Chapter 16 – The Morning After
The first rays of dawn slipped through the curtains, painting the room in muted shades of gold and grey. The storm that had raged through the night was gone, leaving behind a silence so fragile that Lin Yue was afraid even her breathing might shatter it.
She stirred slightly, her body sore but warm, wrapped in the embrace of the man she had spent the night with. Mo Chen's arm rested firmly around her waist, his palm spread possessively against her skin as if anchoring her there. His steady breathing brushed the back of her neck, calm, unguarded.
For a moment, Lin Yue allowed herself the indulgence of stillness. She listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat against her back, felt the heat of his body seeping into hers. It was dangerous, this feeling—this illusion of peace, of belonging. She knew it was temporary, yet her chest ached with the quiet wish that it wasn't.
Her eyes fluttered shut. Memories of the night before came rushing back—the slow burn of his kisses, the way his voice trembled when he said her name, the tenderness in his touch. She had seen a side of him that no one else did: vulnerable, raw, desperate. It had shaken her more than any threat he had ever thrown at her.
But as the minutes ticked by, reality began to creep in like a cold draft. This man… he was still her enemy. The same Mo Chen who had destroyed her family, who had forced her into this marriage for reasons she could not fully understand. Whatever tenderness he had shown her in the darkness of night would not erase the truth of the daylight.
Lin Yue shifted carefully, trying to slip out of his hold before he woke. But the moment she moved, his arm tightened instinctively, pulling her back against him.
"Where are you going?" His voice was rough with sleep, low and husky, brushing against her ear.
Her breath caught. "I—" She hesitated, then forced a calm tone. "It's morning. I should get up."
His hold on her loosened slightly, but he didn't let go. Instead, he buried his face in her hair, inhaling softly as if memorizing her scent. "Stay a little longer."
Her heart skipped, traitorous in its response to his quiet plea. She wanted to resist, to remind him that this marriage was nothing but a cage. But lying there, feeling the warmth of his breath, the sincerity of his tone, she couldn't bring herself to push him away.
"Mo Chen…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Last night… was it just another way to make me submit?"
He stilled. Slowly, he turned her in his arms until she was facing him. His eyes, still heavy with sleep, locked onto hers with a piercing intensity.
"Do you think I'd treat you like that if it meant nothing?" His thumb brushed against her cheek, wiping away the faint dampness she hadn't realized lingered from her tears. "Lin Yue, I don't regret a single moment of last night. Do you?"
Her lips parted, but no words came out. Did she regret it? No. That was the truth she couldn't speak aloud. She regretted how much she wanted it to mean something more.
When she didn't answer, his jaw tightened, but he didn't press further. Instead, he leaned down, brushing her lips with his in the softest kiss, a lingering whisper of the fire they had shared.
The intimacy of it sent a pang through her chest. She pushed against him lightly, creating space between them. "You can't erase what you've done to me and my family with a night like that," she said, her tone sharper than the tears pricking her eyes.
His expression darkened, shadows flickering in his gaze. For a moment, she thought he would lash out, remind her of the power he held over her life. But instead, he exhaled slowly, a mixture of frustration and something deeper—something that looked too much like regret.
"I know," he murmured finally. "But I won't let you go, Lin Yue. No matter how much you hate me, you'll always be mine."
Her heart twisted. It was a promise, a curse, and a plea all at once.
She turned away, sitting up and pulling the sheets around her like armor. "You don't own me," she whispered, though the tremble in her voice betrayed her.
Behind her, she felt the weight of his stare, heavy and unyielding. Yet he didn't reach for her again.
Instead, he lay back against the pillows, his expression unreadable now, the mask of the ruthless tycoon sliding back into place. The tenderness of the night was gone, replaced by the cold reality of who they were in daylight.
Lin Yue stood, gathering her clothes in silence. Her fingers shook as she dressed, but she refused to let him see her weakness. When she reached the door, his voice stopped her.
"Lin Yue."
She froze, not turning.
His words came soft, almost breaking. "Even if the world hates me for it, I'll protect you. That much, I can promise."
Her throat tightened, her eyes stinging with tears she refused to shed. Without a reply, she left the room, closing the door behind her.
Mo Chen lay still, staring at the ceiling, the ghost of her warmth lingering in his arms. For the first time in years, he felt powerless. Last night, he had given her everything he couldn't put into words. And still, the distance between them remained.
The storm outside had passed, but the one between them was only just beginning.