When Love Is Fated

The Phoenix Twins

Anson sat up and turned the light back on. "I'm listening," he nervously replied. Annie sat up and leaned against the headboard. The day in the hospital when you told me that he had spent the last few years looking for me," she paused and looked up into his eyes. "I was also looking for you. When I saw you that night, I felt oddly drawn to you. When I looked away from you to gain my composure, you disappeared. I looked for you for the remainder of the night. I didn't know your name so I couldn't ask anyone if they knew who you were. When I saw you that night, I was so scared that you would think less of me. I was so ashamed that I had slept with you and didn't even know your name." Anson watched as she nervously played with the blanket. Her beautiful eyes were filled with tears. "Are you trying to tell me that you love me as much as I love you," he smiled trying to make light of the situation. Annie looked back at him and responded shyly, "I think I've always loved you. I thought something was wrong with me that I was never attracted to other men. The morning after we were drugged, I saw flashes of what happened the night before. Instead of feeling angry, I was ecstatic that it was you. When you proposed, inside I was screaming yes...I was scared of what you would think of me." Anson was so happy to hear her confession. He leaned over and kissed her slowly on the lips. "Annie, I had the same reaction. I was never attracted to any of the women who came on to me either. My friends tried for years to get me to get over you and find a girlfriend. I couldn't do it. I compared every woman that approached me to you." Tears rolled down Annie's cheeks. Anson leaned down and kissed away her tears. They spent the remainder of the night in each other's arms. 

Over the next seven months, Annie and Anson's love for each other grew as well as Annie's belly. They found out that she was carrying twins. A boy and a girl. Anson was on pins and needles daily with the date drawing near. He was with Annie every moment of the day. He went to her studio with her, showered with her, fussed about her eating and sleeping. He massaged her feet and read stories to the babies. He loved feeling the babies kicking when he talked to them. Anson was reading a book to the babies when his phone started to ring. "What is it Lei?" he asked answering the phone. "Boss, we have the proof we've been looking for. I've sent you an email with the information" Lei reported. "Good job Lei," Anson replied. Seeing Annie watching him intently, Anson helped her to stand and they walked to his desk. Anson opened the email and they started to read the contents. Annie jumped from Anson's lap almost falling over. Anson caught her before she fell, "Annie calm down. We now have the proof we need to have her arrested." he explained. Annie started to cry when she thought about what Charlotte had done. Anson rubbed her back and tried to console her. "Annie, let's go to bed. We will deal with this tomorrow," he stated as he picked her up and carried her to bed. Once she was asleep, he went to Ang's room. He knocked on the door and was given permission to enter. "Ang, I have something very important to talk to you about." Ang, put down the files he was reading, "What's up?" he asked.  Anson took a deep breath and proceeded to tell Ang about Charlotte. Ang punched the desk and stood up pacing back and forth. "Are you sure you have enough evidence to be sure she is sent to prison? No, she deserves death!" he roared. Anson felt the same way, "I agree, the problem is telling grandfather, father, and my father in law. Do you think dad will be able to take this information?" Ang stopped pacing and looked at Anson. Their father had just started enjoying life again since Anson returned. He was even considering dating. He met with Charles Hu and the two golfed and met at the club weekly. They were planning a fishing trip for next week. 

Ang thought for a minute and suggested, "Let's tell grandfather first and get his advice. What did Annie say?" Anson sighed and explained how Annie cried herself to sleep. Anson heard a scream and he and Ang ran from the room. Running to his room, Annie sat in the bed holding her stomach. Her face scrunched up invisible pain. "Anson, it's time," she told him as soon as he ran into the room. Anson turned to Ang and told him to get the driver up and tell him to get the car ready. Both Andrew and Shuang Wen came to see what was going on. Seeing Anson helping Annie put on her shoes, they knew it was time for the babies to come. "Andrew Wen yelled downstairs for the butler to get the car ready. Shuang Wen called Charles Wu to inform him of the situation. He agreed to meet them at the hospital. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the hospital. The staff was waiting for them at the door after receiving Anson's call. Annie was taken straight into the delivery room. Four hours later, Deshi and Da-Shin Wen were born. As the nurse carried the babies out of the delivery room, Anson was amazed at the sight of his children. He asked the nurse, "How's Annie?" The nurse smiled and told him Annie was tired and had fallen asleep after kissing both babies. Carrying the babies to the nursery, the nurse left and told the grandparents to follow her. Anson was about to go into the delivery room when the doors opened and Annie was pushed out. Anson walked to the bed and saw her small face look exhausted even in her sleep. He followed the bed into the private room and waited for the staff to finish getting her settled in. 

Annie slept for  8 hours and woke up the following morning. She opened her eyes to see Anson sitting next to the bed asleep in the chair. His head was leaning on her lap. Annie rubbed her hand through his hair. Feeling himself being touched, Anson jumped up. When he saw that Annie was awake, he smiled and assisted her with sitting up. "How're you feeling Angel?" Annie sat up and exclaimed, "Hungry. Where are the babies?" She asked looking around for them. "They're in the nursery. The nurse said she would bring them when you wake up. Let's get you fed and cleaned up and I will tell her to bring them in." he told her. Annie really wanted to see the babies but she was starving so she readily agreed. After eating, the nurse assisted her with cleaning up. The doctor checked her and stated that everything was fine. The door opened and the nurse pushed the babies in for Annie to see them. Annie looked at her babies and fell in love with their cute little faces. Her son frowned as the nurse interrupted his sleep when she picked him up, he started to cry until he was placed in Annie's arms. Hearing her calming voice, he instantly settled down and fell back to sleep. Her daughter didn't fuss at all when she was picked up and handed to Anson. He sat on the bed next to Annie so she could see and touch her daughter. Annie started crying, "Angel, what's wrong," Anson asked her concerned. "I'm just so happy," she explained. They sat there holding the babies and talking in hushed tones. 

Later in the day, the grandparents arrived to see the babies. Annie watched as her dad and father-in-law held their grandchildren. Andrew Wen stood behind his son and beamed at his great-grandchildren, Annie suddenly remembered how upset she was last night and asked her father, "Dad, where's Charlotte? I haven't seen her in some time now." Charles Hu's expression turned sour, "She all of a sudden wanted to travel abroad with Amber. They will be back in a few weeks." He explained. Anson looked at Annie worried. She was so upset last night that she went into labor. He didn't want to have this conversation on the day his children were born. He shook his head at her and she nodded she understood. This action did not escape Andrew Wen. Something was going on and he knew he needed to speak with Anson alone. "Anson, I want to buy the twins a gift, come go with me to the gift shop," he said leaving no room for discussion. Anson kissed Annie and told her he'd be right back. Walking out of the room, Andrew wasted no time, "Tell me what's going on with Charles' wife. Why did Annie look angry just mentioning her name?" Anson decided he would tell his grandfather everything. After telling him everything they found out and had the proof to convict her, Anson waited to see his grandfather's reaction. Andrew was so angry that he had to sit down. "Did Annie get so worked up she went into labor? You know you have to tell your father and Charles?" he replied. Anson nodded his head and explained that he and Ang had planned to discuss it with him today but Annie went into labor. 

Andrew and Anson picked several gifts to take upstairs for the babies. Andrew decided to contact his old friend. He instructed his butler Gao Wang to set up a meeting with Xi-wang Zhao. He would make sure Charlotte Hu would pay for her evil doings. Andrew informed them that he had an appointment and took his leave. Arriving at the Zhao villa, Andrew was greeted at the door by the butler to lead him to the garden where  Xi-wang Zhao was waiting for him. "Ah Andrew, it's been a long time. I know why you're here. How do you want to handle this?" he asked. Ever since he received a visit from Jin Ouyang, he had already had people following Charlotte Hu. He would not allow her to get away. "If we turn her over to the police, she will probably go to jail. I want her to suffer first. My son lost his wife and my grandsons lost their mother," Andrew commented through gritted teeth. Xi-Wang nodded his head. "She killed my son just so she could marry into the Hu family. She will suffer for what she did to my son," he said his voice laced with hatred. Andrew felt the same way. If not for her greed, his daughter-in-law would still be here. "My grandson is married to her husband's daughter. He does not know that it was his wife is responsible for his 1st wife's death. They had two babies today. They had planned to tell my son and her father today but my granddaughter-in-law became so upset when she found out what Charlotte did, she went into labor. I don't want her arrested right away, she needs to be tortured into confessing her crimes," Andrew explained. Xi-wang looked at his old friend and smiled in acknowledgment. "If you mean to do what we did in the old days, I'm all for it," he smiled. They discussed a plan and chatted about the old days until Andrew informed him that he would contact him in a few days to put the plan in motion.

After Charles and Shaung left for the day, Anson decided he and Annie needed to discuss how to punish Charlotte. "Angel, we need to discuss how you want to punish Charlotte. We need to talk with our fathers first to determine how to move forward. This is going to hurt your father to know that his wife is responsible for his 1st wife's death," he said cautiously. Annie sat there in thought and turned her head to look at Anson, she smiled and said, "My father won't be hurt, he will be angry. He told me the day I told him about us and the babies that he only married her for companionship. She knows he does not love her and never will. He thought they could alleviate the other's pain of losing their spouse's being together. He had no idea that she killed her husband and then plotted to have my mother killed. What I'm most afraid of is he has blamed himself for not being there to pick her up and it caused her death because she decided to go shopping instead. Knowing Charlotte killed my mother to be with him is going to cause him to live in guilt once again." Anson, deep in thought at Annie's words, decided she was right. His father blamed himself as well over the years because he missed his wife's call because he was in a meeting. She was pinned under the car trying to reach him to tell him of the accident and couldn't reach him. His father over the last few months slowly started living again. Hearing this may cause the hurtful memories to resurface and cause him to start living like a zombie again. "I know what you're saying is right but they have to be told. When you are released from the hospital, we will sit them down and discuss this with them," Anson told her. Annie nodded her head and looked out the window deep in thought.

Two days later, Annie and the babies were released from the hospital. They arrived at the villa and were greeted by their family and two nannies that Anson hired for each baby. Annie reluctantly agreed to have the nannies when Anson explained that with their schedules, they would need the help. Anson helped Annie inside to sit on the sofa. He had already discussed the plan to speak with his dad and Charles Hu today with Ang and Andrew. Since the babies were asleep, the nannies took them upstairs to their nursery. Andrew decided it was now time to tell them, "Shuang, Charles there is something the two of you need to know. I want both of you to remain calm and listen to what Anson is going to tell you," he told them with a strict voice. Charles Hu and Shuang Wen looked at each other and then at Anson. "Son, what's wrong?" Shuang asked. Anson looked at his grandfather and brother and finally at Annie. They each nodded their heads in consent. Anson started to speak, "Father, the day you pulled out the pictures of our mothers, Annie and I noticed something in the pictures. I had Lei do some investigating and we found evidence of foul play in the accident that took our mother's lives," he paused to see their reactions. Charles Hu sat up straight and Shuang Wen jumped up from the sofa, "What do you mean by foul play? The police said it was a drunk driver. What is going on?" Anson stood up and walked to his father placing his hand on his shoulder, "Dad calm down and listen to me first, please." Shuang Wen sat down on the edge of his seat. Anson turned to Charles Hu and continued, "Father, I have a question to ask you, before you saw Charlotte at the cemetery when was the last time you saw her?" Charles Hu squinted his eyes and asked, "What does Charlotte have to do with this? She did not come into the picture until months after my wife was gone." Anson looked at Annie. Annie stood and walked to her father and pulled out the pictures, "Dad, take a look at these pictures and tell me what you see." Charles Hu took the pictures and flipped through them. "I see your mother's beautiful face and Kim's." "Look closer, look in the background," Annie advised him. After flipping through the pictures, Charles realized that Charlotte was in the background of each picture. Was she following them? He turned and looked at Shuang, "Did you notice this? How could this be? Was she following them?" he asked in pure confusion. Shuang took the photos and looked at each picture. He noticed Charlotte but also someone else that should not have been there. "Look who else is there, he said to Charles. Charles looked at the pictures again and realized Charlotte's best friend was in several of the photos as well. He looked at Shuang and both men understood what happened. They were incensed. Anson noticed the look on their faces and decided to tell them the rest, "Before either of you act, there is one other thing you need to know. In order to be with your father, Charlotte killed her first husband." Charles long had suspicions regarding Charlotte's husband's death. The story she told him did not make any sense. He did not push it because he did not really care. He only married her for the company. He had never been intimate with her and they never slept in the same room. She was his wife in name only. 

Andrew cleared his throat and began to explain, "I met with Yichen Zhao's father a few days ago. He wants revenge because of what Charlotte did to his son. I told him, Charles, that she was now your wife. He has no argument with you because he knows you had no knowledge of what Charlotte had done. We decided that just sending her to jail for all the wrong she has done that we know about is not good enough. We plan to make her suffer first for everything," he explained. Annie looked at Andrew and realized why he was feared by so many people. It was rumored that he had ties to underground criminal activities but gave it up and went legit many years ago. Charles Hu looked at Andrew and explained, "I married Charlotte because I was afraid to be alone. We only made the agreement to be there for each other to help ease the pain of losing our spouses. I have never felt any love for Charlotte. I tolerated her for so many years. Knowing she took my beloved Caroline away from me...she will pay. I don't care what you do to her. I will divorce her immediately." Saying this, he took out his phone and contacted his assistant. He instructed him to draw up a divorce agreement. He then told him to turn off all access to money for her and her daughter immediately. He blocked Charlotte's number from his phone to force her to return. 

On the other side, Shuang Wen was deep in thought. He finally understood why Brenda Jiang started coming to see him after two months of his wife being in an accident. When she realized Kim Wen had not died but was seriously hurt, she stopped coming for some time. After years of suffering, Kim passed away in her sleep. The week after her funeral, Brenda showed up again trying to comfort him. He refused her advances and informed her that he would only ever love his beloved wife. He forbade her from coming to him again. After a few more attempts, she stopped coming. He looked at Charles and spoke, "So they plotted against our wives to give them out of the picture. Anson, did you find out anything on Brenda Jiang?" Anson looked at his father and explained, "We hadn't noticed the other woman. I will get Lei to find out her whereabouts and let you know." Anson sent a text message to Lei instructing him to find out any and everything he could about Brenda Jiang. Lei responded to let him know he was on it. 

Ang, who had sat there listening to everything quietly finally spoke, "So what's the plan?" Charles started first, "Now that I know she left because she was made aware that someone was looking into her husband's death, we have to get her to return first. I've already had her credit cards suspended and blocked her from my phone. She will return once she realizes she has no money." Andrew then started to speak, "I've already sent people to trail her. She is currently in Macau. My people will be bringing her and her daughter back tomorrow. Charles, now that I know you will not be hurt by the torture she will receive, I will not hold back." Charles and Shuang both had faces filled with fury. Ang asked, "Why are you bothering the daughter, she has nothing to do with this?" Andrew looked at Ang and replied, "Until I received information from my sources, I had no idea that Amber worked in the hospital that your mom was in as a volunteer." he lowered his head and continued, "I just found out this morning that it was Amber who put an overdose amount of sleeping pills in your mother's IV. She did not succumb to her injuries as the report said. She fixed the report but did not realize that she did not erase the lab reports. My team is very good and will be sending me the proof to convict her as well. Charlotte hurt your mom and made her vulnerable to be in a position to be killed. It was Amber who actually killed her," he explained. Annie looked at Andrew shocked by what he said. She wondered why Amber always looked at her with such disdain. Amber knew her mother had killed her mother and she was stupid enough to make a line of clothing for her.  Anson and Ang both looked vicious.  Neither had ever had thoughts regarding bringing harm to a woman, however, both wanted to strangle Amber. Shuang Wen, who was most upset when he heard this stated, "They will pay....all three of them."

At this time, Anson's cell phone ring. Looking at the screen, he answered upon seeing it was Lei, "speak" was all he said. Lei stated, "Boss I have some very important news to tell you. I'm on my way to your home." Anson hung up the phone. Ten minutes later, Lei walked in the door. He showed his respect to the others in the room and looked at Anson for further direction. "Tell us what you have found out," he instructed Lei. Lei nodded his head and handed a file to Anson while starting to speak, "Boss, the man that Charlotte Hu paid to set up the accident has been found. He moved to Taipei but we found him. Several men are bringing him here now. The financial transactions between them are in the file as well as the money that was paid to the family of the driver. His family was held hostage to make him comply with driving in the accident. He was tied up and the alcohol was poured down his throat. To keep him quiet, his daughter is still being held. A large amount was sent to his family but the wife has never touched it. I've sent several men to rescue the girl after we figured out where she has been kept all these years. Jin Ouyang has moved the family to a remote villa where Charlotte and her people will not find them. Our best computer technician pulled up text messages sent by Charlotte from her old phone number from years ago. All of this information is in the file. Amber Zhao reached out to one of her friends who has a villa in Macau. He agreed to allow her and her mother to stay there for a while. She told him that they were robbed and had to leave the hotel until Mr. Hu comes back into the country and can wire them money. I've arranged for a legal tap on both of their phones."

In Macau, Charlotte Hu was fuming. She was told by hotel staff that her card had been declined when she ordered room service. She was paying 5 million dollars a night to stay in this hotel and was livid when they told her they would have to leave. When she called the bank to find out what was wrong with her card, the bank informed her that Hu Group canceled the card. Charlotte knew once someone came digging into her ex-husband's death, it would only be a matter of time before Charles found out what she did. He not only cut off her cards but Amber's as well. Luckily, Amber had a friend who allowed them to move into his villa. "Amber, take whatever jewelry we have and sell it. Get as much as you can. We need to leave here and go as far as we can before Charles sends someone here to get us," Charlotte explained to Amber. Amber, who had become accustomed to living amongst the elite, refused to behave like a lowly commoner. "Send a servant to do it. I can't be seen selling jewelry...it's too embarrassing," she complained. Charlotte looked at Amber as if she was crazy. "How do you think we will eat if we don't have money. I've spoiled you too much these years. You either take this jewelry and sell it or we starve." Charlotte yelled. Amber reluctantly went into the room and took every expensive piece of jewelry they had and left the villa. As soon as she started the car, her nose and mouth were covered with a cloth with chloroform. Amber passed out and was pulled to the back seat of the car. The person in the back climbed over the seat and into the driver seat and drove out of the villa. He then sent a message informing his boss that he had Amber. 

Inside the villa, Charlotte watched Amber drive away and then picked up the phone and called Brenda Jiang. Brenda answered the call after several rings, "Charlotte is that you?" she asked. "Shut up and listen. Zhao's family started investigating what happened to Yichen. Which means they may find out what else we have done. You need to leave from there now!" she explained. "Brenda Jiang sat there surprised. Since she was not able to gain Shuang Wen's attention, she had moved on and was working in a hospital as a nurse. She was making good money and was no longer involved with Charlotte who stopped calling her after she got what she wanted. "I have my own life. There is no evidence that I had any involvement in what happened. If they come to me, I will deny knowing anything. I won't leave." Charlotte stumped her foot, "There is no evidence, or have you forgotten it was you who set up the driver?" Brenda wasn't worried about that since she had long stopped using that number and disposed of the cell phone. There was no way for them to trace those transactions to her. Charlotte was instantly livid with how dumb Brenda could be. One of the reasons she was friends with Brenda was because she could easily be manipulated. "Brenda listens to me, Zhao money and influence is long. If old man Zhao wants to know something, he will find it out. He has people everywhere. I know that Charles has found out something, he has already cut my cards off. Why would he do something like that if he wasn't aware of something?" Charlotte asked her impatiently. Brenda thought for a minute and replied, "You should've known this day would come eventually. Caroline's daughter is a famous designer who looks just like her mother. Once Charles saw her, he would have thoughts of his beloved wife. Even though he married you, we both know that he has never loved you. His daughter would definitely investigate what really happened to her mother." Charlotte thought about what Brenda said, "You're right! He did start acting distant once Annie returned. She must've said something to him that turned him against me!" Her face was twisted with anger in a hideous manner. "Charlotte, you should've stashed money somewhere, right?" Brenda asked. Charlotte never thought of putting money away. Charles had always been very generous to her and allowed her to spend the money any way she wanted. She realized years ago that he sent her on trips to shop to keep her away from him. She and Amber didn't care as long as they were able to live a vicious life. She had not realized that he would eventually find out the truth. "Brenda, I advise you to listen and leave that place before someone connects you to everything. At that time, you will be arrested and it will be too late." She warned Brenda. Brenda rolled her eyes and prepared to leave for work, "I will not go. I have to be at work soon. I have not seen Shuang Wen since he banned me from coming before him. He will not try and pin anything on me," she said matter of factly. "I have to leave now. Don't call me again," Brenda told her before hanging up the phone. She detested Charlotte for getting her involved in all of this. It was after Charlotte started avoiding her when she married Charles that she realized Charlotte had just used her to help her get what she wanted. She had no interest in helping her get Shuang and changed her number. Brenda moved on with her life and was now happy. She would not allow Charlotte to come back into her life and ruin it. Charlotte looked at the phone in shock, "How dare she hang up on me!" she shouted. She turned to go upstairs when her mouth and nose were covered. Her body went limp.