For any child, the best lady in his or her world had always been their mother. The first person to inspire them. But for Feng Yi Lan, unfortunately, her mother has been the lady she despises the most in her life. The person from whom she wants to learn nothing. The person whose shadow can also disgust her.
"Yi Lan … you …, are you forgetting that I am your mother. And this is not the way a child should greet their mother. I won't accept your rudeness" The lady screamed, clenching her fist hard, digging the skin of her palm with her own nails.
But that scream had zero – effects on Feng Yi Lan. She did not even flinch at her sudden pitch, nor did she feel any guilt or remorse for it. Like she has become long used to her such useless yells and screams.
She looked at the lady as if putting big baggage of blame onto her. Maintaining her eyes at her, she slowly advanced her steps, getting enough close to make her hear her inner grief. "Believe me, how much I want to forget that single fact in my life. But I think that it would be the last thing I can erase. Blame this face that's got traces of you or the blood running inside me, I just can't forget that a woman like you is my mother! The woman who does not deserve to be called one"
Her words were merely a whisper but it has got an intensity that made the woman stumble on her footing. And soon a loud slap was rung in the air, making the house go in an eerie silence. The hit was hard, almost making Yi Lan's skin bruise red but there was no ounce of pain on her face. Like that slap did not bring any pain to her.
"Yi Lan, what did I do to you, for which you are blaming me like this? You are my daughter but you have never cared to call me one. Am I that wrong in your eyes? What I did was for your better future. Can't you see that?" The lady said as the tears got at the edge of her eyes. She could not believe that no one else but her own daughter would be so cruel to her.
A smile of contempt got over Feng Yi Lan's lips as she heard those pitiful words of the woman. "How sympathetic! You are again on with your game. For God's sake, look around. Father is not here and I am no more a kid, you can fool with your fake tears. Your, this pitiful act will only go waste if presented in front of me. Save it for some time else".
She said as her dark brown eyes pierced deep down the soul of the woman. Her fair face that always hit the bullseye of perfection was not giving any hint of warmth or comfort, rather only of contempt and mockery. "And what you did to me or anyone else … I think, I need not to repeat all those again to make myself feel worse than what I am already feeling in the presence of you".
"Just wanted to remind you that you enjoy the privileges that you have been provided all along with your title of Madam Feng. Don't wish too big to control people around your fingers. Because that will be the thing to bring you embarrassment in front of others. Stay away from my Brother. Take this as a piece of advice or even as a warning, I don't care" She added her words making the woman go all wordless at the scene.
If anyone would have seen them right now, talking in the way they were doing then, no one would have believed that they were a mother and daughter pair. No ounce of love and care was evident in their words, neither in their gestures. It was just disgust and disdain filled in the air.
"Now if there is nothing else then I would like to finish my work here as soon as possible and then leave this cold place that never had any warmth for us, at least not for me. She said and then without caring for her reply, swiftly turned on her heels and left upstairs.
After finishing the work for which she was here, Feng Yi Lan soon returned with a small bag as she announced. "I was here for some old files from my studio. I got them, so I will leave now." Saying her words, she unwillingly bowed a little and then again scrambled her legs towards the exit.
"Yi Lan, stop! At least hear what I wanted to say to you. Please come and stay with me. I am all alone here. Your father has also gone out of the country and will only return next week. So … please come and stay with your mother. I need you", the lady's voice held an urge to keep her daughter close. Loneliness was evident in her voice but it served no purpose, as ignoring all her urging, Feng Yi Lan left, leaving her all weak behind.
This pitiful lady was none other than Zhen Qinrou, the respectable Madam Feng of Feng Household, from whom almost every high-class woman feels jealous of. The second and lovable wife of Feng Yu Hao, a stepmother to Feng Yiran and Feng Shufen and the blood-related mother to Feng Yi Lan.
To the people's eyes on the outside, they could only see the majestic and the formidable side of this strong empire. But every beautiful side has also got its own ugliness, no matter how much people deny it, there is always a darkness that's not any easy to push away.
***
Getting out from the main Feng mansion, Feng Yi Lan quickly took her steps towards the car. She just wanted to run far away from this place. Getting in her car, she quickly started the gas and paddled out. Nope, things can't go on like this. She could not keep all this within herself anymore or it will only suffocate her and leave her life in peril.
Her eyes felt heavy with emotions but there were no tears to shed and relieve it. There was once a time she loved that woman the most but now, she could not bring all those loving feelings back. How can she, after knowing everything? …After knowing what she has done in her past …
Pulling her phone out, she quickly dialled a set of numbers. As the ring went in and the call got connected she said, "Hey, where are you now? Let me come and pick you up!"
On the other side of the call, it was none other than Li Xue. At first, when she received the call, a smile covered her lips. Of course, at your both good and worst, the first person with whom you want to share your everything will always be your friends. Same was with both of the women. One was at her good, while the other one was at her weakest end. So here they were finding each other for one another.
The moment Li Xue heard her friend's voice, she understood there was something wrong. She wanted to ask but not like this. So keeping her voice normal, she said, "Ohh, you want to pick me up, then come over now. My work hours are about to get over and I have to go and get Li Wei up from the school too"
"Great! I will be there soon then. Wait for me!" Feng Yi Lan said and then disconnected the call.