Chapter 21: Mounting Tensions
The tension in the grand hall was suffocating. Liang Xiaoluo felt like a pawn caught in a high-stakes chess game. She couldn't understand why this family's atmosphere was so fraught, but the glances, veiled hostility, and unspoken rivalries told her everything she needed to know—this wasn't a family; it was a battlefield.
The Intriguing Step-Mother
Lady Hua Lin stood regally, her presence commanding the room. Liang Xiaoluo couldn't shake the feeling that the woman's soft-spoken demeanor masked something far more dangerous. Hua Lin's earlier stare lingered in her mind—it wasn't just disapproval; it was almost predatory.
"霖儿, don't be so cold to your family. I know you've always held grudges, but we're still blood," Hua Lin said, her voice laced with subtle pleading.
Ye Tianlin responded with a dismissive scoff. "Blood means nothing if it's poisoned."
Liang Xiaoluo flinched at his icy tone. The undercurrents of disdain in his words weren't directed solely at Hua Lin—they were meant for the entire room.
The Playful Younger Brother
"哥," Ye Tianhao, Tianlin's younger half-brother, broke the silence with a mischievous grin as he approached. His sharp, handsome features mirrored his mother's elegance, but his eyes glimmered with mischief.
He stopped in front of Liang Xiaoluo, examining her like a shiny new toy. "哥, I'm impressed. So, you finally found someone to warm your icy heart? I was starting to think you were incapable."
Liang Xiaoluo stiffened under Ye Tianhao's bold gaze, her face flushing with embarrassment. She lowered her eyes, wishing she could disappear.
Tianlin's arm snaked protectively around her waist, pulling her closer. "Careful, Tianhao," he said, his voice carrying a thinly veiled warning. "Don't touch what's mine."
Tianhao smirked, unfazed. "Relax, 哥. I'm just curious. She's... different."
The exchange sent a shiver down Liang Xiaoluo's spine. It wasn't just Tianlin's possessive grip or his brother's casual provocations. It was the way Hua Lin watched them, her expression unreadable but her tightly clenched fists betraying her true feelings.
A Family Feud in the Making
"Stop it, Hao," Hua Lin chided gently, pulling her son away. "Don't provoke your brother."
Her hand rested briefly on Tianlin's arm, her touch lingering for a moment too long. Liang Xiaoluo noticed it, and a wave of unease washed over her.
No, she told herself. She must have been imagining things.
"霖儿," Hua Lin said softly, her voice laced with a hint of melancholy. "Don't let petty grievances cloud what's important—family."
Tianlin's lips curled into a cold smile. "Family?" He glanced at his grandfather. "Isn't this what family looks like? Dictators and liars playing house together?"
"霖儿!" Ye Lao's voice thundered, his face reddening with anger. "Show respect. You're speaking to your elders."
"Respect? For what?" Tianlin's voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. "This isn't about family. It's about control."
Liang Xiaoluo Becomes a Target
Ye Lao's fiery gaze turned to Liang Xiaoluo. "And you," he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "What is this... this thing doing in my house?"
Liang Xiaoluo's jaw tightened at the insult, her mind racing. Thing? Was that how they all saw her?
Before she could respond, Tianlin stepped forward, shielding her with his body. "She's your granddaughter-in-law, 老爷子," he said coolly, his arm tightening around Liang Xiaoluo. "My wife."
The room erupted into stunned silence.
Liang Xiaoluo's heart stopped. What did he just say? Wife?!
Ye Lao's face turned an alarming shade of red. "Wife? What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat?"
Tianlin smirked, enjoying the chaos he was creating. "Nonsense? You said yourself, grandpa—no man in the Ye family can touch a virgin unless he intends to marry her."
The revelation hit like a thunderclap. Liang Xiaoluo froze, her face draining of color. She hadn't agreed to this. She wasn't anyone's wife, let alone Ye Tianlin's.
Hua Lin's sharp intake of breath drew Liang Xiaoluo's attention. The older woman's serene mask had cracked, her eyes blazing with something dark and dangerous.
A Brewing Storm
"Tianlin," Hua Lin said, her voice trembling ever so slightly, "is this true?"
"It is," he replied without hesitation, his gaze locked on his stepmother. "And I expect you all to welcome her into the family."
Ye Lao slammed his cane on the floor, his rage palpable. "Over my dead body! This... this nobody will never be part of the Ye family!"
"Grandpa," Tianlin said with a mocking bow, "that's entirely up to you. But if you cross me, don't expect me to keep playing the obedient heir."
The room descended into chaos, voices overlapping as accusations flew. Hua Lin's gaze never left Liang Xiaoluo, who stood frozen in place, her mind reeling.
A Dangerous Game
As the argument escalated, Tianlin leaned close to Liang Xiaoluo, his breath warm against her ear. "Stay quiet," he murmured. "The more they fight, the safer you'll be."
Liang Xiaoluo clenched her fists. She was nothing but a pawn in his twisted game. But if it meant securing her father's safety, she would endure it—at least for now.
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she resolved to survive this nightmare. No matter what it takes, I will get that money and leave this madhouse for good.