LU ENTERPRISES
In an office room, Zhao Mei stood in shock when Lu Xiang, the beloved man she has pursued since childhood appears in front of her. He was embracing another petite woman, Zhao Li Ying.
"Wh... Why?" she strutted not, even able to form the words. She was ready to faint at the moment, but she strongly held herself together.
She again asked, "Wh... Why?" Tears were already glistening at the corner of her beautiful doe eyes.
Even the man standing there felt something tugging his heart when he saw her like that.
But then, the woman in his embrace, 'Zhao Li Ying,' whimpered, stealing the attention of Lu Xiang from Zhao Mei to herself. Tears were already falling from her eyes, like she was wronged.
In that instant, he forgot all about the girl who followed him like an innocent cute puppy.
For now, all he sees his woman in tears. His heart ached for her.
Zhao Li Ying held on to him like he was going to vanish before her or abandoned her.
"Sh. Sh! Dear, why are you crying?" he said while wiping her tears. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm all yours."
"Please stop crying," he kissed her eyes one by one. "You know I cannot see you in tears."
Zhao Mei's felt her heart pierced by thousands of needles, seeing the care he is showing towards Zhao Li Ying.
Her heart was numb. She felt the whole world shattered and, her life has lost its purpose.
She felt ridiculous, used and, thrown.
If he did not want to have relationship with her, then why the hell did he agreed to get engage earlier.
She cannot accept this.
Suddenly she shouted with all grief that was building up within her, "LU XIANG... LU XIANG... LU XIANG."
"Why? Why did you do this to me? Was I not good enough?"
"Please, try to understand. I do not love you, Zhao Mei," while pulling closer the woman in his embrace.
He resolutely said, "I love Zhao Li Ying and she is the ONLY one I love."
"No, I do not believe it. We were happily engaged and going to be married.
I didn't do anything bad to be landed in these circumstances," she murmured.
"No, how can you ignore my 15 years of devotion for you."
"How many times do I have to tell that I. DON'T. LOVE. YOU. I. ONLY. LOVE. YINGYING" declared Lu Xiang and kissed, Zhao Liying passionately on her lips.
The kisses were meant to prove to her that he has no feelings toward her. He genuinely love Zhao Li Ying and, always thought of her like his little sister.
Zhao Mei stood there like a stone. Tears were now flowing like a river, which depicts her sorrow, anger and hatred.
"Stop it, Sis Mei is still here," Zhao Li Ying whispered breathlessly to her man, but still she heard it.
Zhao Mei heard it clearly.
Pushing Lu Xiang slightly, she faced Zhao Mei and said apologetically, "Sis Mei, I'm sorry. Brother Xiang and, I loves each other very much. I know you were with Brother Xiang from the age of 5, but still, love cannot be forced."
It was one sided love. She loves him, but the feeling was not recipocrated.
"Please provide us your blessing," latching on her man arms, Zhao Li Ying said gleefully.
"You and, I both know that Brother Xiang never considers you as a woman. He always thought of you as a little sister."
"If I didn't appear in his life, he would have married you but let face the truth, till now, he didn't love you. It means your marriage would have ended in failure."
"Do you know future, if our marriage would be success or failure?" she scoffed. "No, then stop this bullshit."
"Zhao Li Ying do you know what are you called right now, A THIRD PARTY," Zhao Mei angrily said, but still she looked graceful.
"Even I retreat, you still will be called as the one, who broke off the childhood sweethearts."
"SisโฆSis Mei, I don't care what people say about me," crying her heart out Zhao Li Ying continued. "I only care for the love Brother Xiang has for me."
She looked like the female lead with her face that screamed pure, delicate and innocent. Slash that, she is the female lead.
Then what was she?
Had she not done enough?
She behaved like a good, cheerful and innocent maiden. Still, this happenedโฆ.
"Has Mom and, dad agreed to this," she looked at both of them. "Did uncle and aunt know about this."
Both of them nodded in unison.
Her breath became shallow after their answer. Her mind was swirling around the thought, 'Mom and Dad agreed...Indeed why not? After all Zhao Li Ying is their own flesh and blood. But why LU elders. They always said to her, she will be Lu Xiang wife. They didn't care if I was adopted. Then, why now?'
"IโฆI thought we were good friends. I never harmed you not even once. But look what I got instead. What a backstabbing bitch and bastard both of you are."
"Enough!" shouted Lu Xiang. "I don't care what people think of me. For me, there is only Yingying. Xiao Mei, I really do not have feelings for you."
"I am breaking my engagement with you," he declared.
"You are invited to my and Yingying's engagement party. Here is the card," he said.
The card was like a tight slap to Zhao Mei's face. She started laughing hysterically.
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Outside the office room;
The whole staff of Lu Enterprises was witnessing the scene before them.
Some started whispering to each other.
"Even though I feel bad for Miss Zhao Mei but it is good that our CEO is with Miss Zhao Li Ying."
"Yes, you said, right. Miss Zhao Li Ying is the real daughter of Zhao's while she is just an adopted daughter."
"But Miss Zhao Mei never treated us, employees, badly. She was always friendly with us," a female employee chimed in supporting Zhao Mei but was forced to shut her mouth.
"Shhhโฆdon't you know it was just all her scheme to be in good shoes of Zhao and Lu family."
"Yeah, the LU family was having betrothal with Zhao's daughter and, Miss Zhao Li Yng deserved it, not someone who is of unknown lineage."
"Do you think the Lu family will allow a fake instead of a real one?"
"Who knows what tricks she had up in her sleeves? To get adopted in Zhao's family."
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Zhao Mei's hysterical laugh startled both of them.
Her tears were long dried. Only grief, pain and, anger was written all over her face.
Long gone was the elegant and graceful woman. Gone was the shine of her eyes that always shone like a diamond. Just a shell of a broken woman remained.
She picked up her bag but staggered. Lu Xiang came forward to help her, but she holds up her hand in front of him, telling him that she does not need his support.
At least she will leave from here with her dignity intact. She knows she was not wrong. Still, it fucking hurts when you invest your life's 15 years on a person who does not know to appreciate you.
"Have a good life!" she smiled, but he knows that it was fake.
He knows how she will smile when she is happy, sad, depressed. He had known her all his life, but in his heart, her place will always be of a little sister, nothing more.
She moved forward towards the door, but her steps were not steady.
She knew, 'Everything was pre-destined.' It was bound to happen but, still...
He wanted to help her.
But knowing he can't.
He doesn't want to give her any hope. He is exclusive for his Yingying.
Before turning the doorknob, she said, "Do not worry, I will attend your engagement party," and exit that suffocating room where her heart was shattered into millions of pieces.
The door shut closed, just like the heart of a pure, innocent person.