The headlines screamed across every digital screen: “Ice King Dumps Deal for Damsel!” and “Lu Group in Chaos After CEO’s Hospital Dash!” Xia, oblivious to the media frenzy, lay in the sterile hospital bed, drifting in and out of consciousness.
The acrid smell of antiseptic stung her nostrils, a stark contrast to the lingering sandalwood on her borrowed scarf.
She remembered the blur of flashing lights, Zhenting's impossibly strong arms lifting her as if she weighed nothing, the frantic drive through the city…and then, darkness.
A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Assistant Qin entered, his face etched with a rare mix of concern and exhaustion.
“Lin Xia, the CEO requests your presence at his earliest convenience.” He delivered the message with a stilted formality, as if trying to maintain composure in the face of…what, exactly?
Xia felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The 'convenience' of the CEO was a summons one didn't refuse, no matter how weak one felt. With a sigh, she prepared to face whatever storm awaited her.
Back at the Lu Group tower, the air crackled with tension. Belle paced in the executive lounge, her French perfume a suffocating cloud of artificial sweetness that clashed horribly with the minimalist décor.
“That little tramp!” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. “Ruining everything! Stealing what’s mine!”
Madam Lin, ever the puppet master, patted Belle’s arm with a saccharine smile. “Patience, my dear. We have laid the groundwork. Lu Zhenting values bloodlines and legacy. A scandal with a lowly assistant will never be tolerated by his mother.”
Belle’s manicured nails drummed against the polished table. “But he rushed her to the hospital! He stopped a merger worth billions! He's never done anything like this for me before!”
“He is intrigued, perhaps. But infatuation is fleeting. Blood is forever. Now, is everything ready?”, Madam Lin inquired, trying to steer Belle away from her increasing frustration.
Belle smirked. “The doctor has confirmed the results. Impeccable. Undeniable. The Lu heir is on the way.”
Madam Lin nodded, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “Then let us proceed. The stage is set. It's time to trap the Ice King.
Meanwhile, in Zhenting's private office, Xia stood before his imposing mahogany desk, feeling as fragile as spun glass. The scent of sandalwood and rain filled the air, both comforting and suffocating.
Zhenting sat in his leather chair, his expression unreadable. He held a single sheet of paper between his fingers—a medical report, its contents radiating like a silent bomb.
“Lin Xia,” he said, his voice low and dangerously smooth. “Are you aware of Miss Lin’s…condition?”
Xia’s breath caught in her throat. She had known this moment was coming, dreaded it, prepared for it, yet nothing could have braced her for the reality of it.
She lowered her gaze, focusing on the intricate patterns in the Persian rug beneath her feet. The lie was a shield, a desperate attempt to protect her heart, her children, her sanity.
“I… I was unaware, Mr. Lu.” The words tasted like ash in her mouth. Each syllable was a betrayal of the truth hidden inside her womb.
Zhenting’s eyes narrowed, piercing through her carefully constructed façade. “Indeed? A most remarkable coincidence, wouldn’t you say?”
He stood abruptly, rounding the desk with a predatory grace that sent a shiver down her spine. He stopped inches away, his gaze intense, unwavering.