Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I had never seen Xie Ting like this before. For a moment, I could only stare.

It was not until he dragged me outside that I came to my senses and angrily shook off his hand.

“Why are you here?”

He had already met the heroine destined for him. By all rights, they should still be baring their souls to each other. Why had he suddenly come looking for me?

Xie Ting said nothing. His black-and-white eyes slowly lowered, his lashes casting shadows over his cheeks. None of the composure he had displayed a moment ago remained.

He stared at the hand I had flung away. After a long silence, he spoke with a trace of accusation and an almost imperceptible hurt.

“Xu You.”

“You. Liar.”

My heart lurched.

Had he finally realized that everything I had said and done to coax him from a business marriage into my bed was a lie?

Or had he learned that the heroine was his true destined partner and I was nothing more than a passerby intruding on their romance?

The comments buzzed with excitement.

[Don’t overthink it. After being toyed with by this spoiled supporting woman for so long, the male lead must regret everything. He’s probably deciding how to punish her properly!]

[You may be in a business marriage, but you’re still legally husband and wife. Sneaking out to meet another man could cause a scandal if anyone took pictures!]

[Exactly. This supporting woman never gives the male lead a moment’s peace!]

They had a point.

The leads would end up together sooner or later. Encouraged by the comments, I decided I had nothing left to lose.

I snapped back, “What did I lie about? Didn’t you do all those things willingly?”

Yes, I had acted spoiled and made scenes until he submitted to me, but plenty of the time, he had obviously enjoyed himself too.

And so what if I had tricked him?

Xie Ting’s eyes reddened instantly. His body trembled, and the neat suit had become badly wrinkled during our struggle.

He pressed his thin lips together, looking exactly like a helpless husband devastated by his wife’s abandonment.

Then a tear struck the back of my hand.

[The male lead must be furious that she deceived him for so long!]

[The supporting woman had better run tonight!]

Panic rose in me. My defiantly lifted chin immediately tucked itself in, and I almost tried to explain.

Then I saw the comments overhead and forced down the ache in my chest.

“Let’s go home,” I said stiffly.

We did not speak in the car.

Xie Ting did not utter another word. He only pressed closer, following never more than half a step behind. His gaze slid over my body like a snake, heavy with possession.

I was terrified that I would change my mind.

The moment we arrived home, I ignored his shattered expression, shut him outside the bedroom, and began packing.

Shen Yu had told me the agreement was ready and would be delivered that evening.

Xie Ting had always respected my privacy, so I was not worried he would snoop. I simply could not decide how to broach the subject of divorce.

I thought and thought until I fell asleep.

Sometime after midnight, a sharp thump woke me. Something crashed loudly in the living room.

I threw on a robe and went out.

Xie Ting sat collapsed by the front door, all ten fingers white with strain. A courier envelope lay torn open on the floor.

Before I could speak, I saw the words DIVORCE AGREEMENT across the papers in his hands. Guilt made me stride over and raise my voice first.

“You went through my things without permission!”

Half kneeling on the floor, Xie Ting caught the hand I reached toward him. A few words scraped from his throat.

“Why?”

My heart pounded beneath his stare. I tried to pull free, but he held me fast and leaned closer, asking in anguish over and over again.

“Youyou, are you tired of me?”

“What did I do wrong?”

“Tell me.”

His eyes were bewildered and helpless. I recoiled as though I had been burned.

I stubbornly tried to snatch the agreement, but he pushed me down and tossed me onto the sofa.

Xie Ting came over me, his knees braced on either side of my hips. His position should have made him the absolute aggressor, yet everything he did was abject. He buried his face against my neck. His hot breath spilled over my skin while his cold fingers stroked ceaselessly along my spine.

I ordered him to get off.

Instead, like a mad dog answering a bell, he dragged his tongue slowly down from my collarbone.

My breathing grew ragged. Afraid the situation would spin beyond control, I slapped him.

“Have you lost your mind? You’ve been acting strange all day!”

Xie Ting’s face turned aside. Pain flashed in his eyes.

[The male lead is furious and wants to punish her, but wait. Why is he punishing her like this?]

[Why does the picture keep flickering? Don’t black out now!]

[Supporting woman, explain yourself! Tell him you don’t like him at all. Tell him you hate him, that there was never any real love between you, that you were only playing with him!]

The comments were in a panic, flinging one terrible suggestion after another at me.

My mind had gone blank under Xie Ting’s assault. I stared at the scrolling words overhead and repeated them.

“That’s right, I hate you! Everything about you is wrong. I don’t love you anymore!”

Xie Ting studied my evasive face. His rapid breathing gradually calmed.

Then he gave a soft laugh.

He leaned close until his forehead rested against mine, his arms all but swallowing me whole.

“Wrong.”

“Xu You, you look afraid.”

“Look at me. Look at me and say it again.”

[It’s working! The male lead stopped. Hurry, tell him about the divorce, then use the chance to run!]

[Yes, this is your opportunity. Everything has already come out, so settle it once and for all.]

As if I dared look at him!

The way he moved, the way he spoke–he looked ready to devour me.

My gaze darted everywhere except his face as I hurled threats, trying to scare him off.

“You remember the agreement we signed before we married. It’s almost expired.”

“You’ve seen the papers. Let’s get divorced.”

“We aren’t right for each other!”

The comments erupted in cheers.

I strained against Xie Ting’s grip.

Then his hand covered my eyes.

Darkness swallowed everything. Only his hoarse voice remained beside my ear.

“Wrong.”

“Youyou, right now… you look terrified.”

In an instant, every floating comment vanished.

My desperate struggles ceased. Xie Ting wrapped his arms around me from behind and pressed a kiss to my trembling neck.

His heart hammered in time with mine.

“This isn’t right,” he said.

“Is someone trying to drive us apart?”

“Or is something… controlling you?”

My entire body went rigid.

How had he noticed?

And how could I possibly explain the floating comments?

Worse, I was only a vicious supporting woman. If he learned the truth of my identity, he might cast me aside even sooner.

Without the spoilers, panic consumed me. All I could see was the original ending: a fire, my ruined face, my miserable fate.

In a very small voice, I said, “No. I just want a divorce.”

Xie Ting was silent for a long moment. Then he ground out, “I. Don’t. Believe. You.”

His kiss traveled lower. A wave of fear hit me, and I tried to escape, but he held me beneath him.

“Xie Ting, you’re insane. You can’t–”

He forced my head back. In the darkness, I could feel only the searing heat of his body merging with mine.

“I hate you–ah, gentler!”

Xie Ting stopped speaking altogether. No matter how I called his name, he would not listen. His movements only grew fiercer each time.

I did not know how long it lasted. When my body and mind were both exhausted, I finally sank into a heavy sleep.

When I woke, I was in a dark little room.

The light was dim.

I tried to sit up, only to discover that a long chain shackled my wrist to the headboard.

Belatedly, I understood.

Xie Ting had locked me up.