Hou Yi’s Past
Tuesday, continued…
Hou Yi took a deep breath, preparing himself to share the story of his past, one he knew would be essential for Anna to understand. The room felt heavier as he spoke, and Anna could sense the weight of the emotions behind his words.
“Well,” Hou Yi began, his voice calm but steady, “my parents, Hou Jang and Du Anling, met in a way that started this whole mess. My father went to the Lu household for a business meeting with Lu Jinhu’s grandfather. My mother was the daughter of the family’s housekeeper, and it was around the time when Lu Jinhu’s parents had become engaged. His father, though, had a history of bullying my mother.”
Hou Yi paused, his eyes darkening slightly as the memories resurfaced. “When my father walked in for the meeting, he saw Lu Jinhu’s father assaulting my mother. He immediately stepped in to stop it. What my parents tell me, it was love at first sight for both of them. But the business meeting ended badly. Still, my father slipped my mother his contact number before he left, telling her she could call him if she ever needed help.”
He exhaled slowly, looking at Anna, who was listening intently. “Three days later, my mother called that number. Apparently, her maternal grandmother was working in the Lu household when Lu Jinhu’s father broke into my mother’s room and sexually assaulted her. This was not the first time, but it was the worst. His grandfather always believed his son was innocent, no matter the evidence.”
Anna’s eyes widened in shock, but she remained silent, allowing Hou Yi to continue.
“My grandmother and mother always believed that if my grandmother had not walked in, my mother would have been raped. My grandmother helped her escape. She promised to leave with her, and as soon as they were safe, my mother called my father. He came to get her within the hour and took her to the Hou Ancestral Home.”
Hou Yi’s voice tightened as he spoke. “They married within days, and my grandmother was brought out of the Lu household for her safety. Their marriage marked the beginning of the animosity between our families. I was born ten months later, but despite their attempts, my parents never had more children.”
Hou Yi paused, his jaw clenched as he recollected the pain of those early years. He knew Anna needed to hear this, but it wasn’t easy to talk about. “I was educated here in China for primary and secondary school before being sent to the UK for university. I earned my Bachelor’s in Economics and Business, then went on to get an MBA. My father wanted me to study in the UK, while my grandfather insisted I go to an Ivy League school in the US.”
“But I chose Monash University in Melbourne,” Hou Yi continued, his tone softening slightly. “Australia and the Asia-Pacific were where Hou Enterprises was expanding, so I figured that would be the better choice for the company. I completed my MBA at 23 and returned to China to work at Hou Enterprises. I spent the first 12 months working under my father before being appointed as Co-CEO. After that, my father retired, and I became the sole CEO.”
His voice grew more confident as he spoke about his professional accomplishments. “Since I became CEO, our company’s profit has increased by an average of 8% annually. My family is close—my parents, paternal grandparents, and my uncle’s widow. My maternal grandmother passed away three years ago. My grandfather had two younger siblings who both passed away, and when my great-grandfather died, they sold their shares in the company to my grandfather.”
He looked at Anna, trying to gauge her reaction. “As for my personal relationships, I’ve only had three serious girlfriends, but I’ve had other partners as well. Any partner who came to this apartment was never allowed to come into this suite, because this room was always meant to be my bride’s room.”
Anna sat silently, absorbing the weight of his words. She had known bits and pieces about his past, but hearing it all laid out like this was something else.
“My first girlfriend was Jane,” Hou Yi continued, his tone becoming more reflective. “We were together for 18 months. I had intended to propose to her on the day we broke up. I arrived early for our date, and overheard her talking to another man—someone she was ultimately going to marry. I thought she didn’t know anything about my family’s wealth, but I was wrong. She had planned to marry me, divorce me soon after, and claim a huge settlement. I left before she knew, and when we met later that evening, I ended things. I told her I had no feelings for her, even though my heart was breaking.”
He paused, his gaze distant for a moment. “The second was Mary, who I met during my MBA. We hit it off immediately, but we drifted apart. We’re still good friends, though, and she’s married to Steve Kent, a man I’m very close with. I’m actually the godfather to their three children, and if anything were to happen to both of them, they’ve asked me to be their guardian.”
He took another deep breath before continuing, his expression darkening again. “The third relationship was the hardest. It ended about 18 months ago, and we were together for a year. This woman, unlike Jane, had no interest in me. She was after my company, and her lover was the CEO of a competing company. I was busy with work, and we didn’t live in each other’s pockets, but I knew what she was really after.”
Hou Yi’s jaw tightened as he remembered the betrayal. “That one was the most hurtful. It wasn’t just about me; it was about my future. She had no respect for me, only for what I represented.”
Anna felt her heart ache for him as she listened to the pain in his voice. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, not sure what else to say.
Hou Yi gave her a sad smile, his eyes softening. “I’ve learned a lot from those relationships, Anna. But nothing compares to what I feel for you. Everything I’ve gone through has led me to you, and I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”
Anna reached out and took his hand, her grip tight as she looked into his eyes. “Thank you for telling me,” she said softly. “I know it’s not easy.”
“It’s not,” Hou Yi agreed. “But I need you to understand, because my family will expect you to know everything about me. About my past, the company, and the pressure I’ve been under.”
He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. “I also need you to understand that our marriage is more than just about us. It’s about the future, about ensuring Hou Enterprises stays in the family, and that we secure everything we’ve worked for.”
Anna nodded, a sense of responsibility settling over her. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain—she would face it with Hou Yi, no matter what.
