The Aftermath
Tuesday, continued…
Hou Yi held Anna in his arms as her sobs slowly subsided. He knew she needed to release the emotions that had built up during the tense phone call with her parents. Her tears, though painful to witness, were something he understood—her parents’ reaction to their marriage had shaken her, and this outpouring was part of processing that shock.
He let her cry for a few more minutes, offering comfort by simply being there, holding her, and waiting for the storm to pass. When her tears began to lessen, he gently whispered, “Anna, it will be OK. Your parents were shocked because they expected you to call and confirm your marriage to Lu Jinhu. They didn’t anticipate you would end your relationship with him and marry me instead.”
Anna’s chest still heaved with the remnants of her crying. “I don’t know if they’ll ever understand…” she murmured.
“I got the sense that your father, once he’s had time to process it, will be alright with us being married. He seemed to understand that you knew marrying Lu Jinhu was the wrong choice, and that you made the decision to honor your commitment until you realized it wasn’t the right path, then chose to marry me instead.” He paused, brushing her hair back from her face. “He’s only concerned for you, Anna. Your mother, though… she’s a different matter.”
Anna nodded, wiping her eyes. “I know she’s upset. She won’t let this go easily.”
Hou Yi continued, speaking softly to reassure her. “Remember, the only things we’ve been less than transparent about are our feelings for each other. We’ve been honest with them. And whatever the future brings, we’ll face it together. Your dad, while concerned, will come around. But your mum—she’s going to be harder to deal with.”
Anna looked up at him, her eyes still puffy from crying. “I don’t want to disappoint her.”
“You haven’t,” Hou Yi said firmly. “This is your life, and you deserve happiness. What I suggest, though, is this: Don’t let them affect you too much. I’ll take care of everything. I’ll give you a preliminary budget of two million Australian dollars to create the wedding of your dreams. My mother and Assistant Wang can help organize it all, especially if your parents won’t be involved. If that budget isn’t enough, I’ll increase it. We’ll invite everyone important—except the Lu’s and the Yang’s—to show them that they don’t matter.”
He paused for a moment, as if considering what to say next. “I know my mother and my aunt. Tomorrow, they’ll want to take you shopping for clothes. Most of your clothes from Australia won’t be suitable for here, especially considering the life you’ll live as my wife. My mother and aunt are power shoppers—they’ve been known to spend millions in a single day.”
Anna couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, a small laugh escaping her through the tension. “I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
“It’s overwhelming, yes,” Hou Yi agreed with a wry smile, “but I’ve had to limit their spending before. Despite our wealth, I had to take away their black credit cards and leave them with only a platinum card with a monthly limit. Assistant Wang is preparing companion cards for you, which will eventually be replaced with cards issued in your name. Use them as you see fit.”
“Yi, I… I don’t know what to say,” Anna whispered, overwhelmed by the offer and the pressure of the situation.
“You don’t need to say anything. This is just the beginning of making things right for you,” Hou Yi replied, his voice filled with quiet determination. “As I promised, I will help you get revenge on how you were treated. Part of that involves addressing the society they inhabit.”
Anna looked up at him, her eyes still full of doubt. “But I don’t want to live my life based on revenge.”
He nodded. “I understand. It’s not about revenge for the sake of it. It’s about giving you the opportunity to stand strong and take back control. To make the choices that will bring you happiness.” He paused, his expression growing more serious. “Can you think of any debt Lu Jinhu may have left you with? I’ll take care of it, along with ensuring you regain everything you deserve. The last thing you need is for him to use that debt to manipulate you further. And before you say anything—you don’t deserve the way he’s treated you.”
“Yi…” Anna’s voice faltered again as more tears began to fall.
He gently cupped her face, his touch soft but firm. “Anna, before we go to my family’s home, I need to understand your history with Lu Jinhu. I know it’s not easy, but my parents will ask about it, and I need to know how to handle it. They’ll expect me to tell them about my past, too, and I don’t want you to feel like you’re the only one exposed.”
Anna hesitated, her eyes avoiding his. “I don’t know if I can do that.”
Hou Yi gave a soft sigh. “I’ll go first, then. I’ll keep it brief—just the highlights, since they don’t need to know everything. But you need to be prepared. They may ask questions.”
Anna nodded slowly, her heart still heavy but beginning to understand the weight of what she needed to do. “OK,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
As Hou Yi prepared to speak, he could sense her anxiety and gently reassured her. “We’ll do this together, Anna. No matter what, we’ll face everything as a team.”
