Volume One, Chapter 33: Our Promise No Longer Counts!

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“Han Yu, take them away and throw them in the dungeon. ‘Take good care of them.’”

Si Yan’s tone turned cold in an instant. Without sparing Su Yu another glance, he issued the order to Han Yu.

“No!”

Su Yu hurriedly grabbed his arm, her voice trembling with panic and tears. “You promised me! You said you wouldn’t put them in the dungeon or have them beaten!”

“Darling, all you ever say is ‘no.’”

Si Yan turned toward her and gripped her chin, his gaze carrying an unmistakably domineering force. “But you haven’t given up anything. All you know how to do is ask me to endure and compromise.”

“If you want to protect them, shouldn’t you show me how much it matters to you?”

His fingertip lightly traced her lips, his tone filled with dangerous implication.

“What do you want?” Su Yu asked, her voice trembling.

She clutched the hem of her clothes, her mind utterly blank.

She had nothing. The only thing she seemed able to give Si Yan was her own submission.

“Since you’re going to marry me sooner or later…”

Si Yan lifted her chin with his fingertip, his eyes shifting toward Li Han Yan in the distance, carrying an unmistakable warning.

“Shouldn’t that ridiculous agreement between you and Li Han Yan come to an end?”

He paused, his tone growing even colder.

“I don’t want my wife to continue having an ambiguous relationship with another man after she marries me.”

“You need to let him know whose woman you are from now on.”

“Darling, go and tell him yourself.”

Si Yan placed his palm against Su Yu’s back and gave her a gentle push. With a force that allowed no refusal, he sent her stumbling two steps forward.

“Yu’er…”

Li Han Yan lifted his head and called weakly to her.

Su Yu staggered to a stop and looked through tear-filled eyes at Li Han Yan, who was tied to the pillar.

Her throat felt as though it had been blocked. After choking back her sobs for a long while, she finally forced out the words:

“Brother Han Yan, the agreement we made before… before…”

She closed her eyes, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms. At last, she hardened her heart and spoke through her tears.

“It doesn’t count anymore… I’m sorry, Brother Han Yan.”

“No! Yu’er, you don’t mean that!”

Pain and disbelief filled Li Han Yan’s eyes. He struggled against the ropes. “You’re not like this!”

“We agreed that once I came back, we would get married!”

“How could you…”

He, Zhang Yue, and Chen Jing had not heard the conversation between Su Yu and Si Yan. They had only seen her say such heartless words to him. It felt as though his heart had been violently carved open, and the pain nearly stole his breath.

She was supposed to become his wife any day now!

With a trace of hope, Li Han Yan cried out, “Yu’er, he forced you to say this, didn’t he?”

“He forced you to say it, didn’t he?”

“You were supposed to be my wife!”

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His words had grown agitated, and at that moment he could no longer spare any thought for his wounds.

He struggled desperately, trying to break free of the ropes so he could demand an explanation.

Unfortunately, Si Yan gave him no chance to question her further.

The man stepped forward and pulled the tearful Su Yu tightly into his arms. His tone was domineering and beyond dispute.

“That’s enough, darling. Let’s go home.”

He lowered his head and soothed her in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“Don’t worry. I’ll have Han Yu ‘take proper care’ of your dear brothers.”

“They’re all witnesses to our marriage!”

After saying this, he seemed to remember something and added, “Once we’re married, I’ll take you home.”

“I should go and meet your grandfather in person, so he’ll know he has a son-in-law like me.”

When he finished speaking, Si Yan ignored Li Han Yan’s roars and struggles behind him.

He simply scooped Su Yu up in his arms, turned around, and walked into the castle, leaving the four men tied up where they were, surrounded by heavily armed mercenaries.

“Our master is merciful, and he’s even more devoted to his wife.”

Han Yu stepped forward and sneered at the four men, who had been untied but remained under guard.

“Since you’re the madam’s ‘guests,’ don’t stay here and spoil the view. Go wait in the front courtyard.”

With that, he waved to the mercenaries and ordered them to escort the four men to the castle’s front courtyard, where they were placed under strict watch.

Inside the bedroom, Si Yan pressed the sobbing Su Yu against the door. His fingers tightened, and with a sharp ripping sound, he tore open her clothes.

Before Su Yu could react, he bent down and kissed her fiercely. His movements were filled with suppressed irritation and possessiveness. He paid no attention to her struggles and cries, venting the turmoil in his heart through his kisses.

He could not stand hearing Su Yu call him “Brother Han Yan” again and again. It sounded far too intimate.

It made him feel as though someone was coveting what belonged to him—his darling.

“Mm!”

Startled by his sudden actions, Su Yu cried out and struggled wildly with both hands and feet. “You’re insane! Don’t touch me!”

“If you don’t want me to touch you, then who do you want touching you? Li Han Yan?”

The man’s eyes turned cold, jealousy blazing within them, impossible to suppress.

“Darling, were you trying to work behind my back and have someone rescue them?”

Si Yan completely ignored her resistance. He opened his mouth and bit down on the soft flesh at the side of her neck, his voice full of mockery.

“I had no idea you were so capable.”

“You’re insane! Don’t bite me there!”

Crying desperately, Su Yu was driven to the point of having no other choice. She opened her mouth and bit down on the exposed hollow of the man’s collarbone.

She bit him with such force that her teeth nearly sank into his flesh. Si Yan released her at once with a muffled groan.

It was the first time he had realized that his little darling would bite when she was truly angry.

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The sharp pain in his collarbone did not anger him. Instead, it stirred a strange pleasure within him. He even faintly wished she would bite harder—harder still.

Before long, Su Yu’s jaw began to ache from biting. She finally released him as though venting all her anger.

She sobbed fitfully, wiping away her tears haphazardly with the back of her hand. Her eyes were filled with grievance.

Si Yan lowered his head and looked at the bloody tooth marks on his collarbone. His Adam’s apple bobbed once, and his voice was hoarse.

“What are you crying for? I didn’t bite you nearly that hard.”

He knew perfectly well that he had held back. No matter how angry he was, he could never bear to truly hurt her. That earlier bite had only been meant to frighten her. Unlike her—she had genuinely been venting her anger.

The man raised his hand and gently brushed the tears from her cheek with his fingertip. There was less ferocity in his voice now, replaced by a rare tenderness.

“Darling, wouldn’t it be better if you simply stayed by my side?”

No, she wanted to say. It would be very much not better.

But when the words reached her lips, they became a question instead.

Su Yu raised her eyes to him, bewilderment and confusion filling them.

“Why me?”

“What?” Si Yan froze for a moment, not quite hearing her whisper.

“I asked, why does it have to be me?”

Su Yu sniffed, her voice choked with tears, and began listing all the ways she was lacking.

“I’m clearly not good in any way. We’re not suited for each other at all.”

“I don’t have a family background that matches yours. I’m not some stunning, breathtaking beauty either. I… I don’t even have a father or mother.”

The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she became. Finally, with red-rimmed eyes, she asked, “And I don’t even like you, Si Yan. Why can’t you find someone who does?”

Si Yan listened in silence, his fingertips gently caressing her cheek. Then he suddenly spoke.

“Darling, let me ask you a question.”

“Mm.” Su Yu answered with a heavy nasal tone.

“Between the person you love and the person who loves you, which would you choose?”

“The person I love!”

Su Yu answered almost without hesitation.

“Exactly. That’s the answer.”

Si Yan looked into her eyes, his tone utterly serious.

“Su Yu, my status and abilities mean I don’t need to choose someone from a family equal to mine. So I choose you.”

“You say you aren’t the most beautiful, but in my eyes, you are the most beautiful, the most captivating, and the very best girl in the entire world.”

He paused and gently brushed his thumb over her brow.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To me, you are the finest flower of all.”

“Besides…”

His voice softened further, carrying a faint vulnerability that was difficult to detect.

“Like you, I grew up lacking the love and protection of parents.”

“From now on, I’ll love and protect you enough for both of us. Is that all right?”