The scandal faded almost as quickly as it had erupted. Thanks to the press conference, the tabloids had little fuel left, and the internet turned its attention to the next trending story.
But peace was short-lived.
Three days later, Yuexi was in the garden, trimming roses under the soft warmth of the morning sun, when Liu Mei approached, holding an envelope with the seal of Galaxy Entertainment.
"This came for you, Mrs. Lu," Liu Mei said, her voice tinged with hesitation.
Yuexi set down the shears, slipping off her gloves. "For me?"
The envelope felt heavier than it looked. She opened it carefully and unfolded the crisp letter inside.
Her breath caught.
An official casting invitation. A leading role in a highly anticipated drama adaptation. The kind of offer actresses dreamed about for years—yet one she hadn't dared imagine since marrying into the Lu family.
Beneath the letter, a personal note was scrawled in neat handwriting:
I believe this role was meant for you. Don't let your light go dim just because of your marriage. —Gu Yichen
Her hands trembled slightly as she read it again.
By evening, the letter sat on the polished surface of Chenxuan's study desk. He stood by the window, the city skyline glowing behind him, the paper held between his fingers.
"So," he said slowly, his voice low and unreadable, "Gu Yichen thinks he can handpick roles for you now?"
Yuexi shifted uneasily. "I didn't ask for this. He sent it on his own."
"Did you respond?" His gaze, sharp and unblinking, pinned her in place.
"No." She swallowed. "I didn't even know if I should tell you."
A long silence stretched between them.
Finally, Chenxuan set the letter down with deliberate care. "You're my wife, Yuexi. And Mrs. Lu doesn't go running back to the stage because some actor thinks it's a good idea."
Her temper flared. "So I'm not allowed to decide anything for myself? Not even about my own career?"
His eyes darkened. "Your career ended the moment you signed our contract. You knew that."
"I didn't end it, Chenxuan. I put it on hold. There's a difference." Her voice trembled, but she refused to back down. "You talk about respect, but you don't give me any choices. You make them all for me."
For a fleeting second, his composure slipped. His jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides.
"You think the entertainment world is harmless?" he said coldly. "One rumor nearly tore your name apart. Do you know how quickly they would devour you if you stepped back into it now? You don't need their approval, Yuexi. You have my name."
His words echoed in the study, heavy and absolute.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly. You have my name. It sounded like protection, but it also felt like a cage.
Before she could reply, his phone rang. He answered sharply, turning away. Yuexi stood frozen, her throat tight, her heart aching with words she couldn't say.
Later that night, she sat on the balcony alone, the city lights glittering in the distance. The letter from Galaxy Entertainment lay folded in her lap.
She remembered the stage lights, the thrill of performance, the sound of applause. It had been her dream long before she became Mrs. Lu.
Now, it felt like a dream slipping farther and farther away.
Her phone buzzed. A message.
Gu Yichen:Don't let him silence you. You belong on the screen, Yuexi.
She stared at the words, torn between fear and longing.
Behind her, the balcony door slid open. She turned quickly, startled.
Chenxuan stood there, his expression shadowed by the city glow. His eyes fell to the phone in her hands. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he stepped closer, his voice low, almost dangerous. "Delete it."
Her breath caught. "What?"
"Delete his number." His gaze locked with hers, burning with something unspoken—anger, maybe jealousy, maybe something deeper. "As long as you're my wife, Gu Yichen has no place in your life."
The tension between them crackled in the night air.
And for the first time, Yuexi realized that beneath Chenxuan's cold control was something else—something that scared her even more than his indifference.
Possession.