"I'm not getting married to him!", Xue Xi yelled at the top of her voice. " You are and that's final and you know why? Because if you dare refute, your secret goes out ", he said icily, that a chill ran through her spine. She subconsciously shook her head. No! Not that! Not her secret! Wait, what's happening? Who's she? She's crazy She's charming, She's vicious and still, Loving She's Xue Xi; The heartthrob of City X Commands great authority.. Loved by all.. Except..her family She's used to it.. Until one day, that day changed her life forever. For the worst or best?? We do not know. All we know is that day changed her entire outlook on life That day changed everything about her. And do you know the most funniest thing? She didn't know what happened that day. Now, she's being threatened Not by any other thing, But by that same day.. Will she stand? And just what happened that day? As her past threatened to ruin her future, she must make a choice. To get married and erase everything about her past or to live with the stigma but stay single What choice will she make? " Your husband or your past?" "That was why you wanted a divorce right? Fine, I'll give you what you want. Sign those papers". "Hello Xue Xi, if you want every information about what happened that day, come to the address I'll send to you and come alone". " I'm back Xiao" *Slap* "Never ever address me like that because I don't belong to you. You left when I needed you!" "Karma will surely catch up with you". "He he, It will start with you, in the mean time, enjoy basking in your defeat". "I'm Xue Xi, born never to accept defeat and I will never accept defeat. When I want something. I get it and yours will never be a exception". Join Xue Xi as she struggles to find out what happened that day and the connection it has with her marriage. And what happens when Xue Xi finds out the whole puzzle surrounding the story? " There was really more to everything than what met the eye" What is the whole truth?

Chapter 1 Just The Beginning

"I'm not getting married to him!", Xue Xi screamed.

" You are and that's final. I have said it and my decision will stand because I am your father and you have no choice!", Xue Tianyi retorted back.

"Father? You dare call yourself my father? Let me ask you, do you think you deserve that title?", Xue Xi asked, laughing hysterically at the same time.

" XUE XI!", Han Ruyi screamed, coming into the scene of the argument.

"Who is this? No,no, no, when are arguing, this puts her foully rotten mouth in it, I don't understand, who invited you into this conversation? Do you think that because of your illegitimate child, you have a say here? Do you even care about my opinions? Let me ask you Madam ...."

Xue Xi continued, fueling Han Ruyi that her facial expression changed.

" Look here, let me tell you what you what you don't know, I don't care-

*Slap!*

The sound echoed through the whole house shocking everyone in the whole house.

Xue Xi paused on her words when she heard the sound.

It was ear-breaking.

Who did he slap??

Xue Xi wondered but not for long when she felt the sting on her face

Did he....did he just slap her.

She touched he face her FCE again for confirmation and wished she hadn't done that

"Y..yo..you slap..ped me?", she stammered, staring at her father with tears at the brink of falling from her eyes

Was this how he hated her?

Xue Tianyi had a remorse expression on his face but it only lasted a second.

Alright. He had slapped her. What else could he do?

"...", Xue Tianyi opened his mouth but nothing came out.

Seeing this, Han Ruyi stepped forward

"Yes, he slapped you and I will add to it if you don't quit this nonsense this instant!", She flared while trying to hide her happy expression.

Xue Xi looked at her in disgust.

She sneered inwardly.

Just who was this uncircumcised miniature mouse??

If it were not for the already fading respect she'd for her father, she'd have turned her to a vegetable leaf.

" Aaaah!!", She screamed like a maniac, not minding the disdainful and judging looks from the maids.

- It wasn't new to her.She was used to it.

The house today was sure a drama scene which noons wanted to miss and give their opinions.

Right in her father's house, she wasn't even honoured.

All because of Han Ruyi.

Well, she didn't mind them, they were not her problems this instant.

What was her problem was what her father was trying to coerce her into.

She had to do something.

Ignoring her father and Han Ruyi she began leaving their presence. She had to do something, she couldn't allow them destroy her life with just a decision

"Where are you going young lady?,", Xue Tianyi questioned her with a half-hidden smirk on his face, interrupting her train of thoughts.

But she paid no attention to it.

"Where I'm going is none of your-"

She paused on her words when she began noticing some changes in her body.

Something was wrong. She could feel it.

From her eyes blurring to her feet wobbling, she knew something was not right.

The same thing, the same thing which happened to her-

As if something clicked in her head , she remembered something.

"W..wh..at did you do?", she stammered staring at the duo. She instantly understood.

"I told you, I am your father and I can do whatever I wish...", was all she heard before drifting into oblivion.

" Take her away"Xue Tianyi ordered to the guards before walking away.

AT THE SAME TIME

"Father, Mother, thank you so much for your help, I really feel indebted to you", Xue Yao said as she Smiled sweetly to her parents.

" You're our daughter and we'll do anything for you. Understood?", Xue Tianyi comforted her.

"Yes, you're father is right. I will go to any extent for you and that includes you not being wedded to that imbecile".

" What are we waiting for, let's go prepare".

"Of course, let's see how she gets from the City's Phoenix to Country's Fowl", Han Ruyi teased as they all laughed.

" We'll go now, Alright Yao? Hehe".

"Yes mother, you can, I'll just prepare", She said with a nod and smiled at their retreating back.

Immediately they left, the room changed to a temperature of 0°.

A murderous aura was emitting inside the room. A closer look would reveal Xue Yao with a sinister look and an evil smile.

.She was completely different from the Xue Yao from earlier.

"He he, Xue Xi, you think you can shine forever. No! Not while I'm here. This is just the beginning".

She said giving a deadly, throaty chuckle.

It's very hard to imagine and see a father treating his first and legitimate daughter with contempt but what could she do while showering love to his other daughter.

She couldn't understand no matter how hard she tried.

*Sigh*

Xue Xi at on a chair in front of the vanity table and watched as they dressed her up.

She had slipped into an unconscious state for a few while as the effect of the drugXue Tianyi gave her wore off gradually.

She was certain Xue Yao was behind it all, she was the only one who knew her-

" It's all set!", The beauticians exclaimed in awe.

Xue Xi slowly opened her eyes.

She was stunned. She couldn't believe her eyes.

Even though the makeup was light. It was outstanding. It didn't fail to outline her delicate features.

She wore a white qipao dress that fited her perfectly as if it were made for her.

This..this was.. Xue Xi? Daughter of Xue Tianyi, step-daughter to Han Ruyi, half sister to Xue Yao? And by right, Pride of City X, The Great Phoenix.

But then she remembered something and her mood became sour.

It wasn't right. She wasn't meant to get married. All of this was against her wish. And what's more, she didn't know the groom

Was he blind as Xue Yao put it?

She didn't know. All of this made her want to cry. But she couldn't. She mustn't and she wouldn't.

Biting her lips, she controlled her tears and looked in the mirror one last time at her new look.

She was always strong, but this this broke everything she was holding onto.

''You're incredible Xi, you're a fighter Xi, you're my Phoenix and you are your own fighter. It is your own fight, not mine, so you have to fight it to the end, you can do it. If Momma' trusts you, then, you should trust yourself and I trust you, so?''

She'd always left it for Xue Xi to answer and Xue Xi, in her usual cheerful voice would always say:

"Then, I can do it. I love you Mommy''

And she'd always reply with tears in her eyes:

" I love you baby. Don't forget you can do it. Even when I may not be there. Just know-"

"I can do it"

Just remembering her mother's word gave her comfort.

Her mother wasn't here now. It was just her to face it.

"Young Madam, you're crying, you're gonna' ruin the makeup"

She didn't even realize she was crying until they called her attention

She stared at her face in the mirror and it was true, she had been crying.

"I.I..I'm sorry", she managed to say and the beautician nodded before cleaning the tears and re-doing the makeup.

Though her mother was gone, she left a legacy,that will never be forgotten, never..

Even though things where going against her wish, even though her mother was gone, even though her father had deserted her, She's that Phoenix,that fighter who would rise and shine again.

This was just the beginning

Of this, she was certain.