"i'm sorry what? What did you just say?" Xerxes asked stepping out from behind the table to approach her but Zena slowly manuvered herself away from him using his grandfather as a shield.
"I said I am ready to be a good mother and a submissive wife, it is the least I can do for you as my husband isn't it?" She replied and he threw his head back and took deep breaths.
Very. Deep. Breaths.
The grandfather cleared his throat and brought the room back to focus. "You will not divorce Xian. As you can see, she has decided to change for-"
"Grandfather!"
"Grandfather."
They both said simultaneously but while Zena's 'grandfather' has a sweet tone and an affectation behind it, Xerxes' was full of annoyance and disbelief. He glared at her but she gave him the sweetest smile, which only seemed to full his already fuming flame.
"Don't you dare cut me off boy."
"But you said-"
"I know what I said." His grandfather huffed, slamming his cane to the ground. "Xian has promised-"
"She didn't promise-"
"Then I promise I will change," she said quickly. "See? I promised."
Xerxes jaw was clenched once more and to be honest, Zena did not think it was possible before, but this man looked drop-dead gorgeous with every expression he made. Damn, he was fine.
"She promised," his grandfather added.
"Father, you promised to allow him to divorce her if he became wealthier than you did. My son has suffered enough won't you set him free?" His mother pleaded.
The grandfather coughed slightly. "I said that," he repeated for the third time. "But that was on the condition that they both wanted this divorce. Now Xian has come to her senses and she is willing to make amends. Does the sacredness of marriage means nothing to both of you? I understand Xerxes is acting this way, but I expected more from you, Luen."
"Father-"
"No more, she wants to raise her children, then she will be given a chance to do so. That is final, and you," he looked at Xerxes darkened expression. "If you want to surpass me in wealth? Put a few hundred million between us, you may be younger and more energetic but I am a well of experience. With a snap of my fingers I have overtaken you again, and this time i did it the right way." He said, Xerxes eyes widened in shock as he pulled out his cell phone from his pocket.
"That's right, the condition of you being wealthier than me no longer stands so I do not want to hear anymore about divorce. You and Xian will be moving back into the family home with my great-grandchildren so that they will be well taken care of by the elders of the family is that clear?"
"What about the very real diagnosis about her mental health disorder? Would you really take the chance and put little Xander and Xavier at risk like that?" Xerxes asked.
"I already admitted that I lied." She retorted immediately.
"Why should I believe that you aren't just lying right now?" Xerxes asked and Zena huffed as if she was offended by him even thinking that.
"Xerxes is right." His mother added.
"What do you want me to do? How do you want me to prove it to you?"
"Xian has always been so vocal about her most inspired character, if you can tell me who it is and why then I'll believe you are telling the truth." Xerxes asked and Zena froze.
What was she supposed to do now? She didn't know that!
"Answer the question, who is your character? Don't try to get out of this." His mother ordered.
Zena let out a sigh, what was the point of pretending? It was over, they had won. She really didn't know anything. But seriously wasn't this just unfair? Other people transmigrate into stories they already know or somehow miraculously they recieved all the information they need. Why was hers different? Was this because her own story was real life not a book?
She clenched her teeth and fisted her palms in frustration. The last thing Zena wanted to do was give up and give in to their demands but she didn't have a choice. It was over.
Zena swallowed and smiled. But before she spoke one of the many lawyers in the room burst into a coughing fit. The focus of the room shifted to her and as she coughed she meet Xian's eyes and the gazed downwards.
Zena's brows rose in suspicion. What was going on here?
"I am so sorry about that," She said to the room, looking straight at Xian the down on the floor again. Zena scanned the room and no one was watching her so she looked down and there was a piece of paper by her feet reading...
'Your favorite character is named Zhiang Chao, you made her your favorite character because even though she is such a great queen and leader she had a flawed personal life. She was only human.'
"Are you okay?" The vice-director asked the woman. She smiled softly then nodded.
"I'm absolutely fine, I just choked a little one water, Mrs. Zhen-" Xerxes' mother scoffed and she smiled and corrected herself. "The younger miss of the Zhen household was about to tell us her favorite character."
Zena looked at the woman and her face remained expressionless towards her so she had no idea what to think. Did she perhaps have a relationship with this woman? Why was she helping?
'Does it even matter Zena, you don't have another chose.'
Stepping forward to cover the paper with her foot she looked straight at Xerxes and his mother. "Zhang Chao, that is my favorite character."
Xerxes' lips tilted up in a grin. "And why is that?"
"Because like me she's flawed, she's broken and she's imperfect yet she is remembered as a great queen. Is this enough for you or must I tell you about her family too?"
"Hmmm, you are right. But I want another opinion, if Xian can recieve another opinion from another Doctor and it comes back negative then all will be well." The grandfather said.
"And if it comes back positive?" Luen asked.
"It won't." Zena said immediately. "It won't."
"Good, now go pack your things, you must be tired from all the stress of giving birth to the Zhen family heirs."
Geniune tears came to Zena's eyes and before she could stop herself she wrapped her arms around this old strangers neck. "Thank you for helping me keep my sons grandfather, I am forever in your debt."
"Rubbish, it is what family does for each other."
Zena pulled away with the first genuine smile.
Xerxes got up and stormed out of the conference room without a word.
"Don't you dare think this is over." His mother added as she followed suit.
The grandfather turned to her. "Don't mind them."
"I won't, thank you grandfather."
"I must not say it, but I will just in case. No word of what happened here must get outside am I clear?" The Zhen Patriarch said and everyone bowed as he walked out Xian right behind him.
"I will go home with Leun, you may take my car to the house."
'Already?'
"The boys? They are not well enough to be discharged yet," Zena asked.
"There are already preparations in the family house for them. They will be cared for all around the clock by the best doctors, we cannot leave them here unprotected and exposed to the world as you know."
No, she did not know but she did now. Slowly she was just beginning to understand the type of family she was attached to. She watched as he walked away supported by his bodyguard.