Rise From Ashes

Chapter 2: Ruyi ~~~~

My eyes snapped open, a gasp escaping my lips. The silken sheets, the familiar scent of cherry blossoms – my room. But it was impossible. I remembered… darkness. Cold. The cold steel of the blade, a phantom sensation against my skin.

I sat up, my heart pounding, and looked around. Yes, this was my room. But how?

Then, the calendar caught my gaze. One week. One week until my wedding day. To He Ming.

It hit me like a physical blow. I was back. Back in time.

A wave of confusion and anger washed over me. I wanted to scream, to warn myself, to stop the wedding. But then I realized, if I acted too differently, too quickly, He Ming and Mo Jian would suspect something. They would know I was not the trusting Ruyi they knew.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the chaos inside me. I had to be careful. I had to play the part. The naive bride, just days away from her wedding. Smile, nod, observe. I would find a way to make them pay. I would expose their betrayal.

A thought struck me, sharp and clear. Their frequent "business meetings." The Golden Lotus Hotel. A place of gilded luxury, and now, I knew, a place of hidden treachery. They thought I was blind, oblivious. They thought they were clever.

I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

I dressed quickly, a simple gown that wouldn't draw attention. I couldn't risk being seen. I needed to be a ghost, a shadow.

The Golden Lotus had a luxurious and busy lobby. I moved through the crowd, my face a mask of casual curiosity, my eyes scanning for He Ming and Mo Jian. I spotted them by the elevators, their heads close together, a conspiratorial air about them.

They pressed the button for the penthouse. The same suite, always the same suite.

I waited a moment, then followed, taking the next elevator.

The hallway was quiet, the thick carpets muffling any sound. I crept towards their suite, my heart pounding in my ears. A soft murmur drifted from behind the door.

I pressed my ear against the cool wood. Mo Jian’s voice, a soft moan. Then He Ming’s, a low, husky sound. The sounds of their betrayal, raw and unmistakable.

My stomach churned, a wave of nausea threatened to overwhelm me, but I forced it down. My phone, hidden in my clutch, was my only weapon. I slipped it out, the camera app already open.

The door wasn’t fully closed, just a sliver. I peered through the crack. What I saw made my breath catch in my throat. He Ming and Mo Jian, their bodies entwined, their faces flushed.

I snapped the pictures, the sound of the shutter a soft click, barely audible. Proof. Real proof.

I backed away, my movements swift and silent. I wouldn't confront them now. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing my pain. I would wait. I would choose my moment.

I pressed the elevator button, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere of betrayal. The doors slid closed, and I leaned against the cool metal, trying to calm the storm raging inside me.

Suddenly, the elevator stopped. Then, it started moving. Down. Not to the lobby, but further down. To the private floor. The one that required a password.

The doors opened with a soft whoosh, revealing a dimly lit, luxurious space. The air on this floor was thick with the scent of expensive cigars and aged leather, a stark contrast to the flowery sweetness of the lobby. And there he stood.

My breath caught in my throat. He was tall, with raven-black hair that framed a face of sharp, almost ethereal features. His lips were a delicate pink, and his eyes... his eyes were mesmerizing, a deep, fathomless black. It was Shen Jun.

He stood with a quiet grace, an air of power radiating from him. But his expression was not welcoming. It was serious, almost austere, a hint of ruthlessness lurking in the depths of his dark eyes. He turned his gaze towards me, a flicker of surprise quickly replaced by a demon-like intensity.

"You seem to have taken a wrong turn," he said, his voice a low, smooth melody, yet the words held a sharp edge. There was no warmth, only a serious and almost intimidating curiosity.

"Elevator malfunction, I suppose," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "Though I'm curious, how would I know your floor's password?" I raised an eyebrow, challenging his explanation. "This isn't a 'wrong turn' anyone could accidentally make." His dark eyes narrowed slightly, a subtle shift that spoke volumes, and a dangerous glint appeared.

My mind raced. How did he know? Was this a trap? Or was this… something else? His presence was overwhelming, a mix of beauty and danger, leaving me uncertain of his intentions.

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