Jiang Yuxi barely slept.
Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling of her lavish yet suffocating bedroom, her mind replayed the events of the previous night like a film she couldn't turn off. The tension, the silent war between Gu Zeyan and Lin Cheng, her own defiance—it all left a lingering unease in her chest.
Had she made a mistake?
No.
She had spoken her truth. She wasn't an object to be fought over. But then, why did it feel like her words hadn't changed anything? Gu Zeyan hadn't protested. He had smirked, stepped back, and let her walk away. Yet, knowing him, his silence wasn't submission. It was calculation.
And Lin Cheng… his sincerity was something she wasn't sure how to handle.
A sharp knock on the door startled her.
"Miss Jiang," a voice called from the other side. "The Master wishes to see you."
Her stomach twisted.
Gu Zeyan.
She inhaled deeply, schooling her expression before opening the door.
The servant bowed slightly. "He's waiting in the study."
The study was dimly lit, a large mahogany desk separating them. Gu Zeyan leaned back in his chair, exuding effortless control, his dark eyes unreadable as they locked onto hers.
Yuxi didn't sit. She stood before him, refusing to show submission.
"You wanted to see me?" Her voice was calm, controlled.
He watched her in silence for a moment before speaking. "You've been restless lately."
She stiffened but held her ground. "Restless? Or just unwilling to be controlled?"
A slow, almost amused smile curved his lips. "It's fascinating how you speak of control as if you were ever truly free."
She clenched her fists. "I am free."
He rose from his chair, moving toward her with deliberate slowness. His presence was suffocating, commanding, and Yuxi fought the urge to step back.
"Freedom isn't as simple as walking away, Yuxi," he murmured. "Even now, you're still bound to me. Not by force, but by circumstance. And whether you admit it or not, you belong in my world."
She bristled. "Your world is suffocating."
His expression darkened, but he didn't lash out. Instead, he reached for the contract that had bound them together in marriage, his fingers gliding over the pages as if reminding her of the weight of their agreement.
"I allowed you to have your space," he said, voice softer yet laced with steel. "But don't mistake my patience for weakness."
She narrowed her eyes. "Is that a warning?"
"It's a reality."
The air between them was thick with tension. Yuxi wanted to say more, to argue, to prove that she was more than just the woman he had tied himself to in a contract. But before she could speak, he changed the subject.
"Lin Cheng," he said casually, yet she felt the shift in his tone. "You seem… comfortable around him."
Yuxi's lips parted, but she quickly composed herself. "I don't see how that's any of your concern."
His jaw tightened slightly. "Everything about you is my concern."
Her heart pounded. Was it possessiveness? Control? Or something deeper he refused to acknowledge?
"I think we're done here," she said, turning to leave.
But before she could step away, his hand caught her wrist—not harshly, but firmly enough to stop her.
"Yuxi," he murmured, voice dangerously low, "don't push me too far."
She met his gaze, defiant. "Or what?"
For a moment, neither spoke. Then, slowly, he let her go.
"Go, then," he said, stepping back. "But remember this—I always get what I want."
She swallowed hard before walking out, refusing to let him see how much his words unsettled her.
Later that evening, as Yuxi tried to gather her thoughts, a call from Lin Cheng disrupted her peace.
"I need to see you," his voice held urgency. "Come meet me."
Yuxi hesitated. Gu Zeyan's earlier words echoed in her mind, but she pushed them aside. Lin Cheng had always been there when she needed someone—someone who wasn't trying to control her.
She agreed.
An hour later, she arrived at a quiet, upscale restaurant. Lin Cheng was already there, waiting at a secluded table.
"I thought you might not come," he said as she sat down.
She sighed. "I needed some air."
His eyes searched hers, concern evident. "You seemed… troubled last night. And after today, I assume Gu Zeyan didn't let things go easily."
She let out a bitter laugh. "Does he ever?"
Lin Cheng leaned forward. "You don't have to keep enduring this, Yuxi. You have options."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
A pause. Then, carefully, he said, "What if I told you there's a way to end this marriage for good?"
Her breath caught. "What?"
"I can help you," he continued. "Legally, financially—whatever it takes. If you truly want to be free from him… I'll make sure it happens."
She stared at him, her mind racing. This was what she had wanted, wasn't it? An escape? A real choice?
But then why did the thought of walking away from Gu Zeyan leave an unfamiliar ache in her chest?
Her hands curled into fists under the table. "Lin Cheng… this isn't something I can decide overnight."
"I understand." He reached for her hand, gently squeezing. "Just know, Yuxi—you do have a choice."
For the first time in a long time, she felt something stir in her chest. Hope.
But in the shadows, unseen and unheard, someone else was already aware of this conversation.
And he wasn't pleased.