CHAPTER 125: CRACKS IN HER HEART

The silence in the room stretched until it became unbearable. Xu Fang’s chest rose and fell quickly, her face turned away, but no matter how she tried to compose herself, the tremor in her breathing betrayed her.

Li Tian didn’t press further immediately. Instead, he leaned back into his chair with that careless posture of his, one leg crossed over the other, as though he had all the time in the world. His gaze, however, never left her. His eyes were sharp and relentless, like blades peeling away layers of her defenses one by one.

The more he looked at her, the more Xu Fang’s composure faltered. The usually poised stepmother—renowned in the household for her beauty, her grace, her ability to stay calm under scrutiny—was now fidgeting with the sleeve of her robe like a nervous young maiden.

Finally, she whispered, "You shouldn’t toy with me like this, Li Tian. It’s... dangerous for both of us."

Li Tian chuckled softly, his lips curving upward. "Dangerous?" His voice was smooth, teasing, but it carried a weight that made her heart skip. "Life is full of danger, Xu Fang. But doesn’t that make it more exciting?"

Her hands clenched tighter, her nails digging into her palms. She turned toward him suddenly, her eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and something far more vulnerable. "You don’t understand. If anyone were to hear us—if anyone even suspected—do you realize what kind of storm it would bring upon us both?"

Li Tian tilted his head, feigning thoughtfulness. Then, leaning forward slightly, he let his voice drop into that low, velvety tone that had already begun to unravel her. "Perhaps. But tell me, Xu Fang—why are you so afraid? Is it truly the fear of others... or the fear of yourself?"

Her lips parted, but no words came out. The question pierced straight through her heart, leaving her unable to breathe. Her carefully built mask shattered in that instant, and her trembling fingers gripped the table between them for support.

Li Tian’s gaze softened slightly, though his smirk remained. "You already know the answer, don’t you?"

Her eyes lowered, and for the first time, her voice came out in a fragile whisper, heavy with suppressed longing. "You... remind me too much of him..."

Li Tian’s brow arched slightly. Him? But he didn’t press for details. The system’s quest rang once more in his mind, reminding him that her heart was opening, that she was moments away from fully baring herself.

[Progress: 78%]

He leaned closer again, this time slow, deliberate, until the distance between them was a mere breath. Her fragrance enveloped him, her warmth brushing against his skin. Xu Fang froze, caught between retreating and surrendering, her heart pounding so loudly she could swear he could hear it.

"Then stop running," Li Tian whispered, his words laced with dangerous tenderness. "If I remind you of someone... then let me replace him. Let me be the one who fills that emptiness you’ve been hiding all along."

Xu Fang’s eyes widened, her breath catching. For a moment, she looked ready to push him away, to deny everything. But then her lips trembled, her eyes softened, and in the smallest, most vulnerable voice, she admitted:

"You... are too cruel."

Li Tian’s smirk deepened. "Perhaps. But you like it, don’t you?"

Her silence was the only answer he needed.

[Quest Progress: 91%]