The question make Yueyao surprised, she stare at him with a large question mark in her eyes. "I thought we know each other, aren't we?"
Wulfric eyes widen with her sudden recognition, he eyeing her, she look like an animal trying to realise her owner. His lips curving up, then he starts again. " If you think like that, did we? And when did we met?"
Yueyao just tilting her head, her arms crossing. " I have no clue who are you, are even did we know each others in the past or not. But…." She rubbing her temple.
Yueyao fudging her thumbs together "You look very handsome…" - she bluntly.
An awkward silence hung in the room. It's a face when she say that.
"He's impossible to ignore—long black hair that falls like silk, skin kissed by the sun, muscles that promise strength, and eyes that burn gold. Dangerous, yes, but unbearably handsome."
Yueyao's eyes widened as she stared at him, and before she could think of a graceful escape, she limped toward the bed, careful not to aggravate her injured leg. With a soft thump, her face landed on the pillow.
What did I just say? Am I—no, definitely not…oh no, yes?! I'm such an idiot!
The scrape of a chair made her flinch. In the blink of an eye, Wulfric was there, his body hovering over hers, a sly grin playing at his lips. He leaned close, his voice low and teasing.
"That's the most beautiful thing I've heard in ten years. Say it again."
Yueyao felt his quickened breath and the heat radiating from his body. She shifted, suddenly aware of her torn dress. Nervous laughter escaped her.
"Oh! I… I should probably—uh, change into something…less…risky. Thanks for reminding me, really. I'll—"
Before she could finish, he grabbed her ankle, tugging her back onto the bed. A startled yelp escaped her.
His hand brushed her thigh. She froze, feeling a mix of dread and something else she didn't want to admit. His gaze was intense, almost…hungry.
This man has officially lost his mind, she thought.
"Are you…insane?!" she finally managed, pushing at him. "Stop! I—if you don't stop, I'll—call the guards!"
He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "You're driving me crazy. That sound you make…always has." His words brushed her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
Yueyao's mind raced. Why is this…weirdly thrilling?
"I've wanted you since the day I saw you," he murmured. "Like a kid seeing a new toy. Can't sleep or fuck any woman properly when in my head is just you.., can't…think of anyone else. Shit, You're…impossible."
The intensity was too much. With one last burst of control, she slapped him across the face.
"Damn it!" he swore, reddening—not with anger, but something else entirely. Slowly, he sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair.
Yueyao's hand hesitated before touching his shoulder. "Hey…are you okay? I didn't mean…uh…sorry, I just—"
A mischievous grin spread across his face, wolfish and infuriating at the same time. He laughed, shaking his head. "Don't worry. If you've never experienced that before, it's…my job to teach you. Today, or maybe next time." He pinched her nose playfully, and Yueyao blinked, completely thrown off.
He's…weird, she thought, but a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself.
Wulfric stood and moved to the chair, settling in with a serious expression. "About your family…" He paused, lifting a cup of tea toward her. "Drink this first. Then I'll tell you everything."
She hesitated in first "I can smell some herbal in there, is non-toxic but might helping with stress". She slowly pick it up and smell, the give it a taste.
Her tongue touching the bitter of first taste, she frowning but he already push it more into her mouth.
"Drink it all, snowflake" He keep pouring it into her throat until she try to push his hand away. "S-stoop…I can't….cant breath"
She coughing violently "What the fuck are you thinking?". A weird sensation holding her, her muscle heavy, her eyes like it want to shut down.
"My fingers, why I can't feel it?" She mumbling. His smile grew wider and almost he grinning now. "Well, about you family and home…-".
"Lady Xiaoting has been slaughtered brutally, we found her nearby the main door". He sipping his own tea then continuing. "In general, everyone died, especially your home - it already burned down."
The words hit her like a blade through the chest. At first, she didn't even understand—her ears rang, her mind refused to process it. Momma…gone? The house…burned? Everyone… The room seemed to tilt, colors draining to gray.
"Huh ?"
Her throat closed up, no sound coming out except a strangled gasp. The air felt too thin to breathe. She staggered backward, clutching at the wall as if it might hold her together. Her fingers were numb, yet trembling violently.
A hollow, aching pressure swelled in her chest until it broke into a wail she couldn't control. The grief came in waves—first disbelief, then denial, then a raw scream tearing from her lungs.
"He lie, everything he said just to let him touch me, he controlling me -...….but..why is painful like this."
Tears blurred her vision, streaming hot and relentless. She sank to her knees, her whole body shaking. She felt utterly, terrifyingly alone—like the earth itself had been ripped out from under her feet.
"Why wasn't I there? Why them and not me?"
She lung towards him. Hands clutching his collar with a desperate force. "It's not true…-"
Then he drew back slightly, his eyes darkening—not with anger at her faintness, but with a cold, unbearable truth. He cupped her face gently, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Yueyao" His voice was low, almost breaking, yet resolute. "I need you to hear this… the one who did this… it was you."
A cold, crushing weight settled on her chest, squeezing every ounce of air from her lungs. Her mind refused to believe the words, yet they clawed at her with relentless clarity:" I… did this. I caused it"
Her heart pounded so violently it felt as though it might burst from her ribcage. Waves of nausea and fear hit her in turn—shame, guilt, horror, and sorrow blending into a dizzying storm.
Everything familiar—the safety of her home, the love of her family, even the warmth of life itself—had been ripped away by her own hands. The images start to haunting her. The necklace with strands of hairs, dead bodies, her hands with blood.
"You will take the responsibility from now on." A faint whisper echoed in her ears.
Her knees gave way, vision blurring into gray. A wave of nausea and terror hit her, and her breath caught in her throat. She reached for something—anything—but found nothing. Darkness closed in, and she collapsed, caught just in time by his arms.
He look at her sweat - drenched face, pale like ghost. A sudden twist in his stomach, is uneasy for him to decide this. He slowly press a kiss in her forehead.
"Shhhh..when you wake up, you will forget every pain that I caused you.."
He slowly stand up, holding tightly, he press a kiss on her hair and on her nose, then leaving the room.
He walking pass the cells, Maleya staring from her cells "Poor girl, she will experience such a tragic life if still chose to stay with him"
"Good luck, little girl"