I Chose The Ruthless Billionaire

Chapter 06: The Lotus Chain

ALTHEA

I had lost track of time.

Standing in my spacious bedroom, I clutched my crystal wine glass and stared out the floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the moonlit hills surrounding the estate. I let out a low sigh, then tilted my head back, drinking down the rest of the dark red liquid in one long, reckless swallow.

My plan for tonight had been simple: sit down, map out my schedule for the week, and figure out how to make my time tomorrow productive. But no matter how hard I tried, my brain refused to focus on work. Instead, it kept replaying the scene from dinner on an endless loop.

The low, lethal tone in Xian’s voice. The quiet, effortless way he had brought a wealthy socialite to her knees just to protect my dignity. He had looked so dangerously attractive—so overwhelmingly sexy—when he stood up for me.

I shook my head violently, slapping a hand against my cheek. "Wake up, Althea!" I whispered aloud to the empty room. Snap out of it. It’s just business. Remember the contract.

I was still trying to talk myself back into composure when a quiet, firm knock echoed through the room.

My heavy, slightly uncooperative feet obeyed automatically, carrying me across the dark hardwood floor. I pulled the heavy double doors open, and there he stood.

Zhao Xian.

"Husband," I murmured softly, the word slipping past my lips before my brain could filter it. The alcohol was definitely to blame

I sniffed, my cheeks warm, and gave him a loose, drunken smile. "What are you doing here? Miss mo 'ko?" I asked in Tagalog, my native tongue slipping out without permission.

I let out a soft laugh at my own silly joke. Xian’s dark, flawless eyebrows raised just a fraction of an inch, his quiet gaze remaining entirely unbothered.

"Joke lang," I giggled, waving a hand in the air. "What brings you here? What time is it?" I tried to shift into a serious, professional tone, but there was no hiding the slight slur in my voice.

His cold, dark eyes swept over my face, scanning the flush on my cheeks before he took a single, commanding step over the threshold, invading my personal space.

"You're drunk," he stated flatly.

"Just a little," I corrected, leaning my hip against the doorframe to keep my balance as the floor subtly swayed beneath me.

Before I could slip, his warm, large hand found the small of my waist. His grip was firm, steadying me effortlessly as he guided me away from the door and over to the edge of the large king-sized bed. He pressed down gently on my shoulder, forcing me to sit.

"Stay still. I just came to give you something," Xian said smoothly.

He reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a sleek, velvet-lined jeweler’s box. He popped the latch open with a quiet click.

My vision was slightly blurry from the wine, making it hard to focus on whatever was inside. "What's that?" I asked, squinting cluelessly.

"A chain," he answered shortly.

"What?" I frowned, my intoxicated brain struggling to process his words.

"A chain," he repeated, his deep voice carrying a quiet, possessive edge. "I'm chaining you to me. Wear this tomorrow evening at the gala. I'll have your dress brought to your room tomorrow afternoon."

Even through the fog of alcohol, a wave of confusion hit me, but I simply nodded. I held out my palm, expecting him to hand over the box so I could inspect it.

Xian ignored my outstretched hand entirely.

Instead of handing me the box or the necklace, he stepped around the bed, taking a seat directly behind me. The sudden dip in the mattress and the heavy warmth of his body hovering close sent a sudden ripple through my senses.

"Hold your hair," he instructed softly near my ear.

I lifted my hair off my neck with trembling fingers. I blinked against the haze, watching as his long, elegant fingers reached around my shoulders, delicately fastening a thin platinum chain around my throat.

My hand rose, my fingertips brushing against the cool metal of the pendant resting against my collarbone. It was a intricately carved lotus flower, encrusted with tiny, brilliant stones that caught the dim light of the room. It was subtle, delicate, and looked obscenely expensive—likely worth more than my entire life's savings.

"Do I have to wear it now?" I asked softly, my heart beating a erratic rhythm against my ribs.

I couldn't tell if I was imagining it because of the wine, but for a split second, I felt a feather-light, velvet softness press against the side of my neck—right where the platinum chain rested against my skin.

"Wear it every day," Xian whispered directly into my ear.

A sharp, electric chill flared down my spine, pooling low in my stomach. Damn it. Why was he standing so close? Why did his voice sound like a dark velvet spell in the quiet room?

Before I could process the heat rising to my face, Xian stood up, his towering figure breaking the spell as he stepped away from the bed. His expression was once again an unreadable, icy mask.

"Stop drinking and go to sleep," he said coldly.

Without waiting for my answer, he walked over to the side table, picked up the half-empty bottle of wine I had planned on finishing, and tucked it under his arm.

He stepped out into the hallway, shutting the heavy double doors behind him with a quiet, decisive click.

Left alone in the quiet darkness of the room, I had no choice but to kick off my shoes, crawl under the heavy duvet, and collapse onto the pillows.

I woke up with heavy eyelids and a dull throb behind my temples. Damn, that wine must have been far stronger than I thought. My throat felt completely dry, so I reached up and rubbed my neck right where my throat was located.

There, my fingers found something cold and smooth. A necklace?

My sluggish mind slowly processed what had actually happened before I realized that last night wasn’t just a strange, alcohol-induced dream. I quickly scrambled out of bed, my feet rushing across the soft rug toward the walk-in closet, stopping right in front of the full-length mirror.

I swallowed hard, staring at my reflection. This wasn't a "chain"—it was a breathtaking piece of art. A delicate lotus pendant carved from rare platinum, glittering with tiny, perfectly set diamonds that caught the morning light.

"Is he pranking me? Why did he call this a chain?" I asked myself, tilting my head. But no matter how absurd his words had been, the sheer beauty of the necklace made an uncontrollable smile bloom across my face.

I had spent my whole life living modestly, never imagining I would ever wear something this exquisite. Looking at it triggered a part of my natural personality—the playful, vibrant side of myself I had mastered hiding behind a strict, professional mask ever since I became a teacher.

Determined to enjoy my morning, I decided to dress up just for myself. I didn't care if I was staying home all day because it was the weekend; our official public appearance as a couple wouldn't start until seven this evening at the charity gala. It was time to chill and prepare, so healing my natural self came first.

I chose a simple, elegant ivory knit dress that hugged my frame comfortably while letting the lotus pendant rest perfectly against my collarbone. I paired it with sleek flat shoes that complemented the outfit, and gathered my long, wavy hair into a clean, polished high ponytail.

Feeling refreshed and surprisingly cheerful, I headed downstairs to the main dining room to find something for my dry throat and empty stomach.

When I stepped through the arched doorway, I froze.

Xian was already seated at the head of the long marble table. He looked effortlessly sharp, wearing a dark grey dress shirt with the top button undone and sleeves neatly folded up his forearms. He held a digital tablet in one hand, scanning financial news, while his other hand calmly lifted a porcelain cup to sip his black coffee.

The quiet sound of my flat shoes against the marble made him pause.

Slowly, Xian lowered his coffee cup and looked up. His dark eyes caught mine, traveling from my clean ponytail down to the simple ivory dress, before finally lingering on the platinum lotus glinting against my neck.

For several long seconds, he just stared.

His usual unreadable expression wavered—just for a fraction of a second—his gaze softened into an intense, quiet appraisal that made my pulse stumble. The silence in the dining room stretched, thick and heavy, until Xian cleared his throat softly, adjusting his posture and instantly composing his natural, cold self once again.

"Good morning," he said, his deep voice smooth as velvet as he set his coffee down. "I see you didn't forget my instructions."

"Good morning," I replied, pulling out the chair to his right and sitting down. "And how could I forget? You called a multi-million-dollar diamond necklace a chain and threatened to tie me up with it."

A faint, almost imperceptible tilt touched the corner of his lips before disappearing. "It serves its purpose. It marks you as mine to anyone who looks."

"It's beautiful, Xian. Thank you," I said genuinely, pouring myself a glass of cold water to soothe my dry throat. "Though I still think your sense of humor is terrifying."

"It wasn't a joke," he said flatly, picking up his tablet again, though his eyes remained fixed on me over the screen. "How is your head?"

"Surviving. Though I've learned my lesson about drinking your expensive cellar wine on an empty stomach."

"Good. You will need a clear head tonight," Xian said, his tone shifting into his usual businesslike authority. "The gala tonight isn't just a social gathering, Althea. It is the annual Zhao Foundation Gala. Every major business rival, board member, and journalist in the country will be watching us."

I took a sip of water, setting the glass down neatly. "I figured. What's the plan?"