Chapter 3

Just as the vase was about to smash into Xu Wangzhi, he dodged.

Wen Jianxin’s heart sank—disappointed that she hadn’t managed to kill him with a single blow.

Xu Wangzhi bent down, picked up the shredded clothes he had torn from her earlier, and held them close to his nose. Inhaling deeply, he gave her a look laced with insinuation.

“Since you’re the one who injured me, why not use your clothes to bandage my wounds? That way, it’ll be just like when you and I are… intimately joined.”

Not stopping there, he continued to provoke her.

“You didn’t see yourself, did you? How beautiful you looked when you were aroused. Next time, we’ll do it in front of a mirror. You’ll definitely like it—because I certainly do.”

Wen Jianxin felt nothing but disgust at his expression and words. Her stomach churned violently until she bent over, unable to stop herself from retching.

Xu Wangzhi, however, only let out a sinister laugh. With blood trickling down his head and chest, he looked like a specter of death—a vengeful ghost—terrifying to behold.

He said:

“Wen Jianxin, you will never escape me.”

Those words echoed like a curse in her mind, endlessly repeating.

Soon enough, the entire Jian household knew what had happened in that room.

Shang Lingzhu gave an iron order: Wen Jianxin must marry Xu Wangzhi. There would be no discussion, no changes, no dissent.

“Xinxin, listen to your mother. You and Xu Wangzhi have already had… relations. If you don’t marry him, your reputation will be ruined.”

This was already the countless time Wen Jianmeng tried to persuade her younger sister, but no matter how earnestly she spoke, Wen Jianxin refused—resolute in her rejection.

Wen Jianxin said flatly, without emotion:

“Sister, you don’t need to waste your breath. I will never marry him. Even if Mother throws me out of this house, I will not marry him.”

Wen Jianmeng furrowed her delicate brows, deeply troubled, not knowing what else to do.

Their mother had said it clearly: no matter what, Wen Jianxin would marry Xu Wangzhi.

If persuasion failed, they would bind her and deliver her to the Xu family by force.

In truth, deep down, Wen Jianmeng didn’t want her sister to marry Xu Wangzhi either.

Never mind his scheming and terrifying nature—the fact that he could treat her sister this way showed he had no respect for her at all.

If her sister really married into the Xu family, there would be nothing but suffering ahead.

But the family’s stance was absolute: Wen Jianxin must marry him.

So, to lessen her sister’s misery, Wen Jianmeng could only grit her teeth and keep trying to persuade her.

But clearly—it was useless. Her sister would not be swayed.

Sigh. What a curse this all is.

These past days, Wen Jianxin had been plagued by nightmares—visions of Xu Wangzhi’s violent possession of her.

Her body still ached, but it was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.

There was no place left for her in the Wen family. Xu Wangzhi watched her like a predator circling prey.

After much thought, she realized—leaving the capital was her only way out.

Yet her family seemed to sense her intentions. For days they had kept her under strict watch, never giving her the chance to escape.

On top of that, Xu Wangzhi had people shadowing her every move. Even if she ran, she’d quickly be dragged back.

The more she thought about it, the clearer it became: she was surrounded on all sides by wolves and jackals. Not a single person could be trusted.

Even her own sister urged her to marry Xu Wangzhi.

Her mind seethed with agitation, though her face remained calm.

She had to keep her composure. Wait for the one chance to escape for good.

Agreeing was impossible—it would only arouse suspicion.

Raising a hand to her forehead, she feigned exhaustion.

“I’m tired. I want to rest.”

But it wasn’t entirely an act. She truly was exhausted.

That day, Xu Wangzhi had shown her no mercy. Afterwards, she had fought and struggled fiercely. Her body had been pushed far beyond its limits.

It was her first time, and she was still in pain. The marks hadn’t even begun to fade.

That alone showed just how ruthless Xu Wangzhi had been that day.