“You look horrible.” Another passenger of the train commented bluntly, and Lu Xinyi sighed. She didn’t worry too much about her appearance; she just wanted to get away from her ex-boyfriend.

“I know, right?” She laughed. Lu Xinyi caught her reflection against the train windows several times during the trip. Her hair was in a mess; her dress was stained and had dirt clinging on its edges. Her arm still hurt, and it might even form another dark bruise later which her husband would surely throw a fit about again.

The cheesecake that she brought earlier had been ruined during the assault and was beyond saving. She grieved over her ruined dessert. Why would her Mr. Cheesecake always become collateral damage because of her problems?

Her expression dulled as the weather suddenly changed. From the warmth afternoon she was enjoying earlier, the sky turned gloomy and gray. She could hear thunder from a distance. It was going to rain really hard soon. What a way to end her day. She hadn’t considered taking an umbrella with her. -.

Taking her phone from her purse, Lu Xinyi decided to call for her husband’s help.

—

Shen Yi walked into his study, shut the door, and locked it before the twins decided to disturb him again from his thoughts. Sitting at his desk, he closed his eyes and calmed himself. He’d been waiting for Lu Xinyi to come home, but what he didn’t expect was Xiao Lan bringing the kids home without his wife. Xiao Lan told her Lu Xinyi had to discuss something with Xia Yuhan.

He’d been waiting since then, and it was starting to turn into a nightmare. His wife was out for only a few hours, but he was already in a panic about her whereabouts. She wasn’t attending Silver Leaf yet, but his anxiety was getting the best of him.

He was losing his sanity and peace of mind all because of her. Since when did anyone—let alone a woman—have power over him? He was the aloof and invincible president of the Shen Group, and yet he was trapped in her hands.

Shen Yi opened his eyes and stared at the wall as he pondered about their situation. It could’ve been easier if Lu Xinyi didn’t mind making their marriage public. He still couldn’t comprehend why she had to prove herself. She was okay being herself, and he wouldn’t ask for anything as long as he had her.

He could torture and convince himself that he was still in control, but who was he lying to? Certainly, he wanted Lu Xinyi ever since his eyes set upon her during their cruise vacation. Why else would he ask her to be his wife if he wasn’t attracted to her at least?

Damn him, he didn’t care about consequences at this point. Lu Xinyi had engraved herself deeply into him that he couldn’t think he could change it. He wanted all of her, most especially her company. She had been easy to be with.

The loud ringing of his phone had pulled Shen Yi from his thoughts. He then saw his wife’s name at the screen. Patience proved to be his ally this time as Lu Xinyi called him. It had taken everything not to snap at her when he answered her phone call.

“Xinyi,” he greeted her icily, but Lu Xinyi was already used on it. She would never expect a warm welcome from him after all.

“Shen Yi…” The brittle tone on Lu Xinyi’s voice had brought alarming bells to Shen Yi’s mind. What’s wrong with her?

“Where are you?”

“I’m stranded here at the train station. Would you come and get me?” Lu Xinyi pleaded. Her words almost a whine in her husband’s ears, but she didn’t care. All she wanted was to be back safely in his strong arms.

It was strange. Since her parents died, Lu Xinyi had never wanted company whenever she reached her lowest point. Not even when she was still with Gong Yijun or in the company of Meng Jiao and Yuan Jin.

Lu Xinyi knew that she wasn’t strong—she could never be strong. She had learned to survive over the years, but that didn’t mean she was strong. Right now, she needed Shen Yi’s strong presence, or else she might fall into despair.

She was tired. She was tired of being harassed by her own family, being constantly compared to Sun Feiyan and Meng Jiao and trying to prove everyone that she was capable. Even her friends had tried to keep her in the dark which deeply hurt her.

Enough was enough. She wanted Shen Yi’s company because he wanted her. He didn’t make her feel about herself when she was with him.