The sunlight filtered through the curtains, warm and golden, and for a brief, blissful moment, I didn't move. The events of last night—the city lights, the balcony, the warmth of Shiyuan, the closeness, the kiss—were still vivid in my mind.
And then reality hit.
I opened my eyes, heart racing. The bed was large, comfortable, the blanket draped neatly over me. And beside me… Shiyuan.
He wasn't asleep. His dark eyes, warm and dangerous, were fixed on me, calm yet commanding, every inch the man who had ensnared me in ways I didn't fully understand.
For a heartbeat, I froze. The closeness, the intimacy, the reality of him right there—it was overwhelming. My mind went blank, fumbling for composure. This was the second time I had seen him this close, but now, with morning light softening his features… he looked impossibly perfect. Like a dream I wasn't supposed to touch.
"Good morning," he murmured softly, voice low and smooth, carrying that dangerous warmth I had grown addicted to.
I swallowed hard, trying to regain control of my composure. "Morning," I whispered, voice trembling slightly despite myself.
A small, knowing smile curved his lips. "You're… still adjusting," he said, almost teasing, though there was a hint of something protective underneath. "I can see it in your eyes."
I turned slightly away, feeling my cheeks burn. "I… I need coffee," I mumbled, though the words were ridiculous. The coffee wasn't the problem—it was him. Always him.
Shiyuan chuckled softly, low and intimate. "Coffee can wait. But I can't let you run away just yet."
By the time we were dressed, the penthouse was buzzing with activity. Shiyuan had insisted I join him at the office. I wasn't entirely ready for the corporate battlefield yet—especially not in the state of half-recovered composure from last night—but I knew better than to argue.
The elevator ride was tense, silent except for the soft hum of the cabin. My pulse thudded, a mixture of anticipation and residual embarrassment from the morning. Shiyuan's hand brushed mine lightly, not demanding, but claiming, guiding. I felt my heart skip again—this subtle contact was intoxicating.
When we entered the office, the world seemed to pause. Employees froze mid-step, mid-conversation, mesmerized by my presence. I caught glimpses of their jaws dropping, their eyes lingering. And I realized… Shiyuan had brought me into his world fully, publicly, and my transformation was undeniable.
He led me through the office with that effortless confidence, his presence beside me commanding attention. Every glance, every whisper of admiration, was a reminder of the power we now wielded together.
And then it happened—he subtly pulled me close by the waist, guiding me with a strength that was warm yet unyielding. His hand anchored me, fingers brushing lightly against my skin. I felt my breath hitch, a shiver running down my spine. The office—the employees, the city, the world—faded into the background.
"Ready?" he asked softly, the heat in his voice making my stomach twist with anticipation.
I nodded, trying to steady myself, though I knew he could see every tremor, every heartbeat.
"Good," he murmured, leaning slightly closer. "Because today… we plan. And today… we start showing them exactly what you're capable of."
He guided me to his office, sleek, modern, yet commanding. The city stretched beyond the glass walls, endless possibilities glimmering like promises.
Shiyuan gestured toward the large mahogany table. "Sit," he said, voice low, controlled, warm. "We'll go over everything. The gala, the family function… and now, the corporate stage."
I sat, still flushed from the morning closeness, my hands trembling slightly as I opened the documents he placed before me.
"You've been incredible," he said, voice soft, almost intimate, as he leaned against the edge of the desk, close enough to feel his warmth brushing me. "But now… it's time to turn the public admiration, the fascination, the envy… into action."
I swallowed, heart racing. "Action?" I asked, trying to sound composed.
"Yes," he said, eyes locking on mine, dark, warm, dangerous. "Rou underestimated you. Zeyan underestimated you. Your family underestimated you. Now… it's time for the board, the investors, the media… to understand that Shen Liya is untouchable. And you won't do it alone."
I felt my pulse quicken, the memory of last night's intimacy still coiling in my chest. This closeness, this pull, was no longer just flirtation—it was a tether, a magnet, a force I couldn't resist.
Shiyuan stepped closer again, hands on either side of me, his presence enveloping me. "We'll plan every move. Every step will be precise. And trust me… we'll leave them stunned."
I nodded, overwhelmed yet exhilarated. "And… we do this together?"
"Always," he said, his hand brushing mine again, lightly, intentionally. "Together."
The first part of the morning was spent strategizing: reviewing contracts, plotting moves to destabilize Rou's company, and planning subtle, public maneuvers to assert my influence. All the while, the warmth of Shiyuan beside me—his hand occasionally brushing mine, the close proximity, the protective yet teasing aura—kept my heart racing.
Employees passed by, still mesmerized, whispering quietly about my beauty, my poise, the magnetic pull between us. And I realized… I was no longer just the cast-off fiancée. I was a force to be reckoned with. With him, I was untouchable.
At one point, he pulled me gently to stand closer, hand at my waist, his other brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. "Look at me," he whispered. I did, and I saw the warmth, the danger, the desire in his eyes.
"Ready?" he asked again, voice low, intimate.
I nodded. "Ready."
And in that instant, I knew the day would mark the first public chapter of our combined power—the beginning of the revenge, the assertion of dominance, and the undeniable pull between us, ignited in private moments and now blazing in the open.