THE LORD'S SECRET WIFE

CHAPTER ONE The rain had been falling since sunset. By midnight, the entire city seemed to have disappeared beneath a curtain of silver water. Seli stood barefoot on the cold marble floor of the Yan family villa, staring at the woman who had raised her. Her stepmother, Madam Yan, stood several feet away with her arms folded across her chest. Beside her was Zulu. Zulu wasn't smiling anymore. She was staring at Seli's hands. More precisely, at the small white envelope Seli was holding. Seli's fingers trembled. She had been afraid to open the envelope when the doctor gave it to her that afternoon. Now she wished she had never opened it. “Say it again,” Madam Yan demanded. Seli swallowed. “I’m pregnant.” Silence. For several seconds, nobody moved. Then Zulu laughed. It wasn't a nervous laugh. It wasn't a surprised laugh. It was cruel. “Pregnant?” Seli lowered her eyes. “Yes.” Zulu looked at her mother. Then back at Seli. “Who is the father?” Seli's heart tightened. “I don't know.” The laughter stopped. Madam Yan's expression darkened. “What did you say?” Seli looked up. “I said I don't know.” “You don't know who got you pregnant?” Seli felt her face burn. “I know what happened. I just don't know where he is now.” “Unbelievable.” Madam Yan grabbed the envelope from Seli's hand. She opened it and read the doctor's report. Her expression changed. “You're carrying three?” Seli said nothing. Zulu stepped closer. “Three babies?” Her eyes widened before her mouth twisted into an ugly smile. “Oh, Seli. You really know how to create trouble.” Seli's hand instinctively moved toward her stomach. “Don't talk about my babies like that.” “Your babies?” Zulu laughed again. “You don't even know who their father is.” “Enough.” Seli's voice shook, but she forced herself to remain standing. She had spent years allowing this family to make her feel small. She wouldn't let them insult her children. Madam Yan slammed the medical report onto the table. “You have no right to speak to me like that.” “I didn't insult you.” “You embarrassed this family!” Seli stared at her. “I'm not the one who embarrassed the family.” Madam Yan's eyes narrowed. “What did you say?” Seli's courage almost disappeared. But she continued. “I didn't choose to become pregnant just to embarrass you.” Zulu stepped forward. “You should be grateful we're still willing to keep you in this house.” Seli looked at her. “This isn't your house.” Zulu's face changed. Seli immediately regretted saying it. But it was true. She had lived in this house for years. She had eaten at their table. She had cleaned rooms that weren't hers. She had endured insults from people who reminded her every day that she wasn't really part of the family. And now they were acting as if she had committed some unforgivable crime simply because she was pregnant. Madam Yan pointed toward the door. “You should have thought about your future before behaving recklessly.” Seli's eyes filled with tears. “I didn't behave recklessly.” “Then tell us who the father is.” Seli went silent. Her mind immediately returned to that night. A hotel room. Rain against the windows. A man whose identity she hadn't known. A stranger who had looked as lonely as she felt. A night she had never expected to matter again. She had searched for him afterward. But she had found nothing. No useful name. No address. Nothing. And she certainly didn't know that the man from that night was Lord Fu. She looked down. “I can't.” Madam Yan's expression became disgusted. “Of course you can't.” Zulu crossed her arms. “Maybe there isn't even a father.” Seli's head snapped up. “Zulu.” “Maybe she doesn't know because she was with several men.” The slap came before Seli could stop herself. Zulu's head turned sharply. The room went silent. Seli stared at her own hand. She had never hit Zulu before. Zulu slowly turned back. Her cheek was beginning to redden. “You hit me?” Seli's breathing became uneven. “You insulted my children.” Zulu's eyes filled with rage. “You're going to pay for that.” Madam Yan stepped between them. “Enough.” She looked at Seli. Then she picked up a folder from the table. “I've already found a solution.” Seli's stomach tightened. “What solution?” Madam Yan placed the folder in front of her. “Marriage.” Seli stared at her. “What?” “You'll get married.” “To whom?” Madam Yan pushed the folder closer. “Mr. Zhao.” Seli opened it. A photograph fell out. She stared at the elderly man pictured there. Her face drained of color. “No.” Madam Yan's expression remained cold. “He is wealthy.” “I said no.” “He is willing to take responsibility for you.” “He isn't the father of my children.” “That doesn't matter.” Seli stared at her in disbelief. “I'm supposed to marry a man I don't love because I'm pregnant?” “Love?” Madam Yan laughed bitterly. “Do you still believe you are in a position to demand love?” Seli's eyes burned. “I won't marry him.” “You will.” “No.” Madam Yan slammed her hand against the table. “You have eaten in this house for years. You have worn clothes bought with our money. You have benefited from this family, and now that you've gotten yourself pregnant, you want to pretend you're independent?” Seli's chest tightened. “I worked for everything I got here.” “You worked because we allowed you to.” Seli stared at her. There it was. The truth she'd always known. They had never considered her family. Not really. Madam Yan continued. “You'll marry Mr. Zhao next week.” Seli shook her head. “No.” “You don't have a choice.” “I said no!” Seli grabbed the folder and threw it onto the floor. Zulu gasped. Madam Yan's face became terrifyingly calm. “Then perhaps we should discuss what happens when you refuse.” Seli froze. “What?” Madam Yan nodded toward the door. Two men entered. Seli stepped backward. Her heartbeat accelerated. “What's happening?” “Sign the marriage agreement.” “No.” “Sign it.” “No!” One of the men moved toward her. Seli backed away. “Don't touch me!” She turned and ran. “Seli!” She didn't stop. She raced down the hallway. Past the staircase. Past the portraits. Past the family photographs where she was almost never included. She grabbed her coat from the entrance and ran outside. The rain hit her immediately. Cold. Heavy. Relentless. “Seli!” She heard Zulu shouting behind her. She ran faster. She didn't know where she was going. She only knew she had to escape. Her feet hurt. Her hair was soaked. Her coat quickly became heavy with rain. She put one hand over her stomach. “It's okay,” she whispered. Her voice broke. “Mommy's going to protect you.” She stopped beneath a streetlight. Her breathing came in uneven gasps. She had nowhere to go. No money. No home. No family. And three babies growing inside her. Then headlights appeared. Seli turned. A black luxury car came speeding down the road. Her eyes widened. The car suddenly braked TO BE CONTINUED...