The Wedding Day Gift

On my wedding day, I inexplicably gained the ability to hear people's thoughts.

As my smiling groom slid the ring onto my finger, his inner voice whispered coldly:

"Raymond Lu sends a stupid lamb my way, thinking he can steal my project. What a joke."

I looked up in shock.

My fingers trembled uncontrollably, and the ring clattered to the floor.

Dominic looked at me with eyes full of tenderness and guilt, as if everything were his fault.

Inside, he was thinking: "Clumsy fool. Born to be prey."

1

My marriage to Dominic had been hastily arranged three days ago.

The man behind it all was my so-called foster father, Raymond Lu.

His company was on the verge of collapse, its funding chain broken. Bankruptcy was imminent.

Desperate to save his business, Raymond had scrambled to pull strings, hoping to trade my marriage for a financial lifeline.

He threatened me with my mother's safety and made me meet six men in just two weeks.

A greasy, overweight fifty-year-old. A spoiled, violent rich brat. A wealthy man with a wife and mistresses scattered everywhere...

They all said they'd take me, but none offered much.

Then Dominic appeared.

He named a price that made Raymond ecstatic.

With only one condition: the wedding had to happen within three days.

Raymond agreed without hesitation, practically ready to deliver me to Dominic's bed that very night.

Dominic, however, seemed unhurried. He went through all the pre-wedding formalities step by step.

He even got the marriage license before the ceremony.

So before that day, I saw him as a gentle, handsome, elegant man who respected women.

I even dreamed it was love at first sight.

Until I heard what he was really thinking.

He married me only to set a trap for Raymond.

A chess match between titans, and I was just a pawn in their game.

2

The wedding continued.

Joyful, romantic music filled the hall, and everyone's face was lit with happiness.

Especially Dominic's.

He held my hand, bent down slightly, and picked up the ring that had rolled to his feet.

When he looked up, his gaze was deep and affectionate: "Sorry, my fault. I made my bride suffer."

Inside, he was thinking: "This damn ceremony is way too long. So annoying."

I quickly straightened my fingers and let him slide the ring on.

The sound of my swallowing was loud enough to cut through the music.

When it was my turn to put the ring on him, I was extra careful, my voice pleading: "Mr. Warrington, if you're busy, you can leave first. I can handle toasting the guests on my own."

This sudden thoughtfulness seemed to surprise him.

A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes.

But the smile quickly returned, masking his true feelings: "What could be more important than a wedding? Let's go."

He took my hand, turned to the guests, and raised a glass of champagne.

Inside, he was muttering: "Playing games with me? I'll deal with you later."

My inner voice: "..."

3

I had only myself to blame for that misstep.

After that, I didn't dare make another move until the wedding was over.

I was sent to the bridal chamber first.

The room was decked out in festive red, with everything a wealthy couple could want.

Except for people.

The five-story villa was completely empty.

As a mere tool, I didn't have to sit around waiting for the groom.

I found my suitcase in the second-floor bedroom, grabbed some casual clothes, took off my makeup, showered, and freshened up.

Seeing that it was getting late, I headed to the kitchen.

Over the years, I had followed my mother through three marriages, and cooking was the skill I'd improved the most.

Because every time she married a man, she was too busy falling in love and enjoying life to bother with me.

Her daughter became a free babysitter.

Some of my stepfathers, though, weren't satisfied with just a babysitter. They'd get handsy when my mother wasn't around.

Like Raymond Lu.

So when I learned Dominic's true intentions, I was actually relieved.

I didn't care if a man loved me or not. As long as he was useful.

4

The kitchen was bare. Not even drinking water.

I took a look around outside and concluded that Dominic probably wasn't coming back tonight.

And he'd deliberately starve me.

I had some money on my phone, and I could order takeout.

But that would ruin the innocent, naive image I'd cultivated in his eyes.

Making a shrewd, calculating man suspicious of me was not a smart move.

I put my phone away and went back to the bridal chamber.

As per tradition, there were four plates of dried fruits and nuts in the room.

I grabbed a handful and nibbled as I went downstairs, boiling half a pot of water.

The living room was decked out in red, but it felt cold and empty.

Assuming Dominic wouldn't be back, I lounged on the leather sofa, one hand holding a cup of hot water, the other clutching a big red date.

Just as I was enjoying myself, a voice suddenly popped into my head: "That idiot is probably crying right now."

5

The date and water instantly lost their appeal.

Before Dominic could walk through the door, I quickly shoved everything into the drawer of the coffee table and smeared some warm water on my face.

The door swung open.

I turned and gave Dominic a pitiful look.

He let out a smug laugh inside.

But on the surface, he was all gentleness, bending down with a smile.

Inside: "Just as I thought... She'll crack soon and call Raymond Lu."

That put me in a tough spot.

Raymond was just like him—a gentleman on the surface, a snake underneath.

There was no way I was making that call.

But I had to play along until Dominic was satisfied.

I pouted and tried to squeeze out some tears.

Then I heard his inner voice: "What's that stuck to her teeth?"

His gaze shifted to the coffee table in front of me.

Water was seeping through the cracks in the wood.

Dominic reached out.

The moment his hand touched the drawer, I shot up: "I want to go back to my mom."

He pulled his hand back, a hint of confusion on his face.

Inside, he was gloating: "Ha, scared out of her wits, talking nonsense?"

I went with it, playing into his expectations: "There's no one here. I'm scared. I want to go home."

Dominic: "From today on, you're not leaving this house."

Me: "...House arrest?"

On the surface, he took my hand and sat down with me on the sofa: "Claire, we're newlyweds. We can't go back to your family now. See? I'm already back."

I tested the waters: "Then... are you leaving again?"

"I'll stay with you," Dominic said softly.

Inside: "Soon you'll be begging me to leave."

6

I immediately clutched my clothes.

What was he planning?

Dominic blinked, his eyes practically overflowing with manufactured tenderness: "Cold?"

He started to take off his jacket.

Inside: "Ugly woman, you think I'd touch you? Ha. Just as delusional as your father."

Thank you very much. I didn't want anything.

I let out a huge sigh of relief and grabbed his sleeve: "No, I'm just... a little hungry."

He was laughing hysterically inside.

But on the surface, he said sympathetically: "Hungry? That's a problem. This place is far from town. No restaurants. And the kitchen..."

"The kitchen doesn't have anything to eat."

I finished his sentence.

Watching him hide his satisfied expression, I wanted to wring his neck.

After "comforting" me, Dominic went upstairs to shower.

Before leaving, he said "affectionately": "Wait for me."

I smiled back.

And silently replied to his inner scheming: "Bring it on. I'm not afraid of you."

7

As soon as Dominic was gone, I quickly moved the dates and peanuts from the drawer to a different spot and tidied up the living room.

Just as I finished, the lights went out.

It was like I'd gone blind. I couldn't see a thing.

His voice came from upstairs: "Power's out! Claire, are you okay?"

I controlled my voice, making it tremble like a leaf in the wind, adding a crying effect: "I'm so scared. Where are you?"

In the dim light, I could see Dominic standing at the top of the stairs, watching me coldly as I fumbled around the living room.

After bumping into the sofa, the coffee table, and a corner cabinet, I started to wonder if this guy had a screw loose.

I'd only said I was scared. I never said I was blind.

It was dark, sure, but there was still light coming from outside. Once my eyes adjusted, I'd be able to see, wouldn't I?

Even stranger, his mind had gone completely blank. I couldn't hear a single thought.

Was he planning to drag me down a manhole in the dead of night?

My feet, which had been inching toward him, froze in place.

Out of the corner of my eye, I scanned the door, calculating whether I could make a run for it if Dominic charged down the stairs.

8

The moonlight, half-hidden by clouds, filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a faint, murky glow across the room.

The figure standing on the stairs finally moved.

His steps were light, one by one, as if afraid to startle me.

Me?

I didn't dare let my guard down. I crouched slightly, bent my knees, mapped out an escape route, and got ready to bolt.

Just as Dominic's foot hit the last step and I started to turn, a scene suddenly flashed into my mind.

A house, just as dimly lit, with two children huddled inside. A little girl was whimpering, and a little boy was softly trying to soothe her.

I couldn't see the girl's face, but it felt strangely familiar.

The image shifted uncontrollably, switching angles. One moment I was looking out the window, the next at the door.

Completely ignoring my desperate desire to see the girl's face.

I was so frustrated I almost cursed out loud, but then I heard a faint murmur in my head: "Rainie, don't be scared. Big brother's here."

Huh?

I looked at Dominic, still standing on the stairs.

What was going on?

I knew he was trying to scare me, but I didn't expect him to be this convincing.

And he'd somehow managed to project his voice directly into my head.

This house must be cursed. Tomorrow, I'll—

"Rainie!" Another soft call.

This time I heard it clearly. It wasn't telepathy. It was Dominic.

He walked toward me, his face shadowed, his gaze deep.

God, I wanted to run. My legs were practically screaming at me to sprint for the door.

But in reality, I stood rooted to the spot, even secretly hoping he'd come closer.

I was utterly baffled by my own behavior.

So when Dominic reached out to pull me into his arms, I pushed hard against his chest.

Then, just as quickly, I let go.

Oh my god. His chest was burning hot. And rock hard.

9

Panicking, I whipped out my phone and turned on the flashlight.

Shining it directly into Dominic's face.

"Are you... sick?"

He: "You're the one who's sick, you stupid woman."

After that silent insult, he tried to hug me again: "Claire, are you okay? I was worried you were scared."

His voice was much clearer now.

Completely different from the sleepwalking state he'd been in before.

I clutched my chest and stepped back discreetly: "I'm fine. Are you?"

He sneered inwardly: "Of course I'm fine. If I hadn't mistaken you for Rainie, I'd have scared you to death just now."

Ha. So much mental chatter.

So that scene that had popped into my head was his memory.

My mind-reading had even upgraded to include visuals. Impressive.

We exchanged a round of fake pleasantries.

He explained that the new villa had insufficient power, and he hadn't expected the blackout.

I played along with his expectations, crying weakly and helplessly.

Finally, we stumbled upstairs in the dark, heading for the bedroom.

Honestly, if I had any sense, I'd have been running back to the city on foot by now.

But hey, I had mind-reading powers.

I was dying to know what other tricks Dominic had up his sleeve, and what he'd done to Raymond Lu today.

As we walked, his mind was filled with nothing but scenarios of how to strip me, where to kiss me first, and how to make me scream.

...What a sneaky bastard!

10

If I let him win, I wouldn't be Claire Ashford.

Just as Dominic was guiding me to the bedroom door, I suddenly lurched sideways, grabbing his arm.

He'd just showered and was wearing a loose-fitting pajama shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his lean, muscular forearms.

I grabbed him perfectly.

The moment my hand touched his skin, a roar erupted in Dominic's mind: "Holy crap, she's making the first move! This stupid woman, this ugly woman—"

Me: "Gah gah gah."

I laughed like a goose.

Taking advantage of his panic, I slid my hand up his arm and pressed it against his chest again.

Case solved. The reason my hand had felt so hot earlier was because I'd touched his bare skin.

He'd been so wrapped up in his "Rainie, Rainie" thoughts that he hadn't reacted much.

But this time was different. The moment he sensed my intention, he stumbled backward, clutching his clothes just like I had.

I was cackling inside.

But my voice was pitiful: "Dominic, it's so dark in there. I'm scared."

I clung to his shirt, refusing to let go no matter how hard he pulled.

Dominic's inner voice: "%￥*@&￥@&……"

He didn't want to consummate the marriage at all?!

This was hilarious.

With this weakness, I could totally beat him. You little punk.

It was pitch black in the house, so no one could see me blushing anyway.

Taking advantage of his fear, I groped him all over.

I nearly drove him to the edge of a breakdown, but he still had to pretend he was enjoying it: "Claire, let's go inside. Let's go inside..."

"Okay."

When he tried to push me away, I wrapped my arms around his waist.

His breathing grew ragged, his voice nowhere near as steady as before.

His mind was in complete chaos.

He frantically made excuses: "Let me check the circuit breaker... I don't know if the bed is made yet... Wait for me."

Inner thought 1: "Where did I just touch? It was so soft. She's not going to think I actually want to do something to her, is she?"

Inner thought 2: "Get out of here. Dangerous creature. Just as hard to deal with as Raymond Lu."

11

At this rate, Dominic would probably break down in ten more minutes.

Poor thing.

I let go.

As he was leaving, I called out pitifully: "Dominic, come back soon."

I heard his inner voice: "A shiver."

He was kind enough to turn the lights back on for me.

Then, claiming he had work to do, he bolted out the door, his mind screaming: "Don't look at her chest. Don't look at her face. Don't look at her..."

The car roared to life.

He was gone.

Who would have thought that the infamous business tycoon of South City was afraid of women?

If he hadn't needed to deal with Raymond Lu, would he have stayed a bachelor forever?

I sighed, climbed into the warm bed, and slept like a log.

The next morning, before dawn, my stomach woke me up.

Dried fruit really wasn't enough to keep me going.

I washed up, changed clothes, and headed for the front door.

Just as Dominic had arranged, the door had a keypad lock. I didn't know the code.

I didn't call Dominic.

I called Raymond Lu instead.

He picked up after just one ring, his voice urgent: "Claire, did you get him last night? The project he promised, why hasn't it started yet?"

I listened calmly as he rambled on.

He was desperate, I knew.

Before I married Dominic, he was so desperate he would have sold me for parts, if he could have gotten that much money.

Now that he'd finally found a backer, of course he wanted to save his company and pay off his debts.

I told him: "Dominic said he's been really busy lately..."

Raymond was losing his mind: "Busy my ass! You tell him to hurry up. We had a deal. Why is he backing out now that he's got you?"

"Oh, I'll talk to him."

"I want to meet him."

"Okay."

Why did I agree so quickly?

Because I wanted to get out too. I wanted to watch them tear each other apart.

12

There were cameras in the villa, so Dominic knew I'd made a call.

So at noon that day, he actually acted like a decent human being and brought me food.

But by then, I'd already polished off all four plates of dried fruit. The coffee table in the living room was piled high with shells and pits.

Dominic apologized to me out loud, saying he was sorry for starving me.

Inside, he was cursing: "Stupid woman, you really can pack it away. If I hadn't come back, would you have started eating the walls?"

I felt a little embarrassed, but I still looked at him with adoring eyes.

For effect, I stared at him for half a minute, then puckered up my lips, ready to cry.

Dominic lunged over and pulled me into his arms: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. The company's been so busy..."

Inside: "My suit. Her snot bubbles. Oh god."

13

After a satisfying meal, I confessed to making the call to Raymond Lu and told him that Raymond wanted the project funding as soon as possible.

Dominic soothed me, saying he really had been busy these past two days.

Inside: "I'd better squeeze every last drop out of that old bastard, or I won't be able to face Rainie."

Alarm bells went off. So his grudge against Raymond Lu was because of this Rainie too.

I was dying to know the story behind it.

I also really wanted to help Dominic move things along, to make the battle faster and more intense.

After all, this awkward way we were living wasn't sustainable for either of us.

Through a combination of mind-reading and gentle nagging, I finally got Dominic to agree to go back to Raymond Lu's house for lunch the next day.

I was so excited I couldn't sleep that night, just imagining the drama that would unfold.

But then my mind went blank, and Dominic's voice suddenly popped up: "Is she asleep?"

I looked at the door.

After a day of experimentation, I'd figured out the rules of my mind-reading.

If Dominic and I were more than two meters apart, I couldn't hear his thoughts.

Like the first night, when he was standing at the top of the stairs and I was in the living room. The distance was too great, so all I heard was static.

But when he came down the stairs and got closer, I immediately heard "Rainie."

I measured the distance between the bed and the door.

Ah, about two meters.

So, Mr. Warrington was currently pressing his ear to the door, listening to me sleep?

I got out of bed and walked barefoot toward the door.

The closer I got, the louder Dominic's voice became: "This woman trusts me. She tells me everything. That's good. I can get more information about Raymond Lu from her."

Me: "What do you want to know? Tell me, tell me! I'll tell you everything, I swear!"

Dominic: "But the rumors must be wrong. Her relationship with Raymond Lu doesn't seem that bad."

Me: "Ha, who started that rumor? Sew their mouth shut. Useless anyway."

Mr. Warrington had a lot to say. He kept muttering as he walked away from the door.

I couldn't have that. I hadn't heard enough yet.

The moment I heard the door next to mine click shut, I yanked open my own door...

Oh!

I crashed right into Dominic's arms.

He hadn't left.

And he was thinking: "What does this woman want? She's not going to try to sleep with me, is she?"

14

Dominic held me by the shoulders and pushed me away.

This sneaky bastard could still muster a look of deep affection: "Claire? You're still awake?"

I complained honestly: "Too noisy. Can't sleep."

He: "She definitely has designs on me. Making up such a ridiculous excuse."

Me: "..."

I pushed him away: "I'm thirsty."

Behind me, he thought: "Thirsty? Is she hinting at something?"

I really wanted to turn around and glare at him.

I quickened my pace, ran downstairs, and chugged an entire bottle of water that Dominic had brought back. Only then did I calm down.

His increasingly narcissistic and terrified-of-my-approach behavior could be summed up in one word: messed up.

So why should I bother with a messed-up person? I went back to bed.

I didn't care where Dominic slept. He wasn't going to share a bed with me anyway.

And the next day, he'd come up with some reasonable excuse.

I was pretty confident about that.

15

When I woke up the next morning, Dominic was already gone from the villa.

Surprisingly, he'd left me breakfast.

I had no idea where he'd gotten it, but it was delicious.

I killed time until ten in the morning, when he drove back to pick me up for the trip to Raymond Lu's house.

My mother, Luna Ashford, and Raymond Lu were standing at the door to greet us, their faces beaming like blooming flowers.

The moment I walked in, my mother pulled me into a room: "So? So? How is he treating you?"

"Pretty good."

I was anxious to hear what the two men were saying, so I tried to brush her off.

But she wasn't satisfied. She grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go: "I heard from Raymond that Dominic is great in every way. You'd better cherish him."

"Mainly because he's rich," I said with a fake smile.

My mother pinched me: "Don't be sarcastic with me. If he really treats you badly, you can always get a divorce."

"Mom, does Raymond Lu know you said that?" I asked, looking at her.

My mother looked a little embarrassed: "Well... I can't just watch you be unhappy, can I?"

I couldn't be bothered to argue with her.

After all these years, that's all she ever did—talk.

The only happiness she truly cared about was her own.

Raymond Lu and Dominic went into the study.

I couldn't hear their conversation through the door.

But within two meters, I could hear Dominic's thoughts.

Right now, he was cursing Raymond Lu like crazy: "Money, money, money. You don't even ask about your daughter who's in my hands. I'll make sure you choke on your greed. Not a single cent."

Me: "Well done."

But after a few minutes of gloating, Dominic hit a wall.

I didn't know what Raymond Lu had said to him, but he started pondering the old man's background and our real relationship.

He even started thinking about my mother.

16

Not being able to hear the whole conversation was driving me crazy.

So while my mother was in the kitchen, I immediately knocked on the study door.

The moment Dominic saw me: "The Lu family? She should know!"

Me: "Yes, yes, I know. Come with me."

I couldn't act as coy in front of Raymond Lu as I did at Dominic's house. I just went over and tugged at his sleeve.

"Uncle Raymond, let me talk to him."

Raymond Lu, fixated on his company, misinterpreted my actions as an attempt to persuade Dominic to give him money.

He immediately nodded: "Okay, okay, you two talk."

I pulled Dominic into the room I'd lived in before I got married.

He walked in and thought: "So shabby? Definitely not a real daughter."

I nodded frantically in my head.

Out loud, I had to pretend to be persuading him: "Uncle Raymond's business hasn't been doing well lately, so... oh, sit anywhere."

I looked around. There was nowhere to sit except a bunk bed.

Dominic sat on the edge of the bed, and I stood by the desk next to it.

I tried to ask: "Is Uncle Raymond asking for a lot of money?"

Dominic: "Not really. I just don't want to give it to him."

Out loud: "No, it's not that. But investment has to be effective. I can't just give him money and projects. He'd just run them into the ground again."

I pretended to understand: "Teach a man to fish, right?"

Just as expected, Dominic sneered: "So devoted to your father. That old bastard doesn't give a damn about you."

I rolled my eyes toward the window.

Then I "accidentally" knocked over a diary I'd just placed on the desk.

The trick was a bit cliché, and the handwriting looked fresh.

But I didn't care. As long as it got the conversation started.

A bright piece of paper fell out of the diary, covered in writing: "I hate Raymond Lu. I hate Raymond Lu. I hate..."

I pretended to panic and tried to hide it, but I "accidentally" let the paper fly onto Dominic.

He looked up at me.

I looked back at him.

Come on, man. If you don't take the bait, I'll never be able to crack that fake exterior of yours and get my point across.

17

Luckily, I heard Dominic's excited inner voice: "Raymond Lu treats her badly? Opportunity!"

My opportunity had arrived.

Tears streamed down my face: "I'm sorry. Can you please not tell anyone? I'm scared..."

Dominic's eyes darkened, a deep tenderness in them.

If I hadn't heard his thoughts, I might have been moved.

He: "If I don't tell, how can I destroy him?"

He gently took my hand and pulled me down to sit beside him on the bed: "Claire, are you still scared now?"

Wow. So gentle.

I shook my head: "Not when you're here."

He nodded solemnly: "You're my wife now. If anything makes you unhappy, or if anyone bullies you, you can tell me."

Great, man. That's exactly what I was waiting for.

Hiding things? Not an option.

But I had to make the act convincing, and I couldn't squeeze out that many tears, so I just rubbed my eyes hard.

Before I could even finish telling him about Raymond Lu, my eyes were already red.

Then I heard Dominic sigh softly in his mind: "She's pitiful too. Good thing she married me. If she'd ended up with that animal, how would she have survived?"

Me: "...Man, wake up. This is the time for you to come up with a full plan to destroy Raymond Lu, not sympathize with me."

But Dominic couldn't hear my thoughts.

The look in his eyes when he looked at me was actually a little warmer.

Inside: "She's nothing like Raymond Lu. I shouldn't hurt her."

I nodded vigorously: "Good to know you have a conscience."

I was desperately hoping to hear Dominic's battle plan.

But during the meal that followed, he didn't even think about it.

He spent the whole time taking care of me, occasionally letting out a soft sigh: "She really is pitiful. Just like Rainie."

18

Thanks a lot, Rainie.

I was very disappointed.

Raymond Lu was even more disappointed than I was, because once again, he didn't get any money from Dominic.

Of course, to keep up appearances, Dominic did give him the project they'd agreed on.

But pushing a project forward requires more money.

Raymond didn't have it.

He wanted Dominic to invest, arguing that the project belonged to the Warrington family anyway, so any profits would go to them.

Dominic looked at him like he was an idiot: "Do you know how much this project could make? How many people in South City are fighting for it? If you don't have the capital, I'll have to give it to someone else."

Raymond panicked: "But we had a deal! You were supposed to give me money!"

Dominic smiled, elegant and sarcastic: "Mr. Lu, you've been in business for years. How can you say something like that? Does anyone just give away money for free?"

"But I gave you Claire!"

"Oh."

Dominic let out a long "oh." He was finally making his move.

"Speaking of which, let me make something clear, Mr. Lu. I married Claire because she likes me. Not because you sold her."

He leaned in, staring into Raymond's eyes, and said slowly: "You don't have that right. And I wouldn't dare buy a living person."

With that, ignoring Raymond's bulging eyes, he took my hand and walked away.

Raymond Lu was furious: "Claire, you watch yourself!"

Dominic turned back, his gaze sharp as an arrow: "Mr. Lu, threatening my wife will come at a cost."

And with that, he strode off.

19

Watching them fight, watching Raymond Lu nearly explode with rage—it felt great.

But my mother was still in his hands.

The tricky part was that my mother thought Raymond Lu treated her well and didn't want to leave.

In reality, she was just a hostage, a tool to control me.

So before we even got home that day, my mother called.

"Claire, your Uncle Raymond has been good to you all these years."

I didn't answer, but Dominic's inner voice came first: "Yeah, so good he was about to drag your daughter into his bed. A pair of fools, mother and daughter."

And: "Poor Claire. Sold and counting the money for him. If she hadn't met me, she'd be dead."

I'll admit it. I suspect Dominic has a chatterbox living in his head. A chatterbox with a comedic streak.

He had way too many inner thoughts.

And since we were sitting so close, I couldn't even have a proper conversation with my mother. I had to hang up.

But he was just getting started.

He asked me: "Did you marry me just for Raymond Lu?"

"I was forced," I said.

He frowned.

Inside: "That's it?"

I rolled my eyes toward the car window and said provocatively: "What else? For love?"

Dominic: "Just as I thought."

I whipped my head around.

To my surprise, Dominic's ears were turning red.

His inner voice: "She decided to marry me after just one meeting. It must be love at first sight. She's just too shy to admit it, so she's using Raymond Lu as an excuse."

Me: "Nani?"

I wanted to get out of the car.

20

This was not going in the right direction.

I married him, first, to temporarily placate Raymond Lu and get out of his house, so I could figure out how to get my mother back later.

Second, Dominic was good-looking. If it had been any of the previous six, I'd have found a way to sabotage the whole thing.

Of course, once I could hear his thoughts, I became obsessed with destroying Raymond Lu.

But this guy in front of me, his focus kept veering off course at the worst possible moments.

Every time he looked at me, his mind was filled with images of how pitiful I was, how I'd been bullied for years without daring to fight back.

He was practically writing a tragedy in his head.

But he hadn't thought about fighting Raymond Lu even once. At least, not in front of me.

...

I did some serious soul-searching. Maybe I'd been laying it on too thick, giving Dominic psychological damage.

I decided to show him my bright, cheerful side.

So before my wedding leave was even over, I asked to go back to work, to face the colorful world with a positive attitude.

But in Dominic's eyes: "She clearly lacks a sense of security. Married to a man like me, and she still wants to work? Doesn't she know how much money she has?"

Right then and there, he pulled out a bank card and shoved it into my hand: "Take this. Buy whatever you want. Don't hold back."

That same day, he hired two maids.

One to clean the house, one to cook for me.

When he came home that night, he unloaded a mountain of things from the car and placed them all in front of me.

Clothes, shoes, jewelry, makeup, luxury goods.

He: "This should make her feel satisfied, right?"

Me: "!!!"

21

It was Raymond Lu who finally broke the stalemate.

He couldn't wait any longer. The new project was in his hands, but it wasn't starting, and Dominic was pressuring him.

The loans he'd taken out, the private debts he'd accrued—people were threatening to sue him, and some had already started showing up at his door to harass him.

He called me.

I answered. I agreed.

But I didn't do anything. I just said Dominic was busy.

He started using my mother.

When Luna Ashford showed up at Dominic's villa, I was sitting in a sun-drenched room, editing a comic.

She first marveled at how big Dominic's house was and how good my life was.

Then she was surprised that I was still working, despite having such a good life.

I stopped what I was doing and asked her: "Mom, how many years has it been since you had a job?"

She pouted and whined: "Your mother has never really worked. The world out there is so dangerous. I don't want to kill myself trying."

I looked up at her: "What if Raymond Lu pushed you out there to kill yourself?"

She smiled sweetly: "He wouldn't. Your Uncle Raymond treats me best. How could he bear to?"

"Then why are you here to see me now?"

Luna Ashford paused for half a second, then her smile returned: "I'm here to ask my daughter and son-in-law for a little favor. That's not killing myself."

"A little favor? Do you know how much money Raymond Lu needs? Do you know how much debt he has?"

My mother: "..."

Her face went blank.

I told her: "The project he got from Dominic needs two hundred million to get started. And he alone has six hundred million in bank loans. Plus his other debts, it's probably around a billion."

My mother was stunned.

Her mouth hung open, her eyes wide. She couldn't speak for a long time.

I thought I'd finally woken her up. I was about to explain how she could safely leave Raymond Lu.

But then she slapped me.

"You silly girl, have you been watching too much TV? Do you know how much a billion is? If your Uncle Raymond owed that much money, how could he still be living like this?"

Now it was my turn to be stunned.

The reason Raymond Lu owed so much money was precisely because he lived a life of luxury, poked holes everywhere, and gambled.

Seeing that she couldn't get anywhere with me, my mother prepared to leave: "I don't understand projects. But your Uncle Raymond has really been good to you all these years. He got you a job, prepared your dowry. If it weren't for him, how could you have married a good man like Dominic? So, help him out."

22

Dominic had an open conversation with me about my mother's visit.

He made it clear: he would never let Raymond Lu off the hook. For Rainie's sake.

As for my mother, if she could wake up, that would be best. If not, he couldn't worry about her.

This was the first time since I'd known him that he'd said exactly what he was thinking.

I understood his position, but I couldn't change the situation.

Given my mother's current attitude, even if I forcibly separated her from Raymond Lu, she'd find a way to go back to him and blame me for being ungrateful.

A mother who wouldn't even believe that her own husband had tried to molest her daughter—what could she possibly believe?

23

Things escalated quickly.

Because Dominic refused to invest, the project in Raymond Lu's hands was worthless.

But Raymond couldn't bear to just throw it away.

Since he couldn't do it himself, he decided to sell it.

He went behind Dominic's back and quickly struck a deal, hoping to make a profit.

But before the project could even officially start, Dominic found out.

And he immediately sued him.

The moment Dominic made his move, everyone who had been sitting on the sidelines saw their chance.

So the rich son-in-law of the Lu family had turned against them.

What were they waiting for? Everyone joined the lawsuit.

Raymond Lu was soon served with court papers.

The people blocking his door became even bolder, slapping seals on his house and splashing paint on the walls.

By the time my mother realized something was wrong, it was too late.

24

I got her call even later.

Her voice was frantic: "Claire, I've been kidnapped! Come quick..."

Then the phone was passed to someone else.

"Claire Ashford, right? We've got your mother. Raymond Lu used her to pay off a debt of two hundred thousand. You figure it out."

"Impossible. You're lying. Raymond wouldn't do that..."

I heard my mother screaming in the background. I hung up.