Wang's Pov.
But I wasn't going to let this slide.
Tears began to fall from Zhan's eyes, the soft droplets landing on our hands as I held him close. His entire body trembled, and I felt the weight of his shame pressing down on us both. He hadn't said a word, but I could feel the pain radiating off him.
"Zhan," I whispered, pressing my forehead against his. "This isn't you. This isn't real."
But the words barely seemed to reach him.
I turned to Uncle Fengmian, my fists clenched in anger.
Cheng, who had been sitting beside me, was tense now, his gaze flicking from the screen to me and then back to Uncle Fengmian. He knew the game was getting dangerous. The old lawyer had a reputation. He'd been around for far too long to make mistakes in these kinds of matters.
"This video," Cheng said slowly, trying to keep his voice steady, "is doctored. We have the original footage from the first video. This is a blatant attempt to distort the truth."
Uncle Fengmian didn't flinch. He looked at Cheng, his voice calm, but it carried a certain weight. "Doctored? You don't think that's a bit too convenient, Cheng? We have a witness and a video, what more do you need? The law will have a hard time siding with your version when the evidence looks this... convincing."
Cheng's expression tightened. "You're playing a dangerous game, mr Fengmian. And you know it."
"Oh, I'm aware," Uncle Fengmian replied with a cold smile. "But it's not me you need to convince, Cheng. It's the court."
I could feel the heat in my chest rising, the anger threatening to spill over. "This isn't real, Uncle Fengmian. You know it. This is some sick scheme."
Zhan's sobs were muffled now, his head resting against my chest. I held him tighter, refusing to let go. But no matter how much I wanted to scream, no matter how much I wanted to tear everything apart, I knew I had to stay calm.
Because in the end, we were playing a game of manipulation, and the only way out was to prove the truth, no matter how hard it was going to be.
"Wangg," Cheng said quietly, his voice laced with desperation, "we have to fight this. We can't let them break him."
"Who is this charge and bail lawyer?" my mom hissed, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
I sighed, feeling the familiar frustration bubbling up inside me. "You will not insult him, Mother," I said sharply, my patience thinning. "What do you want?"
She leaned back in her chair, her gaze calculating. "Now you're getting the drill," she purred. "I want you to marry Lusi. And do it quickly."
The words struck Zhan like a physical blow. His body stiffened, and I could see his chest rise and fall with quick breaths. He visibly flinched, but he controlled himself, sitting up straighter in his chair. I squeezed his hand tightly, trying to offer some comfort, though I knew there was little I could do to protect him from the mess my mother was creating.
"Mother, I am married," I said, my voice steady, showing her my ring and Zhan's. "We are legally married."
"Legal or not, I don't care," You're throwing your life away for that boy." She hissed.
Zhan stiffened beside me, but I squeezed his hand, keeping my voice calm. "No, I'm starting my life with him."
"Wang—"
"I love him, Mom, and I've made my choice."
"Drop this madness and marry Lusi. Then I will keep him out of prison, act foolish and he'd rot in jail." My mother snapped.
The weight of her words hung in the air. It felt like the floor was falling out from under me.
"Mother, you can't be serious," I said, disbelief creeping into my voice.
"This is wrong, ma'am," Cheng spoke up, his voice filled with sadness. "This isn't the way to solve anything."
"Keep your mouth shut, I'm talking to my son," my mother sneered, her tone biting.
I looked at Zhan, who was silent, his expression unreadable. "Can I have till the end of the day to think about it?" I asked, feeling the pressure mounting.
My mother's eyes flicked over to me, her gaze sharp. She considered my request for a moment before nodding slowly. "Fine," she said, her voice dripping with contempt. "You have until the end of the day. But don't take too long, and don't do anything stupid, or you'll regret it."
The room was thick with tension as my heart raced in my chest. I could feel the weight of her words, heavy and suffocating, pressing down on me. Zhan remained quiet beside me, his hand trembling slightly in mine, but I could see the anger burning in his eyes. He was trying to stay composed, but I knew that beneath the calm exterior, he was struggling.
"We'll leave you to think about it," my mother added with a sneer before standing up, signaling the end of the conversation. "Fengmian, let's go. We have other matters to attend to," she added.
Uncle Fengmian gave me a small, sympathetic look before following my mother out of the room, leaving us in silence. I could hear the faint sound of their footsteps fading down the hallway, but the tension remained, thick and oppressive.
I turned to Zhan, my heart aching for him. "I'm sorry," I whispered, feeling helpless. "I never wanted you to be caught in the middle of this."
Zhan's eyes glistened with unshed tears, but he didn't say anything. He didn't need to. His silence spoke volumes.
"Whatever happens," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt, "I won't let her tear us apart. I'll find a way to fix this. We'll get through it together."
Zhan nodded, but I could see the doubt in his eyes. He didn't believe it, not yet, anyway. But I had to keep trying. For both of us.
I pulled Zhan up gently, my hand still holding his like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. He followed me silently, his steps unsure but willing. The hallway was quiet, the walls too pristine to reflect the chaos happening behind them. We walked side by side, heavy with everything unsaid.
When we reached my room, I opened the door and led him inside. It was simple—clean, warm, familiar. A stark contrast to the storm outside and the pain inside him.
"Sit," I said softly, pointing to the edge of the bed.
Zhan sat still, barely blinking, as if trying to shut out the world around him. I didn't blame him. I was struggling to make sense of it myself.
I walked to the window, pushing it open slightly for air. Jeju's breeze rolled in, fresh but not comforting. My thoughts were loud and relentless. Marry Lusi or watch Zhan go to prison. My mother had always been ruthless, but this, this was a new low.
Zhan's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "She won't stop, Wang. Even if you marry Lusi, she'll find another way to control you."
I turned to face him. His eyes were red, his voice calm but tired, like he'd aged in the past hour.
"I know," I said. "But I also know I can't let you go to prison."
Zhan stood up, walked over, and leaned beside me. "I'd rather go to prison than watch you be forced into a life with someone you don't love."
My throat tightened. "Stop saying that."
"It's true," he whispered. "I've suffered enough. I won't watch you suffer too."
I reached out, cupping his cheek gently. "You are not alone anymore. You hear me? This isn't your burden to carry alone."
He nodded faintly, then leaned his forehead against mine. We stood like that for a while, both of us too tired to move, too scared to speak of what might come next.
Then I pulled away and said, "I need to talk to Cheng, and figure out a way to flip this.
Zhan looked at me, unsure. "And if you can't?"
I didn't answer. Because I didn't know.
But one thing was certain, my mother had declared war, and she had no idea I was ready to burn her entire kingdom to the ground for him.
Zhan walks back to sit on the bed. I just stand there watching him. His hands rested on his lap, fingers fidgeting, mind clearly racing. I walked over and knelt in front of him, placing my hands on his knees.
"You're safe here," I said.
He blinked rapidly, and I could see him trying to hold it together. "For how long, Wang?" he asked. "She's not going to stop. She always gets what she wants."
I shook my head. "Not this time. Not with you."
There was silence between us again, but it was different this time. Not cold. Not afraid. Just heavy with meaning.
I stood and sat beside him. "You should rest for now. I need to go out with Cheng."
He nodded. Then slowly, carefully, he leaned into me. I let him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and pulling him close. And for the first time since we got to Jeju, I felt like we had a small moment of peace however brief it might be.
"I love you," he whispered, voice trembling, as if the words were too fragile to exist in this cruel world. His breath hitched at the end, and I could feel him holding back tears.
I turned to face him fully, lifting his chin gently so he could see the truth in my eyes. "I love you too," I said, my voice firm but full of emotion.
Then I kissed him, soft, slow, and grounding. A kiss that wasn't rushed or desperate, but full of everything we'd held back for so long. His lips quivered against mine, and when we finally pulled apart, he leaned his forehead against mine.
For a moment, time paused.
He closed his eyes, a single tear escaping down his cheek. "Thank you," he whispered, voice raw.
I held him tighter, as if I could shield him from the world. "You don't have to thank me, Zhan. You're mine. And I'll protect what's mine."
We stayed there, hearts beating in sync, surrounded by silence and the soft hum of something real, something worth fighting for.