Chapter 4

“M-Master Lu!”

The elderly housekeeper’s terrified cry echoed across the study as doctors rushed around frantically.

“His blood pressure is dropping!”

“Prepare the oxygen tank!”

“Hurry!”

Everything became chaotic within seconds. I stood frozen near the fireplace, my entire body trembling violently while the words Mr. Lu had whispered moments ago repeated endlessly inside my head. The man from your wedding night… was never me. My breathing became uneven. Then who was it? Who had kissed me that night? Who held me like I was something precious instead of disposable? And why did Mr. Lu hide the truth? Another violent cough escaped the old billionaire’s lips, pulling me back to reality. Blood stained the edge of his mouth as the doctors desperately tried stabilizing him.

“Master Lu, please stay awake!”

The sight terrified me. I had only known this man for a few days, yet seeing him so weak suddenly made my chest ache painfully. Maybe because despite everything… He had never truly been cruel to me.

“Mia…”

His weak voice barely reached my ears. I immediately rushed toward him.

“I’m here.”

The old billionaire struggled to breathe while his trembling fingers searched weakly for my hand. I quickly held it. His skin felt frighteningly cold.

“Mia…” he whispered painfully. “Listen carefully…”

Tears burned behind my eyes.

“Please stop talking. The doctors are helping you.” But he slowly shook his head. The doctors nearby exchanged nervous looks yet remained silent. Almost as if they already understood something I didn’t.

“I don’t have much time left,” Mr. Lu admitted weakly. My throat tightened painfully.

"No…”

"You must protect yourself in this family.”

The seriousness in his voice terrified me. “What family?” I asked shakily. He coughed again before forcing out the words carefully.

The Lu family is not as peaceful as it looks. Fear crawled through me slowly.

“What do you mean?” His breathing became heavier. “There are people who will try to destroy you once I’m gone.” My heart skipped violently. Gone? No.

No, no…

He couldn’t die now. Not before explaining everything. Not before telling me who Jason Lu really was.

“Sir, please,” I whispered desperately. “Who is Jason?”

A strange emotion crossed his aging face. Regret. Sadness. Hope. Almost like he had been waiting years for this moment.

“He…” Mr. Lu struggled painfully for breath. “He is the reason I brought you here.”

Confusion flooded my mind. “What?”

“You were never meant to belong to me.”

My heartbeat became unstable. The room suddenly felt too small. Too hot. Too overwhelming. Then suddenly—

BEEP!

The monitor beside him let out a sharp sound. The doctors stiffened instantly.

“His heartbeat is becoming unstable!”

“Move aside!”

Everything happened too fast. Doctors pushed closer while nurses rushed around the room. The elderly housekeeper burst into tears immediately. I stumbled backward helplessly. Fear consumed me completely.

Mr. Lu’s weak eyes searched the room desperately until they found me again. Then slowly… He mouthed something.

Forgive me.

My chest tightened painfully.

And then—

BEEEEEEP!

The monitor flatlined. Silence. Terrible silence. One doctor slowly lowered his hands. Another removed his gloves quietly. The entire room suddenly felt lifeless. The elderly housekeeper collapsed into tears.

“No… Master…”

I stared blankly at the old man lying motionless on the bed. My mind refused to process it. Just moments ago, he was speaking to me.

Now…

He was gone. One of the doctors finally turned toward me respectfully. “My condolences, Young Madam.” Young Madam. The title suddenly felt heavy. Painful. Confusing. I looked down slowly at the marriage contract still trembling in my hands.

That name suddenly felt more dangerous than before. The man from my wedding night. The mysterious stranger from the boutique. And now this hidden name on the marriage contract. Everything was connected somehow. But I still didn’t understand how. Suddenly, the study doors burst open violently. Several men dressed in black suits entered the room hurriedly. The atmosphere changed instantly. Cold. Powerful. Dangerous. The servants immediately lowered their heads respectfully. One of the men stepped forward. Tall. Sharp-faced. Emotionless. “Chairman Lu…” he called quietly before noticing the silent monitors. The man’s jaw tightened. The entire room became tense.

“Who are they?” I whispered softly to the elderly housekeeper beside me.

She wiped her tears shakily. “The Lu family executives.” My stomach tightened uneasily. The sharp-faced man’s cold eyes suddenly landed on me. For some reason, his gaze felt hostile.

“Who is she?” he asked bluntly.

Before I could answer, the housekeeper spoke quickly.

“She is Master Lu’s wife.”

The room instantly fell silent.

Several shocked expressions appeared.

“What?”

“Wife?”

“When did this happen?”

Whispers spread quickly among them.

The sharp-faced man stared at me with disbelief. Then suspicion.

“You married her?” he muttered coldly while looking toward the dead chairman.

The atmosphere suddenly became uncomfortable. I gripped the contract tightly against my chest. Something told me these people were not happy about my existence. The sharp-faced man stepped closer slowly.

“What is your name?”

“M-Mia.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Mia what?”

“Mia Laurent.”

The moment I answered, strange looks spread among the men again. Almost like they recognized the name. One elderly executive suddenly gasped softly.

“Laurent…?”

The sharp-faced man quickly silenced him with a look. That reaction didn’t escape me. What was so important about my surname? Before I could ask, another voice suddenly echoed from the doorway.

“What exactly is going on here?”

The deep masculine voice instantly sent chills down my spine. My heart skipped violently. That voice. I knew it. Slowly, everyone in the room turned toward the entrance. And the moment my eyes landed on the tall figure standing there… My breath stopped completely. It was him. The stranger from the boutique. The man from my wedding night. The same dark eyes. The same overwhelming presence. The same dangerously familiar scent.

For a moment, neither of us moved. His sharp gaze landed directly on me. Then slowly lowered toward the marriage contract trembling in my hands. The atmosphere became suffocatingly tense. One of the executives immediately lowered his head respectfully.

“Young Master Lu…”

Young Master Lu?

My pulse nearly stopped. No. Impossible. The mysterious stranger…

Was Jason Lu?