"What do you want?" she finally managed to ask, her voice laced with a mix of fear and desperation.
"I want what was always mine," he said, his tone resolute. "You, Yue'er."
My girlfriend, now fiance... Future wife.
Selena shook her head vehemently, her panic flaring into defiance. "No," she said, her voice stronger now. "I am not Yue'er anymore. That part of my life is over."
She was too much in shock that she forgot to even mention that he cheated! He cheated on her with her friend! Right in front of her... It was the accident that killed her but in a way, so did he.
Yu Zhiyuan's expression darkened, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of pain in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by an unyielding determination.
"You can tell yourself that all you want," he said. "But it does not change the truth. You are still you, and I am still me. And I'm not letting you go this time."
His words sent a chill down her spine.
The words echoed in Selena's ears, making her chest tighten and her breathing grow shallow. What does he mean, 'this time'? She thought, panic beginning to set in.
Her mind raced to make sense of the situation. Yu Zhiyuan. The man who had once held her heart in the palm of his hand—only to shatter it.
He had cheated on her in their past life, leaving her devastated and humiliated. And now he stood before her, not only alive in this world but speaking as though their shared past was some kind of tether that bound them together.
How is this possible? Selena thought, her pulse pounding in her ears.
And then a chilling realisation hit her. Unless... Unless he's like me.
Her breath caught. The idea was too horrifying to consider, yet it seemed the only plausible explanation. What if, just as she had transmigrated into Selena's body, Yu Zhiyuan had somehow found his way into Nicholas'?
Her legs felt weak beneath her, and she leaned slightly against the wall for support. Her heart raced so fast she thought it might burst. The idea of Yu Zhiyuan being here, in this world, in Nicholas's body, was too much for her to process.
As if sensing her inner turmoil, Nicholas—or Yu Zhiyuan—moved closer. His hand, still resting lightly on her cheek, shifted slightly, guiding her face to look directly at him. His touch was cold, almost mechanical, yet it carried a possessive weight that made her stomach churn.
His dark eyes bore into hers, unrelenting, as though trying to pull her into his world.
"You're scared," he said softly, his voice almost gentle. "But you don't need to be, Yue'er. I'm here now. I will not make the same mistakes again."
Selena's lips parted, but no words came out. What was there to say? Her mind was a cacophony of emotions—fear, anger, disbelief, and a deep, gnawing sense of betrayal.
His thumb brushed against her cheek, and she flinched. "No..." she managed to whisper, her voice hoarse.
But Yu Zhiyuan did not stop. His expression softened as though he thought his words were comforting, but they only made Selena's panic worse.
"You've always belonged to me, Yue'er," he murmured, his gaze dropping briefly to her lips.
Selena's eyes widened in alarm as she realized what he was about to do. No. No, this couldn't happen. Her body tensed, and she raised her hands to push him away, but before she could act, his face leaned closer to hers.
"No!" she screamed internally, but her voice would not come out.
Just as his lips were about to meet hers, a force shoved him away, hard enough to send him stumbling back a few steps.
Selena gasped, her wide eyes snapping to the figure standing protectively in front of her.
"Alex?" she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
It was indeed Alex, his tall frame tense and his eyes blazing with barely contained fury. He didn't even spare Selena a glance, his entire focus locked on Nicholas.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Alex's voice was low and dangerous, each word sharp enough to cut.
Nicholas—or Yu Zhiyuan—straightened himself, brushing invisible dust off his sleeve as though nothing had happened. His expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of irritation in his eyes.
"And who are you to interfere?" Nicholas asked coolly, his gaze now meeting Alex's.
Alex took a step forward, placing himself squarely between Selena and Nicholas. His presence was solid and reassuring, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere Nicholas had created.
"So it's true... You really are brain-dead. Let me remind you, you are the man she abandoned. And I... I am her fiance." Alex declared.
Selena watched the exchange, her mind still struggling to catch up with what had just happened. Alex was here. Somehow, he had known to come, and he had stopped Nicholas before things could escalate further.
Nicholas's smirk returned, but this time it carried a hint of disdain. "Protective, are we?" he said, his tone mocking. "How noble of you. But you don't understand, do you?"
He gestured toward Selena, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "She's mine," he said simply, as though it were an undeniable fact. "I did not sign that form. I am not letting her cancel this engagement. A commoner like you should stay out of our matters." He scowled.
Alex's jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists at his sides. "She doesn't belong to anyone," he said sharply. "Least of all you."
Nicholas's expression darkened, and for a moment, the room felt even colder. The tension between the two men was palpable, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air.
Selena, still pressed against the wall, forced herself to take a shaky step forward. Her voice was unsteady, but she managed to speak.
"Alex," she said softly, her voice drawing his attention.