Stolen Freedom

The grand hall of the Yi mansion was breathtaking, its elegance both daunting and beautiful. A massive crystal chandelier hung above, casting a warm, golden glow that danced off polished marble floors. The tables, adorned with crisp white linens and centered with arrangements of white orchids, glistened with golden cutlery, adding an air of luxury. Guests, dressed in their finest attire, filled the room with murmured conversations and soft laughter. All eyes were drawn to the head of the hall, where Chairman Yi stood with his family, preparing to address the gathered crowd.

Chairman Yi, a man in his late sixties, held the microphone with an air of authority. His gaze swept over the crowd, filled with pride and satisfaction. To his right stood his son, Yi Yong Zheng, a composed figure in his fifties with an intense expression, flanked by other family members, including his grandchildren Yi Zihao, Yi Ru Xuan, Yi Tai Sun, and Yi Chen, and his daughter-in-law Zhao Lin.

As Chairman Yi began to speak, his deep voice echoed through the hall. "Tonight, we celebrate not only my birthday but the enduring legacy of the Yi family. What you see here—the mansion, Yi Industries, the respect we command—is the result of generations of hard work and sacrifice." His words were met with applause, a warm smile gracing his face as he reached for the ceremonial knife to cut the towering birthday cake.

Just as he lifted the knife, the lights flickered, then went out completely. Gasps filled the room as a chilling darkness took over. Silence hung heavy in the air, an eerie tension creeping into the hearts of the guests.

Then, in the pitch-black silence, a voice echoed—a soft, haunting melody laced with venom. "Happy birthday to you…...Happy birthday to you.... happy birthday, dear father…" The words dripped with irony, slicing through the darkness as the sound of heels striking the marble floor approached.

The chandelier lights flickered back on, illuminating a woman standing alone in the center of the hall. Her name was Yi Lei Xian, and her presence was as striking as it was unsettling. She wore a sleek, fitted black dress with intricate textures, tailored to perfection. The dress ended just below her knees, striking the perfect balance between elegance and authority. Draped over her shoulders was a matching jacket, which she wore with an air of sophistication, as though it were her personal armor. Her heels, nude and understated, accentuated her poised figure without distracting from the subtle power of her attire.

With dark, smoky eyes and a bold red lip, Lei Xian's expression was both captivating and unnerving, like a shadowed storm on the horizon. Every step she took resonated through the room, drawing the attention of the guests who could feel the weight of her presence without fully understanding it. The guests exchanged uneasy glances, aware that Lei Xian's arrival was more than just a return—it was a challenge.

Chairman Yi's hand tightened around the table's edge as his daughter approached, her gaze locked onto him, intense and unforgiving. Her look spoke volumes, a clear message to everyone present: Lei Xian was not a woman to be dismissed or overlooked. She had returned with purpose, ready to reclaim her place, regardless of who stood in her way.

Gasps and whispers erupted among the guests.

"She's… come back…"

"Wasn't she… gone?"

"After all these years… how could she…?"

"Wasn't she… in a mental institution?"

"Eighteen years… I nearly forgot the scandal…"

Lei Xian ignored the murmurs, her piercing gaze locked on Chairman Yi. Her eyes, cold and unyielding, bore into him with a fierce intensity, a testament to the bitterness that had festered within her for years. She took a slow, deliberate step forward, her voice low and laced with venom.

"I'm back, Dad," she said, her words dripping with unresolved anger.

Chairman Yi's face turned ashen. He opened his mouth to speak but found himself speechless, his daughter—the daughter he had cast out and forgotten—now standing before him, alive, stronger, and more intimidating than ever.

She turned her gaze to Yi Yong Zheng, her older brother, who stood a few steps behind Chairman Yi, his expression unreadable. For a brief moment, something flickered in her eyes—a buried grudge, an old wound. Her voice dropped to an icy whisper as she addressed him.

"Hello… brother." She smiled, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Long time no see… brother," she said, her voice colder than ice.

Yi Yong Zheng forced a smile, his jaw clenched. The air was thick with tension as he returned her gaze, but words failed him. Across the room, Yi Chen watched his aunt in silence, feeling a strange mix of awe and unease. He'd heard the stories—the scandal, the whispers of a woman who had once brought disgrace to the family. Yet here she was, as if she had returned to claim what had been denied to her.

"Lei Xian, my daughter…" Chairman Yi's voice was unsteady as he addressed her, struggling to compose himself in front of the guests. "Everyone, this is… my daughter, Lei Xian. She's returned after many years away."

The guests, though curious and visibly shaken, smiled politely and greeted her, masking their shock. But beneath the polite facade, there was confusion and unease. Some of them exchanged glances, their expressions betraying a shared anxiety, as if Lei Xian's return might disrupt secrets they had long hoped to bury.

When the initial surprise settled, Chairman Yi motioned for everyone to continue the evening as planned. Dinner was served, and guests gradually resumed their conversations, though their eyes kept straying toward Lei Xian, watching her every move.

Lei Xian took a seat beside Chairman Yi, her posture straight, her gaze cold and unwavering. The guests resumed their conversations, though their eyes frequently drifted toward her, unable to look away from the woman who seemed to radiate both elegance and danger.

Lei Xian looked around the table, her gaze meeting each family member's eyes, lingering on Yi Yong Zheng. "Let the games begin," she whispered under her breath, her lips curving into a smile that sent a shiver down the spine of anyone watching.

*******

When the feast finally drew to a close, the grand doors of the Yi family estate swung open, and Yi Yong Zheng, ever the gracious host, stood alongside his son Taijun, bidding farewell to their esteemed guests. The hall buzzed with polite chatter and warm farewells as the elite guests filtered out, exchanging bows and pleasantries with the two men.

Yi Yong Zheng, with his practiced charm, clasped hands and shared a few final words with each guest, his laughter echoing through the entrance as he effortlessly wove in subtle reminders of the family's influence. 

Meanwhile, Yi Chen slipped away from the crowd, his shoulders heavy with exhaustion. He moved quietly down the long corridor to his room, relieved to escape the social obligations that had filled the day. Inside his room, he loosened his tie, allowing the weight of the evening to finally melt away. He shrugged off his jacket, letting it fall onto the bed, and then made his way into the bathroom, his mind buzzing with the day's events.

He turned on the shower, watching as steam slowly filled the space, creating a misty haze that softened the harsh lines of his thoughts. Stepping under the warm spray, he closed his eyes and let the water cascade over him, feeling it wash away the tension clinging to his muscles. He exhaled deeply, grounding him in the present, pulling him away from the whirlpool of his thoughts.

As the water poured down, he replayed the events of the day—the laughter of the children at the orphanage, the solemn words of Auntie Lian,

"Auntie Lian's words echoed in his ears, her voice gentle yet filled with the weight of painful truths.

"Yi Chen, have you… spoken to your mother recently?"

"Forgiveness isn't a gift you give to others. It's something you give yourself.".....

the unexpected appearance of Yi Lei Xian, whom he hadn't seen in years. Each memory drifted past him like fragments of a dream, each one stirring an emotion he couldn't quite place.

After a few moments, he stepped out of the shower, feeling no lighter despite the warmth. Wrapping himself in a bathrobe, he opened a drawer to grab his hairdryer, and his fingers brushed against something small and metallic—a nail cutter. He picked it up, a wry smile tugging at his lips as another memory surfaced.

He remembered the way she'd brandished a nail cutter, her face scrunched in determination as if it were a weapon. "I'm not afraid of you!" her voice echoed in his mind, clear and fearless. He chuckled softly, finding a strange charm in her ridiculous courage. Despite her petite frame and the absurd choice of 'weapon,' she had held her ground, meeting his gaze without flinching.

Yi Chen shook his head, amused by the memory, but his amusement quickly faded as he remembered the way her eyes had looked—wide, vulnerable, with a strength that defied her small frame.

"What a brave girl," he murmured to himself. "Threatening someone with a nail cutter…"amused by the contrast between her fierce spirit and her small stature. He flicked on the hairdryer, running his fingers through his damp hair, his thoughts drifting deeper into the memory of her.

He finished drying his hair and sat down on the edge of his bed, the events of the day weighing heavily on him. Lei Xian's return, the words of Auntie Lian, the glimpse of Xin Yi's spirit—all these moments had begun to tug at something buried deep within him. He could feel the carefully constructed walls around him starting to shift, unsettling emotions he wasn't ready to face.

As he lay back, staring at the ceiling, he muttered to himself, "What are you doing, Yi Chen? Letting memories of a girl and the past distract you like this…"

With a sigh, he closed his eyes, his mind still restless. Little did he know, the tangled web of family secrets, betrayal, and unspoken promises was only beginning to unravel, and both Lei Xian and Xin Yi would play a part in revealing truths he'd long tried to ignore.