The invitation came in gold-embossed envelopes with an exclusive gala hosted by Han Rui Sheng's firm. On the surface, it was nothing more than a networking event for industry elites. But Li Na could see the flicker in Yen Rui's eyes when he read the card: a challenge, not a celebration.
"You don't have to attend," Yen Rui told her as they prepared. His voice was calm, but the faint tension in his jaw betrayed him.
Li Na met his gaze in the mirror while fastening her earrings. "If I stay behind, it will only feed the whispers. We go together."
The ballroom glittered with chandeliers and laughter, but beneath the champagne smiles, daggers were hidden. Han Rui Sheng welcomed them warmly, too warmly, his arm outstretched as he clasped Yen Rui's hand in a grip that was more duel than greeting.
"Director Yen, Mrs. Yen." His smile widened. "Ah, the couple of the season. How fortunate for me to have you grace my event."
The subtle sting in his words did not escape Li Na. She tightened her grip on Yen Rui's arm, her chin lifting.
Throughout the evening, Han Rui Sheng circled like a predator, drawing board members and investors into private conversations, always within sight of the couple. Snatches of words floated through the air "unstable marriage," "rash decisions," "unfit to lead."
It was during one of these hushed exchanges that Li Na caught a chilling phrase: "Proof of the contract."
Her heart dropped. Han Rui Sheng was behind the leak.
Later, he approached her directly, offering a glass of wine with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Mrs. Yen," he said smoothly, "you wear the role well. Though I wonder, do you know how long contracts usually last in this business?"
She met his gaze without flinching. "Long enough to bury men who underestimate them."
His smile faltered for a second before returning, sharper than before. "Interesting. Let's see if you can keep him standing, then."
That night, as they left the gala, Li Na felt Yen Rui's hand close firmly around hers but not for show, not for strategy, but with a strength that anchored her against the storm.
"Han Rui Sheng thinks he's clever," Yen Rui muttered as the car doors closed. His voice was low, dangerous. "But clever men forget that traps can snap shut on the ones who set them."
Li Na glanced at him, her heart racing, and for the first time, she wasn't sure if she feared their rival more… or the man beside her when his composure finally cracked.