The walk from the Mansion’s entrance to his grandmother’s study had never felt longer.
Daniel Han adjusted his collar for the third time, palms clammy, heart in a full-blown sprint. With every step echoing down the hall like a death sentence, one thought plagued him:
She told her.
Jia Li had gone to Madam Han and laid everything bare—how he’d staged the party, tried to humiliate her, orchestrated a fake public proposal… all of it. He could already hear the funeral dirge playing in his head.
By the time he reached the heavy mahogany doors, he was practically composing his last will.
He knocked. A firm voice called out, “Enter.”
The doors opened to reveal Madam Han seated at her desk, calm and unreadable as ever. Sunlight poured through the tall windows, painting golden streaks across the carpet. A porcelain teacup steamed gently by her elbow.
Daniel stepped inside like a man entering the lion’s den.
“You called for me, Grandma?” he said, trying not to visibly gulp.
She motioned for him to sit. He did, stiffly, clutching the arms of the chair like they were lifeboats.
Silence.
Then Madam Han leaned back in her chair and fixed him with that serene but terrifying gaze.
“I had a conversation with Jia this morning,” she began.
Daniel nearly bit through his tongue.
This is it. This is how it ends.
“She came to me with some thoughts about the future,” Madam Han continued, folding her hands. “About the engagement.”
Daniel braced for the guillotine.
“She outlined three conditions she expects to be met if she is to consider continuing this arrangement.”
His ears rang. He waited for the words ‘your manipulations’ or ‘your disgraceful behavior.’ But they didn’t come.
Madam Han smiled—calm, pleased. “She was poised. Intelligent. Ambitious. I was impressed.”
Daniel blinked.
Wait, what?
“She asked for respect, transparency, and full acknowledgment as an equal member of this family. Strong terms. Admirable, really.”
He stared. “That’s… all she said?”
Madam Han raised an eyebrow. “Should there have been more?”
Daniel scrambled. “N-No! No, no, not at all! I just… didn’t expect her to be so…” He coughed. “Professional.”
Madam Han studied him for a long moment. “She is proving herself to be a far better match than I anticipated. I trust you will rise to the challenge.” This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.
“Yes. Of course.” He nodded rapidly, forcing a smile. “I’m… rising. Totally rising.”
Madam Han gave him a final look. “Then you may go.”
He rose with the speed of a man escaping a bear trap and bowed quickly. “Thank you, Grandma.”
As he left the study and the doors closed behind him, Daniel leaned against the wall and exhaled loudly.
She didn’t tell her.
He slumped to the floor, laughing quietly in disbelief.
“She didn’t tell her.”
A strange wave of relief crashed over him, followed by something else—something much more dangerous.
But why didn’t she?
She had every reason to. She had the evidence. The motive. The perfect opportunity.
So why keep quiet?
Down the hallway, a small figure padded toward him in socks and a Cute Dino hoodie. Lucas blinked up at Daniel with wide eyes.
Danny? Are you okay?”
Daniel blinked back, dragging himself upright. “Me? Of course I’m okay. Just… meditating.”
Lucas tilted his head. “On the floor?”
“It’s a new technique,” Daniel muttered, brushing off his pants.
Lucas giggled and held up a drawing—crayon scratches in alarming swirls of red and orange. “Look! I made a monster.”
Daniel stared at it for a beat too long.
“…That’s not Jia, right?”
Lucas gasped. “Nooo! It’s a volcano monster!”
Daniel breathed again. “Right. Okay. Cool.”
Lucas took his hand. “Come play with us. Jia said we can do puzzles.”
The mention of her name snapped Daniel out of it. He looked toward the garden doors, where Jia sat beneath the sun-dappled gazebo, sipping tea and helping a maid arrange the pieces of a giant floor puzzle.
She glanced up.
Their eyes met.
She smiled—gentle, unreadable.
Daniel’s heart skipped, then dropped.
That smile…
It wasn’t innocence. It wasn’t gratitude.
It was intentional.
Chillingly calm. Deceptively warm.
Like a queen offering a handshake… while sharpening her sword behind her back.
And suddenly, Daniel realized:
He wasn’t out of danger.
He was already neck-deep in it.
Because Jia Li hadn’t exposed him.
She hadn’t ended the engagement.
She hadn’t walked away.
No. She’d stayed.
And that could only mean one thing—
She was planning something.
Something worse than punishment.
Worse than scandal.
Worse than public disgrace.
She was planning to win.
And Daniel Han, for the first time in his perfectly charmed life, wasn’t sure if he was the predator anymore…
Or the prey.