Ivy's head swam with questions as the car sped away from the towering building, her body tense with anticipation. She sat next to Lu Cheng in the back seat, his mask still firmly in place, his expression unreadable beneath the smooth exterior. The dark cityscape flashed by through the window, but Ivy felt like she was plummeting into a deeper, darker world,one she wasn't prepared for.
"Where are we going now?" Ivy asked, trying to keep her voice steady, though the unease gnawed at her insides.
Lu Cheng didn't answer immediately. His eyes were fixed forward, as if weighing his next words carefully. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and controlled. "There are things you need to know, Ivy. Things about me. About the world I come from."
Ivy's heart skipped a beat. The weight in his words was undeniable. "What do you mean?"
Lu Cheng turned to face her, his sharp eyes gleaming from behind the mask. "You've been drawn into something far bigger than a business deal. You've noticed by now, haven't you?"
Ivy bit her lip, her fingers nervously fidgeting in her lap. "I don't understand… but I've seen things that don't add up. The way you handle business, the people around you, it's not just a company. Is it?"
A shadow of a smile tugged at the corner of Lu Cheng's lips, but there was no warmth in it. "Not just a company. It's an empire. And empires are built on blood."
Ivy felt a cold chill run down her spine. "What are you saying?"
"You already know, Ivy," he said softly, leaning closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "You've been working alongside me, following the trail. I'm not just a CEO of a conglomerate. My brother and I… we run an underground network. We control a lot more than you realize."
She stared at him, her pulse quickening. "You mean…"
"Mafia," Lu Cheng said bluntly, his eyes unwavering. "We control it. And now, Ivy, you're standing on the edge of our world."
Ivy's breath hitched. She knew something was off from the moment she started working with him, but this… this was far more than she ever could have imagined. Her head spun as the reality sank in. Lu Cheng wasn't just a powerful businessman, he was a mafia lord.
A thousand questions raced through her mind, but the only one she could voice was, "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because you've earned your place, Ivy. You've proven your loyalty. And now, there's no turning back." His voice was calm, but there was a warning in it that made her stomach twist. "You've seen too much. You've been involved too deeply. From here on out, you're either with me… or against me."
Ivy's heart thundered in her chest. The gravity of his words weighed heavy on her shoulders. Her mouth went dry, but she managed to whisper, "What happens if I'm against you?"
Lu Cheng's gaze darkened. "You don't want to find out."
The silence in the car thickened, the tension between them palpable. Ivy's mind raced with the implications of what he had just said. There was no going back. She was already too deep in this world, and now she had to decide where she stood. Her entire life could change in an instant depending on her next move.
"I need time to think," Ivy said finally, her voice shaky. "This is… too much."
"There is no time, Ivy," Lu Cheng said, his tone sharp. "Decisions in my world are made quickly. Hesitation gets people killed. You have to choose now."
Ivy swallowed hard, her throat dry. The weight of the decision pressed down on her, suffocating her thoughts. Could she trust Lu Cheng? Could she align herself with him, knowing the danger that came with it? Or should she walk away and risk becoming an enemy of one of the most dangerous men she'd ever met?
Before she could answer, the car suddenly swerved, the tires screeching as they made a sharp turn down a narrow alleyway. Ivy's body jerked against the seatbelt as the vehicle came to a stop, the abrupt change jarring her senses.
"What's happening?" Ivy gasped, her pulse spiking with fear.
Lu Cheng didn't flinch. He remained eerily calm, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Stay in the car," he ordered, his voice low and commanding.
Ivy's heart raced as she saw two black SUVs blocking the alleyway ahead. Men in dark suits stepped out, their faces hidden in the shadows. She could feel the danger in the air, the unmistakable tension of an ambush.
Lu Cheng unbuckled his seatbelt, his movements smooth and controlled. "Stay here," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Lin Wei, Zhao Jun, Cheng Rui, handle the situation."
The three assistants nodded without question, stepping out of the car with cold efficiency. Ivy watched as they positioned themselves in front of the vehicle, their postures rigid and ready for action.
"Sir, what's going on?" Ivy whispered, fear gripping her as she glanced out the window at the men closing in.
"Business," Lu Cheng replied simply, his gaze locked on the scene outside. "It's always business."
The tension escalated as the men from the SUVs approached, but there was something off about the way they moved, calculated, precise. This wasn't a random attack. It was an orchestrated confrontation.
Lu Cheng stepped out of the car, his presence commanding the space. The leader of the opposing group stepped forward, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"Mr. Lu Cheng, it's been a while."
"Not long enough," Lu Cheng replied coolly, his mask giving nothing away.
The man sneered. "You've been stepping on the wrong toes, Cheng. There are consequences for that."
"Is that so?" Lu Cheng's tone was icy, but Ivy could sense the danger simmering beneath the surface.
Ivy's breath caught in her throat as she watched the confrontation unfold. She had never seen Lu Cheng like this, so calm in the face of danger, so utterly in control. But there was a darkness in him now, something lethal that lurked beneath his polished exterior.
The man in front of Lu Cheng took a step closer, his voice low and menacing. "You think you can keep running your empire without repercussions? You're out of time, Lu Cheng. Tonight, everything changes."
Lu Cheng's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, chaos erupted.
A gunshot echoed through the narrow alleyway, and Ivy's heart stopped. The assistants moved with lightning speed, drawing their weapons as the men from the SUVs surged forward. The scene exploded into violence, and Ivy's world tilted on its axis.
She gripped the edge of the seat, her mind screaming for her to stay hidden, to stay safe. But as the chaos unfolded before her, Ivy knew one thing for certain.
She was in far deeper than she had ever realized.
And there was no way out.