Stolen Freedom

The night sky was cloaked in darkness as the car approached the capital. The sleek black vehicle moved silently through the deserted streets, finally stopping in front of a grand villa. Its once radiant exterior was now veiled in shadows, the lights switched off, exuding an air of desolation and secrecy. The grandeur of the villa was undeniable—a sprawling estate with towering gates, intricate designs, and an aura of untold wealth. Eighteen years ago, this villa was a gift from Chairman Yi to his cherished daughter, Lei Xian. But when she was arrested, everything was taken from her—everything except this villa, left untouched like a monument to her fall from grace.

The van stopped at the main entrance. The men inside moved with robotic precision. Their movements deliberate and mechanical, as if rehearsed. One of them opened the back doors of the van, revealing Xin Yi inside. She was slumped over, her posture lifeless, her spirit shattered. There was no resistance, no fight left in her. Her body was there, but her soul was far away, trapped in a haze of grief and despair. She stared blankly ahead, her silence louder than any scream.

The men dragged her out, her feet scraping against the ground, yet she neither winced nor protested. The villa's doors opened slowly, revealing a maid standing at the entrance. Her face betrayed no emotion, her demeanor professional yet cold. Inside, the villa was immaculate, a testament to wealth and power. Luxurious furniture adorned the expansive halls, chandeliers hung from the ceilings like glittering stars, and the décor screamed opulence. But the splendor of the villa was lost on Xin Yi. She didn't lift her head to observe the surroundings. Her mind was too consumed with the weight of her sorrow.

The men led her through the villa, past the grand living spaces, and into the library. The air grew colder, more oppressive. At the far end of the library stood a large bookshelf. To an untrained eye, it was a simple shelf filled with books. But with a soft click, the shelf slid open, revealing a hidden passage. The path led to an underground chamber, a relic from Lei Xian's past.

The air in the underground lab was heavy with the acrid smell of chemicals and stale confinement. Flickering fluorescent lights illuminated a space that seemed frozen in time. Rusted apparatuses lined the walls, a hospital bed stood ominously in the corner, and the remnants of failed experiments were scattered across tables. The centerpiece of the room was a large cage. The men unceremoniously threw Xin Yi into it and locked the door with a loud clang. They left without a word, their footsteps fading into the distance until there was only silence.

Xin Yi sat motionless in the cage. The darkness enveloped her, a suffocating void. Once, she had feared the dark, but tonight, it felt like a fitting companion. She hugged her knees to her chest, burying her face. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks, each drop a manifestation of her torment. The whispers of her mind grew louder, drowning out the silence.

"What if I hadn't gone on that trip? Mom would still be alive." Her voice was barely audible, a broken whisper. "What if I had listened to her? What if I had dyed my hair like she told me? What if I had hidden better?"

Her sobs grew louder, filling the empty lab with the sound of her anguish. "I'm such a bad, ungrateful daughter. Mom… Mom is gone because of me." Her words dissolved into incomprehensible cries, her guilt and sorrow intertwining in a relentless storm of emotion.

***

Meanwhile, Lei Xian's car came to a halt in front of the Yi mansion. The imposing structure stood as a testament to the Yi family's power and legacy. A man opened the car door for her, and she stepped out with an air of authority. One of her subordinates approached and reported in a low voice, "Boss, the girl has been delivered to the villa as you ordered."

Lei Xian nodded. "Good. Now take your men and erase every trace from that house. Remove any evidence that the girl or her mother ever lived there. Restore it to its original state. Make sure everything is done before morning. Leave no trace behind."

"Understood, boss." The man bowed slightly before leaving to carry out her orders.

Lei Xian turned towards the mansion, her expression calm yet calculating. She entered the grand dining hall where her brother, Yi Yong Zheng, his wife Zhao Lin, and their father, Chairman Yi, were seated. The atmosphere shifted as she entered. Yi Yong Zheng's face tightened with annoyance, his dislike for his sister barely concealed. Zhao Lin remained composed, her demeanor unreadable. Lei Xian's lips curved into a dangerous smile as she joined them at the table.

"Dad," she began, her tone soft and persuasive, "I've been thinking. I don't want to live here anymore."

Chairman Yi's brows furrowed. "Why? This is your home too."

"No, Dad. This is Brother's house now. He has a family, and I don't want to be a burden. You and Brother have already done so much for me. I'm not a child anymore. I'm in my forties now. I want to start fresh."

Chairman Yi's expression softened. "This is not just your brother's house. It's mine too, and you're always welcome here. You're not a burden."

"Please, Dad," Lei Xian pleaded, her voice trembling slightly, her hands clasped together. "Let me move back to my old villa. I want to leave the past behind and begin anew. Please."

Chairman Yi sighed deeply. "If that's what you want, then fine. You can move back to the villa."

"Thank you, Dad." Lei Xian stood and leaned down to hug him, a gesture that seemed warm but was devoid of genuine affection. Chairman Yi, oblivious to her true intentions, felt a flicker of hope that his daughter was finally ready to change.

As Lei Xian left the dining hall, her facade cracked for a brief moment. Her lips twisted into a smirk, her eyes gleaming with a victorious glint. Her brother, Yi Yong Zheng, watched her retreating figure with suspicion.

"Why would she want to move back to that villa?" he wondered, unease gnawing at him. "Is she planning something?"

Lei Xian exited the room, her confidence unshaken. The dangerous glint in her eyes spoke volumes. The game was far from over, and Lei Xian was determined to be the one holding all the cards.