Kai paced his apartment that evening, his mind a tangled mess of emotions. His father's words, his conversations with Zhang Wei, and the intense look in Wen's eyes as they'd parted the night before—all of it weighed on him. He wanted to believe that love could be enough, that the connection they shared could weather any storm. But the sacrifices they were being asked to make felt insurmountable.
He picked up his phone, staring at Wen's contact. Part of him wanted to call her, to reassure her, to tell her that they could still find a way to make this work. But a deeper part of him feared that she would only feel more torn, more burdened by the choices they were both being asked to make.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. He opened it to find his father standing there, his expression calm but unyielding.
"Kai," his father began, his tone sharp with authority. "It's time we put an end to this charade."
Kai clenched his fists, bracing himself for yet another confrontation. "If you're here to tell me to end things with Wen, save your breath. I'm not walking away from her."
His father's gaze hardened, his voice cold. "This… distraction has gone on long enough. You are a Chen. And I will not allow you to throw away everything we've built for a fleeting romance."
"It's not a fleeting romance," Kai shot back, his voice trembling with anger. "Wen is the one person who sees me for who I am, not for what my name represents."
His father's expression shifted, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "Then you've made your choice. But be prepared for the consequences, Kai. Because if you continue down this path, you will no longer have a place in this family."
The finality in his father's words left Kai feeling cold, as though the very ground beneath him had shifted. He knew his father meant every word, that this ultimatum was as much a severing of ties as it was a threat.
After his father left, Kai stood alone in his apartment, the weight of his decision settling over him like a storm cloud. He had made his choice, but the cost was only beginning to reveal itself. And as he looked out over the city, he wondered if he was truly ready to face the sacrifices that lay ahead.