The drive to Wang Mansion felt unending. Wang Xiaoyun sat in the back of the car. Her thoughts were an unstable mix of fear, anger, and guilt. Her father had never approved of Lan Feng, and now, everything he had warned her about had just happened. The betrayal, the public scandal, her father's inevitable wrath—it all weighed heavily on her shoulders.
How could I have been so blind? Wang xiaoyun thought, her hands clenching in her lap. I pride myself on my business acumen, on seeing through people's facades. And yet, I missed what was right in front of me.
The car pulled up to the grand entrance of the mansion. Her heart raced. The eerie silence that greeted her only heightened her anxiety as she stepped out of her car, entering the doors of the big mansion.
As she approached the doors of her father's office, she steeled herself. There was no avoiding this confrontation.
The moment Wang xiaoyun entered, Wang Zhiqiang's fury was palpable. He stood near the window, his posture rigid and unyielding.
"How could you let this happen?" he demanded, his voice low but biting. " Iwarned you, Xiaoyun. From the beginning, I told you Lan Feng wasn't good enough for you. And now look at the chaos you've brought upon us."
Cora's heart pounded, but she kept her voice steady. "I had no knowledge of the affair, Father. I only learned about Lan Feng and Ruo Shui tonight."
And isn't that the cruelest part? she thought. To be the last to know, to be made a fool of by those I trusted most.
"Ignorance is no excuse!" Wang Zhiqiang snapped. "Have you considered how the board will question your leadership after this? How will our partners view us?"
"I will handle this, Father," she said, her voice trembling only slightly. "I'll make things right. Whatever it takes to repair the damage."
Wang Zhiqiang's eyes narrowed. "You'd better. Because if you don't, it won't just be your name that's tarnished. It will be mine. The company's. And I won't allow that to happen."
As Wang xiaoyun left her father's office, each step felt heavier than the last. The weight of her father's anger and the pressure to fix this mess seemed to be closing in on her.
When she entered the living room, she found her mother, Wang Lihua, and her younger sister, Wang Yuhan, waiting. The moment Wang xiaoyun stepped in, both women rose, concerned etched on their faces.
"Xiaoyun..." her mother said softly.
Without another word, they enveloped her in a deep embrace. The warmth of her mother's arms, the familiar comfort of her sister's presence—it all hit her at once. The composure she had fought so hard to maintain in front of her father cracked, and a single tear escaped down her cheek. She didn't sob or break down completely, but that one tear carried the weight of all the emotions she had been holding in.
"If I ever lay eyes on that bastard again, I'll kill him," Wang Yuhan hissed, her voice trembling with anger. Yuhan had always been fiery, her temper quick to flare, and despite their family's reputation, she had never mastered the calm and collected demeanor that her older sister had. She was passionate, protective, and fiercely loyal.
"Yuhan," Wang xiaoyun trying to calm her sister, but her sister cut her off.
"No, Xiaoyun. I mean it. Lan Feng was a liar, a cheat, and worse, he made a fool of you. I knew something was off about him, since he started giving excuses about being to busy to see you. And Ruo Shui? I'll deal with her later," Yuhan added, her voice sharp.
Wang Lihua, though quieter, stroked Wang xiaoyun's back gently. "You don't have to be strong all the time, Xiaoyun. We're here for you."
Xiaoyun nodded, though part of her longed to disappear into the calm, to let herself rest. But she couldn't—not yet.
"You should stay here tonight, Xiaoyun," her mother suggested gently, but Wang xiaoyun shook her head.
"I can't, Mother. I need to return to my penthouse and think. There's too much to do."
Before her mother could protest further, Yuhan jumped in. "Then I'm coming with you," she said, leaving no room for an argument. "I don't care what anyone says—I'm not leaving you alone tonight."
Despite the heaviness in her heart, Wang xiaoyun smiled slightly at her sister's determination. She nodded.
****
As Cora prepared for bed that night, exhaustion weighing heavily on her, a memory surfaced unbidden:
It was their third date. Lan Feng had surprised her with a picnic in the park, knowing she rarely took time away from work. The spring air was crisp, cherry blossoms drifting on the breeze.
"You work too hard," Lan Feng said, his smile warm as he poured her a glass of wine.
Wang xiaoyun laughed. "Says the doctor who pulls 36-hour shifts."
"Ah, but I'm not trying to run an empire," he teased. Then his expression softened. "Seriously, Xiaoyun. You're amazing. The way you handle everything... I'm in awe of you."
She felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "I'm not used to people seeing past the 'Ice Queen' facade."
Lan Feng reached out, gently taking her hand. "Then they're not looking closely enough."
The memory faded, leaving Xiaoyun with a hollow ache in her chest. Was it all a lie, even then? Or did something change along the way? She pushed the thoughts aside. It doesn't matter now. What mattered was how she would move forward.
***
The next morning, with Wang Yuhan by her side, she stepped out of her penthouse, her personal assistant following closely behind. The drive to the press conference felt surreal—too soon, too much.
The press conference buzzed with energy. Cameras flashed as Cora stepped out of the car for the press conference. She approached the podium with grace, her expression unreadable. Inside, her heart raced.
As she stood at the podium, the chaotic murmurs of the press quieted, and the questions began immediately.
"How did you not know about the affair?"
"Do you think this scandal will affect your leadership at Wang Link International?"
"Is your engagement still on?"
Wang xiaoyun raised her hand slightly, commanding silence before she spoke.
"Thank you for coming," Xiaoyun began, her voice clear and steady. "I'm aware of the rumors and news circulating regarding my personal life. I'd like to address them briefly."
She paused, scanning the room filled with reporters, cameras, and flashing lights.
"Yes, the reports about my fiancé, Lan Feng, are true," Cora began, her voice clear and steady. "While this situation is deeply personal and painful, I want to assure everyone that it will not affect my duties as the CEO of Wang Link International. Our company remains strong, and we are continuing with our focus on growth and innovation."
The reporters scribbled notes quickly, but Cora remained composed.
"As for my engagement, I will not comment further on that matter at this time. My focus is on my company, and I will not let anything interfere with that."
With that, she nodded firmly and walked away, ignoring the eruption of questions behind her.