Chapter 31: Coincidence, Into the Trap
The sky grew darker as thick clouds loomed overhead, suffocating the city under an oppressive weight. The air felt heavy, as though shrouded in an ominous veil.
Inside the sleek black car, Liang Xiaoluo sat rigidly. Moments earlier, she had been dragged out of the shadowy alley and thrown into the vehicle by Ye Tianlin. Her protests and struggles were futile against his iron grip.
Her face was pale as she stared out the rain-speckled windows, fury and humiliation roiling in her chest. The knowledge that Ye Tianlin had followed her felt like a violation, stripping away any sense of safety or autonomy she had left.
The spacious backseat now felt like a suffocating prison. The atmosphere between them was tense, laden with unspoken anger and fear. Ye Tianlin, seated beside her, was unnervingly silent. His brooding gaze seemed fixated on something intangible, but his clenched jaw hinted at a simmering frustration.
Liang Xiaoluo couldn't bear his oppressive presence. Desperate for freedom, she lunged toward the door, trying to fling it open and leap out. The car's speed promised injury, even death, but she would rather risk it than remain trapped with him.
Ye Tianlin, ever alert, grabbed her wrist mid-motion and yanked her back against him.
"Let me go!" she screamed, her voice filled with defiance and desperation.
Instead of answering, Ye Tianlin reached for the divider and raised it, sealing them off from the driver. The cabin felt smaller, more intimate, and far more dangerous.
Liang Xiaoluo pressed herself against the door, her wide eyes darting around as panic set in. There was no escape.
A Predatory Silence
Ye Tianlin turned his gaze toward her, his dark eyes gleaming with an unreadable intensity. He looked every bit like a predator savoring the hunt. His voice was soft but chilling. "What's your relationship with him?"
She knew who he meant, but she refused to answer. "Why should I tell you? You have no right to ask."
Her defiance only deepened his smirk. Ye Tianlin leaned closer, his presence overwhelming. "You forget," he murmured, his voice a dangerous caress. "You're mine. I paid five million for you."
Liang Xiaoluo's heart sank. She shook her head vehemently. "No! That money was a loan. I don't belong to anyone!"
"A loan?" Ye Tianlin's laugh was cold and humorless. "In my world, there's no such thing as a loan. Everything comes with a price."
His words were like chains tightening around her, stripping her of hope.
Terror and Submission
As her fear escalated, tears began to pool in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "You can't do this. I'm a person, not something you can own."
"Crying won't help you," Ye Tianlin sneered, his tone cutting. "Tears are meaningless to me."
He leaned in, his lips brushing against her cheek. The saltiness of her tears touched his tongue, and he recoiled slightly, his expression tightening.
"Remember," he said softly but with the weight of iron, "you are mine."
"No," she sobbed, shaking her head as her voice broke. "I am not yours."
Her resistance only fanned his fury. "Then why is it," he hissed, "that you cling to another man like some helpless creature?"
His accusation stung, cutting deeper than she expected. "I…" she stammered, unable to form a coherent reply. She felt cornered, a helpless pawn in his cruel game.
Suffocating Despair
The car circled the city streets endlessly, its slow, deliberate route mirroring the suffocating loop of despair within her. Rain battered the windows, drowning out her choked sobs.
By the time the car finally stopped in front of Ye Tianlin's grand mansion, Liang Xiaoluo had gone limp from exhaustion, both physical and emotional. Her head lolled against the seat as the door opened.
Ye Tianlin stepped out first, shrugging off his jacket before gently wrapping it around her. He lifted her effortlessly into his arms, shielding her from the rain as a line of servants formed a canopy of umbrellas to guide him inside.
The Shadow of Envy
As he carried her upstairs, the servants whispered amongst themselves. Their curiosity buzzed like static, each one wondering about the mysterious woman in their master's arms.
Among them was Su Xin, her expression a mix of envy and disdain. When Liang Xiaoluo's face came into view, Su Xin's breath caught. Recognition hit her like a bolt of lightning. It was her old friend—her rival—Liang Xiaoluo.
"How dare she," Su Xin muttered under her breath, her fists clenching. Jealousy burned hot and bright within her.
A Fevered Nightmare
Inside the master bedroom, Ye Tianlin laid Liang Xiaoluo on the plush bed. Her cheeks were flushed, her breaths shallow. He reached out to touch her forehead, the heat radiating from her skin confirming his suspicion—she was burning with fever.
"Call Zhiyie," he ordered curtly, referring to the family's trusted doctor.
The room emptied, leaving Ye Tianlin alone with her. He sat beside her, watching as she mumbled incoherently in her fevered state. His fingers brushed her damp hair from her face, a rare gentleness softening his sharp features.
If only she didn't think of another man, he thought bitterly. Perhaps he could have shown her the tenderness she deserved.
Standing, he carefully unwrapped her from the soaked layers of clothing. Cradling her again, he carried her to the ensuite bathroom, turning on the shower. Warm water cascaded over her, washing away the rain and tears.
Unspoken Questions
As he held her under the water, his jaw tightened. "Liang Xiaoluo," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the spray, "how long will you run from me?"
The question hung in the steamy air, unanswered.