The man in front of her had his eyebrows furrowed slightly as he asked, "Now?"
Chen Lin stood there, still feeling the heat of everything that had just happened. The weight of her words lingered in the air between them. Her heart was pounding, and yet, she held her ground, refusing to back down.
"Yes," she said firmly, without a second of hesitation. "I want to get married now."
He didn't immediately respond.
He simply stared at her, as if trying to process what she had said. His expression remained unreadable, but the air between them seemed to grow heavier with each passing second.
"You're serious?" His voice was calm, but there was a hint of disbelief in it.
Chen Lin nodded. "I'm serious. I don't want to wait. The longer I wait, the more I feel like I'm losing control. I want to take back what's mine. I want to show them that I'm not just some pawn in their game."
Wu Yuxuan's eyes softened slightly, but his stance remained unmoving. "Chen Lin, you don't have to rush into this. There's no need to act in haste. We can take our time and do this properly."
Her gaze never wavered from his. "No. I've already lost enough time. I've lost trust, I've lost my dignity, and most of all, I've lost myself in all of this. What's one more thing to lose if it means I can finally take control back of my life?"
Wu Yuxuan looked at her, studying her as if trying to find the crack in her resolve. But there was nothing. Her words, though soft, were firm. She wasn't just acting out of desperation. There was a deep determination in her voice. Something more than just the anger from being betrayed.
"I'll help you get back at them," he said quietly after a long moment. "But remember, this isn't just about revenge. Don't let it consume you. I don't want my wife to be obsessed with hatred."
Chen Lin nodded slowly, understanding his concern. "I won't. I'll get my revenge, but I won't let it control me. I just need to show them that I'm no longer weak."
There was a brief silence between them. The only sound was the soft rustling of the wind, but it felt like the world had paused. She felt her heart race again as she realized what was about to happen.
Wu Yuxuan took a small step toward her, his gaze unwavering. "Then, let's do this."
His words were simple, but there was an underlying intensity to them. He wasn't backing down either. He wasn't offering her an easy way out. He was willing to help her, yes, but he wasn't going to make it easy for her. Not that she expected it to be.
"When do you want to get married?" Wu Yuxuan asked.
Chen Lin's voice was steady, though there was an urgency to it. "Now. Let's do it now."
His eyes searched hers for a moment before he exhaled slowly. "If that's what you want."
Chen Lin didn't wait for him to say anything else. Without a second thought, she grabbed his hand. "Then let's go. I don't want to waste any more time."
Wu Yuxuan didn't pull away. Instead, he held her hand with the same determination, and together, they walked toward what would change everything.
There was no turning back now.
Chen Lin followed closely behind Wu Yuxuan, her heart pounding with each step.
Her heels clicked against the pavement, the sound sharp in the quiet night, but it was nothing compared to the racing thoughts in her mind.
Every step felt surreal, as if she was moving in a dream she couldn't wake up from.
Wu Yuxuan led the way with purposeful strides, not once looking back, but she didn't expect him to. He didn't need to reassure her anymore.
They were past that.
The black car was sleek, waiting for them at the curb, and without a word, Wu Yuxuan opened the door for her.
Chen Lin hesitated for only a moment before sliding into the seat. The leather was cool beneath her fingers, but her skin felt on fire.
She didn't know whether it was from nerves or the intensity of the moment.
The door clicked shut behind her, and Wu Yuxuan got into the car.
The hum of the car engine filled the silence, but neither of them spoke.
The city passed by outside the window, its lights casting brief reflections on the glass.