Lian Guanghao's office was a testament to old money and power. Antique mahogany furniture gleamed in the soft light, while priceless artwork adorned the walls. But the opulent surroundings did little to soothe the fury etched on Lian Guanghao's face as he paced behind his imposing desk.
"Insolent brat!" he spat, slamming his fist down on the polished wood. "How dare Zhao Jingshen ignore my calls? Does he think he can dismantle our empire without consequences?"
Lian Fei, perched elegantly on a leather armchair, examined her perfectly manicured nails with feigned indifference. "Father, please. Your blood pressure."
Guanghao whirled on his daughter, eyes blazing. "This is your fault! You were supposed to keep him in line, to secure our alliance. Instead, he's turned against us. Why?"
Lian Fei's composure slipped for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty and viciousness crossing her face before she schooled her features back into a mask of cool disdain. "It's because of that girl," she said, her voice dripping with contempt. "Jiang Meilin. She's bewitched him somehow."
Guanghao's eyes narrowed. "Jiang Meilin? I've never heard of her. Who is she?"
"A nobody," Lian Fei sneered. "Just some struggling artist. But Jingshen's become... infatuated. He's doing this because of my attack on her." She stood, smoothing her designer dress. "Don't worry, Father. I'll take care of it."
As Lian Fei swept out of the office, Guanghao called after her, "Be careful, daughter. If Zhao Jingshen has chosen to protect this girl, she may be more than she seems."
Lian Fei's only response was a cold smile as the door closed behind her. She had a backup that neither the Zhao family nor anyone in Xia City could afford to offend.
At the hospital, Jiang Meilin was propped up in bed, idly sketching in a notebook. The events of the last few hours flooded back – Reggie's visit, the phone conversation with her mother, her budding feelings for Zhao Jingshen, the attack, his annoying fiancée... She knew that her mother's unspoken words and Reggie's meant there was trouble at home. She could read them like a book, and the more they gave in to her and respected her wishes, the more guilty she felt. She held an irreplaceable position in the family, and being here, away from her responsibilities, was definitely mounting pressure on her mother and her playful brother, even though they didn't say anything.
She pulled her hair back in annoyance and let out a frustrated sound. Then... she thought about Jiang Meilin, who was a regular girl until she pulled her into her world of danger, which made her end up losing her life. "I can't stop now; I have to pull through with this. Meilin has to be remembered as the gifted artist that she was and not the adopted daughter of the Blackwoods." This was her raison d'être for now.
It was getting late, and Zhao Jingshen still hadn't returned to the hospital. She hoped he would take some time to rest and actually think about them. She had a flashback to the kiss at the park and how he made her feel things she had never felt before. It felt complicated, knowing that she could not let him love her as Jiang Meilin when she was actually Rosie Eliza Blackwood. Because this Jiang Meilin was bound to die for Rosie to leave this place and... leave him behind.
A pang of loneliness shot through her, overshadowed by a growing sense of unease as her feelings grew even more complicated. Why wasn't he here? Had something happened?
Just then, a soft knock interrupted her reverie. She looked up, expecting to see Zhao Jingshen, but instead found herself face to face with Lian Fei.
She had to admit that Lian Fei was a vision of sculpted perfection. Chestnut hair cascaded down her shoulders in a flawless wave, framing a face that could have been carved from marble, a face that might have been beautiful if not for the cold calculation in her eyes. Her icy gaze held a steely glint, and her designer pantsuit clung to her curves like a second skin. An expensive perfume, heavy with floral notes, filled the room as she approached the bed. 'Damn that Zhao Jingshen, he does know how to choose a woman, I'll give him that,' she thought.
"Miss Jiang," Lian Fei purred, her voice sickeningly sweet and condescending. She held a single black rose, its velvety petals stark against her pale hands. "How lovely to meet you again. I do hope I'm not interrupting your recovery."
Meilin's eyes narrowed slightly, but her voice remained calm. "Not at all, Miss Lian. To what do I owe the pleasure?" She quipped, slightly angry that it wasn't Zhao Jingshen. She let out a sweet smile, determined to play this woman to death.
Lian Fei glided into the room, placing the black rose on Meilin's bedside table with exaggerated care. "I thought I should remind you of things properly. After all, we have a... mutual acquaintance."
"Zhao Jingshen," Meilin said, her tone neutral.
"Precisely." Lian Fei's smile didn't reach her eyes. "I wanted to make sure you understood your position, Miss Jiang."
Jiang Meilin smiled. "Oh! Do tell," she drawled in a slow but teasing voice.
Lian Fei smirked, a predator sizing up its prey. "Yes, darling. Jingshen and I have been betrothed since childhood. Our families have been friends for generations."
Jiang Meilin felt a strange mixture of anger and jealousy bubbling within her. She and Zhao Jingshen had only known each other for a week, but the connection they'd shared felt undeniable.
"I see," Jiang Meilin gritted, forcing her voice and smile to remain steady. How she wanted to reward her with a slap.
Lian Fei leaned closer, her eyes boring into Meilin's. "I must say, dear, I'm not particularly impressed by your... artistic endeavours. Street brawls and cheap paintings are not exactly the qualities Jingshen seeks in a partner."
Jiang Meilin's hand clenched into a fist beneath the thin hospital blanket. "I wasn't aware Jingshen was looking for a partner," Jiang Meilin retorted, her voice firm. "And frankly, his personal life shouldn't be your concern."
Lian Fei's smile faltered for a fleeting moment, but she quickly recovered her composure. "Oh, but it is, darling," she purred. "Jingshen and I are getting married soon. And I suggest you stay well out of our way. Unless, of course, you fancy ending up in the morgue next time."