CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66; HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?

For a fleeting second, he felt the overwhelming urge to go back to her room, to gather her in his arms and beg her to stop fighting him, to just let him take care of her in this twisted way he knew how.

But he crushed the thought ruthlessly, his eyes hardening into cold obsidian steel once more.

"No. She has to understand. She has to accept it. She’s mine... whether she wants it or not. I didn’t force her to marry me... she chose this."

Outside, the golden rays of morning climbed higher, illuminating the world in calm, peaceful light.

But inside the guest room, Shen Xiao sat unmoving in the shadows, suffocated by a grief buried beneath layers of power, control, and a love so warped it felt more like a curse than salvation.

His gaze remained fixed on the muted carpet beneath his polished shoes, unmoving, unseeing.

The door handle turned softly, indicating that someone was coming in, but he didn’t move or turn his head to see who it was.

Bai Zhi stepped into the room, her cream silk dress hugging her slender frame, hair swept up into a sleek chignon adorned with pearl pins. The warm morning light from the corridor haloed her delicate silhouette as she closed the door behind her quietly.

"Ah Xiao," she murmured softly, her voice dripping with gentle concern as she walked toward him, the soft rustle of silk accompanying each step she made, she looked gentle and sweet compared to Yueyao. "You didn’t go back to bed last night?"

He didn’t lift his gaze. His dark eyes remained shadowed beneath heavy brows as he stared at the floor with a stony, unreadable expression.

Bai Zhi stopped a few steps away, tilting her head slightly, her large almond-shaped eyes gleaming with worry.

"You didn’t sleep, did you...?" she whispered, her words tender as she reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead with her slender fingers.

His eyes flicked up then, dark and cold as they pinned her in place. For a brief moment, the raw emptiness behind his gaze made her stomach twist painfully. This was the man she had loved, and the man loved her dearly. Why was he giving her this look?

They were meant to be a perfect couple if it weren’t for Yueyao’s interference.

"Stop it," he said flatly, his voice low and toneless, but still it had a hidden hint of warmth.

Her hand paused against his hair, fingers trembling faintly before she pulled back with a hurt, she had a delicate sigh before taking a step back.

"I’m only worried about you," she whispered, looking down at him with glistening eyes that were almost spilling tears, "You are pushing yourself so hard... staying up all night dealing with her madness... ignoring Xuan’er... ignoring me... didn’t you think it’s too much?"

Bai Zhi was suddenly developing fear seeing how Shen Xiao was acting, didn’t he plan on getting back with her and having a legitimate relationship? Why was he declining her request for a divorce?

At the mention of his son, something flickered in his eyes, a shadow of frustration mixed with weary anger.

"Don’t bring him into this," he said sharply, his brows knitting as he sat up straighter, his large frame casting a dark shadow across the pristine white bed. "What have you been telling him? Mnnh? Why would his mother cast him away?"

Bai Zhi blinked, her long lashes fluttering softly as confusion clouded her delicate features looking all innocent and naive of what Shen Xiao was insinuating about.