(A/n: I replace /\ to ** It means the past.)
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*
"You have to marry this year. If you agree, the elders and shareholders will definitely give back your shares." Xiong Wuyue's pleading eyes directly stare at mine. Her face was full of worry. But my sharp eyes could see the trace of contempt with them. But I did not point it out. Simply, because I did not care.
"I won't. I will follow grandfather's will. I'll marry to Guan family when I turn twenty-three."
Grandfather died two years ago. The Xiong Empire became a mess after that.
The two branches, Xiong Ci and Xiong Bing Deng fought for the heir position. Since the first descent in line had no son, it was their opportunity. Uncle Xiong Li had the least shares in his hand. But he was pushing to gain more shares and buying from other shareholders. Uncle Xiong Cai was pushing his limit and using his daughter to gain the support of foreign investors. Uncle Xiong Bilan was doing everything to have an upper hand. His target was third Uncle, Xiong De. He was putting everything to bring him down. Because of all of them, Wuyue's father had the greatest share. How he managed to do that was very despicable.
In the last two years, First Uncle and third Uncle almost had equal shares. But First uncle had two sons who were good at business and have connections from big companies. Causing him to have an upper hand. If a year passed like that, no doubt first uncle would win the position of CEO. However, just last month, which I just heard from last week, third uncle bought my shares without my consent.
Actually, I had the greatest share among them which I inherited from mother. If I was a man, I'll be inheriting Xiong Empire now.
Third Uncle bought my shares causing him to be at the top of the board. As of now, with the greatest share, he became the CEO last week.
I was angry at what third uncle did. Before grandfather dies, Third Uncle asked grandfather to be my guardian until I turned twenty-three, until the time I married to Guan family. Grandfather agreed. Grandfather stated that the person who could be my guardian should have no more than one child. And third uncle fitted the requirement.
I was quite disappointed. At least I wanted 5th uncle Xiong Nuan Zai to be my guardian since he did not fight for the Xiong inheritance. Or to Aunt Xiong Mai who kept her distance to the Xiong.
But later on, after grandfather died, fifth uncle said that he was going to get his permission to be my guardian. But that day, his son, Xiong Ryu who was in elementary got kidnapped. Aunt Mai also said sorry to me. She said that day she was also going to take care of me as my guardian when she was arrested. It took her days to clear her innocence. Hearing them, I realized that third uncle schemed to be my guardian. Eliminating his enemies. And now two years later his purpose was exposed. He was planning from the very start to buy my shares.
How despicable.
And now they want me to left the Xiong Mansion to them and married to Guan Family? In their dreams. If I married and left the Xiong mansion they would become the true inheritor of the Xiong Empire. At least make them wait for three more years.
A glint flashed in Wuyue's eyes. But then she smiled.
"I understand little cousin. We just want you to have your position back in Xiong Empire. If you married to Guan Family your position in the company will be elevated. But since little sister doesn't want to marry early, I'll support you. Here--" Wuyue gets something in her bag.
"--This is a sweet tea I brought from Japan. You'll like it." She then called a maid to brew it for us.
See? She clearly thinks she was the master of this house.
We exchanged polite words while drinking tea. However, I got dizzy in a few moments and collapsed.
I woke up with a headache. My body felt heavy and numb. I tried to stand up but it was futile. I looked around the room and found it unfamiliar and unwelcoming. It was a lavish room. Still, it cannot compare to the Xiong Mansion.
I saw Wuyue talking on the phone beside the window. She noticed my movement and ended the call.
"Dear little cousin, how was your rest?" She smiled sweetly but her eyes did not hide her contempt. Suddenly I had a bad feeling.
"Where am I? What are you planning?" I asked her while I tried to get up. But my body did not listen. It just stayed on its place.
"My bad, you really think ill of me. I just want you to know your future husband more." She said while sitting on the bed.
"You know, chatting, exchanging greetings with him in morning and evening, and even serving him in bed." She whispered in my ear.
"With that, you can spend more time with him. You can secure his heart. Am I not a thoughtful cousin?" She smiled maliciously.
Without a doubt I know I'm in Guan mansion.
I stared hard at her. Only one question runs in my mind.
"Linfeng, where is he?"
The smile on Wuyue's face completely vanished. She then slapped my face. Hard.
"How dare you! Don't casually speak his name! You have NO right! You already promised to another man! Yet you still asking MY man!!?!!"
The pain was lingering my cheek. But all I care about was the words 'MY man'.
I faced Wuyue. She was all flustered in rage. That moment, I knew she harbored feelings with Linfeng.
"Linfeng will never love a woman like you-" another slapped in my cheek. I tasted blood.
Wuyue grabbed my hair and shouted crazily.
"And you think you deserve him?!!! Never!! He never loved you !!! He stayed at your side because of your title as the young miss of Xiong!"
I cannot move my body but I could still smile.
"Really? Then why he still stay at my side when the treaty was broken? He could have gone away. But he chose me!"
"Aggghh!!!" She then rammed my head in the headboard.
"He doesn't love you! He did not care about you!" She said while banging my head.
I laughed at the pain. I don't care about it. I know I'm totally doomed. They finally showed their true colors. But I would not let Wuyue speak nor thought about Linfeng as her man.
A gentle image appeared in my mind. He was smiling beautifully.
'I will never leave by your side. That is a promise.'
Linfeng...
"He will never be yours...." I said through gritted teeth.
Wuyue went mad. Her nails scratched my face. Her hair was disheveled. Her eyes were red.
"I will make him mine! I'll be the young miss of Xiong! He will attend to me...he will only serve me! I will make his lips utter only my name! Not yours! I will do everything I wanted to do to him! Even in bed..." She smiled evilly. Then she laughed. It looked like she was already living in her own world.
Her words disgusted me. Infuriated me.
No! Linfeng would never submit to her! He promised me...
"Your wrong...he will never be yours..." I said the words very hard.
She began to become mad again when the doors opened. A tall figure appears
"Really---"
*
"Little cousin, I almost did not recognize you. You grow beautiful and more charming than the last time I saw you." Xiong Wuyue made her way to Xiong Zhi. She smiled sweetly cutting Xiong Zhi's memories of the past.
The guest surrounded Xiong Zhi gave way to Xiong Wuyue and watched their exchange. Two beautiful ladies in front of their eyes, who did not want that scenery?
However, no one noticed the other party was cold while the opposite keep glancing at the man in black robes.
Xiong Zhi just stared coldly at Xiong Wuyue. That was the last memory she left to her in the past lifetime.
Xiong Wuyue was still waiting for Xiong Zhi's response. She was still wearing her sweet smile. But inwardly she was mocking her.
'What? You are stunned by my beauty? Of course, you must feel threatened. Linfeng might fall for me any moment now!'
Xiong Wuyue smiled more sweetly her confidence soaring to the sky.
"What little cousin stunned for? Have you forgotten me?" Xiong Wuyue makes a cute expression, pouting her lips. The men surrounded felt their hearts skip a beat. Truly this Xiong Miss was a beauty!
However, Xiong Zhi's gaze becomes colder.
'Forget you? Never! I'll never forget and forgive your past deeds.'
Xiong Wuyue's cuteness still met silence.
Xiong Wuyue just smirked inside.
' What a loser. I just talked to her and she was already speechless. She must be full of insecurities right now.'