With my eyes closed, I turned my face into Gong Li'an's chest, refusing to engage with Xie Weihuan's provocations. When she dared to reach for me, Gong Li'an deftly sidestepped her, his body radiating an intense fury as if to incinerate anyone who dared harm me.
"Gong Li'an, you're well aware of the kind of person you invited into this house. The audacity of his actions under your roof is appalling. Will you handle this, or shall I? Shall we resort to family discipline or the law?" His voice, laced with icy disdain, made it clear that he held Xie Weihuan accountable.
For a fleeting moment, confusion clouded Xie Weihuan's eyes, but realization dawned upon her as she grasped the gravity of the situation – Jiang Lun's attempt at force, thwarted. Her bluster faded, replaced by a veneer of vulnerability, yet her defiance resurfaced as she accused, "How can you judge without knowing the full story? What if she, the seductress, was the instigator?"
"I have nothing to say to you. Step aside!" Gong Li'an's contemptuous smirk was a clear dismissal as he carried me away from her venomous gaze, a stark reminder of her deep-seated malice.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
I yearned for Gong Li'an to confront her, to unveil her vile nature before the man she treasured. However, Xie Weihuan's focus swiftly shifted to Jiang Lun's welfare, her momentary lapse of wickedness concealed once more.
Safely ensconced in the study, with the servants barred entry, Gong Li'an placed me gently on the bed. The aftermath left me drained, tears streaming unchecked, yet sleep eluded me.
As he reached out to wipe my tears, the blood-stained hands gave him pause. With a gentle touch, he treated me with the tenderness one might afford a fragile newborn, his actions betraying the turmoil within.
In his gaze, I found confirmation of my gamble paying off once more. Unbeknownst to him, he had begun to care for me, his eyes betraying a deep-seated concern.
"Why did you come for me?" I pressed, seeking the truth in his eyes.
"Why did you signal me?" he countered, his gaze impenetrable, shrouded in mystery.
Attempting nonchalance, I masked my turmoil. "Because I harbor feelings for you, Gong Li'an. Isn't it every girl's dream to be rescued by her knight?"
My smile faded, giving way to a heavy heart. "Thankfully, you arrived. You're all I have left. My sister once stood as my shield, and I feared I'd never find that protection again."
Had his feelings been mere pretense, he shouldn't have come. I couldn't risk becoming an obsession, a burden for a lifetime.
His silence was a tacit acknowledgment of our connection, even as I lay swathed in a blanket of sorrow and a sliver of hope.