Mistaken Bed, CEO's Bride

A white T-shirt, jeans, underwear, and a man's belt, along with a scattered shirt, lay strewn across the carpet. The room was in complete disarray. On the bed, two bodies were tightly entangled. Occasionally, the low, rough panting of a man could be heard. Xia Nuanuan's eyes were blurred with tears as the man thrust into her from behind, the pain forcing her to bury her face in the crook of her arm. The man had sun-kissed skin, with a well-defined eight-pack above his waist and a striking V-line below. His face remained calm and composed, yet he was uncontrollably taking the woman, driven by the overwhelming effects of the drug that had left him in a daze. "It hurts—" Xia Nuanuan's voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum. Gripping the sheets, she dared not make another sound. Yet the relentless thrusts behind her did not stop because of her plea. What followed was a storm of violent possession. The man bit her back and continued his savage assault, claiming her with near-brutal dominance until she was utterly exhausted. This frenzied invasion lasted nearly three hours. Even when she could no longer bear it, in her hazy consciousness, she could still feel the man's relentless movements beneath her. ... When Xia Nuanuan woke, the world outside was still shrouded in darkness. Beside her lay the man, his breathing steady and rhythmic. In a panic, she scrambled off the bed, nearly tripping over the work uniform scattered by the door. Carefully, she picked it up—her best friend's waitress outfit—and slipped it on before quietly fleeing. Near the bar was a park for the elderly. Xia Nuanuan sat on a bench, recalling the past three years, which felt like a nightmare. Three years ago, her boyfriend had embezzled company funds. For the sake of his future, she had selflessly taken the blame at his urging and gone to prison in his place. Ye Anyi had made her a promise: "Nuanuan, once you're out, we'll get married." That morning, she had finally completed her three-year sentence. Cut off from the world for three years, enduring humiliation and hardship—all because of Ye Anyi's words. She had clung to them, only to return to her old home and witness Ye Anyi entangled with another woman on the couch. When he saw her, he was first shocked, then annoyed. "What are you doing here?" This was her home—why couldn't she be there? Staring at the disheveled woman on the sofa, Xia Nuanuan felt her heart turn to ash. "I was released today. Did you forget?" "I've been too busy lately," he replied dismissively. This apartment had been bought by her, though the deed was in Ye Anyi's name. She had sacrificed three years of her life for him, only for him to claim he was "too busy" to remember her release date—too busy screwing another woman in her home. The irony was almost laughable. That promise of marriage after her release now seemed like nothing more than a cruel joke. Xia Nuanuan's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Did you forget what you promised me? Never mind. Just give me back the apartment and get out of my house." She had nothing left—only the hope of a place to call home. Ye Anyi smirked mockingly. "Nuanuan, the deed is in *my* name. How is this your house? You just got out of prison. If you have nowhere to go, you can stay in the guest room tonight. I kept all your things there. Go clean up." Three years had worn Xia Nuanuan down to the barest expectations of life, while Ye Anyi had become utterly unrecognizable. She slapped him across the face. "I took the fall for you. I bought this apartment. When you were an exchange student abroad, I supported your father. I gave him a proper funeral. What the hell was I to you?" Struck where it hurt, Ye Anyi's eyes turned cold. "Nuanuan, the evidence was solid. The moment the court convicted you of embezzlement, you became a criminal. Times have changed. Out of respect for our past, I’m letting you stay. Don’t push your luck." Xia Nuanuan took a deep breath, glancing at the woman on the sofa who was engrossed in her phone, giggling as if none of this concerned her. She had given everything willingly, only to be met with "times have changed."The joke had been on her all along. "I still have direct evidence of your embezzlement. Don’t force my hand, Ye Anyi," she said coldly. But Ye Anyi only laughed. "Nuanuan, your mother has a weak heart, doesn’t she? She still doesn’t know you spent the last three years in prison, right? If I tell her her daughter was a convict, do you think she’d be devastated?" Xia Nuanuan's breath hitched. Raised by a single mother, Xia Fengmei had a heart condition and worked tirelessly at a textile factory, stitching embroidery to support them. She had always dreamed of her daughter’s success. Learning about the prison sentence would destroy her. "You wouldn’t dare—" Xia Nuanuan’s voice trembled with rage. She raised her hand to strike again, but Ye Anyi shoved her, sending her crashing into the coffee table. "I’m the general manager of Brightstar Group now, Xia Nuanuan. Know your place!" With that, he led the woman into the bedroom, leaving her behind. A bruise swelled on her forehead, but the real pain was in her chest—as if countless needles were piercing her heart.