"So this is the president of Cheng Group and his wife? They're even more beautiful in person than online. A perfect match."
"Didn't they say President Cheng doesn't like his wife? But it doesn't seem that way."
"Look, his eyes are all red. It must be because Mrs. Cheng is leaving. He can't bear it."
"It seems not all arranged marriages are loveless. I think they're quite in love."
"..."
Jiang Xiao didn't hear what they were saying. If she had, she would have sneered. In love? Bullshit.
*
In the car, Cheng Yuan kept taking calls. One from Zhang Rong, still sharp-tongued, calling him unfilial, threatening to call the police. Cheng Yuan didn't care. "Suit yourself."
The second call was from the old master, his voice low. "Don't forget what you promised me. Unless Xiao Xiao herself is willing, you can't force her to stay."
Cheng Yuan replied, "Don't worry. Since I promised, I'll keep it."
The third call was from the lawyer, asking when to go through with the divorce procedures.
Cheng Yuan's face darkened. "Not for now."
He didn't say no; he said not for now, implying a possible change of heart.
Jiang Xiao's attention was on the last call. When he finished, she spoke up. "If you keep me here like this, Mom won't be happy. I don't want to cause a rift between mother and son. It's better to follow her wishes—let's divorce, and I'll leave."
Divorce, divorce, divorce...
Recently, many people had mentioned those two words to Cheng Yuan. They said it lightly, never knowing how he felt inside. This was his marriage, his life. Why should others decide for him?
He rubbed his temples and said coldly, "I don't want to talk about this today."
Jiang Xiao knew he would react like this. "Cheng Yuan, you're the president of Cheng Group. Can't you keep your word?"
Cheng Yuan was fed up. He just wanted to shut Jiang Xiao up. He said in a deep voice, "Raise the partition."
As the partition slowly rose, he leaned in, grabbed the back of Jiang Xiao's neck, and pressed her down onto the back seat. Using his physical advantage, he pinned her down, making it impossible for her to move. Then he grabbed her wrists and held them above her head.
His face stopped directly in front of hers, staring intently, fiercely. "Do you know what I do to noisy people?"
"I shut them up so they can't make another sound."
"Mm—mm—"
Before Jiang Xiao could even resist, Cheng Yuan grabbed her jaw and pressed his lips hard against hers.
His tongue plunged in without any restraint, attacking and conquering.
It was more like a tearing than a kiss. Cheng Yuan kissed roughly, not letting go even when he tasted blood. His teeth scraped, leaving bite marks one after another in her mouth.
He didn't care whether it hurt her.
Because right now, he was in pain.
An indescribable pain, with no known cause, and impossible to stop. He could only transfer the pain from himself to her.
Let her taste what pain felt like.
She wanted a divorce?
Impossible.
She wanted to escape?
Even more impossible.
If Cheng Yuan had any thought of letting her go before, it was gone after that kiss. She was his, only his.
Only he could kiss her lips, only he could sleep with her. Anyone else who tried would die.
What if he didn't love her?
Who said two people can only be together if they love each other?
He would not love her, and still not let her go.
Even if Grandpa blamed him for it, he wouldn't back down.
He squeezed Jiang Xiao's chin tightly, his voice sinister. "Jiang Xiao, I'm telling you one more time, seriously: I do not agree to a divorce."
*
Jiang Xiao had seen people go back on their word, but never like Cheng Yuan. They had already signed the divorce agreement, yet he still reneged.
She struggled. "You agreed! You can't go back on it!"
"Can't?" Cheng Yuan tore open her clothes and bit her neck. "You'll find out soon enough whether I can or not."
He had once said he didn't like using force. Jiang Xiao tried to use that to make him back down, her eyelashes fluttering. "Wait, wait. Cheng Yuan, you promised you wouldn't force me."
"Yes, I did promise," Cheng Yuan said, his fingers rubbing and pinching behind her ears. "But I'll allow myself to use force."
He grabbed Jiang Xiao's waist and, with a slight lift, switched their positions so that he was below and she sat on his lap, their bodies pressed tightly together.
Cheng Yuan's slender fingers roamed over Jiang Xiao's back, squeezing through her clothes. His other hand lifted her chin and covered her pink lips.
He leaned in, whispering.