Tuesday, continued …
"What in the world are you talking about?" yelled Hou Jang.
Hou Yi took a breath and spoke in a calm voice "As I said father, Anna and I were married today. The agreement between you, grandfather and I did not specify who or how I was to marry, just that I was to be married. You knew I was waiting to find the love of my life, like you and mother did, like uncle did with aunt before his untimely death, and what you grandfather and grandmother did. It just happened that the woman I fell in love with, was in a relationship with someone else."
Hou Yi paused, and looked at Anna, who leaned over and gave him a light kiss on the cheek and squeezed his hand as gestures of support. "While I wanted her to be with me, ultimately her happiness was the only thing I wanted, so if that was not with me, I would simply live with it. All we did was communicate, and it became clear that she was unhappy." Hou Yi paused again, and Anna realised that she needed to continue, as she could sense anger growing in him.
"Father, I was previously engaged in my prior relationship. It was a chance meeting between Yi and I at my place of employment in Australia, that led to us starting to communicate. He started out as a friend and did not push me about anything."
"He accepted the commitment I had made in that previous relationship. As we communicated, I realised that I could not marry my former fiancé. I think it was about three months ago my feelings changed regarding Yi. I realised that I loved him more than any tepid emotion I ever felt for my former fiancé."
"As I had given a commitment, I was willing to stand by it but my heart won out. I found it hard to break things off with my former fiancé. A chance meeting a few days ago at the Australian Embassy made me realise that staying with that commitment would be a disaster. Yi and I spoke in passing but we knew what we wanted, which was to make the ultimate commitment to each other."
"I would have married Yi immediately without a care for the ending of my previous relationship. Yi made it clear that I needed to that relationship with respect so our relationship could go forward without us feeling as if there was a cloud over it. However, before I could inform my former fiancé of my decision, he ended the relationship. As soon as I was free, Yi and I married."
"I cannot believe you Hou Yi, you helped break up an engagement. I thought you had more respect for people's relationships." Hou Jang responded angrily.
"Father, I never pushed. As I said, all that mattered to me was Anna's happiness. If that was with her former fiancé, I would respect it and remain a friend. She was unhappy, and realised she could not marry him, but stayed due to the commitment. Her ex ended the relationship before she could."
"Do not think he was a victim. What Anna did not tell you was he used her, not only to obtain Australian Citizenship, but to take almost everything she owned, leaving her with debt. While I was not present when he ended their relationship, he took pleasure in telling Anna their whole relationship was a lie."
"He used Anna to get what he wanted before dumping her. He was a user, not a victim. Anna is the victim in that relationship, but I am going to make sure that she is safe and protected." As Hou Yi continued to speak to his father, his tone became more angrier and angrier. He paused and took a breath, turned and looked at Anna who lent into him, to have him relax.
"What!" A shocked Hou Jang said.
"Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother, Aunt. I think all we are going to do is go in circles. While I may have not married who you expected, I have married the woman I intend to spend my life with. As to dealing with her ex fiancé, we will do that in the future. We had intended to stay and have a meal with you, but tonight is our wedding night, and we are tired. I think it is best that we return home. We will come another day when you have calmed down to talk further"
Du AnLing interrupted "Yi do not go. I would love to properly meet your bride, it is simple a shock to all of us, given what we had seen before today. At least have something to eat, as I am guessing when you get back to your apartment that food will be the last thing on your mind." Anna blushed at that comment.
With that she stood up, and went over grabbing Anna's free hand, and gently pulled her up "Sweetheart, feel free to call me mum or mother, and come with me as I am guessing my son does not want to feed you." She pulled Anna out of the room, and along the corridor into a dining room with a round table. Everyone else left in the room, was left with no option but to follow, as Du AnLing had made the decision to accept her new daughter-in-law.