Bab 21: Regret

Elena's heart raced like a stallion in full gallop, her skin becoming damp with a cold sweat that clung to her back and brow.

The look in Yuchen's eyes at this moment reminded her of the look in the eyes of the man who had been her nightmare for the past two years. There were distinctions, certainly; the other man's stare suffocated her, leaving her breathless. Yet, the current situation bore enough resemblance to evoke a shiver down her spine, propelling her back into a realm she had fought to escape.

"No," Elena's inner voice clamored, battling to break free from the clutches of fear and defiance, determined to reassert control. "I am not that woman anymore."

Fuelled by this resolute conviction, Elena finally roused her paralyzed hand. As if orchestrating a symphony of empowerment, she lifted her hand, summoning all her strength, and swung it with a fierce determination aimed at Yuchen's face

"Let me go!" Her rallying cry accompanied the arcing motion, her intent clear. But her hand met with an unexpected obstacle, the force of her blow abruptly arrested as Yuchen deftly intercepted it.

The surprise that flickered across Yuchen's features was undeniable. At first, he was contemplating whether he should kiss those red plump lips, or immediately backed away because he just wanted to tease Elena.

However, Yuchen suddenly sensed someone was about to smack him in the face, causing him to reflexively grab Elena's hand.

Yuchen finally moved his face slightly away from Elena.

His facial expression looked shocked when he saw that Elena was actually going to slap his face, a face that had never been slapped even by a woman. However, his facial expression immediately changed when he saw Elena's current expression.

The woman's face was pale, sweaty, with a very frightened look in her eyes.

"Let me go!" Elena's voice, cold but tremulous, lanced through the charged atmosphere as she yanked her hand with an urgency that belied her appearance. Though her tone emanated an icy resolve, the shimmer of burgeoning tears betrayed her inner turmoil, held in check by sheer determination.

Yuchen hastily let go of Elena's wrist and his expression was stunned seeing the expression on Elena's face at this moment,

The woman looked very frightened, an expression that was very familiar to him.

"I'm sorry… I…"

Yuchen's words caught in his throat, a cascade of explanations hovering on the tip of his tongue. He yearned to clarify that his actions had been nothing more than playful teasing, but the truth, he realized, was a more complex tapestry.

He was really thinking about kissing Elena earlier.

As soon as she could feel her freedom, Elena immediately stood up and hastily moved away from Yuchen.

Elena, now standing and facing the window, seemed to exude a palpable tension. Her gaze was fixed on the cityscape beyond, yet Yuchen sensed her turmoil, her body still shaking violently.

Yuchen, who was still sitting in his chair, tried to open his mouth to say something, or at least apologize, but once again his mouth closed again without uttering a word.

"I should have known better," Yuchen's internal lament resounded. He sighed inwardly, grappling with his own self-reproach.

He didn't know if it was because Elena's words had offended him a little, or because he hadn't had gotten laid in a long time, or because Elena looked so beautiful.

In essence, he should have been able to restrain himself and not do what he did just now. He couldn't deny that he had crossed a line.

They weren't a real couple, he reminded himself sternly. He should keep their boundaries.

After a few moments of calming herself, Elena walked over to her desk, her gaze still deliberately avoiding Yuchen's presence. With a steady hand, she pressed the intercom button attached to her desk.

"Fei Fei, please come here," Elena's tone was brisk, her words carrying an air of professionalism.

As she awaited her secretary's arrival, Elena tried to regain her composure, her back still turned to Yuchen. Meanwhile, Yuchen found himself taken aback by Elena's summons. A flurry of questions churned in his mind.

Was Elena about to kick him out? Does that woman want to cancel the contract?

Even though he didn't mind at all if Elena suddenly canceled their contract and didn't send the money since he had quite a lot of money, he was acutely aware that he would deeply regret it if Elena terminated their contract because of his impulsive actions.

"Ah… What's gotten into me? Why am I behaving like this?" Yuchen's inner thoughts were a maze of uncertainty. He puzzled over his own behavior, attempting to fathom the uncharacteristic impulse that had driven him.

Just as he was lost in contemplation, a knock echoed on the door, swiftly followed by its opening as Elena granted entry to the room.

"What can I do for you, President Nam?" Fei Fei's voice resonated with politeness, her demeanor exuding professionalism. Yet, a hint of confusion flashed across her eyes as she observed the room's atmosphere, sensing an underlying awkwardness.

On one side stood Elena, her gaze fixed on the cityscape beyond the window, and on the other sat Yuchen, his demeanor subtly altered.

"Please update me on my upcoming public appearances that he can accompany me to," Elena's request was succinct, her tone measured as she kept her attention steadfastly turned away from them.

Though her composure seemed regained, she was keenly aware that Fei Fei would detect something awry about her.

Yuchen's surprise was palpable upon hearing Elena's request. He hadn't anticipated such a query from her.

In truth, Elena's impulse was to kick him out immediately after what that man did just now. Yet, she exerted immense restraint to keep herself from doing so.

Allowing Yuchen to leave now would undoubtedly arouse suspicion, and that was something she desperately wanted to avoid.

Maintaining the facade of normalcy was paramount. Elena was resolute in shielding her vulnerability, even from Yuchen, her contract husband for the next two years. She refused to expose this particular chink in her armor.

So, she would act as usual, as well as carry out her next plan, which was to appear in public with Yuchen for the first time and it was better for Yuchen to just hear about what kind of events they could attend.

Fei Fei promptly excused herself to retrieve her tablet, returning swiftly with the device in hand. "In four days, you have an event to attend," Fei Fei began her explanation. "It's the 80th birthday celebration of Elder Li, coinciding with the 55th anniversary of the Li Group."

A subtle shift crossed Yuchen's expression at the mention of the Li Group. This was the business empire presided over by his step-brother. A wave of intrigue washed over him.

"I had no idea about this event. It's bound to be interesting," Yuchen thought, his anticipation bubbling as he imagined the dynamics at play.

This was the first time he had heard of the man who was his grandfather, gonna throw a birthday celebration, and his parents had never brought it up. That meant that their families were not invited to attend the event.

But what if he, the estranged grandson, appeared alongside Elena, the country's preeminent businesswoman magnate?

A spark of determination ignited within Yuchen. He was eager to confront those who had supposed to be his family – especially his step-brother. The thought of facing them alongside Elena, a woman who exuded power and success, only fueled his excitement.

He can't wait to see their face!

Yet, just as the prospect unfurled before him, Elena's response took an unexpected turn. "No. Find another event. I won't be attending this one."