Flash Marriage: The Domineering Wife Chapter 1 Hates her life

Yan Mei stared blankly at her computer screen, squeezing her eyes shut and taking a deep, cleansing breath before exhaling slowly to release the tension. Upon opening her eyes, her gaze involuntarily drifted to the wall clock. It showed nine o'clock. Yan Mei knew her grandfather would be concerned about her working so late, but this solitary pursuit was her only method of shutting out the world and feigning well-being.

Restlessly, Yan Mei rose and moved to the window, her eyes fixated on the street below. "Damn him!" she exclaimed, the raw intensity in her voice startling even herself. Five years had passed since that fateful night when everything was lost, yet the memory remained vivid, an indelible scar. Her fingers curled into fists, a desperate attempt to contain the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

The sheer trauma of her world imploding had been almost unbearable. Therapies and the unwavering support of her father had, perhaps, prevented her from succumbing to despair long ago.

Closing her eyes once more and drawing a deep breath, as her therapist had instructed, she met her own gaze in the reflective glass of the window, offering a smile. Though her eyes betrayed no hint of mirth, it was a smile potent enough, she hoped, to deceive any observer. "I'm okay. See, I'm still alive, and that's what matters most," Yan Mei whispered to herself.

She couldn't recall when this coping mechanism began, but whenever the past threatened to plunge her into depression, she would take a deep breath and smile, as if this simple act held the power to mend all wounds.

Returning to her desk, Yan Mei powered down her computer. Clutching her purse, she exited the imposing headquarters of the multi-billion dollar corporation she owned.

Seated in her Audi A3, Yan Mei hesitated to start the engine. A profound sense of loneliness and melancholy had settled upon her this evening. While she had poured all her energy into her work over the past few years as a distraction, the gnawing emptiness persisted, now threatening to consume her entirely. Tonight, she decided, she would allow herself to simply be Feng Mei, if only for a little while.

"Wish me luck, Love," she murmured, her gaze lifting towards the heavens as if addressing someone unseen, before finally starting the car.

*****

It was Friday night, and the club throbbed with activity, packed with a multitude of patrons. Lei Zhao had anticipated such crowds on a Friday. As he approached the entrance, he inadvertently bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry," a gentle voice apologized from his path. Looking up, Lei Zhao drew a sharp breath, his eyes locking onto the woman before him. She was the epitome of perfection. Eschewing any hint of a provocative outfit, she wore the antithesis: a professional business suit.

Lei Zhao had never imagined that a business suit could accentuate a woman's beauty and allure so profoundly.

Yan Mei felt a prickle of self-consciousness under his unblinking gaze. Raising an eyebrow, she met his stare. He possessed a striking handsomeness, an air of refined elegance, and a commanding presence that drew attention effortlessly.

"Beautiful," Lei Zhao breathed, the word a mere whisper.

"Pardon?" Yan Mei asked, perplexed. 'Why is this man behaving so strangely?' she wondered inwardly.

Recognizing the unusual nature of his reaction, even to himself, Lei Zhao let out an awkward chuckle. "Sorry, I was asking if you're alright."

"I'm fine, and I apologize once more," Yan Mei replied, offering a slight bow before turning away. She then entered the club, leaving him standing there.

Lei Zhao watched her retreating figure, a sense of disbelief washing over him. He had never believed in love at first sight. Yet, for the first time in two years, since his girlfriend departed and his brother passed away, Lei Zhao found himself captivated by a woman. Could it be mere pent-up desire after a prolonged period of abstinence? He shook his head and entered the club.

-INSIDE THE CLUB-

"So, the prodigal son isn't feeling amorous tonight?" Lei Zhao merely shrugged in response to his friend, Henry Liu's, jibe. He had been far too consumed by his work in recent years to even consider a woman's attractiveness.

He had dedicated all his efforts to his business, driven by a desire to make his deceased brother proud. Since his brother's death, he had shed his carefree persona. He harbored resentment towards his brother for leaving him alone in the world, especially after a promise to always be there. His brother's death, precipitated by a girl, left Lei Zhao seething with a desire for vengeance. He had searched for her relentlessly for years, but she seemed to have vanished without a trace.

Henry Liu delivered a friendly punch to his arm, pulling him back to the present. "Man, that's the third woman you've turned down today. You keep scanning the room as if you're searching for someone specific. What's going on with you?"

Lei Zhao found himself too weary to engage. He had hoped that seeing other women might rekindle his desire, but none had stirred him like the woman at the entrance. Now, he was determined to find her, yet she had vanished as swiftly as an illusion.

"Look at that, man, holy sh **t!" Henry Liu let out a high, piercing whistle.

On the dance floor, she was the same woman he'd encountered at the entrance. Completely immersed in her own world, eyes shut, lost to the rhythm and lyrics of the song. Dancing in a suit might seem peculiar, but no, it was the most captivating sight he'd witnessed in years.

Her hair was down, lipstick applied, and a few buttons undone, revealing a tantalizing sliver of cleavage. It was enough to drive one mad, making one yearn to unbutton everything and uncover the mysteries hidden beneath that suit.

A sly smile touched her lips as she opened her eyes and noticed him staring. Holding his gaze, she offered a closed-mouth smile that radiated pure seduction.

Lei Zhao knew, in that instant, that he had bartered his soul to the devil, but looking at the woman before him, he felt no regret.

Yan Mei observed the man from the entrance and smirked. She saw the conquest in his eyes and relished the feeling. Despite countless proposals from men before, she understood their true motives were always her wealth. But the look in this man's eyes was different.

It was as if he had finally discovered something he had long sought, desiring it now with every fiber of his being.

She watched, amused, as he approached. Just as he reached her, a petite blonde figure intercepted him.

Lei Zhao's brow furrowed as he looked at the person obstructing his view.

"Hey, handsome. Care to buy me a drink?" the woman asked, fluttering her false eyelashes and pressing her chest against him.

"No," Lei Zhao replied curtly.

"So cold. I like that," the woman's tongue flicked out, moistening her lips.

Lei Zhao winced, his patience wearing thin. He couldn't fathom why women like her tried so hard, squeezing into dresses so tight they could barely breathe. While he appreciated the transformative power of makeup, overuse rendered them resembling painted clowns. He detested it.

"Hey, babe, where have you been????

Lei Zhao's eyes widened in astonishment as Yan Mei placed her hands on his shoulders.

A smile played on her lips as she witnessed Lei Zhao's dumbfounded expression. She then turned her attention to the blonde woman.

"Miss, is there something my man can assist you with?"

Yan Mei inquired coldly, her eyebrows knitting together as she appraised the woman before her. Faced with Yan Mei's icy demeanor, the blonde huffed, shot a glare, and departed.

"Stop looking at me like that, you weirdo," Yan Mei said sarcastically, turning back to Lei Zhao.

"You can't blame me, can you? It's not every day I encounter a lady as captivating as you, my love." A smug grin spread across his face as he winked at her. Yan Mei rolled her eyes, dismissin g his cheeky remark.

"If you're done with your little speech, weirdo, you can buy me a drink. I just saved you from that situation," Yan Mei stated, a hint of distaste in her voice.

"It would be my absolute pleasure, my love." Lei Zhao wrapped an arm around her waist, guiding her towards the bar counter.

Henry Liu watched his friend, now openly flirting, his jaw slack with surprise. He was bewildered; since his brother's death and his sister's departure, Lei Zhao had become the coldest, most indifferent person he had ever known.

'Who, then, is this person shamelessly flirting with a woman?' Henry Liu shook his head in resignation and left them to their own devices.

***

Lei Zhao observed the woman, engrossed in her drink, and let out a sigh. Since he had brought her here, she had completely neglected his presence, her focus solely on her beverage. He began to doubt his own charm.

"That's enough. You've had your fill," Lei Zhao said, attempting to take the glass from her grasp. Yan Mei swatted his hand away, draining the remaining liquid in one go.

"You're supposed to be drinking with me, not stopping me," a confused frown creased her brow.

An awkward silence descended between them. Lei Zhao remained quiet, his gaze fixed on the woman beside him. He recognized the pain in her eyes, having once worn that same look himself. Suddenly, he noticed tears welling up. Lei Zhao reached out, gently wiping away a fallen tear.

"You… I'm not crying. Something just got into my eye," Yan Mei stammered, turning to face Lei Zhao. "Only weaklings cry, and I am not weak. I am a beautiful, successful, and happy woman," she declared.

Yan Mei then burst into laughter, as if reciting a pre-programmed mantra embedded in her mind to maintain her composure. She poured more wine into her glass and raised it towards Lei Zhao.

"A toast… hmm—to strength," without awaiting Lei Zhao's reply, Yan Mei downed the wine in a single gulp. She appeared so utterly broken, sad, and shattered that his heart ached for her.

Her shoulders sagged, a silent admission of defeat. He could discern that she was a woman who had always projected an image of strength, carefully concealing the depth of her inner pain. However, the faraway look in her eyes betrayed her, hinting at a story far from ordinary.

Lei Zhao observed the inebriated woman, letting out a sigh. He hadn't even had the chance to learn her name or where she resided.

He surmised that she would have to spend the night under his roof. He summoned his friend to keep an eye on her while he stepped outside to contact his driver. Just as he was re-entering the club, his phone began to ring. Glancing at the caller ID, he grumbled in irritation. He knew his mother would likely call to lament his single status yet again. Running a hand through his hair in frustration, he answered the call.

"Mom…"

Had Lei Zhao foreseen that answering this call would lead him to lose track of his captivating damsel, he would have certainly let it go unanswered.