Chapter 5: What Was Taken From Us
The address she sent led him to the rooftop of an unfinished high-rise near the edge of the city. Cold wind whipped across the steel beams, and the sound of the city pulsed far below like a distant heartbeat. She stood near the edge, arms crossed, hair tangled from the wind. "You came," she said. "Of course I did," he replied. She turned to face him, eyes red but dry. "I thought I'd never see you again after this morning." "I thought I lost you. Again." She gave a hollow laugh. "Seems like that's all we ever do. Lose and find each other. Over and over." He stepped closer. "This time, I'm not letting go." "You might not have a choice. My father gave me one—marry someone else, or lose everything." "And you'd really marry a stranger just to keep a company?" "It's not about the company. It's about control. He needs to prove he still has power over me." "Then prove he doesn't." Her lips parted, but no words came. He reached for her hand. "Come with me." "Where?" "Anywhere that's not his world." She looked down at their fingers. "You say that like it's easy." "It's not. But I'll fight for you. Even if it's the last thing I do." Her eyes met his, full of something she'd tried to bury—hope. And fear. "There's an event tomorrow night. My father will announce the engagement." He tensed. "With who?" "His business partner's son. You'll see him." "I'm coming." "Wei Jie—" "Let him see me. Let them all see. I'm not hiding anymore.
The ballroom shimmered with wealth. Crystal chandeliers lit up marble floors and tall ceilings, and every guest wore suits that cost more than Wei Jie's entire month's rent. Xuan Qi stood at the center of it all, flawless in a silk silver gown. Her hair was curled, her expression unreadable. She was the perfect heiress. The perfect puppet. Her father stood beside her, smiling as he spoke to reporters and shaking hands with executives. Near the back of the room stood a man in a dark green suit—tall, clean-cut, charming smile and dead eyes. Li Yifeng, heir to an international tech conglomerate. Her soon-to-be fiancé. He raised his glass to her across the room. She didn't return the gesture. Instead, she glanced toward the entrance. He wasn't here. Yet. Her heart beat louder than the music
And then—
He walked in.
No suit. No invitation. Just a dark jacket and storm in his eyes.
People turned. Whispers started.
Xuan Ming's expression froze. Li Yifeng narrowed his eyes.
And Xuan Qi—she smiled.
Wei Jie walked toward her slowly, every step heavy with meaning.
A security guard moved, but Xuan Ming raised a hand. "Let's see how far he dares go."
Wei Jie stopped in front of her.
"You look beautiful," he said.
She exhaled shakily. "You're late."
"I wanted to make an entrance."
Silence fell across the room like a blade.
Xuan Ming stepped forward. "Mr. Wei. You weren't invited."
"I didn't need one."
Li Yifeng joined them, voice smooth. "Xuan Qi and I were just about to make an announcement."
Wei Jie turned to him. "I know who you are."
"Do you know who she is?" Yifeng asked, eyes cold. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like she belongs here. With people who can give her something more than empty promises."
Wei Jie didn't blink. "She doesn't belong to anyone."
Xuan Qi stepped between them, voice quiet but firm. "Enough."
They both looked at her.
She turned to her father. "If you make this announcement, I walk."
Xuan Ming's jaw clenched. "You're being irrational."
"I'm being honest. For once."
"Then be honest with him," Li Yifeng said. "Tell him the truth. Tell him what you told me."
WeiJie's eyes darkened. "What truth?"
Everyone waited.
Xuan Qi looked down, voice tight. "I told him… I don't know if I can love you the way I used to."
Wei Jie flinched.
"But," she added, lifting her eyes to meet his, "I know I can't love anyone else."
The room broke into hushed murmurs.
Xuan Ming's face turned to stone. "You have no idea what you're doing."
"Yes I do." Her voice didn't waver. "For the first time, I do."
She reached for Wei Jie's hand.
He took it.
And the flash of cameras exploded around them.
That night, their photo hit the top trending topics.
#HeiressReunion
#XuanQiAndMysteryMan
#RebelDaughterOrRomanticFool
Blogs speculated. News anchors theorized. Strangers took sides.
Inside a tiny apartment far from the glitz, they sat on the couch, scrolling through the chaos.
"I think your father's going to kill me," Wei Jie said.
"I think mine's going to kill me first."
They laughed, the tension finally cracking.
Then her phone rang again.
This time, it wasn't her father.
It was a private number.
She answered cautiously.
A distorted voice spoke on the other end.
"If you want to keep him safe, walk away again. You have three days."
The line went dead.