Eternal Marriage

The President’s Mother

The opulent drawing room echoed with the crackle of porcelain tea cups as Gu Xiaoruan gripped her phone, her knuckles turning white. Through the screen, Fang Rong’s concerned voice wavered like a lifeline in a storm. “Xiaoruan, you can’t just disappear like this. Lucy’s been calling non-stop.”

A sarcastic laugh escaped her lips. “Disappear? I’m trapped in a goddamn castle with a madman!” She paced the room, her high-heeled shoes echoing against the marble floor. The memory of Huang Tingyue’s cold kiss—now revealed to be nothing more than a political transaction—burned like acid in her chest. “Tell Lucy to cancel all my meetings. And… find Zhong Sheng. Tell him to wait for me, no matter what.”

Silence stretched between them like a tangible barrier. “Xiaoruan, this isn’t a joke. Your career—your life—are at stake.” Fang Rong’s voice cracked, and for a moment, Gu Xiaoruan saw the fear in her friend’s eyes. She hated herself for burdening her, but there was no other choice.

The room’s grand chandelier flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls. A figure emerged from the shadows—a stern-faced executive holding a stack of files. “Miss Gu, His Excellency is unavailable.” The man’s voice was clipped, devoid of empathy. “But he’s willing to discuss a confidential agreement with you.”

Gu Xiaoruan’s blood boiled. “What kind of agreement?” Her voice rose, shrill and desperate. “You can’t force me to—”

“Acknowledging your cooperation in producing the empire’s heir,” the executive interjected, sliding a document across the table. The paper’s official seal—glowing like a venomous snake’s eye—stated it plainly: Total Control. Absolute Obedience.

A crash of thunder shook the castle, plunging the room into darkness. For a breathless moment, Gu Xiaoruan thought she heard Huang Tingyue’s laughter—low, dark, and utterly devoid of humanity. Then the lights snapped back on, revealing the executor’s smug smirk.

“You see, Miss Gu,” the man said, gesturing toward a wall-mounted screen. “Your ‘brother’ is faring well. Quite… fragile, actually. With his congenital heart condition, he wouldn’t survive a week without specialized treatment.”

Gu Xiaoruan’s vision blurred. The image on the screen showed Zhong Sheng—her gentle, intellectually disabled brother—writhing in a sterile hospital bed, surrounded by shadowy figures in black suits. His once-kind eyes were wide with fear, and his lips moved as if he were trying to scream.

“You monster!” She lunged at the screen, her fist shattering the glass. Pain exploded through her hand, but she barely noticed. “How dare you… how dare you use him against me!”

The executor stepped forward, his hand raised in a gesture of mock sympathy. “It’s all for the greater good, Miss Gu. The empire needs heirs—and you’re the perfect vessel.”

A sickening realization dawned on her. Huang Tingyue hadn’t just kidn*pped her; he’d manipulated her entire life. From their secret romance in college to her rise in the entertainment industry—every step had been orchestrated. Even her friendship with Zhong Sheng wasn’t a coincidence.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them back. “You think I’m stupid?” She grabbed the contract and ripped it to shreds, the paper snowflakes swirling around her like a vengeful ghost. “I’ll never be your pawn. Never.”

The executor’s laughter echoed as the door slamming shut. Gu Xiaoruan collapsed onto the floor, her body shaking with a mix of anger and exhaustion. The castle’s ancient walls seemed to close in around her, suffocating her with their secrets.

In that moment, she vowed to escape—not just from Huang Tingyue, but from the web of lies and manipulation that had defined her entire life. Her brother’s anguished face burned in her mind’s eye, fueling a fire of determination. She would fight—no matter the cost.