It had been a month since Leonard resumed his position as CEO of Yan Corporation. With Victor Yan now behind bars and his crimes exposed, Leonard stepped into the role with quiet confidence and decisive leadership. He quickly gained the trust of the board, and under his direction, the company began to recover. His strategic decisions and clear vision brought positive changes, stabilizing the business after months of internal turmoil.
Not long after, Grandfather Yan made another important move. He called Sophie in one morning and gently expressed his wish for her to join the company—not just as Leonard's wife, but as someone who could stand beside him and grow with him.
With Sophie steadily recovering, Grandfather Yan expressed his hopes for her to start familiarizing herself with the family business. He didn't expect her to jump into a major role right away, but he wanted her to understand the work Leonard was doing—to expose herself gradually to the inner workings of the company and grow alongside him.
That evening, lying beside Leonard in the comfort of their room, Sophie turned to him with a quiet voice. "Grandfather wants me to learn about the business… to understand what you're doing."
Leonard looked at her gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "He just wants you to be part of this world with me," he said. "And so do I. But there's no pressure. You can learn at your own pace, Sophie. I'll be here every step of the way."
She smiled softly, reassured by his calm voice. "Then I'll try," she whispered. "I want to walk beside you—for real."
Leonard reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. His voice was calm and steady. "Sophie, Grandfather believes in you. And so do I. There's no rush, no pressure. Just take your time and be yourself. That's more than enough."
Sophie relaxed a little, her heart lighter. "Thank you," she whispered. Then after a pause, she added, "There's something else I want to ask…"
Leonard tilted his head slightly, sensing the change in her tone. "What is it?" he asked, gently rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.
Sophie sat up a little, her voice quiet but steady. "I want to keep my identity as Mrs. Yan a secret at the company… at least for now," she said. "I want to work like everyone else—to prove myself without people thinking I only got the job because I'm your wife."
Leonard's expression shifted, understanding what she wasn't saying. This wasn't just about being modest. Then Sophie admitted something she had never said before. "After graduation, my family never let me work—not even in the Lin Corporation. They said it was to protect me, but really… Amelia didn't want me near the business. She was afraid I might outshine her."
Leonard stayed quiet, his jaw tightening as he listened. Then he reached for her hand and held it firmly. "You'll do great, Sophie," he said with quiet confidence. "Not because of me. Because of you. If you want to go in without the Yan name, we'll do that. But just remember—I'll always be behind you."
Sophie looked at him, her eyes misty. In that moment, her fears faded. With Leonard's support, she didn't just feel like the CEO's wife—she felt like a woman finally given the chance to stand on her own. And she was ready to take it.
Leonard finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Alright, Sophie. I'll respect what you want," he said, locking eyes with her. "But promise me this—if anything happens, even something small, you'll come to me."
Sophie paused, then grinned mischievously. "Nope," she said, teasing. "Starting tomorrow, I'm just a regular employee at Yan Corporation. If there's trouble, I'll report to my supervisor, like a good little worker bee. Not the CEO."
Leonard raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh? My wife respects the company hierarchy now?"
Before she could respond, he suddenly tickled her waist. "Ah! Leonard! Stop! That tickles!" Sophie laughed, squirming in his arms as he kept playfully teasing her.
Leonard laughed, the warm sound filling the room. Eventually, he let go of her waist—only to pull her tightly into his arms. Holding her close, he lowered his head and whispered by her ear, "Alright, I'll stop… but just remember—no matter what happens at work, no matter how independent you want to be, I'll always be here for you." His voice was soft but firm, like a quiet promise meant only for her. "Because we're family."
Sophie's teasing smile faded into something gentler. Her eyes grew misty as she rested against his chest, soothed by the steady beat of his heart. Looking up, she whispered with affection, "I know." Then she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "You're the best, my husband," she added, voice full of warmth.
But Leonard wasn't done. He gently tilted her chin up, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. Their eyes met, his gaze intense—then he kissed her, deep and slow. Sophie melted into him, her hands gripping his shirt as she kissed him back with just as much feeling.
Leonard pulled her closer, holding her tight until not even a sliver of space remained between them. His hands moved gently along her back, their kiss deepened and grew more intense. They only pulled away when they needed to breathe, their chests rising and falling as they caught their breath. Sophie's cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly red, her eyes shining with affection that made Leonard's heart tighten.
Leonard leaned in with a teasing smile and murmured, "Sophie, if you keep looking at me like that… I won't be able to stop." The words made her heart race, and she laughed softly, tapping his chest. "We have work tomorrow," she reminded, though her eyes lingered on his.
Leonard chuckled and held her tighter. "Tomorrow can wait," he said, his voice low and warm. He kissed her jaw, then leaned in for another kiss—slow, gentle, and full of meaning. Sophie melted into him, her worries fading in his arms.
His fingers traced lightly along her arms, each touch sending warmth through her. Their breaths mixed in the quiet room as they clung to each other, drawn close by something neither could put into words. Leonard's hands moved softly, full of affection, each caress telling her how deeply he cared. Sophie held onto him, her heart beating fast, comforted by the strength of his embrace.
Then Leonard whispered near her ear, "Sophie… I want you now."
Leonard's hands slid down Sophie's arms, fingers intertwining with hers before he brought them to the buttons of her blouse. One by one, he freed them, his knuckles brushing against the swell of her breasts as the fabric parted. She shivered, and he leaned in to capture her lips, swallowing her soft gasp as he pushed the blouse off her shoulders. His palms glided up her bare waist, thumbs tracing the underside of her bra before unhooking it with a practiced flick.
She reached for his shirt, gently pulling it loose from the waistband of his pants., her nails scraping lightly over his abs as she worked the buttons. He let her undress him, his breath growing ragged when her hands dipped lower, palming the hard length of him through his pants. With a groan, he kicked them off, then made quick work of her remaining clothes—peeling her sleep pants down her hips, kissing the sensitive skin of her inner thighs as he went, until she stood bare before him.
Leonard leaned down and kissed her deeply, one hand cupping her breast while the other trailed down her stomach, fingers slipping through her wetness to circle her clit. She arched off the bed, her legs falling open instinctively as he teased her, his touch firm but unhurried.
"Look at me," he murmured, and when her eyes met his, he pressed two fingers inside her, curling them just right to make her cry out. He added a third, stretching her gently, his thumb still working her clit until her hips jerked against his hand. Only when she was trembling, her nails biting into his shoulders, did he withdraw his fingers and line himself up at her entrance.
He pushed into her with one slow, relentless thrust, burying himself to the hilt as her body clenched around him. A guttural moan tore from his throat, his forehead dropping to hers as he fought for control.
"Fuck—Sophie…" His voice was raw. "You're so tight."
Her legs locked around him, heels pressing into his back as she pulled him deeper. He drove into her with rough, relentless strokes, each one wrenching breathless moans from her chest. Fingers fisted in her hair, he yanked her head back and sank his teeth into her shoulder—the sharp sting of pleasure-pain making her cry out.
When her breath started coming in broken sobs, "come for me," he ordered, and she shattered, her back bowing as pleasure ripped through her. He followed moments later, his thrusts turning erratic before he spilled inside her with a groan, his body collapsing onto hers in a sweaty, sated heap.
After, he rolled onto his back, dragging her with him so she lay sprawled across his chest. His fingers traced idle patterns down her spine as their breathing slowed, her hair a tangled mess against his skin.