He couldn't explain why he wanted to protect Yanyue even though she wasn't his cute Lulu. When he saw her helpless look, he just felt an immediate reaction to intervene.
"I apologize for my aunt and cousin," Yanfeng said.
Yanyue shook her head, "I should thank you instead. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been granted an opportunity to prove my mother's innocence."
The woman's downcast eyes made Yanfeng eager to offer his assistance. "I know my aunt best, so if you need help, then just call me."
He handed her his card.
She hesitated, "Why do you want to help me? Or do you still think that I'm the person you're looking for"
Yanfeng rubbed his head childishly as if he was exposed. He responded with some guilt, "No, I don't take you as her. But, I believe that you won't present something that is not original. Plus, I know my aunt well, so I don't want an innocent person to be harmed."
Yanyue didn't know why she considered his words as if she had known him for a long time. So, even though he might have an ulterior motive for approaching her, her hand didn't decline the card.
"Thank you, Yanfeng," her lips raised into a subtle smile. When people questioned her, this person spoke to her with sincerity. This supplied her with the energy to continue being strong.
She breathed, "Unfortunately, the launch stopped early, so you couldn't enjoy what we have arranged for tonight. But, thank you once again for coming this evening."
"If you are disappointed, then just remember to invite me again in the future!" said Yanfeng in his optimistic tone.
The woman grinned in agreement, "I will trouble you at that time. Please have a safe drive home, Yanfeng."
They departed, and Yanyue headed over to the employee who had called for her.
*
The Eastern Palace was enormous, but there was no one to greet her or a husband to anticipate her return. It was as if she was the only person existing in this place, which was more like a prison than a home to her.
As expected, her husband was not back. Where could he be other than with her sister? He was probably coaxing her because of today's matter.
Yanyue squeezed the pain in her heart away and proceeded upstairs.
After showering and changing into her nightgown, she stood in front of her mother's treasure chest that she had brought from her apartment.
This was the only keepsake of her mother that she had come upon after spending days in her mother's room crying and feeling like the most unfortunate kid in the world.
That day she was scolded by her stepmother for not sharing her favorite doll with her stepsister. She had never been verbally abused before in her six years of life, so when this woman that had just entered her house raised her voice on her, she felt her whole world crumbled down.
It was especially devastating for her because her mother passed away in less than a month, but her father had already brought this wicked woman home along with her child. She felt that her doting father abandoned her.
So, she locked herself in her mother's room.
Surprisingly, she discovered a secret room when she accidentally touched a book on the bookshelf. She was a six-year-old child, so when she found out about this chamber, it became her little secret.
There wasn't much in the room, but the golden-red treasure chest caught her eyes. Regrettably, she couldn't open the chest as there was a code that she needed to break first.
It wasn't until high school that she was able to crack the code.
Inside the chest contained many of her mother's cherished objects.
There was a photo album whose pages became flimsy and fragile after the countless unknown times that she flipped through it.
Then, there was a smaller chest loaded with pieces of jewelry. It seemed that her mother was a jewelry enthusiast, which was normal for a well-known designer like her mother.
There were many design books that Yanyue read over and over until she could memorize all the content. She wanted to know what it was like to be in her mother's shoes.
What amazed her the most was what she found next wrapped in a plastic cover.
She picked up the object and unveiled the synthetic off of it. She remembered the first time she saw it; she was in awe, and her eyes shined from all the sparkles of the gemstones. If she could use one word to describe it, then it would be—magical.
She noticed the notes and drafts at the bottom of the chest. She read through the notes and found that her mother never named the dress. Such a stunning dress should be attached to a name, so she called it the Black Swan Crystal, following the crucial materials that were used to mend the dress into one.
She had kept the Black Swan Crystal hidden until presently. But, who knew that her stepmother would say that the dress didn't belong to her mother. What was even more puzzling was the fact that there was a version of the dress.
This would not only affect her mother's reputation, but also the company and everyone working in it. To understand everything and uncover the truth, she must find out where the white version originated.
She unlocked the treasure chest and scanned the notes again. Possibly, there were clues in the notes that could benefit her.
She didn't remember when she had fallen asleep, but she woke up in familiar arms.
She was dumbstruck seeing the face that only appeared in her dreams right in front of her.
"Bei-Your Highness..."
He rested her on the bed. It had been a week since he slept with her, so his body was sensitive and ready.
He bent his head down to her lips, anticipating to feel the warmth and sweetness of it. But, she turned her head to the side and what he felt was her delicate cheeks.
Lines developed between his brows.
"You don't get to say no," he said coldly, reminding her of the contract she had signed.
She met him again on the verge of tears.
"Why do you do this?" she inquired, "You love someone else."
She spotted a suggestive smirk from him.
He replied, "I don't need love to do this kind of thing."
She bit her lips to prevent her tears from scattering.
"Even so, you're betraying Wanyue by doing this," she countered and darted her eyes to the side of his cheeks, avoiding his intense gazes, "and...I don't want to do this anymore."
He huffed a little from her hypocrisy. He pinched her chin and turned her face back to align with his.
"What I do to Wanyue has nothing to do with you. Your duty is: satisfy my needs," he forced a kiss on her, "and if you don't do it with me, are you thinking about latching onto that Yanfeng?"
Yanyue swayed her head, "No, what does he have to do with this?"
Beichen caressed her lips again. She was too unprepared to avoid.
"He was all over you earlier, and you were the same," he snarked irritably, "Did he hand you his card, so you can call him to meet each other at the hotel?"
It appeared that he had seen her with Yanfeng, but he perceived everything wrong.
"We are just friends," she stated and then trailed off, "we know our boundaries...unlike some people."
He took offense even though she didn't mention his name.
"You better think before you speak," he warned and then kissed her lips again. It was fierce this time because he was transferring his anger to her.
She pressed her eyes shut and cried out, "Don't, my stomach hurts!"
He ignored her request and shoved his hand down. Only when he saw bloodstains on his finger did he halt.
He eventually noticed the woman's pale face.
"I'm uncomfortable," said the weak woman, who was clutching onto her stomach now. "Please, take me to the hospital."
His heart was racing.
"Fuck!"
He picked the woman up and walked hastily downstairs to the car.
"Drive!"
The driver saw their unconscious Princess Consort and took off to the Royal Hospital at full speed.
When Yanyue came to be in the morning, she was already clothed in a hospital gown and lying on a patient bed. Her instantaneous reaction was to check her stomach.
She didn't know if her baby was alive or not.
"Baby."
Teardrops rolled down her eyes.
The door opened and Grandma Lu appeared with Beichen and Aunt Li supporting her arms.
"Dear, it must be so painful!" said the old lady sympathetically as she took a seat beside the bed and wiped away the tears streaming down Yanyue's face. "Don't cry, grandma is here."
However, the concerned and tender voice affected her mood and it made her wanted to cry even more.
"Grandma, my baby is gone," she sobbed softly, "I won't ever see him again."
Even though she didn't know the gender, her dreams of the baby boy made her believe that the baby in her stomach was a boy.
The old lady shook her head, "No, my dear. The baby is okay."
Her sobbing lagged as she comprehended the old lady's words.
"Do you mean here," she touched her stomach, "there is still a baby here?"
"My great-grandson is so strong, so of course nothing will happen to him," Grandma Lu spoke to cheer up her granddaughter-in-law.
Then, she shifted to her grandson. "What kind of husband are you? Why didn't you take care of your wife well? You let her work too much!"
Yanyue glanced at Beichen. She recognized when he was growing angry as his face right now was dissociative of color.
"Grandma, don't blame the prince. It's my fault," said Yanyue.
"In that case, you need to cancel your work! You're a pregnant woman, so you should stay home to take care of your body! When did our Lu family treat their wives so poorly?"
Yanyue didn't want to leave her job. "Grandma, it's okay. I just need a few days of rest!"
However, the old lady was an unyielding soul. She wouldn't take no for an answer if she was determined on something.
"No, grandma forbid you to work until you have given birth!"
In the end, Yanyue couldn't do anything but watched Grandma Lu ordered Aunt Li to make a phone call for her to take some time off from the company. She lamented in defeat.
Before the old lady left, she turned to her grandson.
"Stay here to take care of my granddaughter-in-law and my great-grandson. Don't let this happen again!"
Beichen didn't dare to reject or challenge his grandma as making her angry would just elevate her high blood pressure.
The old lady got her ways every time. No one knew whether this was good or bad.
The room became uncomfortable after the old lady and Aunt Li left.
She couldn't endure the stiffness.
"Um, don't worry about me. You can go," she suggested.
The man despised, "If I go, then you will report this to grandma. Don't think that I don't know your tricks. How did grandma know that I wasn't home all those times if you didn't tell her?"
"I—" I didn't tell her was what she wanted to say, but when did he ever believe her?
"I won't tell grandma."
Despite her proposal, Beichen disregarded her and relaxed on the couch. This was a VIP room.
This pair of grandma and grandson were both stubborn. No one could tell them what to do at all.
Yanyue sighed and reclined on the bed. She pretended to sleep so as not to make the situation more unbearable. Perhaps, he would just go whenever he felt bored.
However, her yawns wouldn't stop after a while. She slept in the end.
In her dreams, a man was embracing her like she was his entire world.
"I promise that I will always love you. Please, marry me?"
She turned around in his arms to face him. His gazes were deep and passionate like the words that he had proposed.
After a long time, she finally nodded her head. "I love you, Jun!"
She wrapped her hands behind his head and tiptoed to plant a kiss on his lips. They mingled with each other on the ocean's cliff until the sun was long gone over the horizon.
"Jun..." she murmured in her sleep.