In the suffocating darkness of the storeroom, Anya's breaths began to break apart. In front of her were no walls—only the scene from five years ago replaying in her mind, when, in an attempt to save Fengning, she had remained trapped for hours inside sealed rubble. That incident had planted claustrophobia—the fear of confined spaces—deep within her.
Even back then, it was Zain who had saved her. But today, that very same Zain had pushed her into this death-like darkness. He had forgotten how deeply Anya hated the dark.
"Open it… please, open it…" Anya's voice had faded into a whisper. She had pounded on the door until her delicate hands were torn and bleeding. The imprints of her hands were stamped onto the wooden surface of the door.
Part 2: The Door Opens and the Flames Ignite
It was exactly 9:00 PM. Zain unlocked the door from outside. He had thought Anya would be quietly crying inside, but the moment the door opened, Anya collapsed outward.
Zain stepped forward to catch her. "Anya—"
But Anya sprang upright with lightning speed. Her eyes were red, her body trembling violently with fear, and her hair completely disheveled. Before Zain could understand anything, Anya gathered all her strength and delivered a hard slap across Zain's cheek.
Smack!
Silence engulfed the entire hall. Zain's face turned to one side, shock and burning fury rising together in his eyes.
Part 3: Hatred and the Demand for Freedom
Anya picked up her fallen glasses and put them on with trembling hands. Behind those lenses, her eyes were no longer filled with tears—they were filled with hatred.
"You hate me that much, don't you?" Anya's voice rang out like a scream. "So much hatred that you want to kill me? Then why this farce? Why this marriage? Why these chains?"
She stepped closer to Zain, her finger pressing against his chest. "If you hate my face so much, then let me go! Release me from this cage! I promise I will never show my face to you again. I will erase myself from this city, from your life—forever."
Part 4: Zain's Silence and Anya's Breaking Point
Zain placed his hand over the cheek where Anya's slap had left its mark. He wanted to say something, but the sight of blood on Anya's hands caused his words to choke in his throat. He hadn't known she was so terrified of confined spaces.
"You are a cruel man, Zain Yan," Anya said through sobs. "Today, you didn't imprison my body—you tried to imprison my soul inside that storeroom. But remember this: the day I leave this place, your hatred will have nothing left to burn."
Leaving him standing alone in the middle of the hall, she stumbled away toward her room.
Part 5: Zain's Regret?
Zain remained standing where he was. The cold air of the hall brushed against his burning cheek, but the real fire scorched his heart. He turned toward the storeroom door, where bloodstains from Anya's hands were still visible.
For the first time, a flicker of fear appeared in the eyes of that "ice-cold monster"—not the fear of losing his hatred, but the regret of having almost completely broken Anya.
When Anya arrived at the office, she made every effort to appear normal. But her swollen eyes and the white bandage wrapped around her hands told a very different story.
As soon as she reached her desk, Huan Jing and Xia surrounded her.
"Anya! What happened to your hands?" Xia asked anxiously, holding them. "And your eyes… did you cry all night?"
Anya forced a faint smile onto her face and adjusted her glasses. "Oh no, nothing happened. Last night my scooter slipped in the rain, so I couldn't steady myself properly in the dark and hit the garage door. Maybe my eyes got an infection."
Part 2: Huan Jing's Playfulness and Anya's Effort
To lighten the mood, Huan Jing shook Anya's shoulder. "Anya, you and that scooter of yours! I think it's time to retire it. Look what it's done to you. Come on, smile now! Look—I brought your favorite chocolate donut."
Huan Jing made exaggerated faces, trying to make Anya laugh. Anya, who was completely shattered inside, brightened a little at her friends' affection. She wanted to forget what had happened in that dark room the previous night.
Part 3: Qian's Entrance and Racing Heartbeats
Just then, Qian—Zain's most trusted companion and friend—passed by. The moment his eyes fell on the three of them, he stopped. Especially upon seeing Huan Jing, the hardness on his face softened slightly.
"Focus on your work, girls. The boss could come on his rounds at any time," Qian said, pretending to be serious, though his eyes kept drifting back to Huan Jing's smiling face.
Huan Jing teased mischievously, "Oh, Mr. Bodyguard! Are you here to scare us, or to see someone?"
Qian hesitated and straightened his tie. "I… I was just going to deliver a file."
Part 4: Sweet Banter and Flirting
Anya and Xia exchanged glances and smiled. Forgetting her pain for a moment, Anya began teasing Qian.
"Qian, the file is in your left hand, but you turned to the right. Did you lose your way, or did Huan Jing's smile distract you?" Anya quipped.
Xia added fuel to the fire. "Yes, Qian, we heard you even brought coffee for Huan Jing this morning."
Qian's face turned red. "You guys… you talk too much!" He quickly shot a small smile toward Huan Jing and hurried off toward Zain's cabin.
Part 5: A Moment of Relief
Huan Jing's face had turned pink as well. She fanned herself with her file. "He's crazy!"
Anya burst into laughter. Even if only for a few moments, the shadow of the heavy mansion and Zain's hatred lifted from her life. It felt good to have friends who wouldn't let her fall apart.
Just then, from a distance, the sound of Zain's cabin door opening echoed through the office. Anya's laughter stopped abruptly. She knew the "monster" had awakened.