Slap
The crisp sound of a slap echoed sharply in the room.
Yan Xiao’s head turned to the side, and five clear finger marks immediately appeared on his face.
“You…” His anger flared, yet he didn’t know what to say.
In this world, no woman could refuse him; they all practically longed to crawl into his arms.
But ever since he met Shen Wan, she had been as stubborn as an ox.
If anyone else had dared to slap him like that, they certainly wouldn’t be standing here unharmed.
His feelings for Shen Wan were a mixture of love and hate.
Seeing Yan Xiao’s face dark as coal, Shen Wan showed no trace of regret. She curled up in the corner of the bed, her gaze cold and sharp as she spoke word by word “I’m not running anymore. But if you touch me again, I swear that tomorrow, the only thing you’ll be marrying is my corpse!”
Her eyes were determined and resolute.
Yan Xiao looked at her, a sudden wave of helplessness rising in his chest.
He didn’t understand what was so good about Zhou Yan.
He slowly stepped back from her and sat in silence.
Shen Wan couldn’t read his expression in the dim light.
The room fell into a deathly silence, broken only by their heavy, audible breaths.
After a long while, Yan Xiao’s low voice finally cut through the stillness “Yes, I forcibly married you!
True! I wasn’t the first to appear by your side, so you became more reliant on another man but so what? If the tree is crooked, I’ll cut it straight.
You don’t love me, I’ll deal with Zhou Yan!”
“I would rather die with Brother Yan than let you have your way!”
Yan Xiao’s jealousy toward Zhou Yan drove him mad. “Even in death, you’ll die with me! If you dare escape, I’ll kill Zhou Yan to force you back! I’ll do what I say! Shen Wan, you’d better be careful.”
He stood, giving her a long, penetrating look, then turned and left the room without looking back.
After Yan Xiao left, the door to her room remained unlocked.
He was certain she wouldn’t dare run again…
Yan Xiao walked into the study with steady, slightly weary steps. He gently closed the wooden door behind him, a soft click sealing off the outside world.
The room was dimly lit; heavy curtains partially covered the windows, allowing only weak streaks of sunset to enter.
He walked straight to the desk. Long fingers picked up a cigar from a delicate box. His thumb caressed the cigar lightly, then he flicked the silver lighter on the desk. A pale blue flame leapt up, illuminating his sharply defined face.
Thin smoke spiraled upward as Yan Xiao drew a deep breath.
In this chaotic world, who else could protect Shen Wan but him?
Yet her heart wasn’t with him.
Three years ago, he had seen Shen Wan’s father and mother.
Three years ago, they had saved him while he was fleeing for his life. He had also seen Shen Wan before she entered Liangzhou…
Later, watching her grow closer to Zhou Yan, he couldn’t sit still. That first meeting with Shen Wan? It had been deliberately arranged by him.
Sometimes, Yan Xiao even wondered…
Were the deaths of Shen Wan’s father and mother connected to him somehow?
He hadn’t slept all night.
The morning light filtered through the cracks in the curtains.
Shen Wan had sat by the bed all night.
The servants brought in her wedding dress a gown Yan Xiao had ordered on his own initiative some time ago.
It was extremely expensive.
Rouge and powders were laid out on the table. Yet no one dared approach Shen Wan to help her sit and prepare for her makeup.
Her gaze was fierce, almost murderous…
Suddenly, she moved, bare feet pressing against the floor.
“Get out. I’m going to change.”