Chapter 3: The Shocking News From Mother (Prologue 3) 3K Words
"Mom?"
Zayn felt a hint of confusion.
His mother didn't usually call him at night like this.
Nonetheless, he suspected that there might be something important his mother needed to discuss, so he promptly answered the phone.
"My dear Zayn~" A seductive, mature voice emanated from the other end of the line.
"Mom, it's unusual for you to call me at this hour. Is everything okay?" Zayn greeted his mother with curiosity.
"Humph! Can't a mother call her beloved son without it being something dire?" Her voice carried a trace of annoyance.
Zayn was accustomed to his mother's playful manner, so he didn't take her complaints too seriously.
He feigned guilt, saying, "Alright, dear mother, I apologize for not being more considerate."
Upon hearing Zayn's apology, his mother seemed to lighten up.
"Hum! It's good that you acknowledge it."
Zayn couldn't help but feel amused by his mother's behavior, which contrasted with her usually reserved demeanor and cold exterior.
Zayn often heard stories about his mother's life before she married his father.
Carla, his mother, had been an independent woman who had built her own business empire.
She was not only the first female president but also known as the capital's first beauty during her time.
Many eligible bachelors, especially young scions from influential families, had pursued her for marriage.
However, Carla had consistently turned down their proposals, viewing them as individuals relying solely on their family's status rather than their own abilities.
Then, at a dinner banquet, Carla crossed paths with Richard Welston, Zayn's future father, who had achieved success in building his own business empire without relying on the Welston family name.
Richard had gained fame for his exceptional skills and talents, which intrigued Carla.
Even though Carla had been proud and self-assured, she eventually recognized Richard's superiority, particularly his profound intellect and apparent ability to discern people's thoughts.
This heightened Carla's curiosity about him.
As the saying goes, "curiosity about a man often leads to love." Carla fell in love with Richard after getting to know him better.
Of course, Richard's handsome appearance also played a role in capturing Carla's heart.
After marriage, Carla took the Welston surname and worked alongside Richard to strengthen the Welston family's influence in the capital.
Over time, the Welston family came to dominate not only the capital but also the entire country.
"So, my dear mother, is there something important?" Zayn inquired, curious about the unexpected call.
"Fufufufu! Alright, down to business. I have three important pieces of news to share," Carla chuckled playfully before adopting a more serious tone.
Zayn arched an eyebrow, giving his full attention to his mother.
"I have two pieces of good news and one piece of bad news," Carla stated.
"Fufufu, which would you like to hear first, little Zayn?" She teased.
Zayn contemplated for a moment and then replied, "I'd prefer to hear the bad news first."
If he heard the good news first and then the bad news, it wouldn't make the good news any less exciting, would it?
However, he had no inkling of what the bad news might be, and his mother's slightly different tone made him a tad anxious.
"Fufu~ well, the bad news is that your engagement to Charlotte has been called off," Carla revealed, a chuckle in her voice.
"Eh?" Zayn's eyes widened, and he nearly dropped his smartphone in astonishment.
He had never anticipated receiving such news and was taken completely off guard.
His engagement to Charlotte was primarily due to her family's extensive land holdings in the town, which the government had earmarked for development in the business and education sectors.
Its value was estimated to skyrocket, potentially hundreds or even thousands of times its original price before development.
If the Welston family could secure control of it, their status and influence would soar to unprecedented heights.
Even the Welston family's most clandestine adversaries with sinister intentions would be forced to reconsider.
However, with his mother revealing that his engagement to Charlotte had been canceled, Zayn found himself thoroughly perplexed and deeply curious.
Mira, who had been eavesdropping all this while, was equally shocked and covered her mouth in disbelief.
Mira had always been very close to Zayn, and Carla considered her to be like a daughter.
She was well aware of the reasons behind Zayn's engagement to Charlotte, and she shared Zayn's concerns.
Seeing Zayn's silence, Carla sensed his thoughts and offered an explanation with a smile.
"Yesterday, we paid a visit to the Bailey family and made the decision to cancel your engagement with Charlotte. Of course, we have our reasons."
"Recently, the government released news that the planned town development had been abandoned due to unfavorable land conditions, making it unsuitable for development as initially envisioned."
"This news led to disappointment among many, causing several investors, including us, to withdraw their capital intended for the town's development."
"We, however, had only made one investment—the engagement with Charlotte—so we didn't sustain any significant losses."
Zayn, listening attentively, quickly grasped the situation.
On the surface, the engagement might have seemed like a profitable venture.
However, upon closer examination, it placed the Welston family at a disadvantage.
A second-tier family had managed to compel a prestigious family like the Welstons to betroth Zayn to Charlotte, making it a topic of public discussion.
Had it not been for the interference of the Welston family's adversaries and even the government's intervention to prevent the Welstons from taking legal action against the Bailey family, they might have faced bankruptcy.
Furthermore, the Welston family's help had propelled the Bailey family from a second-tier status to a first-tier one, essentially an unexpected windfall for them.
If not for the Welston family's development plans, Carla wouldn't have arranged Zayn's engagement to Charlotte in the first place.
Now, with the Bailey family having lost their leverage, it made perfect sense for the Welston family to annul the engagement.
Cooperative relationships built solely on shared interests were fragile and prone to collapse.
"Of course, that's not the sole reason for calling off the engagement," Carla continued.
"At first, I believed she'd make a suitable daughter-in-law, but as time went on, it became clear that she was far from the right fit."
"I'm aware that Charlotte can be quite cold and arrogant. I can say that because I used to be like her."
"However, there was a distinction between us. I built my business empire without significant backing from powerful sources."
Carla's voice remained soft yet carried a hint of pride as she spoke, then continued.
"Fufufu~ I'm also aware that my beloved son has been trying to forge a connection with her but has often been ignored," Carla teased Zayn, punctuating it with a chuckle.
Zayn felt a touch of embarrassment and playfully rubbed his nose.
If others knew that even the capital's prince was sometimes ignored by Charlotte, it might spark various reactions.
Some women might feel indignant on Zayn's behalf, while men might share a laugh, exclaiming, "Even the capital's prince gets the cold shoulder!"
"Hum! How dare she ignore my little Zayn?" Carla's voice took on a more serious tone.
Zayn inwardly sighed, thinking, "My mom spoils me too much!"
"Then, how do you think Charlotte's parents will react to this?" Zayn wondered aloud, curious about the potential consequences.
Would they be furious?
Carla's response aligned with Zayn's expectations.
"Of course, they are furious, but there's nothing they can do," Carla responded.
"They suffered the most from the news, especially Charlotte's father. He was so shocked that he ended up in the hospital, and the engagement was called off simultaneously. Charlotte's mother fainted upon losing her dream son-in-law." Carla's voice carried a tone of helplessness.
The corner of Zayn's mouth twitched as he pondered the situation.
"How could someone endure such agony? Charlotte's father must be incredibly resilient to be hospitalized only due to shock. Anyone else might have considered something drastic."
Suddenly, Zayn thought of something and inquired, "Charlotte's mother fainted because she lost her son-in-law? What does that mean?"
Carla took a deep breath and replied softly, "Did you know that Charlotte isn't their biological daughter?"
"What?! Is that true?" Zayn was genuinely surprised by this revelation.
He had no idea that such a significant secret existed in Charlotte's family.
"Indeed, my dear son," Carla confirmed.
"They have been using Charlotte to elevate their family's status and take advantage of the Welston family's reputation. If it weren't for our need for the land to strengthen our family's position, we would never have allowed the selfish desires of that husband and wife," Carla said, her tone tinged with anger and a hint of helplessness.
Zayn now felt sympathy for Charlotte, realizing that she had been forced into an engagement for her family's sake.
Despite being similar to Charlotte in certain aspects, he knew that, as a man, he had more flexibility in such matters.
Hearing his mother's irate tone, Zayn understood that the Bailey family was in dire straits.
He was well aware of his mother's aversion to being manipulated or threatened by outsiders, especially considering that the Bailey family was merely a second-tier family.
As the Welston family applied pressure to the Bailey family, there emerged an opportunity for the government to thwart the Welston family's progress.
Additionally, both the government and the concealed adversaries of the Welston family exploited public opinion to stifle their influence.
Zayn had taken note of several families that had contributed to suppressing the Welston family during that period.
He couldn't help but anticipate that the Welstons would exact harsh revenge on them in the near future, and he was ready to lend his support when the time came.
Despite possessing formidable business acumen, he hadn't wielded real power due to his initial reluctance to involve himself and his desire to enjoy his youth.
Suddenly, he remembered that Charlotte was on her way, and he decided to inform his mother.
"I understand. By the way, Charlotte is en route here. Perhaps she wants to discuss the engagement," Zayn thought and resolved to share this with his mother.
After all, she would eventually find out.
"Alright, matters between the two of you should be handled by yourselves," Carla replied with a light smile.
"Alright, I'll handle this peacefully. After all, our relationship has been going on for about two years. At least we won't part ways in anger," Zayn said with a casual smile.
"Fufufu~ My baby Zayn has grown up; I'm so delighted!" Carla teased with laughter.
"I've been 23 years old, mother," Zayn responded weakly, rolling his eyes.
"Yes, yes, you're all grown up," Carla replied carelessly, not taking Zayn's words too seriously.
In her eyes, Zayn would always be her child, regardless of his age.
Knowing that his mother wasn't taking him seriously, Zayn shifted the conversation back to the two remaining pieces of news.
"So, what are the two remaining pieces of news?" Zayn asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Hehehe, those are..." Carla's voice retained its mysterious and mischievous tone, keeping Zayn in suspense.
He had a feeling that these two pieces of news would surprise him.
"Now that your engagement with Charlotte has been called off, I can reveal the news about your three fiancées, as promised," Carla said softly.
Without delay, she continued her explanation.
"The three women I've chosen are the ones I'd like to see as my daughters-in-law. They are talented and beautiful women, certainly no less so than Charlotte. And you already know them."
Carla's voice hinted at a guessing game, keeping Zayn in suspense.
In truth, he had already guessed one or two of the women, as he was only close to a few.
However, his mother was known for her unpredictability.
Seeing Zayn's silence, Carla revealed, "The first woman is Mira."
Zayn was a bit surprised, but not overly so, as Mira had been one of the women on his mind when his mother asked him to guess.
Besides, Carla already considered Mira her daughter, so it made sense and put him at ease.
Mira, on the other hand, was genuinely taken aback.
She hadn't expected to become Zayn's fiancée, considering her humble background as his personal maid.
Yet, with the Welston family now behind her, her aspiration to become Zayn's wife seemed attainable.
Unbeknownst to Zayn, Mira was already plotting to secure her position in his life.
"Hmm, I already knew," Zayn replied lightly, devoid of surprise in his voice.
Carla was slightly astonished, but she quickly regained her composure and teased Zayn, "Oh my, did you know? Don't tell me you've already declared your love to Mira."
Zayn scratched his nose innocently and replied, "I've just proposed to Mira."
Carla:... :O
Carla hadn't realized that their relationship had progressed to this point. Yet, when she thought about it, it made sense given the years they had spent together since childhood.
Carla's initial goal had been to rescue Mira from the orphanage, as Mira was the child of a friend who had tragically passed away in an accident.
At a particular time, Carla's friend had been rushed to the hospital, and during her last moments, she entrusted Carla with the care of her child, little Mira, who was in an orphanage.
Mira had been placed in the orphanage due to a family power struggle, and there was a fear that she might become a victim of the conflict.
To ensure her safety and well-being, they decided to send Mira, who was just a baby at the time, to an orphanage.
They also regularly sent money to the orphanage to ensure that Mira could grow up healthy and well-fed.
Carla, well aware of the situation, readily agreed to help.
After meeting little Mira and taking her in, Carla had a plan to betroth her to Zayn.
Upon hearing this from Zayn, Carla experienced a mix of emotions—happiness and sadness.
She was pleased that her son would finally be with Mira, fulfilling her friend's wish for Mira's safety and well-being. Yet she also felt a twinge of sadness, as she believed that the Zayn she had raised would soon leave her.
This thought was, of course, an exaggerated one, born out of her deep love for Zayn.
"Alright, I'm content with that. At the very least, I've kept my promise to Mira's mother." Carla's voice conveyed a sense of helplessness and relief.
Zayn was taken aback when his mother suddenly mentioned Mira's parents.
In the past, whenever Zayn had inquired about Mira's parents, Carla had always evaded the question, acting as though she didn't know or didn't want to discuss it.
How had Carla come to know about Mira's parents? Zayn wondered.
He suspected that his mother must have known about Mira from the beginning.
After all, with the resources of the Welston family, it would have been relatively easy to gather information about someone.
At one point, Zayn thought that Mira might be his father's illegitimate daughter, found by his mother.
Thankfully, this assumption turned out to be incorrect.
Mira was initially surprised when Carla suddenly mentioned her mother.
However, upon further contemplation, she realized it was entirely plausible given the influence and resources of the Welston family.
This revelation prompted her to wonder about her parents and the reasons behind their decision to place her in an orphanage.
Had it not been for Carla's intervention and her eventual meeting with her beloved prince, Zayn, Mira might still be alone in the orphanage, devoid of the happiness she now enjoys.
Consequently, she harbored suspicions that something had been amiss with her birth family, leading them to make the decision to send her to an orphanage.
Observing Mira in a daze, Zayn wrapped his arms around her and gently stroked her hair.
"Are you curious about your parents?" He inquired.
Mira nodded, her face buried in Zayn's broad chest.
"I've wondered about the circumstances that led them to place me in an orphanage, but I'm mostly curious because the Welston family is my true family now~" She replied softly.
Zayn felt a tinge of sadness for Mira and continued to comfort her by running his fingers through her hair.
Although Mira claimed her curiosity was merely a passing thought, Zayn, who had known her since childhood and could read her expressions well, understood that this was her way of diverting his concern.
Recalling Mira's childhood face, which was beautiful and charming yet incredibly cute with her chubby cheeks, Zayn realized that her appearance as a child didn't align with that of an ordinary family's child.
Zayn had a hunch that Mira's parents might have been entangled in a family conflict and decided to position her outside of it, perhaps even resulting in an accident that prompted Mira's mother, who was close friends with Carla, to entrust Mira's care to Carla.
Carla was her most trusted friend, and she likely asked her to look after Mira in case something happened to them.
If Carla were aware of Zayn's thoughts at that moment, she might have been astonished and exclaimed, "Indeed, my wonderful son!"
Zayn soon returned to reality and decided to ask his mother directly, "Mom, could you tell us about Mira's parents? I'm curious about them."
Although Zayn had already formed his own conclusions about Mira's parents, he wanted to get a clear picture of their situation by hearing it from his mother.
Typically, Carla had avoided this question in the past, but Zayn felt confident that she would provide an answer this time.
"I would have told you the truth then, but not now. When I get home, I'll share the details with you and Mira in private." Carla's voice conveyed a sense of helplessness and sorrow.
Zayn nodded in agreement and looked at Mira with a reassuring smile.
Mira, in turn, felt relieved that her past would soon be revealed, and she hugged Zayn tightly to express her gratitude.
Zayn felt as if two heavy objects were pressing against him—soft and substantial.
"This girl is very healthy; my children won't go hungry in the future," Zayn mused, breathing a sigh of relief.
Seeing Mira's newfound happiness and lack of worry, Zayn's heart lightened, and he smiled gently.
Then, he remembered that his mother hadn't revealed the identities of his other two fiancées and asked curiously, "By the way, Mother, who are my other two fiancées?"
Upon hearing this, Carla couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Fufufu~ They are Chloe, your adorable and beautiful sister, and Luna, your childhood sweetheart from years ago," Carla chuckled, revealing their identities all at once.
"What?!"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone