Su Jin stared at Luo Xian, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and confusion. "What is it you really want from me?"
Luo Xian's response was a disarming smile, but what followed shattered any illusions she might have clung to. He leaned down, gently lifting her chin with one hand while the other rested possessively on her stomach. His deep, velvety voice carried a commanding edge as he said, "I want to honor your wish—to give our child a name, a legitimate place in this world. I won't let them carry the stigma of being called a bastard. For all we know, you might already be carrying our child. I'm just taking precautions. Woman, I want you to be my wife."
Su Jin's wide, disbelieving eyes searched his face, desperately trying to find some indication that this was all a terrible misunderstanding.
"No," she finally stammered. "Do you even understand what you're saying?"
This man must be insane. How could he propose such a thing? She was the woman who had sold herself for money, sacrificing dignity for a paltry five thousand dollars. She couldn't even face herself in the mirror—how could she ever consider marriage to him?
Her hands trembled as she tried to form words, but before she could retreat further into her own spiraling thoughts, Luo Xian captured her lips in a kiss so commanding and consuming that her mind went blank.
When he finally pulled away, his dark eyes locked on hers, he said, "Are you calm now?"
Su Jin's chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. This man—this maddening man—had kissed her simply to silence her, to force her to think clearly. But how could she think when his overwhelming presence consumed her every sense?
Her reflection stared back at her from the depths of his piercing green gaze, a reflection that felt achingly vulnerable and unbearably small. Bitterness crept into her voice as she said, "I don't understand. I don't understand you. Why are you doing this? We barely know each other. I don't want to be trapped in this madness. Yes, I'm pathetic. I sold myself because I needed the money. But marriage? To tie myself to someone like you? Marriage is supposed to be a sacred promise between two people who love each other, not some game you play to pass the time. I'm not interested. I'm not playing this game with you!"
She turned to flee, her voice cracking under the weight of her anguish. She wanted to put an end to this nightmare—to the relentless entanglement that had spiraled out of an already regrettable decision.
But Luo Xian's voice stopped her cold. "What kind of man do you think I am?" he asked, his tone low and dangerous. His hand caught her chin once again, forcing her to meet his unyielding gaze. "I don't play games. Never. When I say I want you, I mean it. And I don't say those words lightly. To me, you are precious."
The word "precious" struck Su Jin like a blow to the chest. Tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them. How could he call her precious? How could anyone? Not when she had sunk so low, degraded herself so completely.
Luo Xian's brow furrowed as he wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb. "Why are you crying?" he asked softly.
Su Jin brushed at her tears with shaking hands, trying desperately to pull herself together. She didn't want him to see her like this, didn't want to appear weak. "If it's not for the child, then why?" she asked, her voice hoarse. "Why do you want to marry me? Don't say it's for the child."
His dark gaze bore into her, unflinching. "It's not the child," he said, his voice firm. "It's because I want you."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Luo Xian's fingers slid through her hair, his touch surprisingly tender as he added, "I don't want to let go of you. If you're wondering why I want to marry you, it's because you've made me realize I want more. Not just your body, but your heart. I want your name tied to mine, permanently. I need that assurance that you won't leave. What I want is simple: you. And I've never been more certain of anything in my life."
Su Jin's world tilted, his words too much to process.
She shook her head, tears streaming freely now. "You're treating me like an object," she said, her voice trembling. "A thing you want to possess just because you can. I'm not a thing, Luo Xian. I'm a person. I have feelings. I have a heart. And I won't be a possession, an accessory for you to control."
He didn't flinch at her outburst. Instead, his hand tightened slightly, ensuring she couldn't look away.
"Then make me love you," he said, his voice a low growl. "If you don't want to be an object, then show me your worth. Make me see you as more than someone to own. But listen well: I'm not letting go. I want you to love me—all of me. Because I've already decided: I want you, Su Jin. Your heart, your body, your everything. And I won't stop until it's mine."
Su Jin was stunned into silence, her resolve crumbling under the weight of his unwavering determination. She had underestimated him. This was no ordinary man—Luo Xian was a force of nature, relentless and consuming. He would never stop.
Desperation clawed at her as she whispered, "I can't play this game, Luo Xian. I'll lose everything."
His lips curved into a faint smile, but his eyes burned with intensity. "Then lose yourself to me. Because I have no intention of playing fair. This game? It's for keeps. For life."
And in that moment, Su Jin realized the truth: she was fighting a losing battle against a man who had already decided to claim her, heart and soul. Her walls began to crack, the fierce light in his eyes leaving her defenseless. For Luo Xian, love wasn't something gentle. It was a storm, and he intended to take everything she had to give.