Two slaps across the face.
Huang Zi Tao had been looking for any opportunity to get through to Zhi Ruo ever since he returned back to the country.
But his father kept him busy each passing second,either with some investor,or a meeting with the share holders,or he assigned some "work"to him
He barely had a second to himself.
"Zhi Ruo,must feel so lonely"he thought to himself,not hearing his father's PA tell him something.
"Did you say something?"he asked half mindedly.
"Your father has left already,he says you should follow"the PA said.
Huang Zi Tao didn't bother to wait anylonger,he would first of all get his love some flowers,and ice cream. Then he'd cuddle her till she popped.
"I'll tell my family today"he thought to himself,he couldn't lie to them anylonger.
"Zhi Ruo and I deserve to be together"he thought,he started the engine and drove off,smirking at the thought of him being Zhi Ruo's life partner.
----------------
"You have to trust me stepmother,Zi Tao is the father of my baby...."Zhi Ruo tried to explain.
"You lying little...."she stopped and faced Zhi Ruo,with an intense stare.
"I will not dare go against Huang Wei for a liar like you. He can end our business in a second"she said.
Huang Wei was an influencial man,he thought of himself as a god,and everyother person was nothing,not even fit to be called dust.
"He won't even consider old ties with Zhi Wu,so whether you are carrying his heir or not....as long as you aren't his choice..then you are nothing to him,you and your sin are dead to him and his family.".
Zhi Ruo wiped her tears,but they kept on coming.
"Even Zi Tao?"she softly asked.
"The recognized heir!....you won't even get to look at him,consider yourself dead to him,that's best"she said, sternly facing Zhi Ruo.
"Disgrace"she said,she walked forward to the door,and cleared her throat.
"Get ready for your engagement to Jin Yong tomorrow...Zhi Ruo"Qing Shan informed her.
She said the name of Zhi Ruo tenderly.
"Yes mistress"Zhi Ruo said,and stuffed her face in her pillow, drowning in her river of tears.
---------------
Huang Yue had asked Ru Shi to stay over,to welcome Zi Tao and Huang Wei.
Both men drifted into the house,as if it was a competition,Zi Tao should have emerged victorious,but Huang Wei,was just too experienced.
"You can't beat me! Even if you try...you just can't beat me"Huang Wei said with a triumphant smile,he was always so fond of himself.
"One day father"Zi Tao said.
At the enterance a man not over thirty, probably in his late twenties,about twenty six or so,walked past them.
Zi Tao was vigorously held back by Huang Wei,he stopped and looked at his father perplexed.
Huang Yue and Ru Shi came out to welcome them,but the scene halted their initial thoughts.
"Careful son... you almost crossed paths with a failure"Huang Wei said, referring to Huang Xiao, his first son.
Huang Yue knew what was coming and stepped into the scene to avert disaster.
"Huang Wei..you just returned,come inside, don't let....."she stared at Huang Xiao,and eyed him down.
"Don't let anything bad ruin your mood"she said,trying to calm the old man.
Huang Xiao looked away,but Huang Wei wasn't done,he still had things to say.
"You know..... anytime I look at you,I remember my moment of weaknesses,you are just the failure,am forced to live with."Huang Xiao informed him.
Huang Yue held unto her husband,rubbing his back trying to calm him down,but he was fuming with anger.
"You don't scare me,Huang Wei"Huang Xiao said,looking Huang Wei in the eye,a smile spread across his lips.
"Son....."he said looking at Huang Zi Tao.
"Yes father"he replied.
"Let's use another entrance,I don't want any evil eye to try and ruin your good luck"Huang Wei said,he turned to leave,Huang Zi Tao followed,his mother and fiancee accompanied them. Leaving a raged Huang Xiao.
--------
"Father...I want to make a request from you, actually two requests"Zi Tao said to his father later that day.
Ru Shi had gone home,at Zi Tao's request.
"Name it,it is your right after all"Huang Yue said,as she watched her husband eat.
Zi Tao took in some deep breaths, uncertain of what to expect.
"Firstly,could you treat First son,Huang Xiao with some honor...."he could rarely find courage to speak to his father.
"Zi Tao..I give honor and respect to only those above me...and since there is no one in this house,or on this Earth above me...then that request cannot be granted"Huang Wei said,and drank some wine.
"And anyways,I treat him the way I treat everyother scummy fool,so what's the difference?"Huang Wei said, intoxicated by himself.
"The difference is he's your son,and my older brother"Zi Tao said,his mother's facial expression dimmed.
"Denied!"Huang Wei said harshly.
"Don't make me repeat myself"Huang Wei said.
Zi Tao knew it was best to drop it.
"Then please father honor my second request"Zi Tao said.
"Tell me"his father urged him.
"Permit me to break off the alliance with the Ru family"Zi Tao said.
Huang Yue knew that this topic was coming. She feared that her son would want to marry that orphan girl.
His family believed that the marriage was between two families, the people getting married had little value.
"Son... you can't!"his mother shot at him, but Huang Wei held up his hand, signifying she should shut up.
"Done"his father said,Zi Tao's expression brightened.He bowed down,"thank you father"he said.
Huang Yue was crossed, but her husband had the final say in everything.
"So... who do you intend to marry?"his father asked reclining into his favorite chair.
"Father, I desire Zhi Ruo"he said proudly.
"Am coming for you my love"Zi Tao said to himself.
"In that case, all you have to do is FORGET IT. Just forget she even exists,because I will never allow her dirty blood into my lineage"Huang Wei said.
"But father.. you granted me my request, and Zhi Ruo's family is highly respected"Zi Tao defended.
"WAS, highly respected, that was before Lee and Wu passed away, now the blood of that family is cursed"Huang Wei said.
Zi Tao couldn't believe what he was hearing,was this real or was he dreaming?
"But father I love....."
"Don't use that silly feeling as an excuse"he father barked at him, standing up.
His mother immediately stood up,hoping the fall out would turn out with no casualties.
"It's not like that Father,I dearly love her and if you give her a chance then you too will learn to adjust and see what I see in her.
Huang Wei picked up a glass and smiled at it.
"This glass is fragile,very fragile,now let's imagine that this glass is my ego and pride,my respect and honor in society. Any little Mishap..."he said while carelessly using his fingers to play with the glass.
"Any little Mishap,no matter the size, could cause this glass to break."He then dropped the glass,Huang Yue was astonished,Zi Tao looked at the glass then the eyes of his father.
"And if it shatters,it can't be restored back to it's original form,and if can't be brought back,then it will have a new purpose."Huang Wei said.
He took off his shoes and started to walk on the broken glass.
"Huang Wei!"Huang Yue screamed,her voice echoing around the house.
"Father.... "Zi Tao said under his breath,he attempted to stop him,but his father disagreed to be assissted.His blood quickly circulated around the room.
"It becomes shattered and it's new purpose is to hurt those that caused it to break,that caused it's fall,just like am suffering now,if my pride,ego,honor and respect are shattered,then the consequences will be dire"Huang Wei said,sounding his point.
Huang Yue quickly got a first aid kit,to attend to Huang Wei,but he pushed her away,and walked to his room.
"You have been warned"Huang Wei said,leaving his trail of bloody footprints as he walked.
"Zi Tao, you've hurt your father today, forget that Zhi Ruo, she's not worth it! If you decide to chase after her,then you will loose your dad,me and your sister"Huang Yue said.
His mother went after her husband,leaving a trail of tears behind.
"No!"he yelled, he destroyed everything in sight, he ran his fingers through his hair, Frustrated.
"Am sorry father, but till I hear Zhi Ruo say she doesn't love me, that she doesn't want me anylonger, that's when I'll stop"His mind was made.
"That's the only thing that'll stop me, not even father"he thought.
He wanted to sneak off to his lover, but knowing fully well that all eyes were on his next move, he decided to wait till tomorrow.
"Even if I loose all my wealth, and my family name, I'll chase after my true love"he said, and went to his room to pack his things.
-----------
"Mother... Father.....Yeye...please,take me with you....I can't do this,I won't be able to go through with this,I care for Zi Tao too much to hurt him and cause him any shame,but I love him too much to betray him like that. I cannot cheat my child out of knowing his true father..."Zhi Ruo said.
She suddenly got an idea, she would write him a letter, one last letter, it was the only way she could communicate freely with her love.
She got her things and wrote the letter, she then rang a bell and a maid came in.
She handed the maid the letter,and gave her a nod,the maid knew what to do,and disposed of herself.
"My love please read this,and come to my rescue,come save me"she said.
-----------
"Am sorry Quin Shan but we cannot marry her, after you've told us that she's pregnant, we can't accept her, especially now, since you've decided that we do not get a share of the wealth"Mrs Jin said.
"You promised, you gave me your word"Qing Shan said almost yelling.
"Yes...but taking in that dishonest girl comes with a price,and you're not willing to pay"
The groom family left without a second thought.
They had guests downstairs,and no groom,Zhi Ruo had brought upon them shame yet again.
"She was rejected by the Huang's and the Jin's, such an unlucky brat! I can't take care of her and her miserable rejected baby,I'll have to get rid of them both!"Qing Shan said,and she had a plan.
*Huang's Household*
"Where are you going?"Huang Yue asked following Zi Tao as he walked past her, furious.
"Stop!"she said but he continued to leave, not minding his mother's calls.
"Do you not value your family, she's not worth it"Huang Yue yelled trying to hold him back,but he was a force not to be recokened with.
Zi Tao looked above him to see Huang Wei looking down on him,he and his father stared at each other,his mother stopped,and observed both men.
But Ru Shi came in and broke their little competition.
"Sugar coooookie!"she yelled,and ran into his arms.
"I'll have to disappoint you Ru Shi"Zi Tao thought.
"Mother, why is sugar cookie so upset?"she said, while leaking out of the hug.
But Huang Yue had nothing to say.
"Come inside"she said.
"No,am here to pick up sugar cookie"she said.
"where?And now really isn't your best timing,Zi Tao is busy....."Ru Shi cut her off.
"But he'll want to leave all his plans and follow me"Ru Shi said.
"What is she talking about?"Huang Yue thought, Zi Tao looked at Ru Shi, he had to tell her.
"Ru Shi....."
"Sugar cookie,before you say anything else...just know am here with good news to brighten up your mood"She said, placing her arms around his neck.
"Tell us the good news, don't keep us guessing"Huang Yue said, now interested in the good news.
"Well, the sad, orphan is no longer alone! Zhi Ruo is getting engaged today!"Ru Shi chirped,Zi Tao pushed her away and his eyes bred fear,hurt and confusion.
"No!She wouldn't betray me!"he thought.
A/N:Don't forget to vote!!!
Love all my readers😍😍😍😍😍