Sunday, continued ...
As everyone had arrived, Anna urged everyone to sit down, and order anything they wanted as she and Hou Yi were paying for the meal.
Hou Yi realised that Anna was barely holding it together with how her mother was acting. Underneath the table he gently squeezed her leg, simply to indicate that it would be OK. She squeezed his hand back and looked at Hou Yi, sending a unspoken message, that she knew he would make sure she was OK. A few minutes later the waitress came and took everyone's orders, including the bodyguards on the nearby table.
"Stop delaying Sister, dear. What is going on? Tell me or I will get it out of you" ground our Ben. At the sound of Ben's voice two of the bodyguards started to stand up, but at the shake of Anna's head, the immediately sat back down.
Adam, saw the movement of the bodyguards and their reaction to Anna. "What is with the heavies on that other table. They reacted to Ben being somewhat Angry. Tell us now!"
Before she could say anything, Susan's mobile rang and she answered the call. All everyone heard was "Yes" "What" and "You are kidding me." When she hung up she said, you would not believe what I just was told, there is a huge airplane at the airport. All anyone knows is that it belongs to some international corporation, and it arrived this morning, and two cars of people left the airport."
Anna, turned to Hou Yi, and the look between them was 'now we have to explain that as well'.
Hou Yi picked up his mobile and texted the guards. 'Do not move, but if someone gets a sense that we have been found out, step in and protect my wife.' He then texted the pilot 'The existence of the plane has been announced locally. If you feel that there is an issue, take off and return to Melbourne. Arrange for the hire cars to be returned in Melbourne if necessary. Reply Yes when done.'
The idea of a large private plane at the airport surprised everyone and distracted all of Anna's family, including her three brothers, her sister, sister-in-law Rosemary, and brother-in-law Wayne for a couple of minutes. The only two people not distracted were Pippa and Hannah.
Ben, however turned everyone back to the point "Come on Sister, stop delaying and tell us what is happening. You cannot distract us anymore."
Before Anna could say anything, their entrees were brought out. Anna thought that at least while everyone was eating that there would not be a much interruption even if she could not finish her entrée. Hou Yi, simply squeezed the hand on the table, and said nothing knowing that she had to do this herself.
Anna took a deep breath "Since Tuesday Mum and Dad have know some, but not all of this. You all need to know the background to understand what has gone on. Throughout the time that Lu Jinhu and I were living together I was the victim of domestic violence."
Anna could see the reaction of her three brothers and father, who if Lu Jinhu was here in front of them would have killed him there and then.
"He did not physically hurt me, but was psychologically manipulative, verbally abusive. He also was economically abusive, where I was fully responsible for your financial support, despite his and his family wealth. He also expected me, to run our household, cook and clean. He refused to do anything. I was not willing to admit anything. I almost think that when he proposed 10 months ago, I was ready to walk away, regardless of what it took, but his proposal made me recommit to the relationship."
"Things started change about 6 months ago, with a chance meeting at work. I literally ran into Hou Yi." with that she indicated to Hou Yi. "We started to communicate between each other. He was concerned about how I looked, and simply wanted to know that I was OK. He knew that I had committed to my relationship, but the more we communicated through instant messaging apps, the more I started to question within myself was the relationship with Lu Jinhu right for me."
"Before you ask, he never pressed me to leave the relationship but was always clear that he would be there for me whatever I decided to do. By the time that Lu Jinhu and I left Australia a week and a half ago, I was almost over the relationship completely, but I was not ready to take that final step. It was only when I passed Yi in the Australia Embassy that I realised I was not in love with Lu Jinhu and had not been for months. It was Yi I loved and who I wanted to marry."
"We spoke further after this and I knew that I had made the right decision. All I had to do was tell Lu Jinhu and remain safe. Tuesday, before I could do this I found out that throughout our relationship Lu Jinhu just used me, and married someone else before telling me this. Rather than waiting to marry Yi, we decided that we would simply marry there and then, rather than waiting some time like we had planned, as we felt we owed Lu Jinhu no respect. It is the best decision that I have made, so can you all be happy for me."
After a few minutes silence, Anna could see Ben's anger was over the top "That b**tard Lu Jinhu. I will kill him with what he has put you through. No f**king man should do that to a woman."
"Calm down Ben, I got out of the relationship. No, Yi is not a rebound relationship, he is what makes me happy."