Saying “I do” should have been easy, but now she opened and closed her lips several times, unable to speak, not daring to look at Di Xihuang.
The venue remained silent, awaiting her vow, while Di Xihuang’s brow slightly furrowed, his deep black eyes losing softness, a hint of coldness emerging.
“Xuanxuan,” Tong Baichuan and Liu Qiusi called softly behind her.
Ou Xueman turned back. Liu Qiusi’s eyes held a clear warning, while Tong Baichuan’s aged eyes were full of worry.
Feeling guilty, she ultimately forced herself to say, “I… I… do.” Her voice was so low that the priest had to lean in to hear.
The media recorded her hesitation, and she knew that once she spoke those words, there was no turning back.
The priest announced, “Bride and groom exchange rings.”
As the diamond ring slid onto her finger, she momentarily wanted to withdraw her hand but was firmly pulled by Di Xihuang, who whispered, “You can’t turn back now.”
When she placed the wedding ring on his finger, his words echoed in her mind. What did he mean? Was everything from the moment he appeared a lie? A carefully planned deception? Why? What did he want? Just to obtain the Tong family? For his vast economic empire, the Tong family was insignificant and not worth such elaborate scheming. What was he truly after?
Suddenly, she felt like she was falling into a sea bathed in moonlight. Beneath the calm surface of rippling waves, there was a savage darkness and surging undercurrents, tearing at her body.
All her defenses were futile, leaving her struggling in the deep darkness.
“The groom may kiss the bride,” the priest announced.
As applause erupted, media photographers crowded the church entrance. Flashbulbs burst like white light, rekindling childhood fears and helplessness.
Her vacant eyes scanned the crowd, seeing the joyful Tong Baichuan, anxious Tong Yixuan, cold Liu Qiusi, angry Han Bing, and many familiar yet strange faces. Though they appeared to smile, their expressions slowly twisted.
Returning her gaze to the man before her, she saw his thin lips bear a merciless smile. In that moment, she did not want him to touch her, pushing him away. The world began to spin, and she surrendered to the dizzying vortex of darkness.
As she lost consciousness, a black figure flashed behind Di Xihuang and grasped her, but she could not see who it was.
The helicopter descended onto an island. Di Xihuang had told her it was a private island in the Indian Ocean. Disembarking and looking around, she saw palm trees drifting in the azure waters like a grove.
Smoothing her hair blown by the helicopter, she walked alone toward the villa in the palm tree forest.
This was her honeymoon trip. Though she did not know what he was doing, she was not ready to face him. Having space to organize her thoughts seemed good, but on this island surrounded by sea, she felt imprisoned. Why Di Xihuang was holding her captive, she could not yet understand.
The villa was primarily tropical in style, rustic yet refined. What she loved most was the bedroom’s balcony, where she could look up at the night sky, count the stars, and feel the moon’s tenderness. The villa’s housekeeper, a kind, elderly African-American named Tina, always smiled and took care of her needs.
Every day, as the sun set, she walked barefoot on a beach as fine as cotton, appreciating the waves gently beating against the shore. The seawater was as transparent as air, clear enough to see the colorful coral reefs. The sea breeze gently caressed her face, and all worldly troubles faded away. Her soul felt washed anew, peaceful and carefree.
But she did not know that this was just the calm before the storm.
When the roar of the helicopter broke the quiet morning, it announced the end of her peaceful life. She walked out of the villa and saw his tall figure stepping down from the helicopter.
He wore a white casual outfit, with two buttons undone, revealing his muscular chest. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and the helicopter’s propeller stirred up a strong wind that made his hair fly wildly. Sunglasses perched on his nose, obscuring his deep eyes and enhancing his cold demeanor.
As she hesitated to greet him, he turned back to the helicopter and helped out a woman.
The woman, dressed in a dark cheongsam with meticulously combed hair, exuded a noble demeanor. However, her overly serious expression revealed cold, murky eyes. When their gazes met, Ou Xueman was struck by an intense hatred.
Caught off guard, Ou Xueman stepped back and fell to the ground.
The woman glanced at her briefly before walking toward the villa in the woods, supported by Di Xihuang, who remained indifferent.
The morning sea breeze carried a chilling coldness, disheveling her hair and unsettling her calm.
“What are you still doing here?”
Di Xihuang had somehow appeared beside her. His sudden voice startled her, fear filling her eyes as she looked up at him.
“I…”
Ou Xueman opened her mouth to say something but trembled, unable to speak.
Di Xihuang removed his sunglasses, impatiently saying, “Come inside and meet my aunt.”
Thinking back, she realized he had never told her about his family or his past. She had been blinded by the sweet surface he created and her own romantic fantasies, completely overlooking everything. He seemed to know her completely, while she knew nothing about him.
Looking at his broad chest, which she once thought was a refuge, she now realized it was just a trap to draw her into his control.
It was only after arriving that Ou Xueman learned this woman had married the president of the Japanese Sakura Financial Group, Tian Muyi, to help Di Xihuang. All of Di Xihuang’s initial startup funds came from the Sakura Financial Group. Surprisingly, the woman’s original name was Di Ying, sharing the same surname as Di Xihuang. The reason behind this would only be revealed in the impending storm.
That night, while listening to the waves, she looked up at the sky, trying to find the celestial body she was fascinated by. However, tonight the moon was dark and the stars were sparse. Clouds obscured the last trace of moonlight, leaving behind a pervasive gloom.
Di Xi Huang had been in the study all along, leaving Ou Xueman unaware of his activities. His busyness allowed her to avoid the intimacy expected between husband and wife. She gave a self-deprecating smile, reflecting that besides holding hands, they had never kissed. What she once anticipated as intimacy had become something she least wanted to confront.
Perhaps the sea breeze was too gentle or the sound of the waves too beautiful; she suddenly felt the urge to take a walk. The night was deep, and she walked barefoot on the cold floor, unwilling to disturb the midnight tranquility.
At the end of the corridor, a faint light seeped from Di Xi Huang’s study, drawing her closer. Low voices emerged from within, and she stood beside the light.
It was the old witch’s voice, speaking Japanese with an excited tone, likely reprimanding Di Xi Huang. Just as she was about to leave, a helicopter roared overhead. Ou Xueman quickly hid in a nearby room. She overheard Di Ying voice her surprise, “Why are they coming at this time?” but could not catch the rest of their conversation, only the sound of departing footsteps.
But an ominous feeling urged her to enter the study.
An invisible hand guided her to the open computer. Examining the displayed information, she was shocked to discover that the Di family planned to destroy the Tong family. This plan involved not just the Di family, but also the Japanese Sakura Financial Group and Han Electronics from Hong Kong, which Han Bing belonged to.
Why were they so eager to target the Tong family? What did the Tong family have that they all wanted? It seemed to revolve around Di Xi Huang, as without his lead, they would not participate.
