How was she going to execute her plans?
Sitting in this villa like so pampered pet was not an option. She had revenge to avenge.
Lu Yuze’s grip tightened slightly.
"Are you certain this is about work?" His voice dropped lower, each word precisely enunciated.
"Or are you planning to rekindle your love with that man? Hmm? Do I have to remind you that you are married?"
His thumb traced slow circles on her hip, the touch intimate and threatening simultaneously.
"Don’t forget," he continued, his tone shifting to sothing dangerously soft, "I can destroy Lu Group South. One phone call. That’s all it would take and you won’t be able to work there."
Shuyin went still, her mind racing.
This man was serious.
She could hear it in his voice, see it in his eyes.
He wouldn’t hesitate to burn down an entire company just to keep her away from Lu Zeyan.
The realization should have frightened her.
Instead, it ignited sothing else, a challenge accepted, a war declared.
"Aaaiiishhh!" She stopped struggling, letting her body relax in his hold with deliberate resignation.
"You won’t understand."
"I don’t want to understand," he replied imdiately, his voice firm.
"All right. I won’t restrict you that much."
She turned her head to look at him, surprised.
"But," he continued, and there it was, the condition, the trap, "the mont I see anything on social dia, anything at all, that’s where I draw the line. And if you don’t deal with whatever appears, then you don’t get to work. Understood?"
It wasn’t really a compromise.
It was a leash with so slack, but still a leash.
Shuyin swallowed her imdiate retort.
Pick your battles wisely, she reminded herself.
"All right," she said quietly.
"I need to shower."
His arms loosened imdiately, releasing her.
She started to slide out of bed, and then she heard Lu Yuze’s voice again.
"Wait," he said, glancing at her.
"You haven’t dealt with Chen Wan yet. She’s still in the mansion."
Shuyin paused, turning back to face him.
Lu Yuze sat up, running a hand through his hair.
"Aahhhh, I almost forgot about her. Let take a shower and I’ll handle it... It had been hectic yesterday."
"How about I handle it?" Lu Yuze carefully queried.
"No," Shuyin cut in firmly.
"I’ll deal with her. That was our agreent."
She hopped off the bed and headed toward the bathroom, her bare feet silent on the plush carpet.
The bathroom was massive, all marble and gold fixtures, the kind of excessive wealth that still startled her sotis.
But what caught her attention as she opened the cabinet beneath the sink was sothing else entirely.
Were the Feminine hygiene products?
A full selection, tampons, pads, pain relievers, and even specialty items she preferred but had never ntioned to anyone.
Her jaw slightly clenched.
"How many won have you been dating?" she muttered, loud enough for him to hear in the bedroom.
"I’m surprised you even have feminine hygiene products in your bathroom."
Even if they were in a contract marriage, he was still technically her husband. Could he have been with other won? His wife had died 12 years ago...
The thought of other won using this bathroom, this bedroom, made sothing ugly twist in her stomach.
Suddenly, she felt arms wrap around her from behind, pulling her back against a solid chest.
She jumped, startled, nearly dropping the box she’d been holding.
"These were purchased last evening," Lu Yuze said quietly, his breath warm against her ear, "while you were out there teasing n in that club."
His arms tightened slightly, not restricting but definitely possessive.
"Actually," he continued, his voice dropping to sothing darker, "every man you shake hands with or co into physical contact with will lose either their life or a hand. It’s up to you, how many you want dead."
The casual way he said it made her blood run cold, and at the sa ti, excited, but she couldn’t let innocent n be killed for no reason.
He wasn’t joking.
Before she could respond, he reached around her and grabbed an electric toothbrush from its holder, applying paste to it with his free hand.
"Here, brush your teeth," he said, pressing the activated brush to her lips.
Automatically, she opened her mouth, too stunned to protest as he guided the brush across her teeth with surprising gentleness.
"And clothes are in that closet," he continued, nodding toward a door she hadn’t noticed before.
"You use that entrance."
With that casual announcent of her permanent residence in his space, he released her and strolled out of the bathroom, leaving her standing there with foam in her mouth and a thousand questions she didn’t know how to ask.
Shuyin stared after him, then down at the toothbrush in her hand, then at the cabinet full of products purchased specifically for her.
A small, treacherous part of her heart ward at the thoughtfulness even as her mind scread warnings.
This was dangerous.
This was exactly how traps worked, comfort and care mixed with control until you couldn’t tell the difference anymore.
She spit and rinsed, then stepped into the shower, letting scalding water wash away the confusion and the warmth and the dangerous softness trying to take root in her chest.
LU YUZE AND HIS DAUGHTER
While Shuyin showered, Lu Yuze made his way down the corridor to his daughter’s bedroom.
He paused outside her door, taking a mont to compose himself, to push away thoughts of the woman in his bathroom and focus on the most important person in his life.
He knocked gently, three soft taps, their established signal.
"Sweetheart? Are you awake? Are you feeling all right?"
He waited for her response before opening the door and stepping inside.
The room was designed like a princess’s suite, soft pastels, elegant furniture, but not overly frilly.
His daughter had always had refined tastes, even as a small child.
The sitting area near the door held a small sofa and bookshelf, leading to the sleeping area where a canopy bed dominated the space.
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