Eternal Marriage

Testing His Patience

The moon hung low over the castle, casting an eerie glow through the arched windows. Gu Xiaoruan’s arm throbbed with pain as Huang Tingyue’s grip tightened around her wrist. “Apologize,” he growled, his voice a mix of venom and ice. “Or I’ll make you regret every breath you take.”

Her defiance burned in her bones. “You’re a monster!” she spit, her voice hoarse from anger and fear. “Even if I begged you on my knees, I’d never—”

A sharp c***k of pain interrupted her. Huang Tingyue had slammed her against the wall, his knee crushing her ribs with brutal force. “You think you’re immune to pain?” he sneered, his fingers tracing the line of her broken arm. “Your brother’s life depends on your cooperation.”

Gu Xiaoruan’s vision blurred. The memory of Zhong Sheng—weak and vulnerable in that sterile hospital bed—haunted her. She squeezed her eyes shut, tasting salt from her tears. “You’re insane,” she whispered through gritted teeth. “Why go to such extremes for a child?”

Huang Tingyue’s laugh was cold and devoid of humor. “Because you’re the only one who can carry the empire’s future,” he explained, his hand sliding up her dress. “And you’re mine, body and soul.”

The world exploded with chaos as he dragged her outside. The presidential limousine’s headlights sliced through the darkness like twin blades. Guards in dragon-embroidered uniforms snapped to attention, their rifles glinting ominously.

“Bind her to the hunting grounds,” Huang Tingyue ordered, his voice calm yet lethal. “Let the beasts teach her submission.”

As they marched toward the rear of the estate, Gu Xiaoruan’s heart pounded in her chest. The moonlight revealed a massive stone wall topped with barbed wire—a prison within a paradise. Beyond the fence, leopards prowled, their tails flicking lazily in the breeze.

When they arrived at the platform, her legs went numb. The guards hoisted her onto a rickety metal scaffold, securing her wrists to rusted chains that dangled over a pit filled with hungry wolves.

“Apologize now, and I’ll spare your brother,” Huang Tingyue taunted, stepping back into the shadows. His silhouette was framed by flickering torches, casting dancing shadows across his face.

Gu Xiaoruan’s laugh echoed through the night. “You think threats work on me?” She shook her head, defiance in every fiber. “I’d rather die than bow to your sick games!”

A leopard’s roar shattered the silence. The creature lunged toward her, its claws inches from her face. Gu Xiaoruan froze, her breath caught in her throat. Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the leopard retreated, its hunger sated by the scent of prey elsewhere.

Huang Tingyue’s patience snapped. “Remove her!” he barked. The guards yanked her down, their rough hands leaving red marks on her skin. As they dragged her toward the presidential limousine, she caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window. His face was a mask of rage, but his eyes… they glowed with an unnerving hunger.