She whispered in her sleep.
"No…"
One hand gripped her hair tightly.
The other held a straightener, inching closer to her chest.
A girl's face appeared through the shadows, a creepy smile curling across her lips. Every movement felt deliberate, every second heavy with threat.
"No…"
A cold hand grabbed her neck from the side.
He leaned in, his face close to her ear, whispering in a low, creepy voice,
"Don't scream… I will be gentle."
The long hair brushed against his face, and he smelled it as if he had been craving it for a long time.
Lin Yue froze, every muscle stiff with fear.
"No…"
Laughter echoed through the dark room. Faces blurred, shadows shifting, a group of students pressing in around her.
The laughter continued, echoing in her mind, like a haunting sound she couldn't escape—until she opened her eyes.
Silence fell instantly.
The room was still, cold, and empty.
The only sound was her deep, ragged breaths.
She looked around slowly, took a deep breath, and gently rubbed her face, clearing the tension in her body.
Just a nightmare… she hoped.
Yue slowly pushed the blanket away and sat up on the bed.
The rope tied around her wrist pulled slightly as she moved.
She carefully untied the knot and let the rope fall onto the bed.
A small sigh escaped her lips, and she whispered to herself,
"It didn't happen today…"
Turning toward the mirror beside the wardrobe, Sarah froze for a moment.
Her reflection looked pale in the early morning light.
For a moment, her eyes dropped to her wrist.
It was bare.
The faint scars were clearly visible against her skin.
Yue's expression stiffened.
She opened the small drawer beside the mirror and took out a silver watch.
Her fingers gently traced the glass surface.
"Dad…" she whispered softly.
Carefully, she fastened the watch around her wrist.
The scars disappeared beneath it.
Sarah took one last look at her reflection before leaving the room.
The hallway downstairs was silent.
The large house felt colder than usual.
She walked into the living room and picked up the remote from the table.
With a small click, the television turned on.
A news channel appeared on the screen.
The reporter spoke in a clear, professional voice.
"Breaking business news today."
"Gu Group has announced a massive luxury development project that is expected to become one of the largest investments in the country this year."
Lin Yue wasn't really paying attention at first. She walked toward the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water.
But the next words made her stop.
"According to official sources, the CEO of Gu Group, Gu Zheng, will personally return to China to lead the project."
The glass in Lin Yue's hand froze mid-air.
"GU GROUP CEO GU ZHENG TO OVERSEE BILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT IN CHINA."
The reporter continued speaking, but Lin Yue couldn't hear the rest.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the glass.
"…Gu Zheng…" she whispered softly.
The watch on her wrist ticked quietly in the silent room.
She whispered,
"He is back".
Thousands of miles away, a private jet slowly descended through the clouds.
Moments later, it landed smoothly at the airport.
The cabin door opened.
A tall man stepped out first.
His expression was calm and unreadable.
The wind moved slightly through his dark hair as he walked down the stairs.
Assistants and security quickly followed behind him.
"Welcome back, Mr. Gu," one of them said respectfully.
Gu Zheng glanced at the familiar skyline in the distance.
After three years abroad, he had finally returned to China.
"Prepare the car," Gu Zheng said coldly.
"I have unfinished business here."
The black car moved smoothly through the busy streets of China.
Inside the car, Gu Zheng sat in the back seat, his expression calm and distant.
His assistant sat in the passenger seat, holding a tablet nervously.
"Mr. Gu, your schedule for today…" he began carefully.
"At 10 a.m., you have a meeting with the project investors. At noon, there is a conference call with the overseas partners. In the afternoon—"
Gu Zheng didn't respond. His gaze remained fixed on the passing buildings outside the window.
The assistant hesitated before speaking again.
"Also…The Chairman Gu called earlier."
"He asked you not to come back home after you arrive."
Gu Zheng remained silent, as if he hadn't heard the words at all.
The assistant swallowed nervously.
"…And… um…"
His voice became quieter.
"Do you… want to meet your wife?"
Suddenly, Gu Zheng turned his head.
His cold gaze landed directly on the assistant.
For a moment, the air inside the car felt suffocating.
The assistant immediately lowered his head.
"I—I'm sorry, Mr. Gu."
After a few seconds of silence, Gu Zheng spoke in a low voice.
"Change the route."
The assistant looked up quickly.
"We're going to the old residence," Gu Zheng said coldly.
The black car slowly stopped in front of the large mansion.
The iron gates of the old Gu residence stood tall and imposing.
Gu Zheng stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance without hesitation.
Inside the living room, an old man sat on the sofa with a cane in his hand.
This was the chairman of the Gu family.
As soon as he saw Gu Zheng walk in, the old man suddenly slammed his cane against the floor.
"You brat!" he shouted angrily.
"So you still remember that you have a home?, I told you not to come back."
Gu Zheng stood there silently.
"You disappeared for three years!" the old man continued.
"Three years without showing your face! Not even a single phone call!"
"And you still have a wife waiting for you!, how could abondan her at wedding night and still have the nerve to come back"
"How could I have a unfilial grandson like you" he continued.
Gu Zheng's expression remained cold.
"I came back for one reason," he said calmly.
"To divorce her."
The old man froze for a moment.
Then he suddenly stood up, trembling with anger.
"You— you— you…" he stammered, pointing his cane toward Gu Zheng.
His breathing became heavier.
"You abandoned your wife for three years! Never even looked at her properly!"
"And now you come back asking for a divorce?"
He shook his head with regret.
"That poor girl…"
"I have wronged her."
The old man took a deep breath before speaking again.
"If you want a divorce…"
"Then you will ask your wife yourself."
He turned to the servant standing nearby.
"Call Lin Yue."
"Tell her to come to the old residence immediately."
The room fell silent.
Gu Zheng's eyes darkened slightly.
Night had already fallen when a car stopped outside the gates of the Gu residence.
A young woman stepped out slowly.
It was Lin Yue.
She stood outside the familiar mansion for a moment before walking inside.
The servant led Lin Yue into the living room.
Her footsteps slowed slightly when she saw the tall figure standing near the window.
It was Gu Zheng.
Three years had passed since the last time they saw each other.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Gu Zheng's eyes rested on her quietly.
Something about her seemed… different.
She looked thinner than he remembered.
Her face was a little pale, and her figure seemed more fragile.
But her expression remained calm.
As if the three years meant nothing.
Lin Yue lowered her gaze briefly before greeting the old man.
"Grandfather."
Gu Zheng watched her silently.
Then he looked away as if the thought meant nothing.
The room fell silent.
The grandfather looked at her, his face lined with worry. He tapped his cane lightly on the floor to get her attention.
"Yue… come here," he said.
Lin Yue obeyed, stopping a few steps in front of him.
The old man's eyes flicked toward Gu Zheng, then back to Lin Yue.
"My grandson…" he began carefully, his voice tinged with frustration and regret. "He came back today…"
He paused, taking a deep breath. "…And he said he wants a divorce."
Lin Yue froze for a heartbeat. She glanced at Gu Zheng, who stood quietly, cold and unreadable.
For three years, this man had been her husband.
And yet, they felt like strangers.
After a few seconds, she spoke calmly.
"Alright."
Gu Zheng's brows moved slightly, almost surprised.
"I agree to the divorce," Lin Yue continued.
Her voice was steady, without any anger or sadness.
The old man on the sofa suddenly stood up.
"Yue!"
"You can't just agree like that!"
Lin Yue turned to him respectfully.
"Grandfather… this marriage was never real to begin with."
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"Keeping it would only make things more awkward."
Gu Zheng watched her silently.
He had expected anger… or maybe tears.
But not this calm agreement.
The old man sighed heavily.
"I have wronged you, child."
Lin Yue shook her head gently.
"You haven't. This marriage happened because I agreed, and now I should end this"
Then she looked at Gu Zheng again.
"When the papers are ready, send them to me."
Just as Lin Yue was about to leave, Gu Zheng suddenly spoke.
His voice was cold.
"Don't think about taking the Gu Group shares after the divorce."
Lin Yue stopped.
For a second, the room fell silent.
Before she could say anything, the old man slammed his cane against the floor.
"Gu Zheng!" he shouted angrily.
"How dare you say that!"
He looked at Lin Yue with guilt.
"Yue, don't listen to this brat."
"That girl never cared about money," he said firmly.
Gu Zheng remained silent.
After a moment, the old man spoke again.
"Fine. If both of you insist on divorcing…"
"Then I will agree."
Both of them looked toward him.
"But," he continued slowly, "there is one condition."
"You must live together for one month."
He tapped his cane lightly on the ground.
"Consider it a cooling-off period before the divorce."
Lin Yue frowned slightly.
She opened her mouth, about to refuse.
"I don't—"
Before she could finish, Gu Zheng suddenly walked toward her.
His tall figure stopped just a step away.
His sharp eyes stared directly at her.
Lin Yue felt strangely like she had done something wrong.
The words she was about to say stopped in her throat.
After a few seconds of silence, Gu Zheng spoke.
"I agree."
Then he turned around calmly and walked toward the door.
Leaving everyone in the room stunned.
The room fell silent after Gu Zheng left.
For a moment, Lin Yue stood there, still slightly stunned.
She hadn't expected him to agree so quickly.
After a few seconds, she turned toward the old man.
"Grandfather."
She bowed her head slightly in respect.
"Then… I'll take my leave."
The old man looked at her tiredly and nodded.
Lin Yue turned and walked out of the living room.
Her footsteps slowly disappeared down the long hallway.
The old man leaned back on the sofa.
He sighed deeply.
Holding his cane, he whispered softly to himself,
"This is the last thing I can do…"
"…to save your marriage."
Outside, the night air felt cool.
Lin Yue walked toward the gate quietly, her expression calm.
But her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag.
The black car slowly drove away from the old Gu residence.
Inside the car, Gu Zheng sat quietly in the back seat.
His assistant glanced at him through the rearview mirror, hesitating for a moment before speaking.
"Mr. Gu… may I ask something?"
Gu Zheng didn't look at him.
"Speak."
The assistant cleared his throat.
"If you want a divorce so much… why did you agree to live together for one month?"
For a few seconds, Gu Zheng remained silent.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Grandfather respects her too much."
His eyes looked out the window at the passing city lights.
"He trusts her blindly."
The assistant stayed quiet.
Gu Zheng's voice turned colder.
"If the divorce happens immediately, grandfather will definitely give her Gu Group shares."
"I won't allow that."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"The Gu Group cannot fall into the hands of a woman like her."
The assistant didn't dare say anything else.
The car continued moving through the quiet streets of China.
The car disappeared into the night.
Inside the mansion, Lin Yue stood alone in the silent living room.
She didn't know that at the same time, across the city, Gu Zheng had already decided to move back into the house.
In one month, everything between them would finally end.
Or so they both believed.