Heart Desires: Find You In Love Maze

The night was dark and quiet.

Dark clouds drifted over the moon, casting an ominous shadow over the Mo family villa. The villa, so full of festive merriment earlier in the day, stood silently in the dark, enveloped in an eerie stillness. Suddenly, a gust of wind rustled the leaves as lightning streaked through the sky. A storm was coming.

Inside an extravagant room located in the east wing of the villa, the crystal chandelier sent diamonds of light dancing across the red wedding decorations on the walls.

Dressed in an exquisite Italian chiffon wedding dress with inlaid gems, Elli An sat alone before the French window with her back to the door. Her almond-shaped eyes, as clear as spring water, looked sadly out the window as she bit nervously on her bottom lip. Her pretty face was full of sorrow, and her heart was as dark and gloomy as the sky outside.

It was her wedding night with Jacob Mo, the second son of the Mo family. She had only met him once before, during the wedding. The situation was absurd, but she knew better than to complain. Her marriage and her fate had been decided for her, and there was nothing she could do about it.

At this moment, she heard footsteps approaching from the hallway, and the door swung open.

She paled as her heart thundered in her ears. It had to be her husband, here to consummate their marriage. Who else could it be?

She turned to look, but the lights went out with an audible click.

Her heart hammered uneasily in her chest. It didn't seem right for her husband to turn off the lights before she had had the chance to speak with him, but she kept her concerns to herself. They would have to consummate their marriage sooner or later, and she might as well get it over with.

The sound of his footsteps grew louder as he approached her, and she tried to keep still even as she trembled with fear.

She felt the nervous sweat on her forehead trickle down her temples. The sound of her own breathing sounded unnaturally loud in the dark. She thought she could hear him breathing next to her, but before she could react, he had pulled her from her chair and trapped her against the wall.

She tried to push him away, but he was a tall, well-built man and she was only a small, petite woman. She felt as though she were pushing against a wall.

The man seemed to find her attempts at fighting him off amusing. He let out a low, mocking laugh.

He enjoyed seeing her suffer and flail about in terror. He was the predator, and she was his helpless prey.

"Be a good girl and behave," he said in a low voice.

She shuddered involuntarily. The voice sounded strangely familiar. Where had she heard his voice before?

"No!" She pulled herself out of her muddled thoughts to voice her protest, but it was too late: he had tossed her onto the bed and pinned her down. She caught a whiff of his cologne, and her mind reeled in confusion. She was quite certain her husband had been wearing a different cologne during the wedding.

The sound of thunder rattled the window as lightning flashed across the sky, lighting the entire room. In that split second she saw his face. It was devastatingly handsome, but her blood ran cold at the sight.

It wasn't Jacob Mo! But before she could take a closer look the room had returned to total darkness, leaving her with her doubts and uncertainties. Had it only been a trick of the light?

She tried to resist, but he was like a ravenous beast. Tears streamed helplessly down her cheeks and onto the pillow. She felt violated, and her mind went blank as she tried to shut out what was happening to her.

Perhaps this was her fate. What was the point of fighting, if she couldn't win? Nothing seemed to matter anymore. If she wanted to save her family business, she would have to swallow her pride, endure the humiliation, and try her best to forget it afterwards. The fate of her family rested on her shoulders.

The man noticed she had stopped struggling, and lost interest. He had achieved his goal, and he knew there would be plenty of opportunities for him to make up for lost time later on. He had all the time in the world, and he wasn't in a hurry.

He undid the tie he had used to bind her hands together, and put on his clothes. As soon as he was dressed, he opened the door and walked out, leaving her to her miserable thoughts in the empty room.

She lay in the silence like a broken doll. Suddenly, she heard shouts and rapid footsteps from the hallway. Someone knocked frantically on her door, jolting her out of her waking nightmare.

"Mrs. Mo, oh, it's terrible! Your husband was on his way back when he got into a car accident, and he's still missing!" The servant shouted in between frantic knocks.

Elli An's blood ran cold. Her husband had been with her in the room a moment ago, right?

Was it possible that it was not her husband at all?

She didn't have time to think. She hurriedly put on her clothes and opened the door to find the maid's worried face looking back at her. "Alma, are you sure about that? Is it true?"

*It's true. You should go downstairs to comfort your mother-in-law. She's inconsolable. Your father-in-law left with a group of servants to look for your husband, but he isn't back yet." Alma Li dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. It was supposed to be an auspicious day for the Mo family, but now it seemed as if the day would end in tragedy.

Elli An's heart thumped violently in her chest as she followed Alma Li downstairs. Halfway down the stairs, she noticed a well-dressed stranger standing in the living room, smoking with his back turned towards the stairs. She couldn't see his face, but there was something about the way he stood, with his shoulders thrown back and his chin held high, that made her feel uneasy.

In the beautifully furnished living room, Jean Yang, her mother-in-law, sat on the sofa before the tea table, sobbing quietly. Elli An took in her puffy eyelids and bloodshot eyes, and knew that Alma Li had been telling the truth.

"Mom, are you waiting for Dad to return? You should go back to your room and rest. I'll wait here and let you know as soon as we have news." Elli An laid a hand on her mother-in-law's shoulder, her eyes bright with genuine concern.

Jean Yang smiled weakly, grateful for her daughter-in-law's gesture of kindness. She had been crying ever since the maid informed her of her son's accident, and the exhaustion from the wedding preparations earlier in the day was beginning to take its toll on her. She rose from her chair and gestured for Alma Li to escort her to her room.

At the stairway, Jean Yang froze in mid-step, as if struck by a sudden thought. She turned to Elli An and said, "Elli, is Jacob..."

She trailed off into a series of strangled sobs. The thought of her son never coming home again was too much for her.

"Mom, don't worry. I know he won't leave me behind. Not like this!" Elli An tried to sound brave, but she could barely finish her sentence. She blinked back the tears in her eyes as she wondered why the gods had chosen to be cruel to her.

Jean Yang didn't reply. She nodded weakly at Elli Yang, and walked slowly up the stairs with an exhausted sigh.

Elli An looked curiously at the man with the cigarette, but he kept his face away from her. With a shrug of her shoulders, she walked over to the sofa and seated herself as her thoughts began to wander. She thought of what had happened in the room earlier, and her skin began to crawl.

"He won't leave you behind, eh?" The icy voice dripped with venomous disdain. "You sound like a loyal, dutiful wife. How very touching! But I know better. You're the kind of woman who's always after a better catch. Out with the old, in with the new!"

Elli trembled all over with fear. She knew this voice. It was him! Elli An whirled around to face the owner of the voice, and the man smoking before the stairs met her gaze with an arched eyebrow. He had the features of a Greek god, and his expensive tailored suit showed off the perfect proportions of his tall, well-built physique. He was so devastatingly beautiful he put most women to shame.

Was it really him? No, it couldn't be!

"Why do you look so surprised? You didn't seem half as surprised when you saw me earlier." There was a dark gleam in Gregory Mo's beautiful eyes as his lips curved into a dangerous smirk. He moved slowly towards her, and caught her wrist before she could withdraw from him. His handsome face leaned into hers as she struggled in his grasp. "Elli, it's been three years. How have you been? We finally meet again!"

"Is it really you?"

"Yes, it's me. Are you surprised? Are you frightened?" His smile was warm and charming, but the tone of his voice was as dangerous as an icy dagger. "I came all the way here just for you, you know. It must be so lonely to stay in an empty room."

Her cheeks flushed, before turning into a sickly shade of white. Her eyes were wide with panic, but beneath the fear there was an undercurrent of other unspeakable emotions, including guilt and sorrow. She opened her mouth to say something, but the recollection of what she had done to him in the past hit her like a ton of bricks, and she closed her mouth again in shame.

"Hush now." Gregory Mo put his finger to his lips as a wicked grin spread slowly across his face. "Don't even try to play the part of the innocent victim again. I'm sick and tired of it."

"Let go of me!" It took all of her courage to defy him, but as soon as the words left her mouth she regretted the tone she had taken. She had wronged him in the past, and she deserved the contempt he was showing her now.

Gregory Mo glared at her. "Never. I'm never letting you go, not this time. This is just the beginning. You'll never be rid of me!"

there was a "clack" as Gregory's hand shot out and blocked her chopsticks with his own. Elli quickly withdrew her chopsticks, alarmed and embarrassed.

Gregory had grown bored of the silence at the breakfast table; it was time to spice things up. He got up from his chair and slid into the seat next to Elli's, dangling the omelet she had wanted before her eyes. "Alright, open up. Let me feed you. You want the omelet, don't you?

You used to beg me to feed you like this, remember?" With that, he placed the omelet in his mouth and smirked at her.

Elli was furious. She glared at him for a long moment before finally saying, "Are you nuts? Do you know what you're doing? Don't cross the line."

"Keep your voice down. Do you want the servants to see us like this?" Gregory frowned impatiently.

Elli turned a deep shade of red as she trembled all over with humiliation and anger. Her family business was on the line, and her father's medical fees were being paid for by the Mo family. She had to keep her relationship with Gregory a secret; if anyone found out, her family would be ruined forever.

"Be a good girl and behave." There was a tinge of affection in his otherwise icy voice.

Elli frowned. She was caught between a rock and a hard place. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she hit upon a third option: escape. She rose from her chair, but in her hurry to get away, she lost her balance and fell heavily onto his lap.

"What's this? Are you throwing yourself at me now?"

Elli flushed with embarrassment. She tried to get up, but he wrapped his powerful hands around her waist and held her in place.

The tension between them was palpable.

"Gregory! Have you lost your mind?" Elli was so nervous she hardly knew what she was saying. Paralyzed with fear, she could only sit helplessly on his lap as she tried to get her limbs to function again. Suddenly, she felt a cool breeze on her face, and when she turned to look, he kissed her on the lips.

Ring! The sudden ringtone startled the both of them. Gregory froze, and then let go of her as he nonchalantly answered his phone.

The color returned to Elli's face as she scrambled off his lap. She was finally able to breathe again, but she knew better than to let her guard down. She watched Gregory closely, afraid that he would pick up where he had left off.

After a brief conversation on the phone, Gregory ended the call and put on his suit jacket. It was obvious that he would be leaving the house to attend to other business.

The tension went out of Elli's shoulders as she let out a sigh of relief.

All of a sudden, Gregory whirled around to look at her, and Elli tensed again. He arched an eyebrow at her as the devilish smirk reappeared on his lips. "Be a good girl and wait for me to come back."

With that, he walked out the door without another word.

Come back? Was he planning on continuing? Elli shivered at the thought. She didn't remember Gregory being such a depraved pervert. He frightened her, and she wished she could have the old Gregory back.

Gregory's actions had made her lose her appetite. She called for Alma to clear the plates and went back to her room.

As soon as she was back in her room, Elli reached for her pajamas, fully intending to change out of her dress and catch up on her sleep. Before she could do so, however, Jean walked in.

"Elli, I know you're probably tired, but can you spare a minute? There's something I'd like to discuss with you." Jean had a youthful face for someone her age, but now she looked unnaturally thin and haggard. She looked as if she had aged several years overnight.

Elli put a hand over Jean's shoulder. She didn't know what to say to comfort her mother-in-law, not when Jacob's death was still fresh on their minds. She said gently, "You don't have to ask for my permission, Mom. I'd be honored to hear what you have to say."

She helped Jean over to the edge of the bed, where they both sat wordlessly. The silence was beginning to feel awkward to Elli when Jean finally said, "What do you think about me? Have I treated you well?"

"Yes, of course," Elli answered truthfully.

"What do you think of the Mo family? Have we been good to you?" Jean's eyes narrowed imperceptibly as she skillfully lured Elli into the trap she had prepared. Elli nodded wordlessly in reply, but Jean needed a vow of commitment from her daughter-in-law. She put her hands over Elli's and said, "I want to hear you say it in your own words. Have we been good to you? Be honest with me now."

Elli fidgeted uneasily under her mother-in-law's searching gaze. Had Jean noticed the odd tension between her and Gregory last night?

"Mom, what's wrong? I know Jacob's death was really sudden, and all of us are still reeling from the shock." Elli paused, before adding carefully, "But you have nothing to worry about. I'll take care of you and love you like my own mother. Don't be sad."

"You're so sweet and considerate. I'm so grateful to have you as my daughter-in-law. There's no one else I can trust in the Mo family." Jean pretended to wipe tears from her eyes. After a moment, she sighed and said, "To tell you the truth, I don't think Jacob's death was an accident."

Elli stared at Jean, bewildered. "What do you mean?"

Jean looked at Elli steadily, as if weighing her options. Finally, she said, "I believe that Gregory is responsible for Jacob's death."

"What? That can't be right! Why would he do that?"

"Why not? The Mo family is rich and powerful. Everyone wants a piece of the Mo family fortune. Gregory has only been back a few days, and now Jacob's dead. Does this look like a coincidence to you?" Jean saw the dubious look in Elli's eyes, and knew she needed another push. "I know what you're thinking. Gregory is the son of my husband's ex-wife. It doesn't make sense for him to kill Jacob when he's already entitled to the Mo family fortune. But greed has no limits. If Gregory can have the whole pie without having to share it with his brother, well, I'm sure he'd be tempted."

"Mom, I know how you feel, but we don't have any evidence that Gregory did it!" Elli knew Jean had a point, but it seemed irrational to jump to conclusions.

"Oh, we'll see. In any case, the gods have been horribly unfair to my poor Jacob. With Jacob dead, the entire Mo family fortune will be Gregory's one day, and when that day arrives, he'll make our lives a living hell." Jean's tone was calm and indifferent. Suddenly, an odd look came into her eyes as she said without warning, "To be perfectly honest, I know about your relationship with Gregory. I looked into your past before you married Jacob. But I didn't know he was actually my husband's long-lost son until a few days ago. You should stay away from him. I know his type. He's a schemer, and if you don't watch out you'll fall into his trap."

Elli paled. Had Jean misunderstood what was going on with her and Gregory? "Mom, I can explain..."

"You don't have to explain, I believe you. I wouldn't have told you to be on your guard around him if I didn't trust you. I'm just worried about you, Elli."

"Mom, what do we do now? We can't let him take over the Mo family," Elli said anxiously.

Jean thought for a long moment. "Well..."

She trailed off uncertainly.

Elli grabbed her mother-in-law's hands, unable to contain her curiosity. "Mom, what is it? If you have a solution, let's hear it."

Elli knew she was doomed if the Mo family fortune fell into Gregory's hands. He hated her guts, and would never lift a finger to help her or her family.

Jean and Elli were now in the same boat when it came to the Mo family fortune.

There was a sinister curve to Jean's lips, too subtle for Elli to notice. Her voice sounded concerned as she said hesitantly, "I thought about it all night, and I have a plan. But I need your help, and I'm afraid it would be horribly unfair to you."

"Mom, what do you have in mind? Tell me." Elli's face brightened at the thought of a solution. "I'm your daughter-in-law, and I'll willingly do whatever it takes to help you."

"Oh? Is that so?" Jean smiled with satisfaction and relief. She put her hands over Elli's and said earnestly, "There's only one way to keep the family fortune from falling into Gregory's hands. You'll have to have a baby."

Elli stared at Jean, dumbfounded. Jacob was dead. How was she going to have his baby?

"Mom, I only met Jacob once, and that was at the wedding. The accident happened right after that. How am I supposed to have his baby?"

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. I have everything planned out!" A secretive smile flashed across Jean's kindly face, and was gone before Elli could puzzle it out. "My nephew Pierce is a good candidate. I know it sounds degrading, but if you're willing to sleep with him and have his baby, I'll say that the baby is Jacob's and no one will question me. Once we've secured the family fortune, your family will be safe, and I'll be able to enjoy the rest of my life in peace and quiet. I'll treat your child like my own grandchild. It's a win-win situation for all of us, don't you agree?"

Elli's eyes widened. Had she heard her correctly?

Pierce Cheng? The playboy who spent his days drinking and partying with women? How was he "a good candidate" for anything?

Elli stared at Jean. Had her mother-in-law lost her marbles?

"I want you to think it over carefully. Which is more important to you, your dignity or your parents' company? If we lose the Mo family fortune, your family will be ruined. I won't force you, but I want you to think it over before you decide." The look of obvious reluctance on Elli's face had displeased Jean. Her voice was still warm and gentle, but the lines on her face hardened, and as soon as she finished speaking she abruptly let go of Elli's hands and swept out of the room.

The sound of the door closing made Elli jump. Her mind was still reeling from the outrageous plan Jean had come up with, and she couldn't help wondering if her mother-in-law wasn't really as kind and gentle as she pretended to be. She had said she wouldn't force her into her plan, but it was clear from her tone and sinister implications that Elli had no other choice.

Elli hugged herself. What had she done to deserve this?

She had broken up with Gregory for the sake of her family, and for what? Her husband was dead, her marriage had ended before it had even begun, and now her mother-in-law wanted her to sleep with a playboy and have his baby.

It wasn't fair!

Why were the gods so cruel to her?

It was too much for her. She flopped onto the bed, exhausted. Tears began to stream down her cheeks, but she wiped them away defiantly. She had to be strong. She wasn't going to let her horrible luck defeat her!

'Maybe I should just run away.' The idea came into her mind unbidden, but Elli rejected it at once. Running away was out of the question; her family would be doomed if she ran off.

As she was mulling this over, the door swung open again. Elli sat up quickly, expecting to see Gregory, but it was only Jean with a tray of food.

Elli blinked. Jean had only just left. Why was she back so soon?