Part 1: The Grand Ballroom
Beijing's largest and most opulent ballroom was adorned with thousands of white roses and crystal chandeliers. The guests were few—only the most important members of both families and a select group of businessmen—but the grandeur was such that it dazzled the eyes. Everywhere, there was a calm, yet the kind of calm that precedes a storm.
Zain stood at the front, before the altar. In his black tuxedo, he looked every bit a prince, yet there was no joy in his eyes. He was watching Anya as a predator watches prey caught in its trap. As Anya approached him, Zain extended his hand—but it was not for support. He gently held Anya's wrist; Anya's gaze remained fixed on him.
When they both stood before the father, a heavy silence enveloped the hall. The father asked solemnly, "Zain Yan, do you take Anya Lu as your wife?"
"Yes," Zain's voice rang out clearly, cold and unwavering.
The father turned to Anya. "Anya Lu, do you take Zain Yan as your husband?"
It was as if a thorn had lodged in Anya's throat. Her heart pounded wildly. She glanced briefly at her mother, whose eyes shimmered with tears of happiness. Then she looked at Shuyan, Zain's mother, who offered a hopeful smile. Anya knew that a single "no" could destroy her brother and her mother.
"Ye… yes," Anya whispered in a barely audible voice.
Part 2: The Dreaded Kiss
The father smiled. "You may now kiss the bride."
The entire hall waited, expectant, for applause. Anya's mind flashed back to last night's 'pretend kiss,' and her body shivered. Zain moved closer to her, gently lifting her veil.
With firm fingers, Zain held Anya's chin and tilted it upward. Her eyes were glistening with tears. He leaned close, whispering just enough for her to hear:
"Welcome to a wolf's prison, Anya."
Before she could respond, his lips pressed against hers. This kiss was not soft like last night's—it carried claim, authority, and a chilling warning.
Part 3: The Captive's Challenge
As Zain pulled back, a triumphant smile curved his lips. He expected Anya to break, to cry, to submit. But Anya wiped her tears and met his gaze unwaveringly.
In her eyes, there was no fear—only blazing anger and fire. She leaned close to his ear and spoke with a voice as cold as his own:
"Mr. Zain Yan, remember… sometimes a captive can trouble her jailer so much that he himself searches for a way to escape. Soon, you will find yourself troubled by this prisoner."
Zain traced her cheek with a crooked smile. "Oh, my dear wife… you speak so bitterly… but it is bitter things I love the most."
Part 4: Behind the Celebration
As the ceremony concluded, conversations began among the guests. Zhenyu, Zain's father, laughed heartily with his business partners, as if today were not a wedding but the finalization of a massive merger deal. Shuyan and Anya's mother sat on a sofa, where Shuyan proudly spoke of her new familial ties with the Lu family.
Meanwhile, Fengning, Zain's sister, was recording the event enthusiastically on her phone. She noticed Lu Wei, Anya's brother, standing alone near a pillar, his fists clenched.
"Look, Lu Wei?" Fengning chirped as she approached him. "Finally, our families are related. At least smile now!"
Lu Wei completely ignored her, his eyes reflecting clear hatred toward Zain. He was about to leave when Fengning blocked his path. "Hey, don't act so stubborn! Your sister is now the queen of our mansion."
Lu Wei shot her a cold glance and moved forward silently. Fengning watched him leave, a strange smile lingering on her face.
Kian, standing in a dim corner of the hall, observed everything. He exhaled slowly, knowing that this grandeur was nothing but a façade. He watched as laughter and chatter flowed on one side, while Anya stood in her wedding dress like a decorated corpse on the other.Chapter: Shards of Glass and Bonds of Blood
Part 1: The Wolf's Game and the Fire of the Captive
The ballroom of Beijing's Grand Hotel was now fragrant with champagne and music. Zain and Anya stood on the stage, performing the role of a blissful couple before the world. Zain's hand rested on Anya's waist—not like protection, but like a predator's claim over its prey.
Zain placed a glass of champagne into Anya's hand and leaned close to her ear, whispering with his warm breath,
"Smile, Anya. I paid a very high price for tonight. At the very least, let the world believe that you are happy with this deal."
Anya did not look away from Zain's icy eyes. She took a small sip of champagne and replied in an unnervingly calm yet razor-sharp voice,
"The price is still being paid, Mr. Zain. You have bought my body, you have bought my talent—but you will never be able to bend my soul. From today onward, your defeat begins."
Zain was taken aback by her audacity. He was just about to grab her face and say something bitter when the lights of the hall flickered violently with a terrifying jolt.
Part 2: Uncle Lu's Deadly Strike
From within the crowd, the same masked waiter—Uncle Lu (Lu Kang)—slowly advanced toward the stage. His eyes burned with a madness-filled hatred for Zain. He pulled out a small remote from his pocket. His true target was Zain's sister, Fengning—he wanted to make Zain suffer.
Uncle Lu pressed the button on the remote—
Bang! Bang!
Smoke bombs planted in all four corners of the hall exploded simultaneously. Thick white and gray clouds engulfed the entire ballroom. Shuyan and Fengning's screams echoed through the chaos. Jian (Lu Wei) immediately sprang into action, pulling out his gun and taking position.
"Anya!" Lu wei shouted, but nothing was visible through the smoke.
From within the haze, Uncle Lu's roaring voice thundered,
"Zain Yan! You dared to use my niece as a pawn? Now watch how the thing you cherish most turns to dust!"
Part 3: The Falling Chandelier and Zain's Sacrifice
Suddenly, the massive crystal chandelier weighing thousands of kilograms began to shake violently with a horrifying sound. Lu Kang had loosened its bolts to kill Fengning—but as the smoke thinned slightly, his soul trembled.
Standing directly beneath the chandelier was not Fengning…
It was his own niece—Anya.
"No! Stop it!" Lu Kang screamed hysterically at his men, but it was already too late. Gravity had begun its merciless work.
"Anya, move!" Zain's roar shook the entire hall.
Anya looked up. Death was falling toward her like a colossal blazing sun. Terror froze her in place; her feet felt rooted to the ground. Lu Kang, Lu Wei, and Zain all lunged toward her—but Zain was the closest.
Without wasting a single second, Zain leapt toward Anya. The deafening crash of the chandelier and the shattering of glass erupted together. Zain shoved Anya away with all his strength and threw himself over her, becoming a living shield.
Crack—Crash!
Thousands of sharp glass shards rained down upon Zain's back. Anya lay completely safe beneath him, but within seconds, Zain's white shirt was soaked in blood. Darkness blurred Anya's vision, yet she could still feel the warmth of Zain's body and the protection of his arms around her.
Part 4: The Bloody Truth
When the smoke finally cleared, Lu Kang had vanished. Jian (Lu Wei) rushed onto the stage and saw his sister in Zain's arms, while Zain's blood spread across the floor.
"Didi! Are you alright?" Lu wei supported Anya.
With trembling hands, Anya touched Zain's face. His eyes were half-closed, his body wracked with pain, yet there was still a strange concern for Anya in his gaze.
"Are… are you okay?" Zain asked in a heavy, strained voice.
For a moment, Anya's stone-like heart melted.
"Why… why did you save me? Weren't you the one who wanted to destroy me?"
Zain gave a bitter smile. A drop of blood slipped from the corner of his lips.
"I told you, Anya… only I have the right to hurt you. How dare anyone else…"
Before he could finish, his head fell to the side, and he lost consciousness in Anya's lap.
Part 5: The First Night — The Silence of the Hospital
The white corridors of Beijing's VIP hospital were wrapped in silence. Outside Zain's room, Kian and Jian stared at each other with predatory hostility.
Inside, under the dim hospital lights, Anya sat beside Zain's bed. She was still wearing the same blood-stained wedding dress. Zain's back was covered in countless stitches, his body wrapped in bandages.
Anya gently took Zain's hand in hers.
"Mr. Zain Yan… what are you?" she whispered.
"A wolf who hunts… or a guardian who gives his life? Are you my jailer… or a companion in my suffering?"
Just then, Zain's fingers twitched. When he regained consciousness and saw Anya's face, the old bitterness returned to his eyes. He jerked his hand away from her grip.
"What drama are you putting on here? Leave. I don't need your pity."
Anya did not step back. She stood and leaned so close to Zain that their breaths collided.
"Pity? No, Mr. Zain. This is a right. You made me your wife on your terms—now I will stay here on mine. You are wounded, helpless… and at this moment, you are my captive."
Anger flared in Zain's eyes, but Anya's steady, fearless gaze forced him into silence for the first time.