Chapter 16: Confrontation

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Looking at Arthur’s flawless smile, Tang Mi curled her lips, took her foot off his knee, and stood up, heading to the vanity. “You really don’t need to do this; I won’t thank you.” As she walked, the flowing hem of her dress brushed coldly past his feet.

Arthur stood up as well, his smile unchanging, seemingly unfazed by her coldness and rudeness.

“Have you memorized all the details?” he asked, standing behind her and fastening an emerald necklace around her neck.

“Yes,” she replied icily, looking at his reflection in the mirror.

“And your identity?”

“A zoologist and photographer from Asia, named Ann.”

“And my identity?” He clicked the clasp of the necklace shut.

“The heir of the Solomon family, one of Europe’s most powerful arms dealers,” she answered, frowning. The cold gemstones pressed against her skin through the fabric, sending a chill that crept like a snake onto her skin.

“And our relationship?” he asked, his gaze in the mirror fixed intently on her face, his bright eyes like the dazzling gemstones at her neck, reflecting a piercing light.

“Your mistress,” Tang Mi responded with a cold smirk, rolling her eyes.

Arthur’s expression darkened. Tang Mi felt the air around her grow cold, a dangerous chill snaking along her back, causing her skin to prickle.

Suddenly, he seized her wrist, his grip so strong that she almost felt her bones would break. “Remember, you are my fiancée, not my mistress.” He clamped her chin, turning her face to force her to look at him. “Why didn’t you follow what was set in the files?”

“I don’t think there’s any difference!” Tang Mi replied, enduring the sharp pain in her wrist, staring defiantly into Arthur’s eyes, even as his fierce gaze seemed to tear her apart.

“Foolish!”

“A mistress is someone you can discard or hand off, but a fiancée is the future matriarch of the Solomon family—this gives you the utmost protection within Emir’s sphere of influence.” A flash of anger crossed Arthur’s face, but he quickly suppressed it, lifting Tang Mi’s right hand and sliding an enormous emerald ring onto her middle finger.

“This is the Solomon family’s emblem, an honor reserved only for the wives of family heads. Without my permission, you are never to take it off—if you still wish to see Ma Jin alive.” Arthur held Tang Mi’s hand tightly.

“This is the Solomon family emblem, an honor reserved only for the wives of family heads. Without my permission, you are never to remove it—if you still want to see Ma Jin alive.” Arthur gripped Tang Mi’s fingers tightly, and the serious, complex look in his eyes made her feel a sudden panic, wanting to pull away, but she couldn’t move a single finger.

“Don’t overthink it; just be yourself—a zoologist and photographer. My team and I will handle the rest.”

“You won’t be in any danger, as long as you trust me, at least until the mission is over,” Arthur’s tone softened as he lifted her wrist and kissed it solemnly before leaving the room.

Tang Mi clenched her fingers, feeling his lingering warmth and strength, as if marked by some invisible brand.

The evening banquet was held in Emir’s “palace,” a vast estate that seamlessly blended traditional African architecture with modern elements. Surrounded by lush greenery, rare animals occasionally appeared, adding to the breathtaking beauty.

Tang Mi held Arthur’s arm, carefully observing her surroundings, her face showing the perfect mix of curiosity and excitement typical of someone visiting for the first time, while her mind replayed the information Arthur had given her: “Emir is a man of legend—not originally African, but from the Mediterranean. He built his fortune through drug trafficking before coming to Z country, where he established a rare metals company, essentially dealing in diamonds and oil, amassing immense wealth. For having built five of the most luxurious schools and hospitals in Z country’s history for free, Emir gained the respect of the locals, and Z country’s president personally appointed him as the local chief. But secretly, he is the true leader behind Z country’s rebel forces, controlling every action of the Anderson army, with his biggest supporter being A country’s government.”

“Why haven’t we seen Emir show up yet?” Tang Mi took a sip of her drink, noticing the glances some guests were casting in their direction, and leaned her head on Arthur’s shoulder with a smile, appearing as a loving partner.

Arthur wrapped an arm around her waist, carefully brushing aside a stray strand of hair from her cheek and murmured, “Be patient. He’s in the garden taking photos right now.”

“What if he doesn’t show up tonight?”

“He will. He makes a point of greeting his guests—that’s one of his so-called principles.”

“Hopefully, your intel isn’t wrong. If he doesn’t show, we’ve wasted our whole performance tonight.” Tang Mi looked up at Arthur from under her lashes with a sweet smile, though her eyes remained cold, reflecting his face indifferently.

“Simon is our best wiretapping expert. This information was intercepted from Emir’s attendant’s phone,” Arthur replied calmly, observing her expression with mixed emotions. Her performance tonight was excellent—calm and natural, showcasing an incredible adaptability from beginning to end, like a creature of the wild, instinctively blending into her surroundings without any training. But no matter how she changed, that spark of vibrant freedom in her eyes was impossible to conceal.

That spark in her eyes fascinated him, making him want to capture it, study it slowly, savor it, though he knew very well she was constantly resisting him.

But her resistance didn’t matter at the moment; they’d have plenty of time later. Right now, the priority was ensuring her safety and successfully completing the mission.

Arthur smiled slightly and tightened his arm around Tang Mi.

“Hope everything goes as you say. I’d like to visit the restroom—if you don’t mind, dear fiancé,” she said, blinking.

The warmth of his arm and body was making her feel almost breathless, and her feet instinctively wanted to flee.

“Not at all, just don’t be long, my sweet,” Arthur replied, playing his part with a longing gaze.

When she slipped away from his arm without hesitation, he frowned to himself. “Escaping so quickly still leaves a trace of suspicion. She’ll need more training.”

Tang Mi stepped outside.

The air in the courtyard was cool, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees. Laughter and music floated softly from the corridor, mingling with the low hum of insects in the dark, blue night sky—like a glass of cold vodka with a slice of lemon, which was the pale yellow moon in the distance.

It calmed her completely. She wasn’t used to crowded places or talking to strangers and had once gone two whole years without speaking a word (during a period of autism). Observing quietly, reflecting, and discovering interesting details around her was her greatest enjoyment, though it didn’t mean she refused communication with the outside world. Instead of words, she preferred using a camera to converse with the world.

But now, her routine was broken because of Arthur—the man holding her adoptive father’s life in his hands.

His appearance had been unexpected, though her life was full of surprises. The tragic death of her parents in her childhood, the terrifying experiences at the orphanage, and the nature of her work as an adult had ensured a life of constant danger. This had also honed her brain and body to react with the fastest and most precise responses to adapt to any changes in her environment. But Arthur brought an unprecedented challenge—she couldn’t see through his intentions, couldn’t adjust to his unpredictability, and couldn’t escape his control. Unknowingly, he led her steps into a pre-set abyss.

Finishing the mission quickly and staying far from him was her only thought now.

Tang Mi lifted her skirt to return to the hall, knowing Arthur would be displeased if she lingered too long. Of course, it wouldn’t be blatant violence, but rather a deep psychological invasion and blow—that was his usual method.

Just as she took a step, a flash of silver light shot out from the direction of the pond, followed by a soft crackling sound. It flickered twice and arced through the night like a shooting star.

“It’s a camera flash—someone’s taking pictures,” she thought, surprised, turning her head and unconsciously stepping closer to the pond.