The morning sun broke through the large windows of the luxurious penthouse, casting golden rays across the polished marble floors. Leon stirred from his slumber, his head pounding from the whiskey he had consumed the night before. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the light.
He sat up, groaning slightly, and rubbed his temples. The events from the previous night filtered back into his mind—the escape, the empty bed, the imposter under the blankets. His expression darkened.
A sharp knock echoed through the room.
"Enter," Leon barked.
His assistant pushed open the door, followed by a man in his forties wearing a driver's uniform—his face pale and nervous.
"This is the taxi driver, sir," the assistant said, bowing slightly.
Leon's sharp eyes locked onto the driver.
"You drove a woman dressed as a nurse last night. Where did you take her?"
The driver looked terrified. "I—I'm sorry, sir. I don't know where she is."
Leon rose from the bed, calm and cold. He stepped toward the man and pulled a sleek, black pistol from his nightstand drawer. He cocked it with one hand and placed the barrel against the driver's temple.
"I'll ask one more time. Where did you take her?"
The driver trembled. His voice shook. "Okay, okay! Please don't shoot! I took her outside the city... to a countryside home. She said it was her grandparents' place. Please, I swear that's all I know."
Leon narrowed his eyes. "If you're lying, I'll find you. And you won't live to regret it."
"I'm not lying! I swear!"
Leon nodded once to his assistants. "We're leaving. Now."
Back at the peaceful countryside estate, Yun Lan was completely unaware of the approaching storm. Birds chirped gently outside the window as she opened her eyes, finally able to sleep peacefully for once. The warm scent of blooming flowers drifted in from the garden.
She stretched and sat up, wincing slightly from the soreness in her limbs. But the comfort of her grandparents' home was soothing. She slipped into a pale pink sundress and tied her hair into a soft braid, admiring the quiet morning.
After a warm shower, she joined her grandparents for breakfast. They smiled brightly, glad to have their granddaughter back after so long. She couldn't bear to tell them the truth—about the man who had forced her into marriage, the prison-like hospital room, or the escape. No, today she wanted peace.
Later that morning, she took a walk in the garden, the soft petals brushing her fingers as she picked wildflowers into a small woven basket. Her grandparents followed slowly behind, chatting and admiring the weather.
Yun Lan breathed deeply. For the first time in weeks, she felt almost free.
Three hours and one tense drive later, Leon's black SUV pulled to a stop just outside the estate. The countryside was peaceful, deceptively so. Birds chirped, the wind swayed the flowers—but Leon's presence disrupted the calm like a storm.
He turned to his assistants. "Wait here."
He stepped out of the vehicle, long strides carrying him through the narrow path and through the old iron gate into the garden. The moment his foot touched the path, he saw her.
Far off, a figure in a flowing pink dress stood among the blooms, her head bowed as she picked flowers.
Yun Lan's heart skipped a beat when she sensed the air shift. She turned slowly—and froze.
There, walking toward her with that unmistakable cold intensity, was Leon.
Her basket fell from her hands.
"No... it can't be..." she whispered.
She turned and sprinted toward the house, her heart hammering in her chest.
"Grandma! Grandpa! Hurry, go inside!" she shouted as she ran.
Her grandparents looked up in surprise.
"What is it, Yun Lan?"
"He found me! You need to go inside now!"
She practically pushed them toward the house. They didn't understand, but they saw the panic in her eyes and obeyed. She slammed the door shut behind them and locked it quickly. Her chest heaved with fear.
"This way!" she whispered, leading her grandparents to a hidden panel behind the kitchen. They had a secret room—once built in case of emergencies—an old relic of her grandfather's cautious days.
The room was small but hidden well. Yun Lan helped her grandparents inside and followed after, closing the panel.
Outside, Leon reached the front door.
It was locked.
He smirked. "Smart girl."
But she wouldn't get far this time.
Inside the room, Yun Lan's heart beat wildly in her chest. She placed a hand over her mouth to silence her breathing.
Her grandfather whispered, "Who is he, Yun Lan?"
She hesitated. "Someone... I shouldn't have saved."
Leon paced around the house. There were no signs of his men. No sounds from inside. He pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Surround the house. No one gets out. I want her alive."
His voice was a quiet growl, deadly calm.
Inside the hidden room, Yun Lan felt the walls closing in.
She didn't know how much longer they could stay hidden. And worse—what he would do once he found her.
Yun Lan's breath came in shallow gasps, her back pressed tightly against the cool wooden wall of the secret room. Her grandmother's hand rested protectively on her knee, but even her warm touch couldn't stop the shiver crawling down Yun Lan's spine. Every creak of the house above them sounded like footsteps—his footsteps.
"I shouldn't have come here," Yun Lan whispered, eyes wide and guilt clouding her gaze. "I dragged you into this."
"Hush now," her grandfather said gently. "No one's going to hurt you, Xiao Lan. Not as long as we're here."
But Yun Lan wasn't sure of that. She knew him—Leon. If he had found her once, he would do it again. And this time, he wouldn't let her slip away.
Above them, a door slammed. Heavy boots thudded against the floorboards, echoing through the silence. Yun Lan's heart pounded louder with each passing second. She could almost feel him—his heat, his rage, his possessiveness.
"Check every room," Leon's voice barked somewhere upstairs. "Don't miss a single inch. If she's here, I want her found now."
Yun Lan buried her face in her hands. Her grandmother wrapped an arm around her and held her close, whispering a prayer under her breath. But it was too late.
The floorboards groaned directly above them.
They were running out of time.
Suddenly, a loud bang made Yun Lan jolt. Then silence. Heavy, oppressive silence.
Her grandfather reached toward a small latch hidden in the wall. "If something happens… run through the back tunnel. It leads to the forest."
Yun Lan bit her lip. She didn't want to leave her grandparents behind. But deep down, she knew Leon would tear this place apart to get to her. And he was getting closer.
Will Leon find Yun Lan and what will he do when he finds where is she?