Belle felt like she was standing in sunshine. The rain was now her ally, her co-conspirator in a game where the stakes were life and death. As Xia rushed out into the storm’s fury, Belle took a deep, satisfied breath, savoring her victory.
But the victory felt incomplete. Zhenting still needed to be secured. Belle knew Zhenting would follow Xia. He would stop at nothing to make sure that woman was okay. Belle had to stop him.
Casually, she made her way to the garden pavilion, the very place where Zhenting was waiting for his muse. As she walked past, she spotted Zhenting sitting alone. The rain was pouring down. His face was unreadable. In a last-ditch effort to keep Zhenting close, Belle feigned a sudden collapse, clutching her abdomen and crying out, **"Zhenting! The baby! I think something's wrong!"
Zhenting’s head snapped up, his sandalwood scent sharpening with alarm. He rushed to her side, his face etched with a worry that Belle knew wasn't for her but for the ‘child’ she carried. He helped her up and carefully led her inside. "What is it? What's happening?"
Belle sobbed, clinging to him. "I don't know! I just felt this sharp pain. Please, Zhenting, take me somewhere private!"
His jaw tightened. He didn't believe her. Zhenting could smell her expensive French perfume, which was too strong. If she was actually hurting, she wouldn't be trying to seduce him at the same time.
He led her towards a secluded VIP suite, his movements clipped and efficient. Once inside, Belle wasted no time, pouring two glasses of water from the mini-bar. As she handed him one, she watched with predatory glee as he took a long drink. She knew the sedative she had spiked his drink with was potent, fast-acting.