Eternal Marriage

The city pulsed with neon lights, casting a garish glow over the upscale club where a group of women in skimpy bikinis waited, their expressions a mix of anxiety and desperation. Gu Xiaoruan adjusted the straps of her dress, feeling an inexplicable heat rise within her. She needed to wrap up this swimsuit audition quickly—her boyfriend, Lin Hai, was waiting for her. The audition, held in a high-end club, was never just about talent. The entertainment industry's underbelly was rife with power-for-s*x deals, and Gu Xiaoruan had long since grown accustomed to it. She shook off her gloomy thoughts, having just turned down a lecherous tycoon. Perhaps it was her refusal that kept her stuck as a B-list actress. With a heavy heart, she checked her room key card and forced herself into the elevator. A sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. The champagne she'd been served must have been drugged. The elevator doors slid open to reveal a grand lobby, its opulence only amplified by the "Presidential Suite" sign at the end of the corridor. The entire floor was empty, save for one open door. That must be the place. Gu Xiaoruan's body felt like it was on fire as she stepped onto the plush crimson carpet, eight attendants scurrying to clear her path. The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, and the man inside frowned, clearly displeased by the breach of protocol. "Who let her use the bathroom?" he barked. "She had no choice, Your Excellency," a trembling servant replied. The president was notoriously averse to germs; he never touched anything a second time. Yet this woman had dared to use his private space. The man loosened his tie, frustration gnawing at him. He'd been poisoned at a diplomatic banquet that evening, and now his body was consumed by an uncontrollable fire. But his willpower had always been iron-clad—until now. He gripped his groin, frustration boiling over as he shattered a priceless vase with a roar. He was the President of Hua, a man rarely seen in the company of women. It wasn't just his stern nature; the truth was far more damning. He was impotent. Darkness enveloped him as a warm, trembling body crashed into his arms. "Help me," she moaned, her breath sweet and fresh, like honeysuckle. The scent triggered an immediate, overwhelming response. The man's control shattered. He crushed her against him, claiming her with relentless ferocity. The next morning, Gu Xiaoruan awoke to an empty bed, a diamond-encrusted black watch the only clue to the night's true nature. Her sheets were stained with blood, and her body bore the marks of a brutal encounter. How could the gentle Lin Hai she knew be capable of such ferocity? The alcohol, she rationalized. It must have been the alcohol. Panic set in as she dialed Lin Hai's number, but the calls went unanswered. At the Hua family estate, Lin Hai ended the ringing and pounced on a giggling woman. "Why don't you go check on your sister?" Gu Xiaoman suggested with a malicious smile. "Who cares about that slut? You're much more to my liking in bed." After their tryst, Gu Xiaoman called her sister. "How was your night?" she taunted. "Wonderful, thank you," Gu Xiaoruan replied, still in denial. "You're such a fool," Gu Xiaoman laughed. "Last night, your 'brother' was with me." Gu Xiaoruan's world crumbled as her sister revealed the truth: the room key had been swapped, and there had been multiple men. Her mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. If not Lin Hai, then who was the man from the previous night? She turned, her heart pounding with dread.