"Du Yue, come out! Someone has come to take you home!"

As the long, grating creak of the door reverberated through the corridor, sunlight poured into the gloomy, cramped ward, illuminating every corner. The staff member's voice dripped with indifference as they gave a dismissive glance toward the woman seated on the bed.

This was a psychiatric hospital, but this woman before them was unlike the others. She was the sole individual here who was mentally sound, yet forcibly confined as a "patient."

Du Yue sat quietly at the head of the bed, her gaze lowered and vacant, staring off into some indeterminate point in the room. When the words "someone has come to take you away" reached her ears, her eyelids shot open as if her soul—once scattered—had suddenly returned. Her once-lifeless eyes now trembled with an intensity that betrayed her shock!

Someone had finally come for her! After two painful, interminable years, when hope had nearly vanished entirely, someone had finally arrived to free her!

Overcome with emotion, she attempted to stand from the dilapidated wooden bed but, weakened by prolonged inactivity, collapsed to the floor almost immediately after rising. A searing pain spread across her palms and face, her hands throbbing and swelling as though scorched by fire.

Not a single person moved to help her to her feet.

Du Yue didn't feel wronged. Wiping the dust from her face, she painstakingly pulled herself upright. In these past two years, she had grown accustomed to such treatment.

"Hurry up! Don't waste any more time!" the staff snapped, their irritation growing more palpable with each passing second. Without another word, they turned on their heel and walked off.

Du Yue scrambled after them, following closely along the dimly lit corridor. As she quickened her pace, she realized something felt amiss about the direction they were heading.

"Excuse me," Du Yue began hesitantly, her voice trembling, "if someone has come to take me home… shouldn't I be leaving through the main gate? Why are we going toward the examination room?" She stifled the joy bubbling within her, speaking slowly and deliberately, her voice tinged with unease, fearful of angering the already irritable staff.

The staff ignored her completely, stopping abruptly at the entrance to the examination room. With a curt order, they instructed, "Go inside. The person waiting to take you away is already in there."

At those words, Du Yue could no longer conceal her elation. Her hands trembled uncontrollably as they brushed against the cold metal of the door. Who could it be? Her childhood friend? Or perhaps her closest confidante?

With great effort, she pushed open the heavy iron door of the examination room. Her eager eyes darted toward the tall figure standing inside—and in an instant, she froze. Her face drained of all color, as though struck by lightning.

Chen Ze stood gracefully before the file counter, his silhouette illuminated against the backlight. Even in shadow, his commanding presence was impossible to ignore. Clad in a finely tailored Italian suit, his broad shoulders and chiseled frame exuded an air of effortless dominance. His features, sharp and resolute, bore the marks of time's gentle hand, untouched by hardship—only refined, like the edge of a blade honed to perfection. His piercing gaze, framed by thick brows and striking eyes, held an air of detached authority, his lips set in a casual, indifferent line.

Two full years had passed, and the merciless passage of time seemed to have spared him entirely. If anything, it had smoothed his rougher edges, sharpening his features to an even more formidable degree. Yet to Du Yue, he now felt like a stranger.

For two agonizing years, night after endless night, she had clung to the faintest glimmer of hope. Every day, she had carved his name into the wooden bedframe with her nails, her heart consumed by resentment, hatred, and a desperate longing. She had dreamed that one day he might change his mind—that the same man who had locked her away would return to set her free. But as the months dragged on, that fragile hope transformed into her greatest torment. Over the next year and a half, she shattered the resilience she had painstakingly built, swallowing the shards with tears and blood, enduring a pain too profound to bear.

And now, standing face-to-face with Chen Ze after two long years, Du Yue realized something chilling: her heart no longer stirred with the affection it once held. Instead, an unrelenting, suffocating panic had taken root, spreading wildly through her chest.

It was him! It was really him!

Trembling with fear, Du Yue instinctively shrank back, her shoulders curling inward as she tried to retreat.

The staff member noticed her hesitation and sneered, showing no mercy. With a rough shove, they sent her stumbling forward, crashing into the examination room.

The moment she crossed the threshold, the overwhelming weight of Chen Ze's presence pressed down on her like a physical force. Her face flushed crimson, her breath catching in her throat as though she were drowning.

"Open the door! Open the door! Let me go back! Please, let me go back!" Du Yue cried out, her voice breaking with desperation. Pain shot through her body, but she barely registered it as she twisted around, clawing at the iron door with frantic, futile attempts to escape. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, her voice raw with anguish.

She no longer wanted freedom. She no longer cared about leaving.

If it meant never having to see Chen Ze again, she would gladly remain locked away in that suffocating, lightless cell for the rest of her life!

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.

Chen Ze had an overwhelming urge to pull this woman into his arms, but as memories of her past misdeeds flooded back, the burning rage in his chest was abruptly extinguished.

"Rest assured," he said coldly, his voice laced with mockery, "I didn't come here to insult you. You're not even worth the effort." His eyes gleamed with contempt, as if he could see straight through Du Yue's carefully masked facade. "The reason I'm here is simple—I've come to take you back."

He gripped her chin firmly, forcing her gaze to meet his. Her pupils widened in shock, and with a faint curl of his lips, he continued, "Du Yue, two years ago, you went to great lengths to force me into marrying you, dreaming of becoming my wife. Today, I'll grant your wish. I'll take you back—to be the mistress of the Chen family."

Du Yue's eyes flew open, her hands clutching the doorframe as though it were the only thing keeping her upright. A suffocating lump rose in her throat, making it impossible to breathe.

What had she just heard? Chen Ze… wanted to take her back?

Panic washed over her face like a tidal wave. She shook her head violently, shrinking back against the cold wall, her mind reeling.

"No!" she cried out, her voice trembling.

"Don't bother struggling," Chen Ze said coolly, releasing her chin with deliberate slowness. A cruel smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Do you really think I don't know where your father is buried? If you push me, I won't hesitate to dig up his grave and bring his ashes to you myself."

Du Yue froze, her expression one of sheer disbelief.

Chen Ze's smile turned even colder as he pushed open the iron door of the examination room and strode past her without a second glance.

It was as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head. All strength drained from her body, and she collapsed onto the floor.

So… she had fallen back into hell once more.

When Du Yue finally stepped out of the mental hospital, Chen Ze was seated inside his Maybach, cigarette smoke curling lazily from between his fingers. The white haze drifted upward, obscuring his dark, unreadable eyes. His thin lips pressed lightly against the cigarette before exhaling a perfect ring of smoke, momentarily blurring his striking features.

Chen Ze was still Chen Ze—even something as mundane as smoking seemed imbued with artistry.

Du Yue stood rooted to the spot, unable to move. Li Zheng, who had long served by Chen Ze's side, approached her with practiced politeness. "Miss Du, please."

Li Zheng always mirrored his master's sentiments, which was why he never referred to her as "Madam." To Chen Ze, she was nothing more than "Miss Du"—even now, when he had personally come to retrieve her.

Du Yue hesitated, glancing uncertainly between the front passenger seat and the space beside Chen Ze. In the end, she chose to walk around to the front.

But just as she reached for the car door, Chen Ze's voice cut through the air, calm yet cutting. "If you're not afraid of death, feel free to sit in the front."

Her entire body stiffened. She turned to meet his piercing gaze, his face showing no emotion—no anger, no amusement. Yet she could feel the storm brewing beneath, triggered by her mere movement.

"Miss Du," Li Zheng interjected smoothly, "it's safer in the back. The front isn't convenient."

Though her heart rebelled against it, Du Yue had no choice but to reluctantly slide into the seat beside Chen Ze.

As the car engine roared to life and the windows sealed shut, the heavy scent of cigarette smoke enveloped her. Du Yue, hypersensitive to the smell, instinctively turned her head away.

Pressing her lips together, she took a deep breath, preparing to cough, when suddenly, a strong hand clamped down on her jaw.

His grip forced her face toward him, bringing her within inches of his dark, unyielding eyes. His chiseled features, flawless and sharp, were framed by tendrils of smoke that curled around her cheeks. His voice was low, almost teasing. "I thought you'd changed completely. But it seems your nose is still as delicate as ever, unable to tolerate even the faintest trace of smoke."

Whether intentional or not, the smoke he exhaled drifted directly into her nostrils. Her face flushed red as she fought to suppress a cough, but her restrained demeanor only seemed to infuriate him further.

Chen Ze's eyes darkened, narrowing dangerously as he took another drag from his cigarette. Without warning, his lips descended upon hers, sealing her mouth shut.

Du Yue's eyes widened in disbelief, but before she could react, he forced the lit cigarette into her mouth!

The acrid burn spread rapidly through her throat. Overwhelmed, she shoved him away and erupted into a fit of violent coughing, clutching the car window for support as tears streamed down her reddened cheeks.

Before she could recover, her hair was yanked back mercilessly, forcing her head upward.

She met his mocking gaze, his lips twisted into a sneer. "Do you know why I brought you out of that asylum, Du Yue?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain. "You're lucky, really. Your identity as a former mental patient works perfectly for my plans—to craft the image of a 'good man.' So thank your own scheming ways for giving me another chance to torment you."

Scheming ways…

Du Yue felt her heart shatter into pieces. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Deep down, she had always believed that Chen Ze harbored some feelings for her. If only she'd known then that Shen Ya already held his heart, she, so proud and untouchable, would never have resorted to such despicable tactics…

"I'm sorry…" she whispered hoarsely, her scalp burning as he pulled harder. Pain shot through her skull, her face pale with agony. "Please… Mr. Chen, just let me go. I promise I'll disappear forever. I'll never return, never let you see me again!"

Begging him? The once-renowned socialite, reduced to pleading? And promising to vanish forever, never to cross his path again?

Chen Ze's eyes grew icy, flames of anger igniting in his chest.

Why was she groveling like this? Where was the Du Yue who used to hold her chin high, radiating superiority, declaring, "Chen Ze, I'm the only one in this city capable of helping you, the only one worthy of standing by your side"? Or the Du Yue who, faced with evidence, had calmly retorted, "The innocent will prove themselves"?