She kept her marriage a secret for three years, then divorced and was forcefully pampered by a power

For the first time, Shao Yan felt an intense killing intent emanating from Huo Xiao.

The man looked at Huo Xiao for a while, then slightly raised his chin, exuding an air of authority.

"Fine. Is this your girlfriend?"

The man's gaze fell on Shao Yan, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes.

Huo Xiao naturally stepped in front of Shao Yan, completely protecting her behind him, leaving no gap for the man.

"My wife."

Huo Xiao's voice was deep and heavy, carrying an unprecedented possessiveness and protectiveness.

The man was probably not very satisfied with his attitude, and when he saw the ring on his ring finger, he couldn't help but snort.

"I told you before, being too attached to romance makes a hero lose his edge. Is it worth arguing with me for a woman?"

Huo Xiao stared coldly at the man without replying, instead looking at Shao Yan beside him, who was holding her hand tightly.

"Let's go."

The bodyguard next to the man tried to step forward to stop Huo Xiao, but was deterred by the man's gaze. After Huo Xiao walked away, the man suddenly spoke.

"Lan Yan will be discharged from the hospital in a couple of days. I plan to throw her a banquet to wash away her bad luck. Why don't you come with them?"

The "they" that the man was referring to were the ones who performed the prayer ceremony.

All five of them had recognized the man as their godfather; if it weren't for Lan Yan, their relationship wouldn't have broken down to this extent.

Huo Xiao paused slightly, then took Shao Yan's hand and quickened his pace, soon disappearing from the man's sight.

"After all these years, you're still the same, a good-for-nothing."

The man shook his head and led the group straight to Lan Yan's ward.

Shao Yan got into the car with Huo Xiao, while Cheng Qian waited for them inside.

Shao Yan sensed that Huo Xiao was in a bad mood.

She was also a little sad.

No matter how indifferent Huo Xiao appears to Lan Yan in front of him, he becomes extremely abnormal and emotionally out of control when it comes to things related to her.

Therefore, Shao Yan couldn't lie to herself that Huo Xiao had actually fallen for her.

She was also unwilling to ask any more questions related to Lan Yan.

She just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

Cheng Qian dropped Shao Yan off at the Fit. Huo Xiao pursed his thin lips and, without saying a word, let Cheng Qian drive away.

Shao Yan didn't walk heavily toward the elevator until his car was out of sight.

For several days in a row, Huo Xiao was not in good condition.

Even when he was having sex with Shao Yan at night, he seemed somewhat powerless.

On Friday night, Huo Xiao suddenly became violent and tormented Shao Yan to the point of near death. Afterwards, Shao Yan was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep.

She woke up in the middle of the night and found no one by her bedside.

When I got out of bed, I found Huo Xiao standing alone on the balcony smoking.

The tiny spark in his hand flickered in the night wind, and after a long while, he finally brought it to his lips and took a puff.

The wisps of smoke obscured most of his face, leaving only a vague outline and the unique loneliness of a man in the dead of night.

Shao Yan could tell that he was thinking about someone.

Someone he may never get again in his life.

Shao Yan was very sad, not knowing whether it was for Huo Xiao or for herself.

"woke up?"

Even though Huo Xiao had his back to her, it was as if he had eyes in the back of his head, because he turned around and met Shao Yan's gaze, which she couldn't avoid.

Shao Yan had no choice but to bite the bullet and go over. Huo Xiao took off his coat and draped it over her, then hugged her tightly in his arms.

Are you cold?

Huo Xiao asked.

Shao Yan shook her head and nestled in his arms. The unique scent of cedarwood that belonged to Huo Xiao was very comforting.

but--

Shao Yan also understood that this man could never completely belong to her.

"If you really love her that much, why don't you win her back?"

Shao Yan quietly buried her head in his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

Huo Xiao lowered his eyes and frowned: "Who told you I love her?"

Shao Yan looked up in surprise, and met Huo Xiao's dark and deep eyes, as dark as night.

There seemed to be endless unspoken thoughts hidden there. Looking at his fragile facade, Shao Yan longed to hold him tight forever.

"If you don't love her, why are you still up so late?"

Shao Yan was consumed by jealousy at this moment; when a man is lonely, he naturally thinks about women.

Huo Xiao looked at her, and a deep laugh burst from his throat, causing Shao Yan, nestled in his arms, to tremble.

"Am I not sleeping just for her?"

Huo Xiao gently lifted her chin, gazing at her exquisite face in the cool moonlight.

With his beloved wife in his arms, how could he possibly think of other women?

She was already tired of Huo Xiao's sweet words.

He always says one thing and does another. He showers her with compliments, but the moment Lan Yan calls, he's like a lost soul.

Shao Yan was still jealous, but she was sulking and didn't want to talk to him.

"She helped me, and I'm repaying her kindness. Now we're even, and have nothing to do with each other anymore."

Shao Yan asked curiously, "What do you owe her?"

Huo Xiao's body stiffened visibly, and Shao Yan felt it, her body trembled, and she hugged him even tighter.

"Fine, you don't have to say if you don't want to."

Telling her would be lying to her.

"My godfather gave me a task, which I failed to complete. I was locked in a dark room and starved for three days and three nights."

Shao Yan stared at his face.

"Did Lan Yan secretly bring you food?"

Huo Xiao shook his head.

"She went to beg my godfather, saying she would do anything to let me go."

Shao Yan understood; no wonder Lan Yan was so confident.

Huo Xiao recounted his past with Lan Yan to Shao Yan as if he were talking about someone else.

"I was released from the dark room and given a considerable sum of money. From then on, my godfather's attitude towards me changed, and he entrusted me with important responsibilities."

Not only that, he also entrusted me with some of his best projects, making Huo Xiao's influence unparalleled from then on.

Shao Yan understood the reason after hearing it.

These must have been exchanged by Lan Yan herself.

Huo Xiao's smile was sarcastic.

"I never knew, and I thought I was amazing. It wasn't until my godfather and her wedding invitation arrived that I realized she had become my godmother."

Shao Yan suddenly felt a pang of heartache, and she hugged Huo Xiao, feeling somewhat helpless.

"And then—what happened?"

Huo Xiao's expression gradually turned cold.

"There was nothing later. I left their place and came to Beicheng to start from scratch. Today's Huo Xiao has nothing to do with them."

However, I still owe Lan Yan a debt. If it weren't for my godfather's reliance on me back then, and the fact that he taught me so much, I wouldn't be where I am today.

This is an indelible fact. I don't want to be an ungrateful person, but I can never be with Lan Yan again in this lifetime.

Shao Yan blurted out, "Because she also slept with your good brother?"

Huo Xiao reached out and gently stroked her cheek: "You little jealous girl, it's not that you don't care, how come you know everything?"

Shao Yan blushed. It wasn't like she deliberately dug into his past; she had only heard it from Qu You.

Thinking of Qu You, Shao Yan suddenly looked up at Huo Xiao.

"Did Qu You know you a long time ago? Have you been in contact with each other?"