章節 1: Chapter One: The Not-so-perfect Life
Olivia's POV
As the only son of the affluent Tan family, Aiden and I drove to his parents' fancy penthouse in New York City, the busy streets stretched out in front of us.
It was a big change from our life as owners of Tan Corp, the biggest company in the city.
There was no denying our wealth and power, as shown by the sleek skyscrapers that bore our name and the many awards that were hanging on our walls.
Aiden and I drove through the familiar streets of New York City in silence on our way to his parents' compound.
There was a heavy tension in the air that felt like it was suffocating us.
We felt like we couldn't handle the weight of their expectations, which cast a shadow over our otherwise perfect life.
For every mile that went by, the scenery changed from busy city streets to open countryside, and Aiden's family estate became more visible.
There was evidence of their huge wealth in every part of the house, from the immaculate gardens to the grand front of the mansion.
With a heavy creak, the wrought iron gates opened to reveal a long driveway surrounded by flower beds and tall oak trees.
When Aiden got to the compound's intimidating gates, he parked the car with practiced accuracy,
The engine went silent as we sat there nervously waiting.
At that moment, Aiden's voice cut through the silence of the car and woke me up. He whispered, "Olivia," and his worried eyes were fixed on me as we got closer to his parents' house.
I looked at him with eyes that were both surprised and thankful as I turned around.
Even though our situation was heavy, his presence gave us a little comfort in the midst of the uncertainty.
I knew that with him by my side, we would be able to handle whatever came our way and make the most of our not-so-perfect life.
For Easter Saturday the compound was silent which seemed unusual.
The Tan family always had a big celebration over Easter weekend.
There were lively games, fancy meals, and lots of guests coming and going from the mansion.
The huge compound was full of activity as plans were made weeks ahead of time.
The halls of the mansion were filled with laughter and chatter as family members and important guests mingled, saying hello and admiring the fancy decorations in every room.
The grand foyer was decorated with lots of fancy Easter-themed things, like flower arrangements, eggs with lots of little details, and displays of springtime treats.
The grand kitchen smelled like delicious food, and a group of skilled chefs were working hard to make a feast fit for a king or queen.
Dishes that looked and tasted so good were piled high on the tables, from juicy roast lamb to delicate pastries and rich desserts.
It cost the Tan family a lot of money to make sure that their guests had the best food possible.
Gifts were coming and going from the mansion.
They were sent by well-known people in the community and business partners who wanted to win the Tans' favor.
Every available space was filled with carefully wrapped gifts, which showed how wealthy and important the family was.
Staff and visitors Kids ran through the well-kept gardens, looking for Easter eggs hidden in the plants.
Their laughter filled the air with happiness. At the same time, adults were having lively conversations about business plans, social events, and the latest rumors.
This year was different, though. Even though there was a lot going on before Easter weekend, the mansion was eerily quiet.
When the Tan family celebrated, the grand halls were usually packed with people and had a lively atmosphere. This time, they were empty.
There was a sad mood in the usually lively estate because there was no laughter or chatter in the halls.
The fancy decorations stayed put, but the heavy mood of sadness in the air made the bright colors look dull.
Even though the staff tried hard to keep things normal, there was an undeniable tension in the mansion.
It was like everyone was aware of how different this year's celebrations were from the wild ones in the past.
As we walked toward the mansion, I couldn't help but be amazed by how beautiful everything was.
The mansion stood out in front of us like a sign of wealth and status. Its stately columns and grand archways showed how well-known the Tan family was.
Inside, the wealth kept going strong, with each room being more luxurious than the last.
Every part of the room, from the shiny marble floors to the intricately carved furniture, was a sign of unimaginable wealth and luxury.
It was its own world, a golden cage where we were both lucky and suffocated.
Aiden and I made our way to the heart of the mansion, carrying the Easter gifts we had brought.
The weight of our responsibilities hung heavy in the air. But as soon as we stepped through the front door and into the grand foyer,
I couldn't get rid of the uneasy feeling that something was wrong.
A feeling of unease crept around the edges of my mind as we got closer to the main foyer, even though everything seemed fine.
After four years of marriage to Aiden, our lives had been full of success and happiness, but there were cracks starting to show in the surface that could break the illusion of our perfect life.
The air seemed to get heavy with tension as we walked into the fancy foyer of his parents' house.
With her neatly styled hair and cold eyes, Aiden's mother greeted us in a way that sent a chill down my spine.
The way she looked at me with disapproval told me that I hadn't given her son the one thing she wanted most, a Tan heir.
Aiden's father, who was already a very scary person, gave a short nod to show that he saw what was going on before turning his attention to something else.
In their eyes, I was an unwanted presence—just something that got in the way of their plans for their son's future.
Over the course of the evening, the mood became more tense, with awkward silences and forced small talk.
As a responsible son, Aiden tried to ease the tension by saying sorry and making excuses, but it didn't help me feel better.
Even though he tried to reassure me, I still felt like I didn't belong, like a square peg in a round hole.
The stress of having to meet their expectations was unbearably heavy, and it felt like I was going to pass out at any moment.
As we were about to leave, Monica Tan, Aiden's mother, looked right at me with her sharp eyes,
As Monica's piercing gaze fell upon me, her cold, calculating eyes seemed to strip away any semblance of warmth in the room.
It was as if her gaze alone carried the weight of centuries of expectation and tradition, pressing down on me like a heavy burden.
In that moment, her disapproval was palpable, emanating from every fiber of her being.
It felt as though she was dissecting me with her eyes, scrutinizing every inch of my being and finding me lacking.
Her lips were pressed into a thin line, betraying none of the emotions that surely churned beneath the surface.
It was a look that spoke volumes, conveying a silent message of disappointment and expectation all at once.
and she finally said,
"Dear Olivia, you've been married to our son for four years now."
We still don't have a grandchild, though. I hope you know how important it is to keep the Tan family name alive.
Her expectation hung heavy in the room and made me feel like I couldn't breathe. As I tried to think of the right words to say,
Aiden's reassuring squeeze on my hand didn't help much.
Before I could start speaking, Michael Tan spoke up, that was Aiden's Father. His voice was calm but firm.
He asked Monica to stop. Don't put too much pressure on the kids. They don't have to give us grandchildren, it's not their responsibility.
When he stepped in, I let out a silent sigh of relief because I knew he would understand.
But Monica's disapproval lingered, making it hard to focus on what we were talking about.
Then Michael looked at Aiden and me and became more serious. "Aiden, Olivia, there's something I want to discuss with you both."
Aiden and I looked at each other with doubt as we exchanged glances. "What is it, Dad?" Aiden asked with some worry in his voice.
"I want to meet Henry Tan by the January celebration of the New Year," Michael said. His words made me feel confused.
"Henry Tan?" I replied again, trying to figure out what the strange name meant. "Who's Henry Tan?"
Michael's eyes got softer as he told Aiden, "Henry Tan is your son." "He is the Tan heir."
He already gave our unborn child a name, I mumbled underneath my breath.
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