Zhan's Pov.
I watch as Wang walks away, his footsteps growing smaller with each step. My chest tightens, my knees buckle, and I collapse onto the cold ground. I want to scream until my throat is raw, cry until my body is empty of grief, but all I do is sit there, lips quivering, fingers digging into my skin as if holding on to something that's already gone.
The world blurs. The weight of it all presses down on me, suffocating. My body moves on its own, carrying me to the bathroom. I strip off my clothes with trembling hands, step under the shower, and let the cold water crash against my skin.
The chill steals my breath, but I don't move. I sink to the floor, my arms wrapping around my legs, pulling them close to my chest. Droplets roll down my face, mixing with the tears I refuse to acknowledge. My teeth chatter, but I don't turn the water off. The pain inside me is deeper than this cold, heavier than the water pooling around me.
I close my eyes, letting the sound of the shower drown out the silence. But no matter how hard I try, I can still hear his voice.
I push myself up from the cold bathroom floor, water still dripping from my skin as I grab a towel and wrap it around me. My limbs feel heavy, my chest hollow, but I force my feet to move. Back in my room, the silence is deafening.
I sink onto the edge of the mattress, my fingers absently reaching for the ring on my hand. The metal is cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of the memories it holds. My mind drifts back to my last conversation with Dre.
"Are you insane?" he hissed, his eyes blazing with disbelief.
I had met his glare with quiet defiance. "I'm sane," I had answered, voice steady. "But even if I wasn't, I'd still marry him."
Dre's words cut through the air like a blade, sharp and unforgiving.
"I told you to stay the fuck away from the likes of Wang, but you went ahead and married him anyway." His voice dripped with anger, his eyes burning with something between frustration and disappointment. "What did he promise you?" he hissed.
I exhale slowly, steadying myself before meeting his gaze. "Dre," I say, my tone a quiet warning. "I love Wang, and he loves me." The words come out firm, and unwavering because they are true.
Dre scoffs, shaking his head as if I've lost my mind. "Nothing good will come out of this," he spits. "They will use you and toss you aside. That's what people like Wang do."
His words hit me harder than I expected, but I didn't let it show. Instead, I tighten my fingers around the ring on my hand, letting its presence around me. He's wrong, I tell myself. Wang isn't like that. He's different. He chose me.
Dre shakes his head, exhaling slowly. "I told you, you wouldn't come out clean. You thought I was joking."
"Wang loves me, and you're just jealous," I snap, my voice sharp, defensive.
Dre barks out a laugh, the sound cold and humorless. "Jealous?" He shakes his head again, this time in disbelief. "I enjoyed the sex. It was transactional, with no hard feelings. But I'm telling you this because you're a good guy, and you've been through a lot."
My stomach knots. Sex. Transactional. The words echo in my head, but before I can process them, Dre pulls out his phone. He taps the screen, and a video begins to play.
The moment my eyes land on it, my breath catches in my throat. My heart plummets, a sinking weight dragging me down.
No...
I can't look away. The world tilts, and my pulse pounds in my ears.
Slowly, I turn to Dre, my throat so tight I can barely swallow. The look on his face isn't mocking or cruel it's almost pitying.
At that moment, I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole.
I hate this. I hate myself. I hate everything I've been through.
I squeeze my eyes shut, but it doesn't help. The image is burned into my mind, playing over and over like a curse I can't escape.
"Send it to me." My voice is barely a whisper, my chest tightening as I force the words out.
Dre hesitates. "Are you sure, Zhan?"
"Yes." The word tastes like regret, but I don't take it back.
A moment later, my phone buzzed. I stare at the screen, my fingers trembling as I reach for it. The file sits there, waiting. Taunting.
And now, lying here with my world crashing down around me, I don't even know why I followed him home.
I didn't know how long I lay awake, staring at my phone. The screen had gone dark, but the weight of what was on it lingered, pressing down on me.
By the time I finally glanced at the clock, it was already 6 a.m. I was still expecting Wang to come. How delusional I must be.
With a deep breath, I pushed myself up, my body aching from exhaustion. I pulled on my clothes with mechanical, thoughtless movements before heading to the kitchen.
I made breakfast, though my hands felt disconnected from the rest of me. Scrambled eggs, pancakes, soft and fluffy, the way he liked them. Toast, golden and crisp. A pot of tea, steam curling into the cold morning air. I placed everything in a warmer, sealing in the heat that I couldn't seem to find in myself, and stepped out of the house.
The morning air was sharp against my skin, biting, but I ignored it.
I walked home, my legs moving on their own, my mind a haze of exhaustion and something heavier, shame, regret, maybe both.
By 7:45 a.m., I collapsed onto the couch outside, my limbs heavy, my eyes burning with unshed tears. I was too tired to move. Too ashamed to see anyone, even if they didn't know.
But I knew. And that was enough.
I curled up on the couch, pulling my knees close to my chest. The world around me moved on, cars passing in the distance, birds chirping, the faint chatter of early risers starting their day. But I felt detached from it all like I was watching from behind a glass wall.
My phone sat heavy in my pocket, the video still there. The images were already burned into my mind.
The sound of approaching footsteps made me stiffen. For a moment, my heart leaped, Wang? But when I turned my head, it was just Dre, standing a few feet away, watching me with an unreadable expression.
"You look like shit," he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.
I scoffed, staring at the sky. "Gee, thanks."
He let out a sigh, stepping closer. "Did you see him?"
I swallowed hard. "No."
Dre was quiet for a moment. Then, softer this time, "Don't see him again."
I finally looked at him, my eyes searching his face. "Why do you care?"
He hesitated. Then, with another sigh, he sat down on the edge of the couch, his posture tense. "Because I told you, you're a good guy. And I've seen what happens to people who trust men like Wang."
His words settled over me like a storm cloud, heavy and suffocating. I turned my face away, focusing on the horizon, where the sun was beginning to rise.
I had spent the whole night waiting for Wang, hoping he would show up, hoping he would prove Dre wrong.
But the truth was sinking in now, slow and agonizing.
Dre didn't give me a choice. He pulled me up from the couch, steadying me when my legs nearly gave out.
"Let's get you inside," he muttered.
I didn't resist. Maybe I was too tired, too drained to fight him. He didn't even bother knocking, he just pushed the door open like he owned the place.
The moment we stepped inside, I froze.
Grandma, Ji Li, and Mia were sitting in the living room, their faces tight with worry, their postures stiff. For a second, it felt like I had walked into a funeral.
Were they... mourning me?
"Oh my God, Zhan!" Grandma shot up from her seat the moment she saw me, rushing over and wrapping me in a tight embrace. "Are you okay? I was so worried about you."
I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing a smile as I hugged her back. "I'm okay, Grandma," I lied.
She pulled back, cupping my face, her eyes scanning me as if trying to find cracks in my words.
"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice softer this time.
She nodded, but I could see the doubt in her eyes.
"You didn't come home last night," Ji Li said, arms crossed, concern laced in her voice.
"And you weren't answering your phone," Mia added, staring at me like I might disappear again.
I let out a slow breath, running a hand through my hair. "I just... needed some air."
Dre scoffed beside me, but he didn't say anything.
Grandma sighed, pulling me into another hug, this time gentler. "You scared me, Zhan."
I swallowed hard, guilt settling in my chest.
"I'm sorry." And for once, I meant it.
Grandma pulled away slightly, but her hands remained on my arms as if she was afraid I'd disappear. Then, without turning her head, she spoke.
"Dre, please leave."
Dre tensed beside me, but he didn't argue. He cast me a look, one that said you should listen to her before nodding slightly and heading for the door. The moment it clicked shut behind him, Grandma sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Zhan," she started, her voice heavy, "someone sent this to me."
She pulled out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, then turned it toward me.
My breath caught in my throat.
It was another video.
The moment the video started playing, I felt my knees give out. The floor rose to meet me, my pulse hammering in my ears.
"Zhan!" Ji Li rushed forward, but I barely registered his
touch.
On the screen, Meng and her group were there, they were back in town. Their faces, their voices, their laughter, it was like a nightmare unraveling in front of me.
And then, there was Lusi.
Lusi, sitting among them, talking casually, laughing like nothing had ever happened. Like she hadn't once stood beside me.
My stomach twisted painfully. I felt like I was going to be sick.
"Zhan?" Grandma's voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried so much weight. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did you let yourself go through this alone?"
Tears stung my eyes, but I couldn't look at her. I couldn't look at anyone.
Because at that moment, I hated everything.
But most of all, I hated myself.
Grandma sat down heavily, her hands shaking as she placed the phone on the table. Ji Li and Mia exchanged a look, their expressions a mix of concern and disbelief.
"Meng was explaining why I was kicked out of school," I muttered, my voice hollow. "But she lied. She twisted the whole story."
I know baby. Grandma sigh.
I could still hear her voice in the video, fabricating details, painting me as something I wasn't.
Grandma let out a long, tired sigh, then reached for my hands. "You should leave today, Zhan. Go somewhere far with Wang. Thank God you have money saved up. Just leave. We'll be fine."
I didn't respond. My mouth felt dry, and my chest was too tight to breathe properly.
"Zhan," Grandma pressed, squeezing my hands, "did you hear me? You need to leave before things get worse."
My throat burned. I swallowed hard. "I spent the money."
Silence.
Mia blinked. "All the money?" Her voice was careful, but I could hear the edge of panic creeping in.
I nodded slowly, my gaze dropping to the floor.
"What did you do with it?" Mia asked, and now there was something sharper in her tone, something close to anger.
I hesitated, shame curling in my stomach. Then, barely above a whisper, I murmured, "I bought a gift for Wang."
The room went still.
I could feel their stares, heavy and disbelieving.
Ji Li let out a bitter laugh. "You're kidding."
But I wasn't. And that was the worst part.
The silence in the room stretched, thick and suffocating. I couldn't bring myself to look at any of them. The weight of their disappointment sat heavily on my shoulders, pressing me further into the ground.
Then, the door creaked open.
I didn't have to look up to know who it was. The shift in the air, the way my body tensed on instinct, it could only be him.
Wang stepped inside, his face drawn with something that almost looked like regret. His usual confidence was gone, replaced by hesitation. His eyes flickered to Grandma, to Mia, to Ji Li, but eventually settled on me.
"Zhan," he said softly.
I clenched my fists, staring at the floor. I didn't trust myself to speak.
"I—I know you must hate me right now," Wang continued, stepping closer. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry," Ji Li snapped, crossing his arms.
Wang flinched.
"I can fix this," he said quickly, desperation creeping into his voice. "I swear, Zhan. Just let me explain—"
Wang looked confused. Wait, what are you talking about? Wang asked
"You didn't know," Mia murmured.
I finally lifted my head, meeting his gaze. His expression was unreadable, was it guilt? Pity? Or was he just sorry he got caught?
"Why are you here?" Grandma asked, her voice steady but cold.
Wang's jaw tightened. He exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair before pacing the room.
"I had my bath, got to my room, took water from the fridge in my room to drink..." His words tumbled out quickly like he was desperate to be understood. "I was checking if Lusi was asleep or not, and she stood up immediately and went to the bathroom. I climbed on the bed and pretended to sleep, but I swear, I don't know when I fell asleep."
He stopped pacing, turning to look at me, his eyes pleading. "That's the truth, Zhan. I didn't plan for any of this. I didn't—" He cut himself off, shaking his head.
I just stared at him.
I wanted to believe him. I did.
But the video, the laughter, and the way Lusi was so comfortable with Meng and her group told a different story.
"So what?" Ji Li scoffed, arms still crossed. "You just magically woke up next to her? And we're supposed to believe that?"
Wang turned to him, frustration flashing in his eyes. "I didn't touch her."
"Maybe you didn't have to," Mia muttered.
I swallowed hard, my hands trembling.
"Did you at least tell her we got married?" I asked finally, my voice barely above a whisper.
Wang hesitated.
That second of silence told me everything I needed to know.
Mia cut in, her voice sharp. "How you had a fiancee and still proposed to him? Your fiancee and the evil witch with her friends lie about Zhan?"
Wang ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Okay, I'm confused. Who's the so-called evil witch with her friends? And yes, I had a fiancée, but I was working on it. I told my brother I got married."
Grandma let out a sharp breath, her patience running thin. She shot to her feet, her presence commanding.
"I thought you told me you'd protect him?" she snapped. "So what was your fiancée doing with Meng and her so-called buddies?"
Wang's brows furrowed. "Meng? Lusi? No—Meng isn't in town. If she was, Yu Bin would have told me."
Grandma let out a bitter laugh, completely unimpressed. She grabbed her phone from the table, shoved it against Wang's chest, and hissed, "When you're done watching that, get the hell out of my house."
The room was deadly silent as Wang hesitated, then slowly looked down at the phone.
And as the video started playing, I saw it—the moment everything clicked in his mind. His face paled, his lips parted slightly, and his grip on the phone tightened.
He knew.
He knew he had messed up.
Wang grabbed my hand, pulling me up from the couch without a word. I barely had time to process before he was dragging me toward the room.
The door shut behind us, and before I could react, he wrapped his arms around me.
I was too tired to push him away. Too drained to do anything but stand there, letting him hold me like nothing had happened.
After a moment, he pulled back just enough to look at me. "Was this what Dre showed you last night?"
I didn't respond. I didn't know how to.
Instead, I sat on the bed, my body heavy with exhaustion, and let out a sigh.
Wang knelt in front of me, his hands resting on my knees, his voice edging with urgency. "Talk to me, Zhan."
I swallowed, my fingers gripping the fabric of my pants. My chest felt tight, my mind foggy with too many thoughts, too many emotions I didn't want to unpack.
Finally, after what felt like forever, I muttered, "Meng was lying."
Wang let out a sharp breath. "I know. I know."
He sat beside me, his fingers curling around mine. His grip was warm, steady like he was trying to ground me. Like he was trying to make me believe him.
But belief wasn't the problem.
The problem was, I didn't know if it even mattered anymore.
I looked Wang in the eye, my voice barely above a whisper. "What do you want from me?"
His face twisted with emotions, guilt, frustration, but mostly pain and confusion.
"I love you," he said, his voice raw. "That's why I'm with you."
A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. I reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and pressed play.
The video filled the silence between us.
Lusi sat at home, surrounded by a couple of people, drinking, eating, laughing, like nothing in the world could touch her. Like my name was just another passing joke to entertain them.
Then it happened.
"Zhan," one of the guys laughed, shaking his head. "I just feel he's confused. He doesn't know what he wants."
"I heard he was expelled from school because of indecent behavior," Lusi chuckled, swirling the drink in her glass.
Another voice, sharp, dismissive. "Yeah, he was going around molesting everyone. He doesn't know the value of education or the scholarship he got."
A different guy scoffed. "It was a golden ticket out of poverty, but I guess a poor mentality equals a poor mind and upbringing."
Then, the final blow.
"That's true."
The voice was unmistakable. Cold. Detached.
Wang's voice.
It wasn't just something they claimed he said. It was right there clear as day.
I felt my fingers shake as the words echoed in my head.
Wang stiffened beside me, his face paling. Then, suddenly, he reached out and paused the video.
"That's not my voice," he said quickly, shaking his head. "Zhan, you know I would never say something like that."
I turned to him slowly, my face unreadable.
"Then whose voice is it, Wang?"
Wang's fingers trembled as he pressed play again. His voice—that voice—continued.
"He's just a sex machine and nothing more. A broken boy from a broken family. His mother's a drug addict, and his father ran away with another woman."
Then, laughter. Wang's laughter.
I flinched.
"I heard he sleeps around with anything as long as you can pay," Lusi added, giggling. "Even had a threesome with Dre and his boyfriend." trash behavior.
"Who told you that?" a female voice asked.
Lusi's answer was immediate. Confident. Amused.
"Wang did." She laughed again.
"I'm not paying. He loves me. I'm getting down with him for free." Wang says followed by laughter, casual, easy, like it was all just a joke. Like I was just a joke.
My stomach twisted.
The video ended.
Silence.
I felt like I couldn't breathe.
I turned to Wang slowly. His face was pale, his hands clenched into fists. His lips trembled slightly, and then a single tear fell from his eye.
"Zhan," his voice cracked. "I swear, that's not me. I never said any of that."
I said nothing.
"I will prove it," he whispered, his voice filled with desperation. "I swear on everything, I will prove it."
"Dre sent that to you?" Wang asked, his voice tight.
I nodded.
He exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face before extending his palm toward me. "Give me your phone. And I'll take this as well." He pointed to Grandma's phone in his hand.
I didn't argue. I didn't even hesitate. I just handed it over.
Wang stood up, leaned down, and pressed a lingering kiss to my forehead before turning and walking out the door.
I didn't move.
I just lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, then slowly closed my eyes.
No matter how much I wanted to believe him, no matter how much he swore he would prove it, deep down, I wasn't sure if I even cared anymore.