Xia's heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silk of the expensive dress she still felt didn’t truly belong to her. The sea air whipped around the private jet as it touched down in a secluded cove, the air thick with the scent of salt and the distant promise of rain. Her stomach churned, not just from the turbulence but from the sheer audacity of this… business trip. A business trip to paradise, with a man she was desperately trying not to fall in love with.
Zhenting's presence was a force field around her. He moved with a quiet authority, barking clipped orders into his phone as they were whisked away in a chauffeured limousine. The villa was breathtaking—a sprawling complex of white stone and glass overlooking the turquoise ocean. Every detail was curated, luxurious, and designed to… what? Impress her? Seduce her? The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
"Make yourself at home, Lin Xia," Zhenting said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through her very bones. "Consider this a well-deserved break. I trust you'll be comfortable here."
Comfortable? She was anything but. The opulence of the villa only amplified her anxieties. Every silk pillow, every piece of priceless art felt like a spotlight on her own unworthiness. How could she ever belong in a world like this? How could she ever be worthy of Zhenting, a man who commanded such wealth and power?
The days that followed were a blur of sun-drenched lunches by the infinity pool, private beaches where the sand was as soft as powdered sugar, and evenings spent on the terrace, the stars like diamonds scattered across a velvet sky. Zhenting treated her not as an assistant but as a… guest of honor. He inquired about her preferences, ensured she had everything she needed, and even seemed to… anticipate her unspoken desires.
One evening, as they dined al fresco, the air heavy with the fragrance of plumeria and jasmine, Zhenting broached the subject she had been dreading. "I've assigned resources to investigate the Hyatt security footage," he said, his gaze unwavering. "I want to know the truth about that night."
Xia's breath caught in her throat. The truth. It was a dangerous thing, a double-edged sword that could either set her free or destroy her completely. She knew she should confess, tell him everything, but fear held her captive. Fear of rejection, fear of losing her job, fear of shattering the fragile illusion they had created.
"What truth are you hoping to find, Mr. Lu?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
He swirled the wine in his glass, the ruby liquid catching the moonlight. "The truth about who was really in Room 8808. The truth about why that night continues to haunt me."
That night. It haunted her too. It was a beautiful, terrible secret that bound them together, a secret she couldn't bear to reveal. "Perhaps some things are better left buried," she suggested, trying to sound nonchalant.
Zhenting's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe in burying the truth, Lin Xia. Especially when it involves someone who matters to me."
His words were a punch to the gut. Someone who mattered to him? Was he talking about Belle? Or… could he possibly be referring to her?