Under Lock and Key

The following morning, Li Wei woke up feeling the weight of the previous night's events pressing heavily on her chest. The messages were still etched in her mind, each word replaying like a haunting echo. She had barely slept, her thoughts swirling with possibilities—who was after her? Was this connected to Zhou Lan or someone else from Zhao Ming's life?

Her mind raced as she stared at the ceiling, the pale morning light filtering through the curtains. She couldn't shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control, and the worst part was that Zhao Ming wasn't telling her everything. His refusal to open up only deepened her unease.

She couldn't just sit back and wait for answers anymore. She had to take matters into her own hands.

Zhao Ming had left early that morning, off to a business meeting, leaving Li Wei alone in the penthouse. The silence was oppressive, the luxurious surroundings suddenly feeling cold and empty. She glanced at her phone, tempted to call Chen Yu for advice, but something held her back. She couldn't involve him—this was too dangerous.

Instead, she did something she hadn't done before. She headed toward Zhao Ming's study. If he wasn't going to give her the answers, perhaps she could find them on her own.

The door creaked open, revealing a room that was as meticulous and controlled as Zhao Ming himself. Dark wood shelves lined the walls, filled with books, files, and documents. A sleek desk stood in the center, and the faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air.

Li Wei hesitated for a moment, guilt tugging at her conscience. She had never been one to snoop, but desperate times called for desperate measures. She needed to know what was really going on.

She moved toward the desk, her eyes scanning the neatly arranged files and papers. Most of them appeared to be business-related—contracts, agreements, financial statements. But then, something caught her eye. A folder with no label, slightly tucked away at the corner of the desk.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for it, the weight of her actions settling heavily on her shoulders. But as she opened the folder, her breath caught in her throat.

Inside were photos—dozens of them. Some were of her, taken from a distance, as if she had been followed. Images of her walking to work, entering her apartment, even pictures of her from the day Zhao Ming had proposed the contract marriage. Someone had been watching her long before she had entered Zhao Ming's life.

But it wasn't just the photos that unnerved her. It was the documents beneath them—detailed reports about her life, her background, her family. Every little detail was meticulously recorded, as if someone had been keeping tabs on her for a long time.

Li Wei's heart raced, her hands shaking as she flipped through the pages. Why would Zhao Ming have something like this? Had he been keeping secrets from her all along? Or worse—had someone else collected this information about her?

Just as she was about to delve deeper, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the penthouse. Panic surged through her. Zhao Ming was back, and if he caught her going through his things…

She quickly stuffed the folder back into its place, her heart pounding in her chest. She had just closed the drawer when Zhao Ming appeared in the doorway, his sharp gaze immediately zeroing in on her.

"What are you doing in here?" His voice was calm, but the underlying edge of suspicion was unmistakable.

Li Wei froze, her mind scrambling for an excuse. "I… I was just looking for something. I thought you might have left some files for me to go through. Zhang Mei said there were documents related to the gala."

Zhao Ming's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Li Wei feared he saw right through her lie. But then, he simply crossed the room, his presence filling the space with a quiet authority.

"There are no documents for you in here," he said coolly. "And if there were, I would have left them out for you. This room is off-limits, Li Wei."

His tone was final, and Li Wei felt her frustration building once again. He was shutting her out, keeping her in the dark. But she couldn't push him—not yet.

"Sorry," she murmured, trying to sound as casual as possible. "I'll remember that next time."

Zhao Ming's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned away, his attention shifting to his phone, which buzzed with an incoming message. Li Wei exhaled quietly, the tension in the room loosening, though her heart still raced.

"I have to leave again," Zhao Ming said after a moment, glancing at his phone. "There's something I need to take care of."

Li Wei nodded, trying to maintain her composure. "Okay."

But as Zhao Ming headed for the door, he paused and turned back to her, his expression unreadable. "Li Wei, stay inside today. Don't go anywhere without telling me first."

Li Wei frowned, her frustration bubbling up again. "Why? I'm not a prisoner, Zhao Ming."

"I'm not saying you are," Zhao Ming replied, his voice tight. "But it's for your own safety. Things are… complicated right now."

"Complicated how?" she demanded, taking a step toward him. "Is this about those messages? You're not telling me everything, Zhao Ming, and I deserve to know."

Zhao Ming's eyes darkened, and for a moment, Li Wei thought he might finally open up. But then, just as quickly, he shut down again, his walls firmly in place. "You'll know when the time is right."

With that, he left, leaving Li Wei standing alone in the study, her hands clenched into fists.

The frustration inside her boiled over. She couldn't keep living like this—constantly on edge, constantly wondering what secrets Zhao Ming was hiding. She needed to take control of her own life, her own fate.

But before she could dwell on her next move, her phone buzzed again. Another message from the unknown number.

"He's not who you think he is. If you stay, you'll regret it."

Li Wei's blood ran cold as she read the words. The threat was growing clearer with each passing day, and it was only a matter of time before she found herself in real danger.

Next chapter will reveal the increasing danger surrounding Li Wei and how she plans to confront the threats looming over her. The tensions between her and Zhao Ming will escalate, with new revelations that will push them closer to a breaking point.

"Stay tuned for the next chapter" 🙂