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escape
For a moment, the room became quiet.
Because Jiang Mingzhuo was expressionless at the moment, his eyes, which should have been gentle and affectionate, appeared very cold. Even though I was hiding behind Jiang Zhao, I felt a chill run down my spine when I was being looked at by his gaze.
"Xiao Fu, do you really like my brother?" he asked. "Why can't I tell?"
I was taken aback. Jiang Mingzhuo was used to and happy to play with me by the puppet, and when I started to break free of his restraints, he tried every means to keep me by his side.
Moreover, he is adept at manipulating other people's emotions, and a seemingly casual remark can stir up a storm in the other person's heart.
I looked up slightly at Jiang Zhao.
His dark eyes stared intently at Jiang Mingzhuo, his gaze sharp and cold.
"So what?" A hint of a smile finally appeared on his deep, cold face, but the sarcasm was more obvious.
The darkness in Jiang Mingzhuo's eyes deepened.
Perhaps it was the unspoken understanding between biological brothers, but Jiang Mingzhuo seemed to have already sensed Jiang Zhao's true thoughts.
He gave a lazy "oh" and said, "Stay here tonight? The room next door belongs to Xiao Fu."
Jiang Zhao naturally wouldn't refuse. He glanced at his younger brother, walked straight past him, and headed for the door.
A sense of unease inexplicably arose within me. As I followed Jiang Zhao out the door, anxiety made my heart race.
At the end of the corridor, Jiang Zhao opened the door and raised an eyebrow at me: "Go in."
The gaze from above was all-encompassing, and the intense pressure made it hard for me to breathe.
This easily reminds me of our first time together.
At that time, my mother had an accident, and the family was in chaos. Jiang Zhao returned home, and my relationship with Jiang Mingzhuo was on the verge of collapse. In order to help my mother, I had no choice but to stay with Jiang Zhao.
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Jiang Zhao has been an arrogant man since childhood, even in his adolescence. He is aloof and haughty, always appearing cold and superior.
I didn't dare call him brother, and I never considered him my "boyfriend." I could only respectfully call him "Young Master Jiang" like the servants in my house.
That night, I was thirsty and went downstairs to get some water as usual.
A tall figure lingered on the sofa, accompanied by a faint, cool, and niche smell of smoke.
I saw Jiang Zhao holding a silver electronic cigarette; its metallic texture made it particularly eye-catching in the dim environment.
Jiang Zhao fiddled with the smoking device, the bluish-white smoke blurring his profile.
Smoking here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping... I found it horrifying and turned to leave.
Jiang Zhao has incredibly good eyesight. He spotted me in the pitch black and said coldly, "Stop, don't move."
My scalp tingled and went numb, yet I dared not disobey him.
The next moment, my body was pressed down by his strong, thin hand, and I was forcibly turned around.
Jiang Zhao made me look at him face to face. "Afraid of me?"
"No, Young Master Jiang." I stepped back, and Jiang Zhao's eyes flashed with a sharp, cold light when he saw how obviously I was avoiding him.
What did you call me?
He showed no mercy or tenderness and immediately hugged me.
Fierce, violent, and decisive, the petals were forcefully pried open, and the rain continued to fall.
"Aren't I your boyfriend?" He gripped my slender neck, tightening his grip suddenly, a mocking smile playing on his thin lips. @Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City
Clearly, he was experiencing pleasure, while I was only having a physiological reaction and couldn't help but be enthusiastic.
"Who am I?" he asked.
I didn't even have the strength to cry anymore; all I could do was clutch his clothes tightly with both hands, and all my tears had dried up.
"He's my boyfriend..." I replied stiffly.
Jiang Zhao's tone was forceful, his thin lips slightly curved, his smile indifferent: "Does your boyfriend make you feel good?"
I didn't dare refuse him; fear of him was an instinct ingrained in my bones. I hugged him tightly, using my actions to answer.
The next day, I woke up in my bedroom. I ignored the ambiguous and terrifying red marks on my body and told myself that I had just fallen and had a nightmare, and that it was nothing.
I fear him, hate him, and loathe him.
Very obvious.
He was well aware of it.
How could he possibly believe me when I said I "liked him"?
Is it possible for a victim to truly forgive and forget and fall in love with the abuser without any scruples?
...
I composed myself, forcibly pulled myself out of my memories, and went into the room.
Jiang Zhao was not fond of talking, and went into the bathroom by himself.
I stood there, and the entire bedroom's decor and furniture arrangement were exactly a replica of my old bedroom.
The white color scheme, paired with bright and luxurious furniture, exudes a sense of sophistication without sacrificing elegance. Next to the light pink sofa is a floor lamp with a Carrara marble base, and even the dressing table is made of Raphael velvet.
I felt as if I were back in the Jiang residence. My coat instantly fell to the ground. I carefully opened the walk-in closet, where I found women's dresses, accessories, bags, and jewelry from various luxury brands...
Jiang Mingzhuo seemed to have been prepared for me to come looking for him.
In my terror, my pupils constricted, my limbs began to feel cold, and I regretted my recklessness.
I shouldn't have come looking for Jiang Mingzhuo so easily, and I even led Jiang Zhao into this enclosed space. My brain was racing at that moment, and I didn't notice anyone approaching me from behind. When I turned around, Jiang Zhao's dark eyes, which carried a natural sense of pressure, were silently watching me.
He had just finished showering, and his hair was slightly dry. His bangs, which he usually combed back, were now slightly drooping, making him look less cold.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" I forced a gentle smile. "Pick it for me, okay?"
Jiang Zhao raised his cold, sharp eyebrows slightly, walked to my side, and took off the very thin butterfly necklace from his neck.
When he touched me, an inexplicable chill made me tremble all over.
Jiang Zhao nodded, his voice tinged with displeasure: "Why are you crying?"
I raised my hand and realized that tears were already falling uncontrollably. A few seconds later, I tentatively raised my hand, and seeing that Jiang Zhao didn't push me away, I carefully rested my head against his chest: "I'm not feeling well, today... please don't, okay?"
He doesn't fall for playing the victim at all.
Given Jiang Zhao's personality, he will get what he wants no matter what; the word "understanding" is not applicable to him.
I could only try my best to appear weak, hoping that Jiang Zhao would soften his heart this time. I had a vague feeling that, if possible, he didn't want to use those forceful methods on me.
"You think you're just like when you buy groceries, right? You can get a discount just by being cute." Jiang Zhao's slender fingers pinched my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
"I want to argue with you, and you'll never say no."
His tone wasn't so harsh, and seeing that I wasn't struggling so violently, his fingers changed from restraining me to a slow, ambiguous caress.
"Then, let's not make a fuss today, okay?" I raised my hand and grasped his wrist.
He leaned down slightly to meet my gaze: "Not today, and not tomorrow either?"
His voice was bland and mocking.
“You seem to be in good health, even able to sleep with Lin Jindong.” Jiang Zhao’s eyes suddenly turned cold and fierce as he looked down at him, raising an eyebrow: “Isn’t that right?”
I looked at him, knowing that if I looked away, it would be a sign of guilt, and I wouldn't be able to get out of bed tomorrow. I blamed everything on Lin Jindong, telling him that I was in a daze that day, and Lin Jindong helped me to my room, where I vaguely saw him.
"You mistook someone for someone else, got yelled at, and still dare to be so self-righteous." Jiang Zhao's voice was low but dangerous. "I thought you weren't afraid. Otherwise, how could you dare to play Luo Liao with Ye Fenglin? You're not afraid of anyone else, but you're afraid of me."
"Do you love me?" I suddenly asked him.
Jiang Zhao looked at me quietly for a while, then said, "What do you think?"
“If you want to find a Star Toy, you can easily find a better one with your abilities…” Before I could finish speaking, Jiang Zhao lowered his head and sealed my lips with his. I made a sound and stepped back. Jiang Zhao pressed down on my waist, then lifted my chin with his hand. His fingers were incredibly strong, and I had no choice but to look up.
My tongue was being sweetly kissed by the man, and his fingers were on my neck. At first, my eyes were closed, but when I opened them, I looked into his eyes, which were filled with desire.
Jiang Zhao hugged me even tighter, and I felt I couldn't break free from his arms.
In an instant, he slightly increased the distance between them. "This is your last chance. If you cheat on me again, I will kill every man you've ever been in contact with."
I looked up abruptly, and a chilling sense of predation washed over me once more.
"Speak, did you understand?"
I bit my lip. "You haven't let me finish. If you treat me like a toy..."
"I can't hear you, say it again." Jiang Zhao's tone suppressed a hint of anger, clearly giving me a way out.
I could only lower my eyes and whisper, "I understand."
When I finished showering, Jiang Zhao was still working, his brows furrowed with a hint of coldness. He was actually only three years older than me, but his aura was overwhelming. I went straight over and sat on the bed, pulled back the covers, and crawled inside.
It was late at night outside the window. I was huddled under the covers when someone suddenly approached me from behind and hugged me. As I started to move, he pretended to lift the hem of my skirt, and I was so frightened that I could only let him hold me tight.
I couldn't sleep at all. Even when I was with Jiang Zhao or Jiang Mingzhuo, and I managed to fall asleep after taking medicine, I was always having nightmares.
Only a nightlight was left on in the bedroom, emitting a faint glow. I couldn't sleep, so I pretended to be asleep. Jiang Zhao simply got up, propped his head up with one hand, and put his other arm around my waist. That hand quickly moved from my waist to my chest, lingering on my long hair.
"..." I felt uncomfortable all over. It was not pleasant to be stared at like that by him, but I was afraid that if I woke up I would be pinned down and forced to do it again, so I pretended to be asleep.
A faint chuckle escaped his throat. "Pretending to be asleep?"
I had no choice but to open my eyes. "Your eyes are so red. Go to sleep, okay? I can't sleep if you don't."
"The night before the charity banquet, I was still in Gran City. I took a flight of more than ten hours and flew back to the Empire State overnight. Last night, I didn't sleep a wink because of you."
"Then you should go to sleep," I said.
He responded, adjusted his position, and hugged me tightly. I felt like I could hardly breathe, but I didn't dare struggle, so I could only watch him silently. Jiang Zhao quickly fell asleep. He had long eyelashes, and his skin wasn't the frighteningly pale white like Xie Yong's, but he was still a pampered young master from childhood, and his skin was surprisingly good.
Taking advantage of the moment he loosened his grip, I quietly broke free and slowly moved away from him, watching his defenseless, fast asleep face. I thought, even if I were to put a knife to his neck right now, he wouldn't wake up until blood flowed…
As I was thinking, I hesitated and looked towards the bedside.
I slowly pulled open the drawer of the cabinet under the crystal lamp.
A silver-gleaming dinner knife appeared there. It resembled the color of the e-cigarette casing that Jiang Zhao loved most, the color that left the deepest impression on me.
I gently raised the thin, sharp knife. Jiang Zhao was still fast asleep, breathing evenly and gently, which gave me a somewhat unreal feeling. If I were to cut him like this, blood would gush from his arteries, staining this beautiful bedroom red.
More frightening than the scene itself is who placed this knife here? Does he know how much I hate Jiang Zhao?
I gently closed the drawer again, feeling my body tremble and weaken. If I kill Jiang Zhao, I will never be free in this life. Jiang Mingzhuo will forever control me, making it impossible for me to escape him for the rest of my life.
I closed my eyes and calmed my breathing. In that half-dreaming, half-awake state, I vaguely sensed someone walking up to me.
His palm was pressed against my face, chilling me to the bone.
"Xiao Fu, I love you..." The man let out a soft chuckle through his nose, "Why can't you ever fall in love with me..."
The next second, the hand that was lovingly caressing me seemed to be grasped and gradually moved away from me.
"You woke me up." Jiang Zhao's voice was cold and direct; he was awake.
My heart was pounding like a drum, but I didn't dare open my eyes. Did Jiang Zhao see me holding a knife to him just now?
Jiang Zhao and Jiang Mingzhuo were locked in a stalemate. An impulsive and daring act formed in my mind, and I couldn't help but feel a stirring within me. Rather than killing Jiang Zhao myself, it would be better to let the brothers distrust each other. But even I couldn't judge the destructive power of this decision…
"Let's give it a try," I hesitated for a moment, then, as if murmuring in my sleep, I whispered, "Honey, I think I hear Bella crying..."
Bella is my and Jiang Zhao's child. A lovely and pretty little girl.
However, during my pregnancy, I was in poor mental health, which made the baby very fragile and always needed to be held to sleep.
My memory of that period is hazy, but I wanted to know how far they remembered it, so I deliberately struggled restlessly in my sleep, "Honey, does Bella have a fever...?"
A hand gripped mine, and its unusual calm made me panic.
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It wasn't until Jiang Zhao told me in a low voice, "Don't be afraid, Bella is asleep. She's fine. I'll take you to the amusement park tomorrow."
I stopped struggling and slowly, quietly, "fell asleep" again.
Jiang Zhao and Jiang Mingzhuo faced each other silently. I even felt that their relationship was like a calm ice surface, which looked clean and clear, but would collapse into pieces if you exerted too much force.
The next day, I woke up.
Even if the two brothers wouldn't do anything to me, I still couldn't sleep well at all. I felt a throbbing pain in the blood vessels of my head, and I subconsciously looked around, but there was no one there.
I stepped outside and found the entire apartment completely empty. Even the housekeeper, who usually appeared there, was nowhere to be seen. It was as if they had all agreed to disappear together. I felt a little relieved, but more than that, I was nervous. I glanced at the apartment's security camera without making it obvious.
One, two, three...
Almost every room had one, enough to see every corner of the apartment. That's perfect. I paused slightly, then slowly curled my lips into a smile.
The breakfast, still steaming slightly, was laid out on the table. I waited in the room for a while, then played with the two kittens on the sofa for a long time. It was as if Jiang Mingzhuo and Jiang Zhao had completely left this world; no one contacted me.
After changing my clothes, I fiddled with my fluffy earrings in front of the mirror, picked up my phone to send a message, put on my coat, and went into the elevator. Outside the apartment, although it was a bit cold, it didn't dampen the little dog's enthusiasm for running out for a walk in the winter.
The pure white Samoyed puppy, like a soft, fluffy marshmallow, ran towards me with exceptional enthusiasm as soon as it heard my footsteps.
I quickly crouched down to greet it. The puppy's tail kept rubbing against my calves, and after I petted it, it would immediately purr contentedly.
"...I thought you didn't want to see me again." The man's calm and collected voice came from above.
The puppy got even more excited. Xie Yong took out a dried shark from his pocket and put one on the puppy's head. He made a gesture, "Bruce, you can't eat this until Daddy says it's okay."
I looked at the puppy, and it immediately sat up. Although it tried its best to resist eating, saliva slowly dripped down its cheeks, and even its eyes kept turning around, full of longing.
"It's almost driven mad with worry," I said, even managing a slight laugh.
“Me too.” Xie Yong also bent down and half-squatted in front of me, looking at me: “Xiao Fu, you left without saying goodbye for two whole days. Zhi En said that you were just too scared after hearing what I said and needed to prepare yourself mentally, but I’m really afraid that you never want to see me again.”
When someone who is usually arrogant and conceited says such things to me, my heart stirs slightly.
"If I really never want to see you again in my entire life," I hesitated, "what would you do?"
“We were entangled for more than ten years in our past lives,” Xie Yong took my hand and put it to his lips, “and it’s the same now. I will never let go of you unless I die.”
I glanced at him, thinking to myself, I really shouldn't have had any expectations of him. They're all the same; none of them truly wish me happiness. Equally arrogant, equally conceited, always thinking I can't live without them.
A past life? Probably in some loop of the game.
I know that in that cycle, Xie Yong is still the youngest mayor of an imperial city. His resume is impressive and perfect. Given time, it would be no problem for him to enter the Federation and assume an important position.
After I met Xie Yong at that party, he began to pursue me relentlessly.
Even knowing I was married, he remained unmoved. He found my mother, whom I hadn't seen in a long time. She and her husband had come to the Empire State and opened a clinic. Xie Yong used only a few tricks to make my mother unable to live. With nowhere else to turn, she came to me again.
I had no choice but to compromise with him.
In public, he is a glamorous, handsome, and outstanding mayor of the Imperial City, but in private, he is a mistress who cannot be seen in the light of day.
Jiang Zhao knew that I had almost lost my mind and couldn't sleep well every night after marrying him, so he tacitly allowed Xie Yong to stay by my side.
At least, I could fall asleep slowly in Xie Yong's arms, and I felt better the next day.
And so, until my death, our relationship remained strangely intertwined.
Seeing my silence, Xie Yong raised his hand and brushed my long hair aside. "Xiao Fu, have you ever thought that you were the one who provoked me first? I didn't do anything. You made me yearn for love and marriage. Now you still want to leave me?"
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