Tuesday, Continued…
Anna stood frozen outside the Civil Administration Bureau, her heart tightening as she spotted Lu Jinhu stepping out of the building. He was dressed impeccably in the black suit and white shirt they had chosen together, the tie knotted precisely as she’d taught him. At nearly six feet tall, his presence was hard to miss. The tips of his short black hair, dyed blonde as he preferred, caught the sunlight.
But it wasn’t just Jinhu who caught Anna’s attention. Walking beside him, her hand clasped tightly in his, was a woman Anna had never seen before. She was petite and delicate, almost ethereal, with a slight frame draped in a flowing white dress. Tiny flowers adorned her intricately pinned black hair, lending her an air of bridal elegance. The way she gazed up at Jinhu with pure adoration made Anna’s stomach churn.
Behind them, Jinhu’s parents appeared, their faces radiant with joy. Accompanying them was another couple, strangers to Anna, who shared the same beaming smiles. It was a picture-perfect scene of celebration—one where Anna clearly didn’t belong.
Confusion swirled in her mind, but Anna forced herself to move, her legs heavy as she crossed the plaza toward them. This had to be a misunderstanding. She needed answers, needed to fix whatever this was so they could proceed with their marriage as planned.
When she was a mere six paces away, Jinhu’s eyes met hers. The group stopped abruptly, but his grip on the other woman’s hand remained firm.
“Jinhu,” Anna called, her voice trembling despite her efforts to remain calm. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting, worried when you didn’t show up. We were supposed to get our marriage certificate today. Your parents are here for that, remember? I even left you a message—”
Before she could finish, the woman beside Jinhu interrupted. Her tone was sharp, undercut with venom. “Get away, woman. He’s my husband. You’re delusional if you think he’d ever marry you.”
Anna staggered back as if struck. “What… What are you talking about?” she stammered, her voice barely audible. Her wide eyes darted to Jinhu. “Tell me this isn’t true. Tell me, Jinhu, please.”
But before Jinhu could respond, his father stepped forward, his voice cold and precise. “That’s correct, you wicked woman. My son did what he was always meant to do—marry Yang Lin. He’s a good son who understands his responsibilities to his family. He’s with her now, where he belongs, fulfilling his obligations to us.”
Mrs. Lu’s voice lashed out next, dripping with disdain. “You bewitched him, dragged him to Australia, and made him forget his duty—to Yang Lin, her family, and ours. You kept him from the family business, from his rightful path. But no more. He’s come to his senses and done what he should have done all along.”
Anna’s breath quickened. Her gaze darted to the older couple she now realized must be Yang Lin’s parents. Though their tone was more measured, their words still felt like daggers. “This marriage was arranged long ago,” Mr. Yang explained. “It’s what makes sense—for both families and the business.”
Mrs. Yang’s voice took on a sharp edge as she added, “Leave now, or we’ll call the police. I know exactly how to have you arrested for being here illegally.”
Anna’s world crumbled beneath her feet. The weight of their words crushed her chest, but she refused to believe it—not until she heard it from Jinhu himself. She turned to him, desperation etched across her face. “Is this true?” she whispered, clinging to hope.
Jinhu finally met her gaze, but his expression was cold, unrecognizable. “Yes,” he spat. “I’ve done what I was always meant to do. Get lost—you’re nothing to me anymore.”
The ground seemed to shift beneath Anna as her heart shattered into pieces.
