Forced by fate – Destined to be his Wife

Battered, bruised, pale and exhausted. He almost cried and knew for the first time in his life he would willingly take all her pain himself so she wouldn’t feel it. Linlin was the girl he would sacrifice everything for. Despite her tough outer shell, she was a scared, sweet, and loving soul who had been deprived the right kind of love and security her whole life. Much like him.

“What is that supposed to mean? Stop being childish and come back from wherever you are for a lunch date. I won’t cancel Mia. Don’t leave her waiting.”

“I’m not coming back. My girlfriend went through hell today and is in the hospital and that’s where I’m staying until she gets out. And when she does, I’m going to ask her to move in with me and get married. I won’t give her up. You can tell Mia whatever you want.”

“No, you’re not. Don’t be ridiculous. I won’t allow it and neither will your father! Stop this nonsense and come home, I want to see you.” ZhengLi’s mother lost her temper, her tone loud and scathing and designed to put him in his place. Hating that of all her children, he was the one she had the least control over.

“Yes, I am. Linlin is the one. If you want to cut me off, do it. I’ll happily be a trashy, third-rate hospitality son in law and forget I was ever a Kim. I’m sure I might actually finally know what happiness is. She’s my future, so either accept it or get out of my way.” ZhengLi didn’t wait for his mother’s response, knowing he already had set a light under her and fire and fury were only going to escalate.

He cut the call and turned his phone off before walking to the nearest wall and pressing his forehead to the cold surface and slumping slightly with a sigh of despair. His stomach tied in knots and suddenly nauseous with the expected fallout. Knowing he just ignited so much family drama once more, like he did when he chose to work as Leng Corp assistant CEO over his families own business. They had caused him to have a stomach ulcer over that period of time.

He flipped around so his back was supported against the wall and blew out his breath in an exaggerated way. Tension filling him up and then rubbed his temples and stood up straight. Knowing the only way to get through this, was the same as he did before. Brush it off, push it out of his head. Regret nothing.

“Pull yourself together. You’re girlfriend needs you. You have nothing to feel sorry about.” He shook it off, pushed his anxiety over the call aside and swallowed it all down to go back to that chill and confident mask he always wore. Pasting a smile on his face so as not to worry his princess and wandered back into the room.

“It’s the best option for the next few days. Think about it at least.” YuZhi was in the middle of trying to convince Linlin of something as ZhengLi strolled in casually and slid onto the bed beside her. Pulling her into his arms as he nestled against her cushions which were propped up so they could sit comfortably. He needed to feel her after that shitty phone call and she was always the grounding force in his life. She had no idea how much he needed her or that just seeing her face and smile could change his whole mood.

“What is? What are we talking about?” he butted in, unwinding with her warmth.

“Me moving in with TangShi until I’m healed. Seeing as he’s hired an entire security team, drivers, and talking about a housekeeper that cooks. It’s tempting but he’s a bossy ass and I don’t much like him becoming my dad.” Linlin crossed her arms carefully, so as not to make her rib and abdomen pain worse while being sassy and ZhengLi screwed up his face.

“Are you trying to steal my woman away from me? She’s moving in with me. I’m capable of hiring all those too.” He tutted at his best mate, not worried about losing his Kim inheritance, given his wage as assistant CEO to Leng group was hefty anyway.

“I never agreed to that either.” Linlin poked him in the peck with her pointer finger, giving him an odd look that concealed something and yet ZhengLi picked up on it and gritted his teeth. His suspicions that she knew about Mia growing like a boulder in his gut.

“Where else is my future bride going to live.” He nudged her back gently and leaned in to try and catch her eye but she dodged it, acting like she never heard him. Definitely going into sulk mode, and he sighed.

“I’m not talking indefinitely. Just for the next week or so while they recover. You can come too and share Tang’s old bedroom. After that you’re free to set up your love nest wherever, but we want them cared for and safe while we work. Tang would be happier with Linlin by her side. We still don’t know if Rong’ll pull through but we’ll come to that hurdle when we get to it.”

YuZhi was trying to be smart here, knowing him and ZhengLi couldn’t stay off work for more than a day or two tops, with the collaboration hanging in midair and he didn’t want Tang home alone. He was worried about the mental fallout from all of this and her emotions that could harm the pregnancy. The best thing was to keep them together and locked up in a space that was guarded and safe.

“He doesn’t need to …. I’m sure his other girlfriend will have a problem with it.” Linlin let out, sometimes hating her own mouth for being too loose when something was weighing this heavily on her heart and ZhengLi faltered, swallowing hard and knowing she was smarter than she seemed. His gut had told him she knew something was up and now he couldn’t exactly keep denying it. TangShi gawped at first Linlin and then the two men and frowned, not knowing what to say.

ZhengLi threw YuZhi a pained look and YuZhi raised a brow in response signaling a ‘come clean’ visual message. TangShi stayed quiet and watched the two men throwing one another loaded looks, her own temper swirling because it was obvious that whatever was going on, YuZhi knew about it and she would strangle him if this hurt Linlin..

“Okay…. You’re right. I haven’t been honest with you but I swear, Linny, you’re my only girl. There’s no one else and I’m not doing anything with anyone to hurt us.” ZhengLi turned to her, pulling her hands into her lap and covering them both with his, nerves kicking in because he knew she could be volatile at the best of times. “My family were making me go on marriage dates, with…… someone I’ve known a long time. It was one hundred percent platonic and I gave her no come ons. It was polite, sterile and only twice. Dinner, I mean, nothing else. I haven’t touched her.” ZhengLi stuttered, losing his cool and realizing how badly he was explaining.

Linlin didn’t reply. Her eyes widening with a heartbroken gulp and her expression dropping as sadness overtook her face. It caused ZhengLi a major stab in the heart so he flinched, lifting his hand automatically and stroking her cheek to try and erase the way she was staring at him. Hating himself for doing this to her and hiding it. His little wildcat was absent in the moment and instead showing her true vulnerability and making him feel worse. He could never deal with this version of her as it ripped the rug from under him and made him feel like a shitty human being.

“Are you ……?” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words and her eyes misted over. Knowing in families like theirs that arranged marriage was normal and filial sons eventually followed what their parents wanted. That she was never going to be the perfect candidate for the Kim family and they would never approve of someone like her.

“No! I told my mom to forget it. She’s probably writing me out of the will as we speak. Not to mention the backlash from the Huang family might get me blacklisted for all eternity.” ZhengLi, cradled her face, trying to read her thoughts and couldn’t.

“Did you really break it off? Tell your mom to back off?” YuZhi lifted a brow at him, a mild surprised expression too. Even though ZhengLi had always been the rebellious Kim son and did crazy things that grated on their nerves, there was always still a part of him that bowed to them in some way. Even leaving to join Leng group he still kept one hand firmly in the Kim family empire anytime they needed him and they always seemed to be able to drag him back.

“Yeah. I told my mom I was going to marry my girlfriend… that’s if she’s willing after all this. I’m sorry, baby. Is wear I never did anything with her. It was carried out like a business meeting.” ZhengLi gave Linlin a hopeful smile and she scowled at him, emotions bubbling up and hurting her heart but she pushed him away.

“Is she prettier than me?” Linlin’s eyes misted over and she swallowed hard, her body trembling.

“No. No one’s prettier than you. You’re the prettiest girl I have ever met. The best girl, the sexiest, the sweetest…. The one I want to marry.” ZhengLi hated how young and withdrawn she suddenly seemed. As though he had betrayed her trust even if it wasn’t that simple. His mouth dry with nerves. Watching her carefully as her heartbreak shone through in tiny facial movements and it was a punch to his gut.

“Who wants to marry you? Going on dates behind my back, lying to me, hiding it, and thinking of marrying some…” She didn’t get to finish her sentence as ZhengLi pulled her into his arms and covered her mouth with his, kissing her firmly and silencing her. Impulsively needing to make her forgive him and forget all this nonsense. Scared she might actually break up with him over it now that he thought about it the other way around. It would have killed him to know she was out there on marriage dinners and being untruthful. He should never had concealed it from her.

ZhengLi slid his hands around her waist and pulled her up against him so he could kiss her passionately and wipe away that hurt face and wounded heart. Exhaling with relief when she caved and kissed him back, surrendering to his touch. Knowing now how stupid he was to not explain it all from the start and he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Today he could have lost her and that thought changed his entire outlook.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

TangShi threw YuZhi a happy smile, shaking her head at their friends and knowing that despite Linlin’s fierce response and sulky ways, she would never turn ZhengLi down. TangShi knew Linlin loved him heart and soul, hopelessly so, and he was the one male on the planet who had any kind of knowledge on how to deal with her. He seemed to take her ups and downs in his stride and never took her rebuffs or moods to heart.

“Go away, jerk.” Linlin was finally released from her passionate clinch and shoved him in the chest so he moved back but didn’t let her go. No real fierce in her biting words and ZhengLi smiled, running his hand though her hair.

“There’s that feisty girl I love. Would a stupidly expensive diamond ring and a promise of a big showy wedding make a difference?” ZhengLi leaned around to catch her face so he could look at her and got a pouted look thrown back.

“No… unless it was a double wedding, somewhere sunny and sandy where unwanted family couldn’t come?” Linlin glared back at him, hinting she didn’t want his anywhere near them if they thought her so unworthy. Not really meaning it and yet ZhengLi grinned at her.

“I actually like that idea.” TangShi broke in, her eyes dreamy as she thought about it and how blissful escaping her family would be on such an important day. Bypassing the media, the stressful planning, the fake niceties, and all the crap that went with high society weddings. It maybe was said in sarcasm, but TangShi bit on her lip as she thought about it. Not having them there to make her life miserable anymore and finally forgetting her ties to the Lei’s.

“Are you serious?” YuZhi turned to her. Not all that shocked as he was the one who said they should do it their way. Liking the idea of making it about them and only having people who were genuinely happy for them at it.

“I’m game if you are.” ZhengLi cut in and drew a shocked look from Linlin who truly thought he was only dropping marriage hints to appease her.

“Are you ALL serious?” She blanched as she was met with three bright smiles and an enthusiastic combined ‘yes.’