CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27; PLEASE OPEN...

Summoning every last shred of strength left in her battered bones, she staggered towards the half-open door, gripping the brass handle with trembling, blood-stained fingers.

For one terrifying moment, it wouldn’t budge. Her pulse skyrocketed into a deafening roar in her ears as panic clawed up her throat.

’Please... please open... please...’

She pushed again, harder this time, her entire body weight slamming into the door.

It creaked open with a reluctant groan.

She slipped out into the smoky hallway, her bare feet slapping against the cold tiles.

Neon lights flickered overhead, staining her vision with harsh pinks and purples as she stumbled past curtained rooms.

Muffled moans and drunken laughter leaked from behind each velvet drape, each sound slicing deeper into her sanity.

Her chest heaved with ragged gasps, every breath scraping her raw throat like shards of glass.

Her heart thundered so hard it felt like it would burst out of her bruised ribs. Tears blinded her as she ran, arms wrapped around her trembling body in a futile attempt to cover her exposed skin.

Her hair, still matted with dried blood, stuck to her tear-drenched cheeks.

A narrow stairwell appeared at the end of the corridor, lit only by a flickering EXIT sign.

She bolted towards it, her vision tunnelling as adrenaline surged through her battered body.

Each step up the metal staircase sent knives of pain slicing through her joints, but she kept going, sobbing with every gasping breath.

She didn’t know how long she had climbed before bursting through a rusty metal door at the top. Blinding golden lights exploded in her eyes and for a brief second, she froze in confusion.

She was standing in a silent marble corridor lined with crystal chandeliers and gilded mirrors.

Plush red carpets ran down the centre, muffling her ragged breaths. Golden calligraphy signs lined the walls: VIP PRIVATE DINING SUITES.

The contrast struck her like a physical blow. Just metres below her, she had been a whore about to be used and discarded. Up here, the world was elegant, luxurious, and filled with power she could never touch.

Her knees buckled, but she forced herself to stagger forward, her bloodied footprints smearing red onto the pristine carpet.

Voices floated from a large open dining hall ahead. Soft laughter. The clinking of wine glasses. A piano playing gentle, romantic jazz.

She stumbled into the grand dining room, blinking under the blinding chandeliers.

Right there, at a round table draped in pure white linen, sat Shen Xiao.

He wore an obsidian suit, his broad shoulders sharp and imposing beneath the tailored fabric.

His sculpted fingers swirled a glass of ruby wine as he listened to Bai Zhi speak beside him.

Bai Zhi. Her makeup was flawless, her deep blue evening gown hugging her curves with perfect elegance.

She laughed softly, feeding a small piece of abalone to Shen Xuan, who sat between them, giggling happily.

It was a picture of a perfect family. Golden lights bathed them in a gentle halo, making Yueyao’s heart crack wide open.

Her lips trembled as she reached out a shaking, bloodied hand towards them.

"Shen... Xiao..." she croaked, her voice barely audible over the piano music and murmuring diners.