She whispered in her sleep.
"No..."
One hand gripped her hair tightly.
The other held a straightener, inching closer to her chest.
A girl's face appeared through the shadows, a creepy smile curling across her lips. Every movement felt deliberate, every second heavy with threat.
"No..." She whispered again,
A cold hand grabbed her neck from the side.
He leaned in, his face close to her ear, whispering in a low, creepy voice,
"Don't scream... I will be gentle." Giving her a weird smile.
The long hair brushed against his face, and he smelled it as if he had been craving it for a long time.
Lin Yue froze, every muscle stiff with fear.
"No..." She whispered again
Laughter echoed through the dark room. Faces blurred, shadows shifting, a group of students pressing in around her.
The laughter continued, echoing in her mind, like a haunting sound she couldn't escape-until she opened her eyes.
Silence fell instantly.
The room was still, cold, and empty.
The only sound was her deep, ragged breaths.
She looked around slowly, took a deep breath, and gently rubbed her face, clearing the tension in her body.
Just a nightmare... she hoped.
Yue slowly pushed the blanket away and sat up on the bed.
The rope tied around her wrist pulled slightly as she moved.
She carefully untied the knot and let the rope fall onto the bed.
A small sigh escaped her lips, and she whispered to herself,
"It didn't happen today..."
Turning toward the mirror beside the wardrobe, Sarah froze for a moment.
Her reflection looked pale in the early morning light.
For a moment, her eyes dropped to her wrist.
It was bare.
The faint scar was clearly visible against her skin.
Yue's expression stiffened.
She opened the small drawer beside the mirror and took out a silver watch.
Her fingers gently traced the glass surface.
"Dad..." she whispered softly.
Carefully, she fastened the watch around her wrist.
The scars disappeared beneath it.
Sarah took one last look at her reflection before leaving the room.
She carefully opened the locks of the door one by one.
One lock.
Two lock.
Three.
Each click echoed softly in the quiet room
The hallway downstairs was silent.
The large house felt colder than usual.
She walked into the living room and picked up the remote from the table.
With a small click, the television turned on.
A news channel appeared on the screen.
The reporter spoke in a clear, professional voice.
"Breaking business news today."
"Gu Group has announced a massive luxury development project that is expected to become one of the largest investments in the country this year."
Lin Yue wasn't really paying attention at first. She walked toward the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water.
But the next words made her stop.
"According to official sources, the CEO of Gu Group, Gu Zheng, will personally return to China to lead the project."
The glass in Lin Yue's hand froze mid-air.
"GU GROUP CEO GU ZHENG TO OVERSEE BILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT IN CHINA."
The reporter continued speaking, but Lin Yue couldn't hear the rest.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the glass.
"...Gu Zheng..." she whispered softly.
The watch on her wrist ticked quietly in the silent room.
She whispered,
"He is back".
Thousands of miles away, a private jet slowly descended through the clouds.
Moments later, it landed smoothly at the airport.
The cabin door opened.
A tall man stepped out first.
His expression was calm and unreadable.
The wind moved slightly through his dark hair as he walked down the stairs.
Assistants and security quickly followed behind him.
"Welcome back, Mr. Gu," one of them said respectfully.
Gu Zheng glanced at the familiar skyline in the distance.
After three years abroad, he had finally returned to China.
"Prepare the car," Gu Zheng said coldly.
"I have unfinished business here."
The black car moved smoothly through the busy streets of China.
Inside the car, Gu Zheng sat in the back seat, his expression calm and distant.
His assistant sat in the passenger seat, holding a tablet nervously.
"Mr. Gu, your schedule for today..." he began carefully.
"At 10 a.m., you have a meeting with the project investors. At noon, there is a conference call with the overseas partners. In the afternoon-"
Gu Zheng didn't respond. His gaze remained fixed on the passing buildings outside the window.
The assistant hesitated before speaking again.
"Also...The Chairman Gu called earlier."
"He asked you not to come back home after you arrive."
Gu Zheng remained silent, as if he hadn't heard the words at all.
The assistant swallowed nervously.
"...And... um..."
His voice became quieter.
"Do you... want to meet your wife?"
Suddenly, Gu Zheng turned his head.
His cold gaze landed directly on the assistant.
For a moment, the air inside the car felt suffocating.
The assistant immediately lowered his head.
"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Gu."
After a few seconds of silence, Gu Zheng spoke in a low voice.
"Change the route."
The assistant looked up quickly.
"We're going to the old residence," Gu Zheng said coldly.
The black car slowly stopped in front of the large mansion.
The iron gates of the old Gu residence stood tall and imposing.
Gu Zheng stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance without hesitation.
Inside the living room, an old man sat on the sofa with a cane in his hand.
This was the chairman of the Gu family.
As soon as he saw Gu Zheng walk in, the old man suddenly slammed his cane against the floor.
"You brat!" he shouted angrily.
"So you still remember that you have a home?, I told you not to come back."
"Get Out." He shouted
Gu Zheng stopped a few steps away.
His expression remained calm, but his brows furrowed slightly.
"I didn't come back to argue with you, Grandfather," he said evenly.
The old man's anger only grew stronger.
"You disappeared for three years!" the old man continued.
"Three years without showing your face! Not even a single phone call!"
Gu Zheng's jaw tightened.
"I was working abroad."
"Working?" the old man scoffed.
"You left before the wedding candles burned out." he said calmly.
"You know that you still have a wife waiting for you!, how could abondan her at wedding night and still have the nerve to come back"
"You didn't even give her a chance."
He shook his head in disappointment.
"How could I have such an unfilial grandson like you?"
Gu Zheng finally lifted his head, his gaze turning cold.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Then he spoke slowly.
"Grandfather…"
His voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it.
"You talk as if you know everything."
The old man frowned.
Gu Zheng let out a quiet breath, his eyes dark.
"You say I abandoned her," he continued. "But did anyone ask if she wanted that marriage?"
The old man slammed his cane against the floor.
"It was your responsibility!"
Gu Zheng's lips curved into a faint, bitter smile.
"Responsibility?" he repeated.
"I married the woman you chose. I attended the wedding you arranged. But you expect me to stay in a marriage with a stranger?"
His voice hardened.
"And now, after three years, you suddenly remember I have a wife?"
The old man's expression turned darker.
Gu Zheng straightened his posture, his face calm again.
"If you are worried about the Gu family's reputation," he said quietly, "then divorce her."
The old man froze for a moment.
Then he suddenly stood up, trembling with anger.
"You- you- you..." he stammered, pointing his cane toward Gu Zheng.
His breathing became heavier.
"You abandoned your wife for three years! Never even looked at her properly!"
"And now you come back asking for a divorce?"
He shook his head with regret.
"That poor girl..."
"I have wronged her."
Gu Zheng spoke calmly.
"Grandfather, if she really cared about this marriage, she wouldn't have stayed silent for three years."
The old man stared at him angrily. Then he took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Okay okay, but If you want a divorce..."
"Then you will ask your wife yourself."
He turned to the servant standing nearby.
"Call Lin Yue."
"Tell her to come to the old residence immediately."
Lin Yue sat quietly at her desk, her phone pressed to her ear.
Her laptop was open in front of her, but the translation document on the screen had long been forgotten.
On the other side of the call, her friend sighed.
"Yue… it's been three years, and you still haven't talked to me properly."
"What on earth happened to you?"
"You know your father wouldn't be happy if he saw you like this."
Lin Yue's small smile slowly faded.
Her eyes lost focus as if her thoughts had drifted somewhere far away.
A faint shine of tears gathered in her eyes.
On the other end of the phone, her friend spoke again.
"Yue? Yue, are you there?"
Lin Yue blinked and returned to reality.
"Hmm…" she answered softly.
Her friend continued quickly.
"Listen, I have a job for you."
"A French man is coming with his wife. His wife needs a personal translator."
"I gave them your name and sent your resume."
"You should take this job. They'll pay a good amount."
Lin Yue lowered her eyes for a moment.
"Okay," she said quietly.
After a short pause, she ended the call.
The room fell silent again.
Just then, her phone rang once more.
Lin Yue glanced at the screen.
Gu Residence.
Her fingers froze slightly around the phone.
Lin Yue answered the call.
"Hello?"
A respectful voice came from the other side.
"Madam Lin, this is the Gu residence."
Lin Yue straightened slightly.
"Yes?"
"The chairman asked me to inform you that he would like you to come to the old residence."
Lin Yue paused for a moment.
"Is everything alright with Grandfather?"
The servant hesitated briefly.
"The chairman is fine… but he asked that you come as soon as possible."
Lin Yue lowered her eyes slightly.
"I understand."
"I'll be there soon."
"Thank you, Madam Lin."
The call ended.
Lin Yue stared at the phone for a moment, a strange feeling rising in her chest.
She didn't know why… but something felt different today.
Night had already fallen when a car stopped outside the gates of the Gu residence.
A young woman stepped out slowly.
It was Lin Yue.
She stood outside the familiar mansion for a moment before walking inside.
The servant led Lin Yue into the living room.
Her footsteps slowed slightly when she saw the tall figure standing near the window.
It was Gu Zheng.
Three years had passed since the last time they had seen each other.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Gu Zheng's eyes rested on her quietly.
Something about her seemed… different.
The woman standing before him was not the same bride he had left behind.
She looked thinner than he remembered.
Her face was pale, and her figure seemed far more fragile.
The lively girl he vaguely remembered was gone.
In her place stood a quiet woman who looked as if life had slowly worn her down.
Gu Zheng's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer.
For the first time, a strange feeling stirred in his chest.
Something he couldn't quite name.
Was it guilt… or something else?
After three years, seeing the woman he had once walked away from—
would Gu Zheng finally accept her?