The door opened, and the Gu family stepped into the villa—elegant, imposing, and immediately commanding attention. Lin Guo's mother, a woman with sharp eyes and a cool smile, surveyed Chen Yuxi like a subtle test.
"Yuxi, it's good to see you again," she said, voice smooth but probing. "Lin Guo tells me a lot about you… though I imagine he doesn't tell everything."
Yuxi straightened, heart racing. "It's good to see you, Mrs. Gu. And I'll do my best to answer any questions."
Lin Guo appeared at her side, hand brushing hers possessively. "She's been nothing but honest," he said, dark eyes sweeping the room. "And I expect everyone to respect that."
His words carried weight. A subtle warning, unspoken yet undeniable. Even the sharpest family members hesitated.
"Of course," his mother replied smoothly, eyes flicking briefly to him. "But honesty is a quality worth testing. Tell me, Yuxi… about that night at the Gu residence."
Heat rose to Yuxi's cheeks. She knew exactly what she was referring to—the night Lin Guo had been drugged, the contract marriage discussion, the unintended intimacy. She glanced at Lin Guo, who gave a small, dark smirk.
"It was a misunderstanding," she said carefully, keeping her tone calm. "We've moved past it."
Lin Guo stepped closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "Good answer. Keep it confident… and remember, you're mine. They can ask, but they won't touch what's mine."
Yuxi swallowed, heart racing at both his possessiveness and the intensity in his gaze. She nodded subtly, realizing she didn't just feel safe—she felt exhilarated.
Dinner followed, the family asking polite but probing questions. Lin Guo never left her side, subtly guiding conversations, teasing her gently, and flashing that dark, obsessive smirk whenever someone's comment veered toward discomfort.
By the time dessert arrived on the private terrace, the tension had softened. Laughter trickled through the group, flirty teasing exchanged between Lin Guo and Yuxi, even under the watchful eyes of the Gu family.
And Yuxi realized: even facing the family, with past secrets lingering, she belonged entirely to Lin Guo—and he would protect that, no matter what.