Celia's clear, luminous eyes locked on his striking face."Sleep with you."
For a moment, silence crushed the air.Nathaniel Fu's gaze darkened instantly, a dangerous storm brewing in his eyes. His chest rose and fell heavily, as if he were holding back something feral. At that moment, he almost wanted to strangle her—to punish her for daring to provoke him like this.
Celia's slender body stiffened, and she twisted to free herself. "Mr. Fu, let me go. I'm leaving."
"Leaving?" Nathaniel's voice was low, harsh. "Then why were you there earlier? Why didn't you stay away from me? Why did you appear at the fashion design competition? Why did you show up when I was at my lowest? You know how I feel about you, Celia. If you never wanted me to succeed, then you should've just avoided me altogether!"
His accusations fell like thunder.
Her lips trembled. She wanted to hide, wanted to disappear. But the truth was inescapable—her life, her secrets, her very existence, were bound to him. No matter how far she ran, fate kept dragging her back.
It was a mess she could never untangle.
Suddenly, his arms tightened like iron around her waist, crushing her against him. His breath was hot and ragged against her ear."Celia, you ran into me yourself. Don't blame me for being ruthless now."
And before she could protest again, his lips seized hers.
His kiss was fierce, hungry, a mixture of anger and longing. Hadn't she leaned toward him at the table earlier, tempting him with the thought of a kiss? Fine. He would give her one—no, he would take one.
His lips pressed harder, demanding, punishing, yet betraying the desperate craving he had buried deep inside. For so long, he had wanted nothing more than to drag her into his arms, to claim her as his.
Celia's body shook as she fought against him, but his grip was unyielding. She could feel the heat of him everywhere, the tremor in his chest, the battle raging inside him—desire, fury, and something darker that terrified her.
Meanwhile, Yara Lu had just received word her plan had worked. Excitement surged through her, and she rushed back to the underground bar in search of Nathaniel Fu.
It had been her all along—bribing the waiters, slipping the drug into his drink. Tonight, she would make it irreversible. Tonight, she would finally become his woman.
But the sight that greeted her froze the blood in her veins.
Nathaniel was already sober.
The man lounged lazily in the booth, though his bloodshot eyes gleamed with a chilling fury. Two waiters knelt on the floor before him, pinned down by black-clad bodyguards. Their bodies shook like leaves in a storm.
The moment they saw Yara, they cried out in desperation:"Miss Lu, save us! You ordered us to drug him—we were only following your instructions!"
Yara's heart plummeted. She hadn't expected Nathaniel to recover so fast, nor to move with such ruthless precision. He had captured everyone before she even arrived.
Her plan had collapsed before it even began.
"Nathaniel, wait—let me explain." She hurried forward, reaching for him, her fingers trembling.
But Nathaniel brushed her hand aside, his expression colder than steel.
Her hand hung uselessly in the air. Slowly, he turned his face toward her. His narrow, crimson-tinged eyes locked onto her like blades. His voice was low and hoarse, but every word struck like a hammer."Yara Lu, we've known each other for years. You should know my limits. How dare you use such vile tricks against me?"
Fear curled in her gut. This was not the Nathaniel she had once thought she could control. This was the man who now stood at the pinnacle of power, whose word alone could decide life or death. How could she have imagined he would tolerate being toyed with?
"Nathaniel, do you even know why I had to do this?" Her voice cracked, almost hysterical. "When have I—Yara Lu, the eldest daughter of the Lu family—ever resorted to such shameful methods? It's because of you! Because you've been so cold to me!"
She took a trembling step forward, her eyes wild."It would be one thing if you treated all women this way, but you don't. You have a mistress in Yecheng! And what kind of mistress is she? She's just a—"
The last word choked in her throat.
Nathaniel's eyes narrowed, sharp as a blade, his glare freezing her where she stood. The warning in his gaze was unmistakable—one more insult, and she would pay dearly.
Her breath caught. She had never seen him look at her like this. Just because she had insulted that woman. That nameless mistress he guarded so fiercely.
Once, she had been able to ignore it. But now? Now she couldn't. Now she was consumed, maddened, devoured by jealousy until it made her insane.
"I won't allow this to happen again. Get out!" Nathaniel's voice cut through the room like ice.