"Run far away? Do you really think it's that simple?!" Chen Ze spat through gritted teeth, his voice trembling with rage. "Shen Ya endured hell abroad because of your schemes! And now you plan to just disappear without a trace? Never!"
His obsidian eyes blazed with an inferno of wrath, each glare piercing into Du Yue like daggers, threatening to incinerate her very soul.
Du Yue sucked in a sharp breath, her body convulsing under the weight of sheer terror. Panic clawed at her chest, consuming every shred of rational thought until only one desperate idea remained: she must kneel and beg for mercy. She couldn't afford to die here—not now, not when there was still hope left in life. She wouldn't let this ruin the rest of her days!
With that resolve, she prepared to drop to her knees. But before she could, Chen Ze seized her waist with brutal force, slamming her against his chest.
Chen Ze's bloodshot eyes locked onto hers, his grip tightening around her lower back with crushing intensity, nearly snapping her fragile frame in two.
"Kneeling before me? Don't insult me further—you're not worthy of sullying my presence."
Her lips quivered uncontrollably. What else could she do to appease him? Suddenly, inspiration struck. "Mr. Chen," she stammered, desperation dripping from her voice, "if you feel my punishment hasn't been enough… take a willow branch and whip me. Burn me with cigarette butts—whatever it takes to satisfy you! Whatever it takes…"
Chen Ze's fury erupted like a volcano. "Du Yue, how utterly despicable can you get?!"
She dared to suggest such punishments herself? This pitiful creature was once Du Yue—the proud, beloved young lady of the Du family, admired by all. How had she transformed into this groveling coward within mere two years?
Du Yue's lips trembled, her gaze hollow and devoid of light. Wasn't degradation expected by now? At this point, anyone's pride would've crumbled to dust—and hers had vanished long ago.
It didn't matter if he called her vile… as long as he spared her life.
"I'll do anything," she whispered hoarsely. "Anything."
"Anything?" Chen Ze repeated mockingly, his laughter slicing through the air like ice shards. His expression radiated a chilling cruelty as he glanced toward the towering villa where the car had stopped. Du Yue followed his gaze, momentarily frozen in dread.
Before she could respond, Chen Ze wrenched open the car door, yanked her wrist, and dragged her inside the mansion without hesitation.
Chen Ze strode forward with purposeful strides, while Du Yue stumbled behind him, struggling to keep up. Yet he showed no sign of slowing down, pulling her ruthlessly into the bedroom and flinging her onto the bed.
"You said 'anything,' didn't you?" His tone dripped with venomous mockery. "Then serve me well tonight. If I'm pleased, perhaps I'll consider letting you go. It's been two years since we last met, Miss Du. Tell me—have you missed me? Or have you forgotten how infatuated you used to be?"
"No! No!" Du Yue snapped out of her daze, her face draining of color. Frantically, she flailed her arms to shield herself.
This was her final boundary! Without love between them, how could she allow… She clung to the remnants of her dignity, unwilling to let Chen Ze erase what little beauty remained in her memories.
"No?" A sinister shadow crossed half of Chen Ze's face, his dark eyes glinting with disdain.
She shamelessly flaunted her promiscuity everywhere else, yet here she played the virtuous maiden, refusing his touch?
"A harlot pretending to uphold virtue? Have you forgotten who you truly are?" His voice dripped with contempt, each word laced with venom. "You're nothing but filth. Who knows? Maybe even the orderlies at the asylum got their hands on you."
Slap!
Du Yue's palm connected with his cheek, the sound echoing through the room. Chen Ze's head jerked sideways, his profile obscured by shadows, unreadable yet menacing.