"Auntie? What's up?"
Despite her misgivings, Ru Yin Yue answered the call. It wasn't as if she hated Mom Si. She always had a favorable impression of Si Zha Nan's parents, not just because she was in love with him, but also because they were among the few people who treated her well.
"Yin Yue, I'm so sorry. I've found out what Zha Nan did. He…he is blaming you for the pictures the private investigator took for me, and he put pressure on music companies and agencies to boycott you. I learned that you've been facing a lot of trouble when finding a job. I'm so sorry! I was the one who dragged you into this mess!"
For a moment, Ru Yin Yue was silent. Then she sighed.
"No, auntie. It's not your fault. Zha Nan would have blamed me either way when he finds out."
"I'm trying to help, but…as you know, Zha Nan is the one who handles all the businesses and has the connections. There's nothing I can do. I've talked to uncle too, and he will try to help."
"Thank you. I really appreciate it."
"There…is another solution, though." Ru Yin Yue froze when she heard the hesitation in Mom Si's voice and she couldn't help but feel apprehension. Nonetheless, she listened.
"What is it?"
"Marry Zha Nan. If you are his wife, he will take care of everything. You don't have to worry about income. We will pay for all of your mother's hospital bills." Mom Si took a deep breath. "Yes, I've also found out about your mother…and the pressure the hospital is putting on you to pay her bills. If you are the daughter-in-law of the Si family, you won't have to worry about money. Zha Nan will provide you with everything."
"No." Ru Yin Yue's voice was firm. "I can't marry him over such a reason."
"Zha Nan wants to marry you." Mom Si sounded desperate. "Please listen to me. He has finally seen reason. This is our only chance to make him forget about Zhou Ni Yao. If you help, he will come to love you. I have faith that your marriage will work out."
"Auntie, I respect you, but I know it won't. He's just marrying me out of spite. To take revenge."
"I see." Mom Si sounded disappointed. "Well, take your time to think about it. Don't make a hasty decision so soon. When you need the money, talk to me. But as long as you are not my daughter-in-law, there is very little I can do to help you."
"Don't worry." Ru Yin Yue managed to refrain from saying that she never asked Mom Si or the Si family for any help. "I'll find a way to deal with this."
At least that was what she intended…but three days later, she found herself helpless when the hospital asked her for money.
"Ms. Ru, have you gotten the money?"
"Y…yes."
Ru Yin Yue realized how cornered she was. Over the last three days, she had found out how firm Si Zha Nan's grip over the corporate society in Hua Xia was. He had his claws sunk into every facet of society. Where money flowed, there would be where his influence reached. No matter how hard she tried, she was unable to find a job.
And now she was out of cash.
"Let me make a phone call and make the arrangements. The hospital should receive the funds shortly."
"Okay."
Ru Yin Yue hung up and then dialed Mom Si's number. She was quick to reply, picking up her call immediately.
"Yin Yue? Have you decided?"
"Yes…" Ru Yin Yue took a deep breath. As much as she hated the situation, how she was forced into a corner by the machinations of the Si family, she knew she had no choice. Right now, all that mattered to her was her mother's life. Her mother was in danger of dying if cut off from the medical support that the hospital provided. To ensure that her mother's life support wasn't cut off, she was willing to pay any price. "I will accept your proposal."
"Excellent!" Mom Si sounded genuinely delighted. "Trust me, Yin Yue, you won't regret this. All you need to do is slowly make Zha Nan fall for you. Marriage is just the first step. The beginning. Building a solid relationship starts from here."
Ru Yin Yue bit her lip, but she had steeled herself for it.
"Please remember your agreement and honor it."
"Oh, yes!" Mom Si remembered what she had promised in return. She spoke to someone else, her dialogue muffled, and then she returned to the phone. "Don't worry, Yin Yue, your mother's hospital fees will definitely be paid. I've sent someone to pay for them now."
"Thank you very much." Ru Yin Yue bowed her head slightly and hung up. She clutched her smartphone tightly. She didn't know if she had made the right decision, but contrary to Mom Si's expectations, she knew that this cause was doomed to failure from the very start.
Ru Yin Yue wouldn't claim to know Si Zha Nan better than his own mother, but she knew the man she loved well enough to be confident that he wouldn't give up on Zhou Ni Yao so easily. And that this was simply the beginning of his vengeance.
However, she was resolved to see this to the end. At the very least, she could finally put at rest her unrequited love that she held for Si Zha Nan for over ten years.
And when she met Si Zha Nan, he was triumphant.
"I told you that you will agree to marry me," he crowed coldly. "I knew you would come begging me for marriage. This is your aim all along, isn't it? You played hard to get, but in the end you finally revealed your true intentions. Well, I'll give you what you want. I'll marry you."
Ru Yin Yue remained silent, meeting his icy glare determinedly. The hypocritical bastard was the one who cornered her in the first place, forced her into this, and yet he was acting as if she was aiming for this from the very start.
Not that she could bring herself to condemn him or hate him. She was too much in love with the toxic, abusive but handsome and rich CEO to hate him truly. She did feel some joy at the prospect of marriage with the man she had been in love with for so long, but she also felt a great measure of sadness because she was keenly aware that her affection wasn't reciprocated.
Three days later, their wedding was held in Crown Hotel.
While the Si family had invited a ton of guests, their many friends and relatives having assembled for such a grand wedding, Ru Yin Yue was all alone. Her agent, Xia Ning Xue, had declined to attend – no doubt Si Zha Nan had threatened her and prevented her from attending so that he could choose Ru Yin Yue's bridesmaid for her – and her mother was too sick, stuck in the hospital and unable to attend.
So Ru Yin Yue stood all alone, bereft of any friends and relatives, while the Si family was surrounded by many joyous people.
The wedding gown that Ru Yin Yue was dressed in was supposedly ordered and specifically prepared by Si Zha Nan for this event. Probably because of that, the wedding gown didn't fit her too well. It was too large for her. Unlike Zhou Ni Yao, Ru Yin Yue was on the skinny and almost emaciated side, and so the wedding dress hung loosely on her.
Even so, the day of wedding was the day when women were at the most beautiful.
Ru Yin Yue was no exception. The Si family had spared no expense in makeup and dressing her up, hiring the best professionals to beautify her. Even with the expensive gown that didn't fit her too well, Ru Yin Yue looked extremely lovely.
As the wedding ceremony commenced, she forced herself to walk into the hall. There wasn't even a best man to escort her. She had no father, apparently. At least none that she knew of. And Si Zha Nan refused to let any of his friends touch her.
For someone who hated his bride-to-be, he sure was possessive.
Closing her eyes, Ru Yin Yue listened to the romantic music that played in the background. The Wedding March, by Mendelssohn. Yin Yue would have loved to play it herself, but she was not allowed any input in her own wedding. Everything was arranged by Si Zha Nan and the Si family. Even the guest list – the Si family only invited who they wanted. While it was unfortunate that she had no friends, save Xia Ning Xue, in this case it worked in her favor because she wouldn't have anyone to invite anyway.
At her own wedding, surrounded by so many people, Ru Yin Yue never felt more isolated.
The creaking of the door brought her back to reality. Opening her eyes, she saw that the door in front of her was opening. Peering into the hall, Ru Yin Yue caught sight of the tall, suave figure of Si Zha Nan.
Ru Yin Yue had dreamed of marrying him countless times, each imagination featuring a scenario similar to the one right now.
However, none of her dreams had featured Si Zha Nan's disgusted expression. The joyous smile that she had often imagined upon his handsome features was conspicuously missing.
Dreams were just that, merely dreams. Reality was cruel. Like someone once said, reality never went the way you wanted. Even though Ru Yin Yue got what she wanted, she never imagined it to turn out like this.
Be careful of what you wish for…
Suppressing the feeling of loneliness, Ru Yin Yue slowly traversed the long path toward where Si Zha Nan awaited. The pastor stood there with a kindly smile, and once both bride and groom were before him, he began to read out the oath. Ru Yin Yue listened anxiously, feeling her pulse accelerate as he approached the pledge.
"Ms. Ru Yin Yue, will you have this man be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"
"Yes. I am willing." Ru Yin Yue gripped the hem of her wedding gown, feeling uneasy. She could almost feel the weight of her vow pressing down on her slim shoulders.
"Mr. Si Zha Nan, will you have this woman be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"
Si Zha Nan glanced at Ru Yin Yue, his rage barely contained within his eyes. He smiled coldly and nodded once.
"I do."
For the first time, Ru Yin Yue heard him speak, and she could feel the warmth leeched out of every word he spoke, leaving her frozen. Her heart thumped apprehensively.
The pastor too seemed to have noticed something was amiss, for he sent Si Zha Nan a curious gaze. Unfortunately, the CEO's fiery glare was too overpowering and he lowered his head, looking away. He glanced sympathetically at Ru Yin Yue.
She was too distracted by Si Zha Nan to notice. Trembling anxiously, she pondered on why he was so determined to marry her. He obviously hated her to death, yet he agreed to this and even forced her into marrying him.
The obvious answer was revenge. But Ru Yin Yue still had no idea what form Si Zha Nan's revenge would take.
She could only hope he wouldn't be too harsh…and that he would let her mother off when the time came. She could endure whatever Si Zha Nan threw at her…as long as he didn't cause the death of her family.