In front of Shenzhen's glittering corporate building, where rows of long, black luxury cars were parked in perfect order, a sudden old blue scooter pulled up. Anya removed her helmet and adjusted her tangled hair. Even the guards standing there were slightly taken aback at the sight of her.
Part 2: Xia and Huan Jing's Shock
At that moment, Xia and Huan Jing, standing near the office entrance, noticed her. Their coffee cups nearly slipped from their hands in surprise.
"Anya?!" Xia exclaimed, running toward her. "What is this? Why are you on this… I mean, this scooter? And where have you been all these days? We thought you were busy with some major project in Beijing!"
Huan Jing scanned the scooter from top to bottom, wrinkling his nose. "Anya, come on! You're about to become the senior designer at Zain Group. At least take a proper cab. If the boss saw you arriving in front of all these cars, he'd blow up!"
Part 3: Anya's Excuse and Hidden Pain
Anya parked her scooter with a faint smile. "Ah, the traffic was terrible. And I missed my old companion. There's nothing like the feeling of riding in the fresh morning air."
She glanced at her wristwatch—the time was racing. Zain's 7:30 warning flashed in her mind.
"By the way, where's the boss?" Anya asked, quickly changing the topic.
Part 4: The Boss's Fearsome Reputation
Huan Jing pointed toward the office building. "He arrived at 7 AM in his black Mercedes. Today, he seems even more dangerous. I heard he threw a file at the marketing head this morning."
Leaning closer, Xia whispered into Anya's ear, "Everyone says the week of his birthday has started, so his 'Devil Mode' is on. Stay careful, Anya. You're his favorite target anyway."
Part 5: Zain's Gaze
Anya looked up toward the upper floor, where Zain's glass office was located. She felt someone watching her.
There, standing near his window, Zain held a file and watched Anya laughing with her friends below. Anger surged through him—how could she appear so happy in her simple way, while he, surrounded by luxury and comfort, was burning inside?
He immediately pulled out his phone and messaged Qian:
"Keep an eye on her. After office, she must go straight home."Anya was about to open her lunchbox when Xia suddenly stopped her, panic in her eyes.
"Anya, your name just came over the intercom. The boss wants you in his cabin—immediately."
Huan Jing patted Anya's shoulder sympathetically.
"Looks like your trouble's coming again today. For heaven's sake, don't argue. It's his birthday week—he's behaving like a rampaging elephant."
Anya took a deep breath. She knew this summons wasn't about work—it was a reminder of her place.
Part 2: The Heavy Atmosphere of the Cabin
As Anya opened the heavy door of Zain's cabin, the temperature inside felt several degrees colder than outside. Zain sat in his massive revolving chair, a few files scattered in front of him.
Anya met his gaze without fear.
"You called me, Boss?"
Zain slowly swiveled his chair. Dark circles marked his eyes, but his face remained as hard as stone.
"Close the door," he said in a low but commanding voice.
Part 3: Hatred and Jealousy
Once Anya closed the door, Zain rose from his desk and slowly walked toward her.
"Was all the laughter and fun with your friends going on down in the parking lot?" Zain asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You seem to have a habit of forgetting, Anya. You're here to work—not to flaunt your broken scooter or gossip."
"There's no negligence in my work, sir," Anya replied.
"Stop talking back!" Zain slammed his hand on the table, making the pen stand shake. "Do you think riding your little scooter proves your freedom? Whether you walk or fly in a plane, you are still my prisoner."
Part 4: Birthday Bitterness
Zain moved so close that Anya could hear his sharp breaths. He brushed a strand of hair from her face with his finger—it wasn't a gentle touch, but a threatening one.
"My birthday is next week," Zain whispered. "Everyone thinks I'm happy, but I want you to feel exactly what I felt years ago—loneliness, helplessness."
He lightly twisted Anya's wrist.
"Tonight, you'll make all the dishes on the list I gave Qian. If there's even the slightest flaw in taste, you won't come to the office tomorrow. You'll stay home and clean the floors."
Part 5: Anya's Retort
Tears welled up in Anya's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She pulled her hand free and said,
"You can imprison my body, Boss. You can take credit for my hard work. But you will never take my smile, because I have nothing left to lose… and you still have your pride to lose."
Zain's eyes flickered with a mixture of anger and surprise. Before he could respond, Anya turned and left the cabin.
Zain watched her go, still feeling the warmth of her wrist in his fingers. He glanced at his mother's photo on the desk with hatred and muttered,
"She's not like you, Mom… she won't give up."
Part 6: The Race Against Time
By 7:15 PM, after finishing her office work, Anya dashed toward her old scooter. The roads were blocked by traffic and heavy rain. Her heart raced in sync with the ticking hands of her watch.Raindrops lashed against Anya's face like whips. Suddenly, her scooter jolted violently and came to a halt.
"No, no! Not now!" Anya kicked frantically, but the scooter was lifeless.
She glanced at her watch—7:25 PM. She collapsed by the side of the road, sobbing uncontrollably.
"This man is going to kill me… the workload at the office, grinding through house chores like a servant, and now this? Am I even human? Do I have a life of my own? Did I come here as his wife… or to serve a life sentence?"
She abandoned her scooter and, drenched in rain, ran madly toward the mansion. Her hair was completely soaked, and a layer of water and tears coated her glasses, blurring her vision of the path ahead.
Shenzhen's rain had become her enemy. Her scooter cut through the waterlogged streets.
7:25… 7:28… 7:32!
When Anya reached the gates of the mansion, her body was soaked from both sweat and rain. Guard's, standing by the gate, glanced at his watch and then at her. Compassion flickered in his eyes, but he couldn't intervene.
"Madam… you're seven minutes late," Qian said softly. "The boss is waiting inside."
Part 7: Silence of Death
As Anya opened the heavy gates, darkness engulfed the mansion. Only a dim light flickered near the staircase. Zain sat on the sofa, hands clasped, waiting like a predator stalking its prey in the shadows.
A stopwatch ticked on the table in front of him.
"Boss… the rain was heavy, and traffic—" Anya tried to explain, panting.
Zain rose slowly. His silence was far more terrifying than any shout. He walked right up to Anya. The echo of his shoes rang in the empty hall.
"Rules… rules are rules, Anya," Zain said, staring into her eyes. His voice was so cold it sent shivers down her spine. "I told you—even a minute late will cost you. You're seven minutes and forty seconds late."
Suddenly, he snatched her bag and threw it aside.
"What do you think this is? Some hostel life? This is my house, and my rules apply here."
Part 8: Declaration of Punishment
Zain grabbed Anya's hand tightly and began dragging her toward the storeroom.
"No! Let me go! My hand hurts!" Anya screamed, but it was as if a ghost possessed Zain.
He opened the storeroom door—it was filled with dust, broken old items, and darkness.
"Tonight, you'll stay here. No food, no light. Perhaps this darkness will remind you what happens when you take my words lightly."
"Zain! You can't do this!" Anya cried, clinging to his coat. "I'm your wife, not your slave!"
Zain pushed her inside and looked at her with hatred.
"Wife? You're only a 'bargain,' Anya. And remember, this darkness is nothing compared to the pain your family caused mine."
He slammed the door and locked it. Anya fell to the floor, swallowed by darkness. She pounded on the door, begging, but Zain climbed upstairs to his room without looking back.
Outside, the rain intensified, and inside, Anya's sobs tore through the heavy silence of the mansion.