Chapter Thirty-One: Whispers Beyond the Door
The warmth of the morning lingered long after the sun climbed higher into the sky. Xiao and Dylan had shared quiet smiles over breakfast in his apartment, their hands brushing, their laughter unguarded. For a few precious hours, it felt as if the world outside didn't exist—just them, cocooned in fragile happiness.
But the world had a way of intruding.
By noon, Dylan was on a business call in his study, his voice sharp and controlled as he discussed contracts and deadlines. Xiao busied herself in the kitchen, tidying up dishes, though her mind wandered back to the night before. Every touch, every whispered word replayed in her memory. She pressed her hand against her chest, feeling the quick flutter of her heart.
She hadn't felt this alive in years.
Yet, a part of her trembled. Happiness, in her life, had always been fleeting—something stolen away when she dared to hold it too tightly.
The sharp trill of her phone startled her. She wiped her hands and picked it up, frowning at the unfamiliar number. After a pause, she answered softly, "Hello?"
"Lu Xiao?" The voice on the other end was cold, unfamiliar. "I know who you are… and I know what you've been doing."
Her stomach dropped. "Who is this?" she whispered, gripping the phone tighter.
The voice chuckled, low and mocking. "You really think you can play assistant to Lei Han and no one will notice? You're nothing but a girl with a past. A scandal waiting to happen."
Her blood ran cold. Before she could respond, the line went dead.
Xiao stood frozen, her heart pounding in her ears. She turned slowly toward the study where Dylan's voice carried through the closed door. For a fleeting moment, she considered telling him. But fear rooted her to the spot. What if this threatened not only her but also her siblings? She couldn't drag him into the darkness of her past.
When Dylan emerged a few minutes later, loosening his tie and rubbing the back of his neck, Xiao plastered on a small smile. "Busy morning?" she asked, her voice steadier than she felt.
He nodded, but his sharp eyes lingered on her face. "You okay? You look pale."
She shook her head quickly. "I'm fine. Just… a little tired."
He didn't look convinced, but he didn't push. Instead, he cupped her cheek with his hand, his thumb brushing against her skin in a way that made her almost break. "Promise me you'll tell me if something's wrong, Xiao. I don't want you carrying anything alone."
Her throat tightened. She wanted to tell him everything, to lay her fears bare. But the echo of that cold, mocking voice stopped her. Instead, she leaned into his touch and whispered, "I promise."
Later that evening, Dylan received an invitation to a high-profile gala. "It's important," he told her, handing her the sleek envelope. "Investors, partners… people I need to keep close. And I want you there, Xiao."
Her breath caught. "Me?"
"Yes, you." His gaze was unwavering. "You're not just my assistant. You're part of me now. And I don't care who knows it."
Her chest ached at his certainty, but unease twisted in her stomach. The anonymous call replayed in her mind, each word dripping with menace. She nodded anyway, because she couldn't bring herself to shatter the way he looked at her—with pride, with love, with a devotion that terrified and healed her all at once.
That night, long after Dylan had fallen asleep beside her, Xiao lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Rain had given way to silence, but her thoughts were storming. The world beyond their quiet room was stirring, whispering, watching. And she knew—sooner or later—it would try to tear them apart.
But as she turned to look at Dylan's sleeping face, his arm draped protectively across her waist, she made a silent vow. No matter what shadows crept closer, she would not let them take this from her.
For the first time in years, she had found someone who saw her, loved her—not despite her scars, but because of them. And even if the world wanted to ruin it, she would fight to hold on.