*Chapter 15: Fragments of Hope*
The penthouse came alive again with Mei Yan's arrival, her laughter spilling into the cold spaces. One of Zhao Liang's friends joined her soon after, and the two of them clashed instantly, trading barbed remarks that made Li Xue's stomach ache with quiet laughter.
"Your arrogance could sink a ship," Mei Yan snapped, arms crossed.
"And yet you're still standing here, arguing with me," he shot back with a smug grin.
Li Xue watched them with cautious joy. For the first time in days, she felt like life was more than chains and silence. The room carried warmth, even if it came from bickering sparks.
But the illusion shattered the moment Zhao Liang entered. His presence drained the laughter from the air, his eyes narrowing as they fell on Li Xue's smile.
The shift was subtle but undeniable — a tightening of his jaw, a flicker in his gaze. Possession? Jealousy? She couldn't tell.
He crossed the room without a word, his silence louder than thunder. With a single glance, he reminded her of the invisible chains binding her to him.
The warmth Mei Yan and his friend had brought scattered like dust, leaving Li Xue cold once more.
Later, when the guests were gone, she lingered by the balcony. Her hands clutched the railing as tears pricked her eyes. She had laughed today. She had felt alive. And Zhao Liang had stolen it from her with nothing more than a look.
"Why won't you let me breathe?" she whispered into the night.
The city lights twinkled below, indifferent to her pain. Behind her, the penthouse door clicked shut, and Zhao Liang's shadow fell across the room.
And in that moment, Li Xue knew — fragments of hope would always be shattered beneath his gaze.