"I can't promise you love, and I'll have no other woman but you," Juan Yihe had said. His tone was neutral, as if making a business deal, not a vow. The coldness of his words never left Qin Ran's heart, even after all these years.
But Qin Ran—no, Evelyn De Maxwell—had convinced herself that it would be enough. She thought her love for him would fill the gap he left. How foolish she had been.
She looked out at the sprawling city below her, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Even now, the memory of his words still stung as she prepared to make the final decision that would change everything.
"Qin Ran, you're not serious about this, right?" Her best friend Li Jia Jia asked, standing beside her on the terrace. Jia Jia's eyes were wide with concern, her usual fiery attitude softened by worry. She had always been the voice of reason, pushing Qin Ran to recognize her own worth. But this... this was different.
"I am," Qin Ran said softly, her eyes still fixed on the city lights, "I can't do this anymore, Jia Jia. I've waited long enough."
Jia Jia sighed, brushing a hand through her short, pixie-cut hair. "You know he'll fight you on this, right? You're not just some woman he can easily discard. You're his wife. You've stood by him for five years, and now you're telling me you want to leave?"
Qin Ran's heart clenched, not at Jia Jia's words, but at the thought of those five long years. Years where she had stood in the shadows, waiting for Juan Yihe to see and love her. She had sacrificed everything, her life, her joy, her heart... and for what?
For a man who would never love her. A man whose heart still belonged to someone else.
"I don't care anymore," Qin Ran whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "I can't keep waiting for him to love me. I can't keep pretending that I'm okay."
A tear slid down her cheek, but she wiped it away quickly. Evelyn De Maxwell didn't cry. Qin Ran, the girl who had once been so full of hope and dreams, had long disappeared. Now, there was only Evelyn—the queen of business, a woman of power and strength, a force the world couldn't ignore.
Meanwhile, at the Juan Family Mansion...
Juan Yihe sat at his desk, his eyes scanning the paperwork before him. His mind, however, was elsewhere. His first love, Lou Jiang, had returned with a child.
His heart clenched at the thought of Lou. She had left him years ago without explanation, and now she was back. With a son who looked so much like him, it was unnerving. The child's dark hair and striking eyes were a mirror of his own.
"Yihe, we need to talk," Lou Jiang's voice interrupted his thoughts. She stood in the doorway, holding the child's hand. Lou's beauty hadn't faded over the years, but there was a hardness to her now, something calculating in her gaze.
Yihe frowned, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What is it?"
Lou smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You know what this is about. Cheng needs a future. He needs a father. He needs you."
Juan's heart raced, but not for the reasons Lou probably expected. He wasn't ready for this. He wasn't ready to face the fact that this child—his child—would change everything. But what about Qin Ran?
The woman who had stood by his side for years, waiting for something that would never come.
Back at the Maxwell Estate in Russia...
Evelyn's older brother, Zhou Fang Yue, also known as Dmitry De Maxwell, stood at the window, watching as his sister approached the grand estate. Her face was as composed as ever, but he knew better. He had watched her suffer silently for too long, and now... now she was finally taking control.
"She's doing it, isn't she?" came a voice from behind him.
Zhou Ning Wei, her twin brother, was leaning casually against the door frame. He was as quiet and reserved as ever, a genius at technology and cybersecurity. But his eyes held a softness when it came to Evelyn.
"She is," Dmitry said quietly. "It's time."
That Evening...
Qin Ran sat across from Juan Yihe in their dining room. Their silence was heavy, thick with unsaid words and emotions neither wanted to face.
"I'm leaving," Qin Ran said, breaking the silence.
Juan looked up, startled. "What?"
"I'm leaving you, Yihe," she repeated, her voice steady. "I want a divorce."
The words hit him like a punch to the gut. Divorce? No. That wasn't supposed to happen. He had never considered it. He had always assumed she would be there, waiting, just like she always had. Silent. Loyal.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "You're not serious."
But one look at her face told him otherwise. She was serious. More serious than she had ever been.
"I've waited for you for five years, Yihe," Qin Ran said softly. "I've waited for you to love me, to look at me like you used to look at her. But I'm done waiting. I'm done being second."
Juan's heart raced. This can't be happening. Not now. Not after everything.
"I won't accept this," he said firmly, standing up from his chair. "You're my wife."
Qin Ran smiled, but it was a sad smile, filled with years of regret. "I was never really your wife, Yihe. Not in the way that mattered."
She stood up, her decision final. "I'm leaving, and nothing you say will change my mind."
Juan watched her walk away, his heart pounding in his chest. He had always been in control and always knew how to handle things. But now... he was losing her. And for the first time, he realized that maybe he cared more than he ever let himself believe.
As Qin Ran walked out of their mansion, her heart was heavy, but her resolve was strong; she felt a weight lift off her shoulders...
This was it. The beginning of the end. But for the first time in years, she wasn't afraid. She was ready to face whatever came next.
The night air was crisp as Qin Ran—now Evelyn De Maxwell—walked away from Juan Yihe's mansion for the last time. Her decision to leave had come after years of internal battles, endless nights of tears, and the weight of unrequited love pressing down on her. As the heavy wooden gates of the mansion closed behind her, it wasn't just the end of her marriage—it was the beginning of her liberation.
In the distance, a sleek black car approached. It wasn't her usual driver. She narrowed her eyes as the vehicle stopped before her, the dark windows reflecting the glimmering city lights. The driver's door opened, and a man stepped out.
He was tall and muscular, with dark hair slicked back and piercing green eyes that looked like they could see through a person's soul. He wore an expensive suit, and his presence was almost intimidating. Yet, there was something familiar about him—a dangerous familiarity.
"Evelyn," his voice was deep, low, and full of something she couldn't quite place—desire, obsession, control.
Her heart stopped for a second.
"Nickolas?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Nickolas Alexander Jr. had been a ghost from her past. Her older brother's closest friend was the son of the largest mafia family in Italy. As a child, he had visited the Maxwell mansion frequently, playing with her brothers, but he had always looked at her differently. She remembered how his eyes lingered on her whenever she passed by, even as a young girl. Years later, his gaze was even more intense and possessive.
"I've been waiting for this moment," Nickolas said, a smirk playing on his lips as he leaned against the car, his gaze never leaving her.
"What are you doing here?" Evelyn (Qin ran) asked, stepping back instinctively. She had always sensed something unsettling about him, even when they were younger. Now, with him standing before her, it was as though all her instincts were screaming at her to run.
Nickolas pushed himself out of the car, taking slow, deliberate steps toward her. "Your brother thought he could hide you forever in China. But I've been watching. I've been waiting." His voice was calm, too calm, as if this moment had been playing in his mind for years. "You've always been mine, Evelyn. From the moment I saw you in those family photos on the walls of the Maxwell mansion, I knew you were meant to be mine."
Evelyn's (Qin ran) heart raced, panic rising in her chest. "You're crazy," she said, backing up further. "You're obsessed."
Nickolas let out a low chuckle, stepping closer until there was barely any space between them. "I am. And I don't deny it. I've spent years watching from the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to have you."
Evelyn (Qin ran) tried to step away, but he grabbed her wrist gently yet firmly, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "You can't just take me. I'm not someone you can own," she said, her voice trembling.
Nickolas's eyes darkened. "You think I won't? You've been running away for too long. I won't let you slip through my fingers, Evelyn. Not again. You're leaving Juan now, but you're not leaving me."
She pulled her hand back, her eyes fierce with defiance. "I'm not going to be some toy in your game, Nickolas."
He paused, his gaze softening for a moment, but then his lips curled into a twisted smile. "This isn't a game. I'm serious, Evelyn. I've waited long enough. I'll make sure you never run again."
"What are you planning?" Evelyn (Qin ran) demanded, her heart pounding.
Nickolas leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "I'm going to take you with me. To a place far away, where no one will ever find us. Not your brothers, not your family, not even the Maxwell family. You'll be mine, Evelyn. And if you even think about running… well, I'll ensure you have no reason to leave."
Evelyn's (Qin ran) blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"
Nickolas's smile widened as he pulled her closer, his voice dark with intent. "I'll make you carry my child, Evelyn. You're soft-hearted. You wouldn't run if you had our baby. I'll give you a family. I'll give you everything you've ever wanted. And you'll have no choice but to stay by my side."
Her heart stopped. She pushed him away, panic rising inside her like a tidal wave. "You're insane, Nickolas!"
He didn't flinch, his expression unchanged. "Maybe. But I'll do anything to make you happy again, Evelyn. After Juan... after everything, I'll give you the love and life you deserve."
Evelyn's (Qin ran) mind raced. She had always been strong and resilient. She had survived her marriage to Juan Yihe, endured years of heartache, and fought to reclaim her self-worth. But now, faced with Nickolas's obsession, she felt cornered, trapped.
"I won't let you take me," she said firmly, gathering every ounce of strength she had left.
Nickolas grinned, stepping back and opening the door to his car. "We'll see about that."
With one last look, he slid into the driver's seat and drove off into the night, leaving Evelyn standing alone on the empty street. Her heart pounded, fear mingling with anger as she watched him disappear.
Later that night, at the Maxwell Mansion in Russia...
Zhou Fang Yue, or Dmitry De Maxwell, sat in his private study, reviewing the latest reports from his global business ventures. His sister had just made the most difficult decision of her life—leaving Juan Yihe—but he knew the danger wasn't over yet.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. His twin brother, Zhou Ning Wei, entered, his face unusually grim.
"He's back," Ning Wei said simply.
Dmitry's eyes darkened. "Nickolas?"
Ning Wei nodded. "He's been watching Evelyn for months now. Our sources say he's planning something. Something dangerous."
Dmitry clenched his fists. He had always known about Nickolas's obsession with Evelyn, but he had hoped that distance would have cooled it. Clearly, he had been wrong.
"We can't let him take her," Dmitry said, his voice filled with determination. "We'll have to protect her, even if it means hiding her again."
Ning Wei looked at his brother, his usually calm demeanor replaced with concern. "But how long can we keep her hidden? Nickolas won't stop. He never has."
Dmitry stood up, his jaw clenched. "Then we'll have to stop him ourselves. No one—no one—takes Evelyn away from us."
Back in China...
Evelyn (Qin ran) stood by the window of her temporary apartment, her mind racing with fear and determination. Nickolas's words were still in her head, his threat lingering like a dark cloud. She wasn't going to let him control her life. She wasn't going to be anyone's possession.
She had just freed herself from one prison—her loveless marriage to Juan Yihe. She wasn't about to fall into another one. But deep down, she knew that Nickolas wouldn't stop until he had her.
And now, more than ever, she had to prepare for the battle of her life.....
Evelyn (Qin ran) sat by the window, her fingers tracing the edge of her teacup as she gazed out at the sprawling city of Beijing. The city was a temporary refuge, a place her brothers had chosen to hide her from the storm they all knew was coming. But Evelyn (Qin ran) could feel the walls closing in. No matter where she went, no matter how far she ran, Nickolas Alexander Jr. would find her.
She had always known he was watching, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. His obsession had started when they were just children—she had been too young to understand, too innocent to notice how his eyes had followed her whenever he visited the Maxwell mansion in Russia.
Now, years later, his obsession had grown into something far more dangerous.
She could still hear his voice from the night before, dark and full of intent: "You're mine, Evelyn. I've waited long enough. I'll do anything to make you happy, to give you everything you deserve."
A shiver ran down her spine. She wasn't naive. She knew exactly what he meant. Nickolas didn't just want her love. He wanted to own her, control her, bind her to him forever. And if she tried to escape, he'd make sure she couldn't—by making her carry his child.
Her heart clenched at the thought. She had just freed herself from a suffocating marriage, from Juan Yihe's cold indifference and the years of unreciprocated love. She wasn't about to be trapped in another prison, this time by a man whose obsession bordered on madness.
But how could she escape him when he knew her so well? When was he determined to have her, no matter the cost?
Meanwhile, in Rome...
Nickolas Alexander Jr. sat in his family's grand villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The view was breathtaking, but his mind was elsewhere. One person consumed his thoughts: Evelyn De Maxwell.
He had loved her from the moment he saw her photo on the walls of the Maxwell mansion all those years ago. Even as a child, he had been captivated by her. The softness in her eyes, the mystery in her smile—everything about her had drawn him in like a moth to a flame.
But Evelyn wasn't just beautiful. She was powerful. She was the key to everything he wanted in life. And now that she was finally free from her marriage to Juan Yihe, Nickolas wouldn't wait any longer.
"I'll find her," he muttered to himself, his green eyes dark with determination. "And when I do, she'll have no choice but to be mine."
His phone buzzed on the table next to him. It was a message from one of his men stationed in China. They were watching her every move, waiting for the right moment.
"We've located her apartment," his men message.
Nickolas's lips curled into a smile. Perfect. It was time to put his plan into action.
Later that evening, at Evelyn's apartment in Beijing...
Evelyn's phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was her older brother, Dmitry De Maxwell, calling from Russia.
"How are you holding up, Evelyn?" Dmitry's voice was calm, but she could hear the underlying worry.
"I'm fine," she lied. She wasn't fine. She hadn't been fine since the day she walked out of Juan Yihe's life, and now, with Nickolas's threat looming over her, she felt more trapped than ever.
"Nickolas is getting closer," Dmitry said quietly, confirming her worst fears. "Our sources say he's already in China."
Evelyn's heart sank. "What am I supposed to do, Brother Dmitry? I can't keep running forever."
"You won't have to," Dmitry reassured her. "We're working on something. But until then, you need to stay hidden."
Evelyn clenched her jaw. She hated this—she hated feeling powerless, like a pawn in a game between powerful men. She had built a life for herself and carved out her own path, but now it felt like everything was slipping away.
"I can handle myself," she said, though the words felt hollow.
"I know you can, but this isn't just about handling yourself. Nickolas... he's different. He's not like your ex-husband. He won't let you go so easily."
Evelyn (Qin ran) knew Dmitry was right. Nickolas was dangerous in a way Juan had never been. Juan's coldness had hurt her, but Nickolas's obsession... terrified her.
That same night...
Nickolas stood outside Evelyn's apartment building, his eyes scanning the windows above. He had waited for this moment for years, and now she was finally within his reach.
He could feel the anticipation building inside him. Soon, she would be his. She would have no choice. Once she was at his place, far from the reach of her brothers and the rest of the Maxwell family, she would have no one but him.
And if she tries to leave? He'd ensure she stayed by giving her the one thing she couldn't walk away from—a child.
Nickolas's smile widened as he imagined it. Evelyn, carrying his baby. She would have no reason to run after that. She'd be bound to him forever.
With a determined stride, he made his way to the entrance of the building. His plan was already in motion. All he had to do now was take her.
Evelyn's apartment...
The knock on the door startled Evelyn. She wasn't expecting anyone, and a sudden sense of dread filled her. Slowly, she approached the door, her hand hesitating on the handle.
In the pit of her stomach, she knew it wasn't her brothers or anyone from the Maxwell family.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
And there he was.
Nickolas Alexander Jr. stood before her, his eyes gleaming with the same intensity she had seen the night before. His presence was overwhelming, and the air between them crackled with tension.
"Nickolas..." Evelyn whispered, stepping back in shock.
"Hello, Evelyn," he said, his voice smooth and calm. "I told you I'd find you."
Evelyn's mind raced. She had to stay calm and find a way out of this. "What do you want?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
Nickolas stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I think you know what I want, Evelyn."
Her heart pounded in her chest as she backed away from him. "You can't do this. My brothers—"
"Your brothers can't save you," Nickolas interrupted, his voice darkening. "They can't protect you forever. You belong to me now."
Evelyn's breath caught in her throat as Nickolas took another step toward her. She could feel the walls closing in, trapping her.
"You're coming with me," Nickolas said, his tone final. "And you're not leaving until you're mine. Completely."
Terror gripped her as she realized what he meant. If she didn't escape now, she might never be free again.
Back in Russia...
Dmitry paced the floor of his study, his mind racing. He had underestimated Nickolas's obsession, and now his sister was in danger. He knew Nickolas wouldn't stop until he had Evelyn, which terrified him.
Ning Wei entered the room, his expression grave. "We just received messages. Nickolas is already in her apartment."
Dmitry's eyes darkened with fury. "We're going to get her out. Now."
Ning Wei nodded, already making the necessary arrangements. The Maxwell family was powerful, and they had resources Nickolas couldn't even imagine. But time was running out.
"We need to move fast," Ning Wei said, his voice tense. "If Nickolas takes her, it'll be too late."
Evelyn's apartment...
Nickolas reached out, his hand gently brushing against Evelyn's cheek. "I've waited for you long enough, Evelyn. It's time."
Evelyn's mind raced, but she couldn't let him see her fear. She needed to find a way out and stay strong.
"I'm not yours, Nickolas," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the panic rising inside her. "I never will be."
Nickolas's expression darkened. "Oh, but you will. One way or another, you'll be mine. And when you're carrying my child, you won't be able to run. You won't want to."
Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest as the weight of his words sank in. This was her worst nightmare come to life, and she had to find a way out—before it was too late.