Chapter 74 - Race Of Heirs
Chapter 74 – Race Of Heirs
Rina was the first to break the deafening silence. She raised her gaze, calm and poised like a woman in her domain.
"Your marriage is nothing but names on paper," Rina softly said, her voice filled with wisdom. She had been raised in a wolf's den worse than the life Lina lived.
At the end of the day, Lina was the granddaughter Rina had seen grow up the most. The one hated by Evelyn, sheltered by Lawrence, and loved by everyone in the Yang family. What did Lina know about hardship?
"Kaden Dehaven has no background, no family, no traditions. He appeared out of nowhere five years ago and suddenly became the infamous Young Master of House Dehaven," Rina stated.
Five years ago? Lina blinked. She didn't know much about House DeHaven, except they owned a company that bordered a monopoly, and had power on the ground and Underground as well—they ran both the business and mafia world.
Lina realized half a decade ago she was sixteen years old. Why did Kaden suddenly decide to show himself to the public? It was dangerous. He was an immortal.
"I am disappointed you'd choose a questionable man with unknown origins over the man we've chosen for you, who has a great family and reputation. Yes, this decision wasn't made by you, but you forget you are a Yang and a woman," Rina reminded her.
"Back then, women had no say in this world, not until a little Zhao woman came along and married into the family, shaking the foundations. Some say you resemble her, with your fierceness and resoluteness," Rina admitted, nodding her head at where Lina was coming from.
Decisions made by men meant to control her. Rina had experienced it herself. The burning ring on her finger reminded her of that much. It was either she married Lawrence by will or by kidnapping.
"But you need to understand your mother's struggles. You're trying to leave the Yang family by abandoning your surname in college. It's not going to work. You are a Yang. Blood of my blood, bone of my bone, flesh of my soul. You are to marry whoever we tell you to."
The ground might as well have given up on Lina. Her legs shook with the disappointment she had experienced. All her life, she had obeyed them.
Lina had sacrificed what she loved for their sake, given up what made her happy for their sake, and that wasn't enough.
It would never be enough, Lina realized. Nothing she ever did would leave an impact, not unless it went against tradition.
"Your mother was in the wrong for allowing the photos to be published. Your Uncle was in the wrong to decide your marriage to Everett without your agreement. But you're also in the wrong for leading men on," Rina said. "Your beauty is your weakness when it should've been your strength."
Lina felt something inside of her crack. No more obedience. No more good girl. If her family was going to corner her, then she was going to fight. She wouldn't run. She would pick her battles and win them.
Twenty-two years on this earth. Twenty-two years of lessons were taught by them on guerilla warfare tactics. If this was how they were going to treat her, then she was going to show them the lion they raised.
"No, grandmother," Lina coldly said. "Thanks for monologuing, but I don't care. You have no guardianship over me. I am an adult. You can't force me to marry anyone."
Lina took a step back. "Kidnap me. Lock me up. You will soon know just how frightening the man I've chosen to marry can be."
Lina knew how Rina got married. Her grandmother was an innocent Princess in the Imperial Family when her grandfather caught a glimpse of her. At that moment, Lawrence decided he wanted her. A young woman with all the naivety in the world. He wanted her because she was easy to control.
Her grandparents must've thought Lina was exactly like Rina. That all these years of obedience would not lead to a rebellion.
Rina tried to rebel by running away, but was kidnapped until she was dragged to the wedding hall. The lover she had on the side was just a poor civilian who had no way of protecting her.
Lina was different.
"You're pathetic, do you know that?" Lina said to Everett, realizing he must've had a connection to her grandmother, one way or another.
"To corner me with my family in hopes of marrying me," Lina spat out. "It is the lowest of lows."
Lina looked everyone in the eyes. Specifically, her grandmother. "You should've understood me the most. You were dragged to the wedding altar, screaming and kicking for freedom. Now, you're doing the same to your granddaughter."
Rina jolted, her resolution threatening to crack. "We all have to sacrifice something for being born a woman. I am preventing you from the years of hardship experienced after my marriage. Accept him as your husband now, instead of fighting your way to death."
"We should sacrifice nothing in the first place," Lina coldly said. "How could you subject me to the same abuse, the same gaslighting, the same manipulation? How dare you?"
Lina raised her eyes to Everett. She knew what he wanted. She wasn't an idiot.
"I changed my mind," Lina snarled. "Today's event has made me realize something, grandmother. You're right. I am powerless and a woman. As you said, I will use my beauty to my advantage."
Lina sharply turned to her grandfather. Whether this was his plan all along or not, she was going to accept the crown of this bloody regime. She was going to gain so much power, they would have no choice but to bow down to her.
"Announce it to the world," Lina told her grandfather, her eyes set ablaze like a phoenix soaring through the night sky.
"As of today, Lina Yang will enter the Heir Race of Yang Enterprise. Power is what I want, and power is what I shall get," Lina snarled.
"No!" Everett sharply objected.
Everett instantly realized the minute she entered the race, she would be a power-hungry woman. That was not what he wanted in a woman. It was not what he wanted his wife to be.
"It will be announced," Lawrence said. His behavior left the air ominous and predictable. All he had ever wanted was for that announcement to be made.
The little girl chasing after him, hugging onto his leg, and smiling the brightest was no longer there. She had grown up. She had matured. She had finally realized what she was made for.
"By tomorrow morning, the world will remember your name again," Lawrence said. "Your accomplishments will not be hidden away anymore."
Lina raised her head, looked her grandmother in the eyes, and nodded. She could see her grandmother's unsheathed rage. The disobedience. The broken house rules. All of it. Lina was going to shatter them. Once she acquired the Main House, to hell with these rules. To hell with forcing everyone to obey by tradition.
Tradition was peer pressure from the dead.
"Let everything be unearthed." Lina squared her shoulders, turned on her heels, and stormed off.
Now that the true heir had entered the game, her relatives would start scrambling.
Lina knew why her grandfather and uncles favored her. Lina had what it took to be the heiress. Her First Uncle had no children to support. Her Second Uncle was a cruel man. Her father was kind-hearted. Her aunt was too caring.
Lina had the combination of everyone's qualities in her family. Her grandfather's intelligence, her First Uncle's cunning, her Second Uncle's cruelty, her father's gentleness, and her aunt's gentle temperament. Roll it into a ball and it was the heir that Lawrence envisioned.
"You're trying to outshine your cousins?" Rina demanded, not believing her own eyes and ears.
Rina couldn't forget it—the little granddaughter that sat by her side, drinking tea and playing with dolls.
Rina had almost forgotten the envy in Lina's eyes when she watched her older cousin attend schooling.
Lina hated how her older cousin was praised for meager accomplishments when Lina had won more awards. The entire family fawned over them for doing the bare minimum.
Rina wished she had seen it sooner. All along, Rina thought Lina was resolute about being the wallflower in the family—always blending into the background. It was what Rina had in mind for the women of the house.
Rina didn't realize she was the reason these traditions were going to be abolished.
"There's no need to try," Lina coldly said, looking over her shoulders. "I've already outshined them."