Chapter 17 – Shadows in the Dark
The day passed in uneasy silence. Lin Yue buried herself in routine—emails, meetings, schedules—anything to avoid thinking about the night she had spent in Mo Chen's arms. But no matter how many tasks she ticked off, her mind replayed the feel of his hands, his voice whispering promises she didn't dare believe.
When evening came, Mo Chen returned to the mansion later than usual. His expression was unreadable, the sharp lines of his jaw set tighter than she'd ever seen. He didn't say a word as he loosened his tie, tossing it onto the table.
Lin Yue frowned. "What happened?"
He glanced at her, his eyes shadowed with something darker than fatigue. "Nothing you need to worry about."
Her brows knit. She was about to push further when his phone buzzed. He picked it up, listening in silence. But as the voice on the other end spoke, his shoulders stiffened, his grip tightening around the phone until the veins in his hand stood out.
When he finally ended the call, his face was grim.
"Mo Chen," Lin Yue pressed, unease creeping through her. "What's going on?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he crossed the room, pulling the curtains shut as though shielding them from unseen eyes. Only then did he speak, his voice low, laced with steel.
"The Black Serpents."
The name made her shiver even though she didn't know who they were.
"They're one of the oldest underworld groups in the city," he continued. "And they've decided to make me their next target."
Lin Yue's blood ran cold. "Why?"
Mo Chen's lips twisted into a mirthless smile. "Because I refused to play by their rules. They want control of the docks. I took that from them years ago—and they've never forgiven me."
She stared at him, shock giving way to dread. "And now?"
"They've started to circle back. Tonight's call was a warning." His gaze hardened, flicking toward her. "They know about you."
Her stomach dropped. "Me?"
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, his eyes sharp with an intensity that both frightened and reassured her. "You're my wife, Lin Yue. That makes you my strength—and my weakness. They'll use you to get to me."
Her pulse hammered. "Then what do we do?"
For the first time, she saw a crack in his usual calm. His hand reached for hers, gripping it tightly. "You stay close to me. No wandering off, no arguments. Do you understand?"
Lin Yue's lips parted, a dozen retorts on the tip of her tongue. But when she saw the fear hidden beneath his command, she swallowed them back. This wasn't just about control—it was about protection.
Still, a part of her whispered bitterly: Would he care this much if it weren't about his pride, his power?
That night, the mansion seemed heavier, the silence suffocating. Lin Yue tried to sleep, but every creak of the house, every gust of wind against the windows made her heart jolt. Mo Chen sat by the window, fully dressed, his silhouette a shadow carved against the faint moonlight. He didn't close his eyes once.
Around midnight, a sound shattered the fragile quiet—the distant crunch of gravel, footsteps approaching.
Mo Chen was on his feet instantly. He grabbed a gun from the drawer, the cold metal glinting in the dark. Lin Yue froze, her breath catching in her throat.
"Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice razor-sharp.
Before she could reply, the glass of the window cracked—then shattered as a stone clattered across the floor. Tied around it was a strip of black cloth, painted with a serpent symbol.
Lin Yue's blood ran cold.
Mo Chen snatched it up, his expression unreadable. But the fury in his eyes burned like wildfire. "They're here."
The mansion's guards rushed in seconds later, alerted by the noise. Mo Chen barked orders, his voice commanding, ruthless.
But as chaos unfolded, Lin Yue stood rooted, her body trembling. The reality of who her husband was—of the world he lived in—pressed down on her chest. She thought she had married a cold-hearted businessman. She hadn't realized she'd also married into his war.
Mo Chen turned to her, gripping her shoulders. "Listen to me, Lin Yue. Whatever happens, you don't leave my side."
She nodded shakily, her heart hammering.
Outside, faint laughter echoed in the darkness—a mocking sound, taunting, promising blood.
Mo Chen's grip tightened. His voice dropped to a vow, dangerous and unyielding.
"If they think they can take you from me, they'll learn what it means to cross me."
And in that moment, as fear clawed at her chest, Lin Yue realized something terrifying: Mo Chen wasn't afraid of the Black Serpents. He was afraid of losing her.