As Arwen sat on the bench, staring up at the sky, she felt a lump form in her throat. A wedding invitation. The final nail in the coffin of her past. She had loved him once, with all the innocence and passion of a first love. But that was before he had betrayed her, before he had chosen another over her.
She closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. She had thought she was over him, that she had moved on. But seeing Rose, hearing about the wedding, it had brought it all back. The pain, the heartache, the feeling of being abandoned.
She stayed there for a long time, lost in her thoughts and memories. The sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the park. She wiped her tears, her anger and sadness slowly giving way to a cold determination.
She stood, her gaze fixed on the horizon. She would not let this break her. She would not let the past dictate her future. She was Arwen Winslow, and she would rise above it all.
Ring ring
"Darling!" A video call from her family shows on the screen.
"Ma, Pa, I am fine look at me I am so happy oh yes and China is so beautiful," Arwen said with a bright smile.
"Phew thank goodness darling! We miss you."
"Yea I might stay in China for little while longer," Arwen said she did not want her parents to worry so she just came up with a lie.
"Why?" Her mother Josephine asked.
Arwen hesitated, her mind racing for an excuse. She couldn't tell them the truth, couldn't burden them with her problems. So she lied, the words coming easily despite the guilt that gnawed at her.
"I've been offered a job here," she said, her smile never faltering.
"A medical research position. It's a onceinalifetime opportunity."
Her parents exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and pride.
"That's wonderful, sweetheart!" her father exclaimed.
"We're so proud of you. Take all the time you need."
Arwen felt a pang of sadness, knowing that she was deceiving them. But she pushed it aside, focusing on the warmth and love in their voices.
"Thank you, Ma, Pa. I'll call you soon, okay?"
She ended the call, her facade crumbling as soon as the screen went black. She slumped against the bench, the weight of her lies and her circumstances crushing down on her.
As the night wore on, Arwen found herself wandering the streets of Shanghai, lost in her thoughts. The city lights blurred around her, the noise and bustle fading into the background. She felt alone, adrift in a sea of strangers, with no anchor to hold her steady.
She ended up in a quiet alley, tucked away from the main streets. She leaned against the wall, sliding down until she was sitting on the cold concrete. She hugged her knees to her chest, burying her face in the fabric of her jeans.
She stayed there for a long time, the minutes bleeding into hours. She didn't know what she was waiting for, what she was hoping to find. All she knew was that she couldn't go back to Ye Shufen's mansion, couldn't face the man who held her captive, who had taken her innocence and her freedom.
When she looked over she saw BMW she sighed they are here. She walked inside she noticed Ye Shufen was wearing a sharp dark navy blue business suit his eyes were narrowed as she opened his phone and made a call he spoke in Russian. Arwen moved as further away from as possible. Ye Shufen pulled her back and sat her on his lap.
Arwen stiffened as Ye Shufen pulled her onto his lap, his arm wrapping around her waist possessively. She tried to squirm away, but his grip tightened, holding her in place. She glared at him, her eyes flashing with anger and resentment.
"What do you want?" she hissed, her voice low and venomous.
Ye Shufen ignored her, continuing his phone call in Russian. Arwen listened, her knowledge of the language allowing her to understand his words. He was discussing a business deal, his tone cold and calculating. She felt a chill run down her spine, a reminder of the dangerous man she was dealing with.
As the call ended, Ye Shufen finally turned his attention to her. Ye Shufen kissed Arwen and and chewed on her bottom lip.
Arwen gasped in pain as Ye Shufen's teeth sank into her lip, his kiss bruising and demanding. She tried to pull away, but he held her fast, his fingers digging into her hips. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, a mix of pain and humiliation washing over her.
"Ye Shufen, stop!" she cried, her voice muffled against his mouth.
But he didn't listen. His hands roamed her body, his touch possessive and rough. Arwen felt a surge of panic, her heart racing in her chest. She knew what he wanted, what he intended to do. And she couldn't bear the thought of it.
With a sudden burst of strength, she pushed herself off his lap, stumbling backwards. Ye Shufen's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening with anger.
"Where do you think you're going?" he growled, his voice low and threatening.
Arwen backed away, her hands shaking as she wiped the blood from her lip. She couldn't stay here, couldn't let him touch her again. She had to escape, had to find a way out of this nightmare.
"I'm not yours," she said, her voice trembling but defiant.
"You need clothes," Ye Shufen said as he grabbed lip gloss and rubbed it on Arwen lip who felt somewhat confused.
"You such a stupid cat."
Did he just call her cat!
Arwen stared at Ye Shufen, shocked by his sudden change in demeanor. One moment he was angry and aggressive, the next he was... concerned? She touched her lip, feeling the sting of his bite. The lip gloss felt cool and soothing against her skin.
"What... what are you doing?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ye Shufen's expression softened slightly, a flicker of something akin to regret in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual stern facade.
"I'm taking care of what's mine," he said, his tone firm but not unkind.
He stood, towering over her.
"Come. I'm taking you shopping."
Arwen loves shopping but she felt like this was a chore but she was dragged out and Ye Shufen held her hand. Arwen sighed as they walked inside the mall why is so quiet?
"I rented it out," Ye Shufen said as if he knew what she about to ask.
Shit how rich is this man?