting that she might get it now.