What Du Yue failed to realize was that her panicked reaction had already ignited the simmering fury within the man who had stood silently behind her all along.
Her desperate attempt to flee starkly contradicted the memory of the playful, affectionate woman she had been two years prior—the very same woman who used to cling to him with such charm. Had he not known for certain that the figure before him was Du Yue, he might never have recognized her. The gaunt, lifeless woman now before him bore no resemblance to the once flamboyant and proud socialite of Starlight City.
"Running away?" A flicker of irritation danced in Chen Ze's dark eyes. The next moment, a cold sneer curled his lips. "Seeing your husband, and not even a greeting? Is that how you treat me, my so-called wife?"
Husband… Hah…
Du Yue's entire body trembled as a bitter, self-mocking smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. If Chen Ze hadn't reminded her, she might have forgotten entirely—the cruel truth that they were still legally bound as husband and wife. That this man, her husband, was the one who had personally locked her away in this lightless asylum, where hope went to die.
She knew there was no escape. Pulling her legs close, she wrapped her arms tightly around her knees, forming a protective cocoon. Her wide, fearful eyes fixed on Chen Ze, her lashes quivering uncontrollably.
"Chen Ze," she whispered, the name foreign and painful on her tongue. Her voice was barely audible, crushed under the weight of humiliation. "You've played enough. You've punished me enough. Please… I beg you. You've kept me here for two years. Can't you let me go?"
"Let you go?" Chen Ze murmured, rolling the words over his tongue as though savoring their meaning. In the blink of an eye, his gaze turned icy, piercing through her like a blade. Fury erupted in his eyes as he strode toward her, seizing her shoulders with bruising force. Pain shot through her, leaving her breathless. "Let you go? And what about Shen Ya? Her reputation is ruined because of you—she's hiding in Country A, too afraid to return! All thanks to you and your wretched father!"
Shen Ya.
At the mere mention of the name, Du Yue's face froze, her expression hardening involuntarily. That name—it haunted her dreams. She had done nothing wrong, yet Shen Ru Ya's shadow loomed over her life, twisting it beyond recognition.
Du Yue dared not utter another word. Whether it was the searing pain gripping her shoulders or the suffocating fear choking her throat, she couldn't tell. Her head hung low, nearly buried against her chest.
Chen Ze seemed to regain some semblance of control, though his movements remained deliberate and oppressive. He released her, rising to his feet with calculated elegance. Withdrawing a tissue from his pocket, he wiped his hands clean before carelessly tossing it onto Du Yue's bowed head.
The act was both an insult and a declaration of his disdain.
"Stand up. Take off your clothes." His voice brooked no argument, commanding and absolute, like a king decreeing the fate of his subject.
Du Yue froze, her mind blank. Her pupils dilated in shock as she lifted her head to stare at him, disbelief etched across her features. Was he truly resorting to this form of torment?
Meeting her incredulous gaze, Chen Ze smirked, his lips curling into a cruel grin. "Don't flatter yourself. Do you really think I want to see your body? Pathetic. Even if you stripped naked and paraded yourself on the streets, no one would spare you a second glance. There are plenty of young models out there with curves and legs that put you to shame. Why would I waste my time on someone as emaciated as you? No, I simply intend to inspect your condition—to decide whether you're still worth bringing back."
After sharing a bed with her for a year, Chen Ze understood exactly how to wound her deepest. Each word was a calculated strike, designed to strip her dignity bare.
Du Yue lowered her gaze, steeling herself against the torrent of humiliation. She reminded herself that this was just another one of Chen Ze's games—a test of her endurance. The stronger her reaction, the more pleasure he derived from her suffering. Besides, she had no choice but to obey.
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, she forced herself to rise unsteadily to her feet. Her eyelids drooped, shielding her eyes from his predatory gaze. Her dry, yellowed fingers hovered hesitantly over the buttons at her neckline. After a brief pause, she undid the first.
One…
Two…
Three…
Chen Ze's breathing grew heavier, his dark eyes smoldering with an intensity that betrayed his facade of indifference.