The doors slid shut, sealing them inside the gilded cage of the private elevator. The air was thick with unspoken questions, fear, and the faintest hint of jasmine clinging to the charcoal wool draped over Xia's shoulders.
Zhenting pressed the button for the 88th floor, his jaw clenched. The ascent was swift, silent save for the hum of the machinery, but inside Xia's mind, a tempest raged. What game was he playing? Was this kindness a prelude to some grand humiliation, a twisted power play to remind her of her place?
She chanced a glance at him. His profile was stark, sculpted from granite, his eyes fixed on the numbers lighting up above the door. The scar on his hand from the engagement party was vivid in the dim light. He seemed troubled, almost... haunted.
The doors parted onto the familiar opulence of his private suite. But instead of the cool detachment he usually exuded, there was a raw, almost desperate energy radiating from him. He gestured for her to enter, his voice rough. "Wait here."
He disappeared into his office, leaving Xia to stand awkwardly in the reception area. The air was heavy with the scent of sandalwood, usually a comfort, but today it felt suffocating. Her stomach churned. The sudden fear of her pregnancy, once a distant dread, now felt imminent.
Minutes stretched into an eternity. The silence was broken only by the muffled sounds of Zhenting speaking on the phone, his tone clipped and authoritative. Xia's anxiety mounted with each passing second. She had to get out. She had to protect her babies, even if it meant facing the cruel streets again.
As she turned to leave, Zhenting emerged from his office, his expression thunderous. "Where do you think you're going?"
His voice was a low growl, laced with a possessiveness that sent a shiver down her spine. She stammered, "I… I shouldn't be here, Mr. Lu. I’m just an assistant."
He stalked toward her, each step deliberate, predatory. "You are more than an assistant, Xia," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You are the reason I'm still here, the reason that I'm breathing."
Before Xia could retort, he noticed her pale skin. Frowning he grabs her wrist feeling her pulse. His eyes darken as he stares into her soul.
"You're ill," he stated, not questioned.
Xia tried to brush it off. "Just a little tired, Mr. Lu. The gala was long…"
He didn't believe her for a second. "The gala was hours ago, and your hand is ice cold. Assistant Qin!"
Assistant Qin materialized with impossible speed. "Yes, Mr. Lu?"
"Cancel my meeting with the board. Tell them… tell them I have a family emergency. And call Dr. Li. Now!" He barked, his gaze never leaving Xia. The assistant bowed quickly and disappeared.