Sunlight filtered softly through the stained glass windows of the chapel, casting a golden glow over the sea of roses inside. At the center stood a bride and groom.
Lam Vy, draped in a pristine white wedding gown, looked radiant in the solemn air of the ceremony. Her lips curved with a gentle smile, the fitted dress hugging her figure and highlighting her graceful beauty. Her skin glowed like polished ivory, enough to make any man lose his breath.
A strong, masculine hand clasped her delicate one. Lam Vy lifted her innocent gaze to its owner—Tuyên Vinh, her soon-to-be husband. At his sight, her cheeks flushed faintly pink.
Tall and strikingly handsome, Tuyên Vinh found himself utterly disarmed by her charm. Tenderness softened his dark eyes as he leaned down to press a gentle kiss to her cheek. With blessings from family and friends, the two slowly walked toward the priest.
Among the guests, Mrs. Chúc Anh—Lam Vy's mother—could no longer hold back her tears. Her daughter had finally found happiness, and joy spilled down her cheeks.
The priest's voice rang solemnly in the hushed chapel:"Mr. Tuyên Vinh, do you take Miss Lam Vy to be your wife, following the teachings of the Holy Scripture, to live together in holy matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and protect her, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, staying faithful to her until the end of your days?"
Tuyên Vinh looked at Lam Vy, his lips curving in a smile of pure contentment. His eyes brimmed with warmth as he answered firmly, "I do."
Tears welled in Lam Vy's eyes, her heart racing yet anchored at last, as though she had found the harbor she had always searched for.
The priest then turned to her:"Miss Lam Vy, do you take Mr. Tuyên Vinh to be your husband, following the teachings of the Holy Scripture, to live together in holy matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and protect him, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, staying faithful to him until the end of your days?"
Lam Vy had rehearsed this vow countless times, yet as the words reached her ears, her cold heart trembled faintly. Drawing in a deep breath, she lifted her gaze to Tuyên Vinh, her voice steady with emotion.
"I…"
"She does not."
The chilling interruption cut through the air like a blade.
Lam Vy froze. That voice—familiar, dark, laced with a dangerous allure—stabbed straight into her heart. Slowly, almost unwillingly, she turned. And there he was.
Lăng Nam.
The man she could never forget.
Tuyên Vinh's expression hardened instantly, brows knitting together. His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw the uninvited intruder storm into his wedding.
Dressed in a tailored black shirt and trousers that only emphasized his tall, powerful frame, Lăng Nam exuded an untamed arrogance. Where Tuyên Vinh was gentle, like a spring breeze, Lăng Nam was cold fire—dangerously magnetic, a man whose very presence could make others tremble.
Seeing Lam Vy's face drain of color, Tuyên Vinh strode forward and blocked Lăng Nam's path."Mr. Lăng, this is my wedding with Vy. I hope you'll show some respect."
Her parents—Mr. Kỳ Tân and Mrs. Chúc Anh—rose to their feet in shock at the sight of him standing there.
Lăng Nam gave a cold laugh, his eyes glinting like a king surveying pawns on a board. He ignored Tuyên Vinh entirely and fixed his gaze on Lam Vy. His deep, commanding voice filled the chapel:"Vy, come here."
"No…" Lam Vy shook her head in panic, retreating a few steps as though she had seen a devil. "Mr. Lăng, there's nothing between us. Leave now!"
"Nothing between us?" His lips curved into a dangerous smile. With a single movement, he shoved aside Tuyên Vinh's restraining arm and strode straight toward her. His hand clamped onto her delicate chin, forcing her to look at him. Leaning close, he whispered with a cruel smirk, "Shall I tell your parents and your future husband just how you pleased me in bed?"
"Lăng Nam, that's enough!" Tuyên Vinh rushed forward, desperate to shield Lam Vy.
But Lăng Nam's reply was colder than ice:"Do you want Uy Phong to be crushed into ruin?"
Tuyên Vinh staggered, his body trembling as though struck. He could taste the ruthlessness dripping from Lăng Nam's tone. The truth was undeniable—he couldn't stand against the Lăng Group. Lăng Nam wasn't just a titan of international business; with one flick of his hand, he could cripple Uy Phong beyond recovery.
Lam Vy's heart sank, her body shivering as though she had fallen into an endless pit of ice.
Lăng Nam gave a derisive laugh and slowly extended his left hand, palm open, the deep lines etched across it stark in the dim light."Vy… come with me."
His voice was low, commanding, and dangerously intoxicating—drawing her heart into chaos.
"Why? Why won't you let me go?" Lam Vy's voice trembled with exhaustion, each breath growing heavier, suffocating her until she thought she might collapse.
"It's simple." Lăng Nam's tone was sharp, each word cut like steel. "Just like the vow you once swore before God—unless I die, you will remain faithful to me alone, for the rest of your life."
Lam Vy drew a sharp breath. The moment her eyes flickered to Tuyên Vinh's face, she knew. She already knew her fate. He would choose his career over her. He would abandon her, and she… she would never escape the man standing before her.
The tenderness in her gaze vanished, swallowed by emptiness and despair. Her eyes, beautiful as a flowing stream, darted once toward her parents and friends seated below. Then she let Lăng Nam take her frozen hand in his unyielding grip.
"This life, this lifetime—you belong only to me," he murmured, leaning close, his breath brushing her hair, his deep voice curling into her ear like a vow from hell itself.
In the heart of the city's most prosperous district rose a towering skyscraper—headquarters of the Lăng Group. A hundred stories of steel and glass pierced the clouds, flaunting its wealth and dominance. Under the sun, it gleamed coldly, refracting light like a blade.
The Lăng Group was one of the world's top ten international financial conglomerates. Alongside Hoàng Phủ, Lĩnh Thị, and Cung Thị, it was hailed as one of the "Four Great Empires." Its subsidiaries spanned across continents, with investments in over a dozen industries—finance, luxury hotels, fashion, media, and more.
Inside the CEO's vast office, the chill of the air conditioning paled in comparison to the frost radiating from Lăng Nam himself. His presence was enough to make anyone shiver with just a glance.
A secretary lingered at the door, trembling, a tray with coffee for both the CEO and Vice President in her hands. But after hearing his furious roar moments ago—loud enough to shake the skyscraper's walls—she hesitated, terrified she might become collateral damage.
Across from him, Lăng Nghi sat with a grim expression, his handsome face darkened with anger. He slammed his hands against the desk.
"Brother, what are you doing? Lam Vy has nothing to do with you! Why did you ruin her wedding? Let her go!"
Bang!
The desk shook under Lăng Nam's palm as he surged to his feet, his towering frame blotting out the sunlight streaming through the window. His furious eyes locked onto his half-brother, rage burning like smoke.
"You've got some nerve—lying to me with Lam Vy. Two whole years of deception…"
"Everyone who was there that day saw what happened!" Lăng Nghi shot back, unyielding. "Why do you keep tormenting her? You nearly killed her!"
"So she ran to you for help," Lăng Nam sneered, his voice a low growl. "And you faked her death to deceive me, didn't you?"
"Yes," Lăng Nghi admitted without shame, his voice steady. "Because if I hadn't, she would have died for real!"
"Pathetic," Lăng Nam spat, his teeth clenched. "Childish. Naïve."
"At least before she met you, she could still smile," Lăng Nghi retorted, rising to his feet to meet his brother's glare.
In an instant, Lăng Nam grabbed his collar, hauling him close. His voice dripped with arrogance.
"Do you really think either of us would ever let her go?"
Lăng Nghi's eyes widened in horror. "What do you intend to do to her?"
"She was born mine. Even in death, she will remain mine."
With that, Lăng Nam shoved him aside, a cold smile curving his lips as he sank back into the CEO's chair. One long leg crossed over the other, his tone leisurely yet merciless.
"Any man who dares touch Lam Vy… will have to wait for the next life."
A bitter laugh escaped Lăng Nghi. "So you'd rather see her die again just to satisfy your obsession?"
Lăng Nam's icy gaze sliced through the air. "Even if she chooses death, I will snatch her back from the hands of the Reaper himself."
Lăng Nghi inhaled sharply, his voice steeled with resolve. "If you keep hurting her, I won't forgive you. Not this time."
A dangerous chill flickered in Lăng Nam's eyes. "Don't test my patience. Brother or not, if you cross me, I won't spare you."
The office fell into a suffocating silence, thick with frost.
Outside the door, the secretary's hands shook, cold sweat beading on her brow.
Lam Vy? But… hadn't she died two years ago?
Thanh Viên Estate, the Lăng family's private residence, sat at the heart of the city's most exclusive villa district.
After being forcefully dragged back by Lăng Nam, Lam Vy stood in a daze, her eyes wandering over the garden filled with crimson spider lilies. Their petals were still wet with dew, glistening under the noon light. This was once the most elegant corner of Thanh Viên. Long ago, she had even given it a name of her own—My An.
"Madam…" The butler, Phùng, addressed her cautiously, his voice trembling. When she had seen the eldest young master storm in with Lam Vy, her heart nearly stopped. Wasn't Madam supposed to have died? Had her eyes deceived her?
It was midday, when Thanh Viên revealed its quiet grace most fully. A soft breeze rustled through the garden, brushing against the blossoms, carrying their faint fragrance through the air.
Lam Vy stood silently among the flowers, her slender figure framed by the blood-red blooms. The sight was breathtaking—and unbearably sorrowful. The spider lily was said to bloom along the border between life and death. Its scarlet petals carpeted the road to the underworld, beautiful in life, silent in death.
She let her fingers trail gently across the blossoms, their fragile touch stirring emotions long buried in the depths of her heart. Just as the legend claimed, their fragrance awakened the most painful of memories.
Her mind began to drift, pulled into the tide of recollection, carried back two years—to the days when she still lived with Lăng Nam. Back then, the garden had been full of lush green leaves beneath the flowers. But eventually, even the leaves had withered and fallen, just as her marriage to Lăng Nam had crumbled into decay.