Volume One, Chapter 29: Betrayal

Lin Zhi’s actions disrupted Jiang Wan’s plans.

She had originally intended to use the earlier incident to win a bit of courtesy for the Gu family—accomplish her purpose and then withdraw. She could have excused herself early, claiming her gown was soiled, and escape this place of trouble.

But the room key before her now left her caught in a dilemma.

“Wanwan, what are you waiting for?” Ji Jiali called, signaling her frantically.

So many people were watching them. As the main figure of the evening, Lin Zhi’s gesture had already given her enormous face. If she refused, the entire Gu family would be implicated.

“Thank you,” Jiang Wan had no choice but to accept. She took the key from Lin Zhi and headed to the lounge indicated by the room number.

The door opened.

The room’s decor was unique: minimalist yet refined, much like Lin Zhi herself. Clearly, this was her private lounge.

Beside the full-length mirror stood a rack draped with several perfectly pressed gowns.

Jiang Wan went to select one.

She and Lin Zhi were not only similar in age and temperament, but even their height and figures were remarkably alike. Ji Jiali had once joked that they were sisters lost for years, destined to become family.

But now, Jiang Wan felt…they were like entangled quantum particles—too many similarities, and that could hardly be a good thing.

She had just begun to undo the halter of her dress, ready to slip out of it, when a familiar man’s voice sounded behind her.

“Trying to seduce me?”

Lu Wenzhou’s low, alluring voice fell right beside Jiang Wan’s ear.

Before she could react, the man’s hand had already circled her waist, drawing her close. His hot breath followed, his nose brushing her nape, lingering and caressing.

The halter, already loosened halfway, fell completely under his touch…

The ribbon slipped down.

Jiang Wan’s heart unraveled with it, thread by delicate thread.

She stood frozen, her mind blank.

Why was Lu Wenzhou here?

Had he mistaken her for someone else?

Did he know who she was?

Jiang Wan’s limbs stiffened, her heart pounding as if struck.

Yet her lack of resistance only encouraged the man’s boldness.

He laid soft kisses along her neck, slowly trailing downward.

The loosened gown slipped from her smooth skin.

In a flash, Jiang Wan snapped back to herself.

Almost instinctively, she clamped her elbows in, clutching the dress to her chest. But her mind was still a chaos of confusion.

She even forgot to be angry—her first reflex was to turn and leave.

“Sorry to disturb you,” Jiang Wan said stiffly, her face pale. “I didn’t know you were here.”

But the man did not let her go.

“So eager to get away from me?” Lu Wenzhou encircled her waist again, his long arm tightening, pulling her back to him.

Jiang Wan was forced to crash into his embrace.

Her hands instinctively came up, bracing against his shoulder blades, and in that moment, she caught sight of his pronounced Adam’s apple, and—

A sharply tailored pale gray shirt paired with a matte gunmetal tie.

Jiang Wan paused.

Realizing her mind had harbored a hint of wishful thinking, she frowned at herself in disgust.

But the black eyes fixed on her were growing darker and more oppressive.

The temperature around them seemed to plummet.

Lu Wenzhou’s hand pressed harder at the small of her back, forcing her even closer.

“Whether you want to or not, don’t think you can leave my side.”

His tone was both a warning and a declaration.

Jiang Wan slowly gathered her thoughts, raising her eyes to meet his.

That radiant face of his was like a rose with thorns—seductive, dangerous.

“Wasn’t it you who left first?” Jiang Wan stared into his eyes, delivering a blow without flinching. “You really are skilled at disappearing—always at the most critical moments.”

Her sudden attack sounded calm, but Lu Wenzhou heard the sharpness beneath it.

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

“You’re blaming me for not coming to see you these past few days?” His voice was ambiguous, his lips curving into a faint, uncertain smile. “Do you want to know what I—”

Jiang Wan cut him off. “I wish you would leave this land forever.”

“If you disappear, do it completely—as if you were dead.”

She spoke seriously, her words firm.

His face darkened with every syllable, the atmosphere growing heavier.

“Is that truly what you want?” Lu Wenzhou’s voice was cold, each word carrying icy shards, falling around her, threatening to freeze her solid.

“Yes.” Jiang Wan met his gaze head-on, undaunted by the murderous glint in his eyes.

If not for him, she would have long since reclaimed the Jiang family business, become Gu Huaixu’s nominal wife, inherited her father’s will, and grown the company into something great.

She wouldn’t be at the mercy of others as she was now.

And she certainly wouldn’t have all this trouble, just because of him.

Those black eyes stared into her, as if searching for the truth in her heart.

At last—

Lu Wenzhou, enraged, let out a cold laugh.

His lips curled with disdain as he leaned in close.

“You must have forgotten—I’m not some obedient dog. I’m a wolf that can’t be tamed.”

His eyes were deep and sharp, a black abyss threatening to swallow her whole.

Lu Wenzhou repeated the words she had once spoken, but his tone was unshakeably resolute.

“Wherever the person I want is, that’s where I’ll be.”

Their faces were so close that their noses nearly touched; his hot breath and a trace of sandalwood mingled in the air between them.

Lu Wenzhou’s unwavering, relentless air left her momentarily dazed.

The person he spoke of—did he mean her, or Lin Zhi?

Jiang Wan’s always-keen gaze grew misty and uncertain.

She couldn’t read him, couldn’t see through him.

Her hands, braced on his shoulders, tightened unconsciously, her eyes darting once more to his tie.

She bit her lip, then forced herself to ask, “Lin Group’s acquisition of that land—was it you helping them behind the scenes?”

The question was abrupt, almost accusatory. Lu Wenzhou let out a low laugh, the danger in his eyes receding.

He raised an intrigued brow, his tone tinged with amusement.

“What’s this? You said you didn’t want it before—now you regret it?”

The hand on her waist tightened further. “Changed your mind? Willing to accept what’s mine now?”

His aura gradually softened.

Until Jiang Wan said, “I’m asking for Gu family’s sake. You promised before—”

“Promised who?” Lu Wenzhou’s face grew cold again, a chilling air enveloping him.

His black eyes bore down on her.

“Jiang Wan, I only ever gave you a chance.”

His expression didn’t change, but the light in his eyes was frost-cold.

The chill crept up her spine; Jiang Wan felt as though her blood was turning to ice.

“Still so eager to defend the Gu family? Do you really think you’re one of them?”

“Of course I am.” Jiang Wan forced her thoughts into order, stubbornly holding her ground. “I am Gu Huaixu’s wife. How could I not be?”

Lu Wenzhou let out a scornful laugh.

“You don’t mind having a wedding by yourself—planning to be a living widow for life?”

The mockery in his voice made Jiang Wan uncomfortable.

“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.” She gritted her teeth, forcing a retort. “Our marriage is loving, our private life harmonious—there’s no—”

Before she could finish, his large hand seized her chin with sudden force.

Her vision was filled with a pair of eyes brimming with murderous intent.

“You’ve slept with him?”