Daddy CEO's Beloved Wife

10 years ago. The boat swayed in the ocean. The sea-smelling breeze entered through the gaps of the crate they were transported in, mixing with the scent of sweat, tears, and the almost tangible fear that was on every young girl's and boy's faces inside the crate.

"I want to go home."

These words resonated with everyone. They'd been locked inside there for three days already. In the beginning, they assumed they were being filmed and, thus, didn't show genuine panic. However, when hours passed and still no other sound was heard from outside, nor did anyone come to take them out of there, they soon felt dread being injected through their system. Were they still filming at this point? Were they being pranked? How long are they going to stay in there?

But these questions soon became useless. They were tired. Hungry. And emotionally stressed. And overwhelmed by the ocean's ambiguous motions, some of them couldn't take it and started to feel extremely sick, and vomited. The space inside the crate was too small to cage twenty children between the ages of thirteen and sixteen. They weren't as tall as adults, but the air supply inside was too limited.

They spent another day inside the crate, feeling hopeful and helpless that maybe the rescue was being delayed because of the storm. Then, the much-awaited day finally came. 'Knock, knock.'

Inside the crate, the children didn't stir at first. This kind of hallucination of having someone come find them now seemed like a dream in a faraway land. So, they didn't believe it.

'Bang!'

"Janice, stop banging the crate! We're trying to sleep here." 'Bang!'

"I'm not doing it!" Janice groaned with her eyes closed, feeling annoyed at being elbowed by Adeline.

'Bang!'

"I said stop it." 'Bang!'

"I ALREADY SAID IT WAS NOT ME!"

At the same time as Janice's shout sounded, the crate shook as a beam of light penetrated through a gap. The surge of light seemed like an illusion, yet it blinded each one of the children, who were now opening their eyes to see what was happening. The doors of the crate have opened. "It's open."

Someone among them whispered weakly. But those two words were enough to even make the weakest among them have the strength to stand up. One by one, they rose from their sleep, turning to the doors of the crate. At once, they were overjoyed, and tears welled up in their eyes. Finally!

They could finally get out of this hellish place and go out!

They scrambled up on their feet, some tripping to the ground because of how weak their bodies had become.

But their eyes burned with determination. They want to reach and touch the source of light before them. Food. Water. Air. They no longer care about materialistic things. Just these three were enough for them.

Seeing the children slowly walking towards them, wary and exhausted, the people who opened the door of the crate looked at each other. Each of their own expressions shifted between being disgusted, disdainful, and excited. But for these children, who have suffered for days without water or food, these small things are easily overlooked. All they could think about was being saved! For as long as they could get out of there and see the sun again, it didn't matter who had saved them. "Children, you've suffered a lot."

An older man, clad in an orange raincoat, approached them. His steps halted for a second because of the pungent smell that finally revealed itself after the door opened. His finely brushed eyebrows moved closer to each other, frowning and cringing at the disgusting things inside the crate. But he held on. "My men and I came across your boat. We were just about to pass, but we noticed that there was something strange. So, we came here to check," the old man explained to the children. What he said was a lie. There was never another boat. The boat they were in and the boat that the crate the children were trapped in were one and the same.

But who would tell the truth to these little children? No one.

With his hand gesturing, he solemnly continued, "Fortunately, we did. Or else, what would happen to the rest of you? Oh, you poor little thing." The old man approached one of the kids nearby him. However, he was hit by the disgusting smell coming from the kid, making him almost stumble back and sit on his ass. He quickly bit his tongue to stop the bile rising up his throat, cursing inwardly before redirecting his hand to another kid. However, he noticed that everyone was filthy and smelled revolting. Thus, he ended up doing the last thing he could to cover up his actions just now. He picked a girl from the bunch. She looked dirty. But her scent wasn't as intense or disgusting as that of the other children.

A beautiful little creature with the most dazzling brown eyes he had ever seen. His heart picked up its pace, beating so rapidly.

His grubby hand rested on the top of her head as he said, "Such a good girl. You'll be safe."

The girl raised her eyes to stare at him. Her tiny body trembled in the cold.

The old man smiled contentedly, but he was a little disappointed. The girl's appearance was the best out of everyone, even with the stains of dust and sweat on her. But her eyes seemed empty, like an abyss of void. Nonetheless, he wasn't the least bit disheartened. A little flaw from the toy he found can be fixed. Once she's his, he can turn her into the most enchanting doll of all the dolls he had his hands on. Just like the other girls he had taken from their parents and like many others who have surrendered under his authority.

"Little girl, what's your name?" "Ran Xueyi."

♣♣♣

Poisonlily has something to say: This is a glimpse of a memory that Ran Xueyi had forgotten. After these memories, we can proceed back to the main story. It's going to be interesting, as Song Yu Han will also appear in her past. Don't worry, I'm definitely ending this novel. So, just sit tight and wait!