Chapter 12: A Familiar Stranger
859 Words
Chapter 12: A Familiar Stranger
The moment they stepped through the front door of the Shen residence, Mr. Shen's rage could no longer be contained. Without a single word, he raised his hand and slapped his daughter, Yvonne Shen, hard across the face.
Yvonne stood frozen, stunned into silence.
Mr. and Mrs. Shen only had one child. Yvonne had been raised like a delicate flower, indulged in every way imaginable. Not once in her privileged life had she ever been hit, nor even scolded harshly. And that indulgence had shaped her into someone proud, unruly, and entitled.
"Yvonne!" Mrs. Shen rushed forward, placing herself between her daughter and her furious husband. She looked at Mr. Shen with disapproval. "You could've just said what you needed to say. Did you really need to hit her?"
Vivian stood quietly to the side, head lowered, as if she hadn't seen anything.
Yvonne cupped her cheek, eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at her father.
"That was the lightest she deserved!" Mr. Shen growled. "Have you even heard what she said back there? Do you know how much damage she could’ve caused?"
Mrs. Shen tried to placate him. "She's still young..."
"Young? She's in her twenties! She's not a child anymore. If she keeps acting like this and offends the wrong people, it won’t just be her who suffers—our entire family will pay the price."
Mr. Shen's concern had never been about feelings or parenting; it was always about profit, prestige, and survival.
"Yvonne didn’t mean it..." Mrs. Shen tried to defend her.
"She could burn the whole house down and you'd still say she didn’t mean it."
Turning to Yvonne, Mr. Shen said coldly, "If you had half of Vivian’s composure, I wouldn’t be this worried."
His words, meant to elevate Vivian, sliced into Yvonne like a knife. Her eyes flared.
How could she be lesser than Vivian?
Vivian, whose parents had died when she was young. Vivian, the orphan who had grown up under their roof. Vivian, the pitiful tagalong of the Shen family.
No. In every way that mattered, Yvonne believed she was superior.
Before she could spit out a retort, the housekeeper entered and announced, "Madam, Sir, the Gu family has arrived."
All eyes turned.
Vivian's head snapped up instinctively.
Mr. Shen frowned. "I thought they were coming in two days?"
"Please, invite them in," he finally said.
Mrs. Shen leaned toward her daughter. "Yvonne, come upstairs with me. Your face is swollen. I’ll get some ice."
It was clear she didn’t want Yvonne meeting the Gu family like this. But Vivian stepped forward.
"Auntie, why don’t I take Yvonne upstairs?"
Mrs. Shen looked at her with a tight smile. "Vivian, we have guests. Stay and help your uncle welcome them."
Of course. The Gu family was coming to evaluate her. They couldn’t let her disappear.
Yvonne protested, "You said I could meet them."
"I didn’t say you couldn’t," Mrs. Shen said smoothly. "But your face looks terrible. We don’t want to make a bad impression."
Yvonne sulked. She glanced accusingly at her father—this was his fault.
Yvonne cared deeply about appearances. The idea of showing up in front of the prestigious Gu family with a swollen cheek made her hesitate. What if Gu Yuanlang found her unattractive?
Vivian, seeing her pause, quickly stepped forward and took her hand.
"Sister, don’t leave me alone," she whispered sweetly. "I’ve never met the Gu family before... I'm nervous. What if they don't like me?"
She clung to Yvonne, refusing to let her go.
Vivian knew the Shens would try to push her into an engagement with Gu Yuanlang if she were left alone. As long as Yvonne stayed, they wouldn’t finalize anything.
Her instincts were correct.
Before Yvonne could decide, a refined-looking woman and a tall young man entered the room.
Vivian froze.
She recognized them instantly.
Madam Gu, graceful and poised despite being in her forties, looked every bit the charming society lady. Her smile was warm, but Vivian knew better. Beneath that pleasant mask was a heart of steel.
And the man beside her...
Gu Yuanlang.
Vivian's former fiancé. The man she once thought she would spend her life with.
He had the kind of face that made people stop and stare—elegant, fair-skinned, with lips as red as a woman's and eyes framed by thick lashes. His naturally pale complexion gave him a fragile, almost ethereal look. A beautiful man, with a soul far colder than his appearance suggested.
Vivian could still remember the day of their wedding in her past life—the day Yvonne had stormed in with a blade.
And Gu Yuanlang, the man who was supposed to protect her, had let go of her hand the moment trouble arose. He'd stepped back, distancing himself from her as quickly as possible.
That was who he truly was—selfish, cold, and calculating.
Now, seeing him again, Vivian's lips curved into a mocking smile.
In her heart, she said the words she wouldn't speak aloud:
"Hello again, Gu Yuanlang. But this time, I won't let you drag me into hell."
- Writer
