- Tian Corps -
Right after the elevator doors closed, the receptionist at the front desk quickly placed the "Out of Order" sign in front of the perfectly functioning elevator. She knew Tian Yuo must have had some plans going on because he had never instructed her to do something like this with any female companion who visited the company. Though full of worries, she still did as she was told to do because she couldn't afford to lose her job over this.
Inside the elevator, the atmosphere was worse than slipping into a pigsty and swimming in pig feces. Nobody spoke, and Susu chose to stand in a corner that was furthest away from where Tian Yuo was standing. She remained on high alert as she texted on her phone.
She noticed that as soon as the elevator door closed, the signal was cut off. While she focused on her phone and pretended to be busily occupied by what she's reading on her screen, Tian Yuo looked at the camera and nodded.
A graunching sound came from above, immediately catching her full attention. It's almost as if she had sensed something would go wrong since receiving his "friendly" call from this morning.
"What's going on?" She asked and walked towards the elevator buttons. No matter how many times she tried to press the floors, the buttons did not light up. She tried pressing the emergency button to call for assistance, but same thing; no response.
'This is too odd of a coincidence.' Her eyes wandered and caught the wicked grin on Tian Yuo's face, "So, what the hell do you think you're doing?" She finally broke the silence after concluding that he was the one who created the delay for the elevator.
"I just want to have a chat with you." He smiled.
"Oh? I never knew you had a thing for elevator kink when having conversations. Does it look like I want to be trapped in an isolated small space like this with you?" She walked back to the corner that she originally stood at to stay distant from him.
He frowned seeing her movement, "Alright, then I'll make this quick and straightforward. Let's stay married. Forget about the signed papers and cancel the divorce."
The space between her brows knitted together, "Excuse me? Did you drop your brain down the sewers on the way to work or did you get stabbed by porcupines through your skull and the penetration affected your brain? Did you hear what you just said?"
In a serious manner, he straightened his back and continued, "I'm perfectly clearheaded. I want us to stay as husband and wife. You know how much my family loved you and treated you like their own flesh and blood."
Susu let out a small laugh, "So, you're asking me to forget about divorcing you because you have family members who dote on me? Your reasonings sound more and more twisted when you speak. Forget managing a company, go straight to the emergency room. You need serious help."
He tried to approach her, but every time he stepped forward, he could see her body moving away, "I'm serious about this. My mother is in the hospital because she felt guilty for our failed marriage. You don't want to see her like that, do you? So, the best way to her recovery would be to remain married."
"Are you stupid? Even if I temporarily continue acting as your wife, it won't change the fact that we are not interested in each other. Also, I believe the pressure that weighs heavily in her heart is not because of our failed marriage, but because she gave birth to someone like you. While we're on this topic, I might as well be truthful and tell you that the only reason why I even married you is because of my mother's last wish."
"So if we will end up divorced sooner or later, ending everything now is better for everyone. Also, I could visit Auntie when I have time if she misses me. I don't need to live at the Tian residence nor would I have to continue being your wife."
She faced the other way, avoiding the annoying grin on his face. 'Susu, keep calm.. he is a pumpkin.. a rotted pumpkin with worms devouring it... you wouldn't want to punch his asshole face, though he deserves it...'
He blocked her view and tried bending down to her eye level so that she would look him in the eye. In the past, she always stared at him with warmth in her eyes, followed by a blossoming smile. For some reason, he really wanted to see her making the same expression again, but her current expression looked cute to him.
When their eyes met, she narrowed her eyes and maintained a straight face, "What? Can't think of anything else you want to say?"
"Yes. Why didn't you explain yourself to me and just let me continue thinking that it was you who pulled Karen into the waters?" He could tell that she was utterly uncomfortable with her personal space being so close to invasion, so he straightened his back and maintained the distance between them.
A scornful laughter filled the elevators, "Then I'll throw this back at you. Why would I explain to someone when I knew that the person would never believe me?"
"Who said I wouldn't?" His voice deepened a his fist clenched subconsciously into a rock shape.
"Then tell me. For the past years, when have you ever listened to my side of the stories? You know, you have two ears: one on your left and the other to your right. But when it comes to me, you've always shut out one of the ears and refused to hear my words. Yet, the moment one drop of tear falls out of her puppy eyes, you automatically blame everything to the top of my head. By now, these accusations and blames could reach a mountain high."
She crossed her arms and leaned backwards on the rail on the elevator side, waiting for his response. His mouth repeatedly opened and closed, trying to find any words to fight back her claim, but unfortunately, she was right. Thinking back on all these years, he had always been biased when it came to Karen. Never once did she need to provide any evidence to prove her innocence.
"If we're done chatting, then signal your employee to fix this damn elevator. You might have all day, but I don't have to the time to waste, especially when it's with you." She unlocked her phone screen and realized that they've been talking for at least twenty minutes already.
Right when she opened her mouth to break the silence between them, he said, "You have a reason to stay in this marriage. We've already slept together. I marked you. So you're mine." Slowly, he walked towards her, leaving her no corners to escape.