Knock, Knock
Han Xue’s heart stopped.
Is it Zi Haoran?
She gripped the edge of her dressing table, trying to steady herself. Why is he here?
She forced herself to calm down before opening the door, her face carefully composed. Neither of them spoke as she stepped aside. Then, with a hesitant gesture, she invited him in.
For the first time, Zi Haoran stepped into her room. It was simple, despite the luxurious furnishings. The entrance led to a small sitting area with a balcony beyond, and windows that allowed the night air to drift in. They sat on the couch, the silence between them thick and heavy.
Gathering her courage, she asked, “Would you like some tea?” Her voice barely above a whisper.
He gazed at her for a long moment, and just when she thought he would refuse, he gave a quiet, “Mhm.”
She stood, her hands shaking as she prepared the tea. She could feel his eyes on her the entire time, and it made her heart race. She couldn’t remember the last time they had been this close. As she brought the tea to him and placed it on the table, she nervously sat beside him, the space that had once felt large now shrinking in his presence.
Her heart pounding as Zi Haoran took a sip of the tea with his usual graceful, deliberate movements. Han Xue couldn’t help but watch him, her nerves mounting. It had been nearly three years since they had been this close, and the weight of those years pressed down on her now.
His gaze shifted to the wedding photo on the wall—an image of her, shy and beautiful in her wedding gown, walking beside him with her hand resting on his arm. His jaw tightened. How hollow life has been till now. His focus returned to the present as he glanced at her untouched cup.
“Not drinking?” he asked.
Startled, she snapped out of her daze and quickly lifted the cup to her lips. Zi Haoran watched her silently. At least she knows how to make tea, he thought.
“Is it to your taste?” she asked hesitantly, her voice small and uncertain.
He didn’t answer, simply placing the cup down. Her heart sank. She thought she had displeased him yet again. But before she could gather her thoughts, he moved closer, his eyes raking over her from head to toe. His scent enveloped her, a heady mix of power and indifference, making her heart race uncontrollably. Yet, she didn’t pull away. She stood frozen, telling herself that perhaps this moment marked the end—an end to the farce they had called a marriage. It had always been an illusion, a performance.
Stolen story; please report.
Feeling no resistance from her, he inched closer, closer than maybe what he’s ever been. His breath grazing her ear as his voice dripped with cruel curiosity. "You don’t mind me touching you now, do you?" he murmured, his words like knives. "Or is it that your love has died, and now any man will do?"
His words shattered her. Her breath hitched, and in her shock, the hot tea spilled over her trembling hands. She gasped, quickly placing the cup on the table as her hand stung from the burn.
“Why are you so flustered?” he asked coldly. “Missing him?”
Ignoring the pain in her wrist, Han Xue lifted her eyes to meet his, tears shimmering at the edges. “When… did I ever have a lover?” she whispered, her voice breaking.
Irritation flared in his eyes. “You’ll never come clean, will you? Disgusting until the very end,” he spat, his voice laced with disgust.
Without another word, he stood and turned towards the door. His eyes caught on the other wedding photo on the counter beside, and a bitter wave of anger surged through him. With a swift movement, he flipped the frame facedown on the counter.
“I’ll send you the divorce papers tomorrow,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion. “For alimony, you’ll get 0.01% of Zi Company shares. That should be enough for your ‘services’ over the past three years. The house is yours too.”
And with that, he walked away, the door slamming shut behind him.
Han Xue collapsed to the floor, tears spilling down her cheeks as she sobbed uncontrollably. She told herself this wasn’t the first time he had hurt her like this—but tonight, the pain felt unbearable because maybe this was the last.
A cold gust of wind slipped through the open window, grazing the burn on her wrist, sending a sharp sting up her arm. She winced, shivering from the pain, but at that moment, she couldn't tell where it hurt more—on the outside or deep within. The burn was nothing compared to the ache that consumed her entire being, an unbearable weight pressing down on her chest.
Every ounce of restraint she had held for years, the careful control she maintained over her emotions, shattered tonight. She had tried so hard—tried to be the wife he wanted, the wife he barely acknowledged. She kept herself at a distance when required, never asking for more than he was willing to give, hoping one day he might notice her, care for her. But today, all of that crumbled. Her heart had been ripped open, her soul laid bare.
"What did I do?" she whispered to the emptiness around her. "What did I do to deserve this?"
Tears streamed down her face as she leaned against the couch. The scent of him still lingered there, a cruel reminder of how close he had been just moments ago, and yet how impossibly far. She pressed her face into the fabric, sobbing until she couldn’t tell if the pain was from her body or the pieces of her broken heart. The night stretched on, her tears flowing until time itself seemed to disappear.
Otherside of the Hallway
Zi Haoran stormed into his room, the door slamming shut behind him with a force that rattled the walls. For a moment, he stood in silence, taking in the room—the room they were supposed to share, but which had become his solitary refuge. His eyes landed on their wedding photo hanging on the wall. It was a perfect image of a day that was supposed to signify the start of their life together, but it now felt like a bitter lie.
Without a second thought, he reached for the frame and hurled it across the room. The glass shattered on impact, the sound piercing the air like the final break in whatever remained of their fragile bond. He stared at the shards scattered across the floor, a hollow laugh escaping his lips. It grew louder, more unhinged, until it turned into a hysterical, devilish smile.
"She was never faithful," he muttered, his voice low and filled with venom. "How could I even think otherwise? Can’t believe I still went to check…"
He clenched his fists, the laughter fading into bitter silence. "I should’ve never believed Shen Mu," he growled, his mind racing. "But those reports... the evidence my men brought..."
And so, Shen Mu’s night was also destined to be painful, having received a text from his boss, whose own night was ruined, demanding divorce papers be ready by morning.
His thoughts spiraled back to earlier that day at Zi Softech, where everything had begun to unravel, setting the stage for the night ahead—one filled with broken trust, shattered illusions, and decisions that could not be undone.
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