"Remember this pain, it’s my mark on you!" Third Young Master Jun said angrily, holding her pained face tightly in his fingers.

Ye Lu gasped for breath, a searing pain on her face. His eyes blazed with such anger, it sent chills through her spine and instilled a sense of dread.

But he intentionally inflicted pain upon her, made her suffer, ensured she would remember the price of angering him.

"Uh..." She suppressed her cry of pain, her lips bleeding from biting down, her body trembling with pain.

She knew that this man was inherently cruel. He wouldn’t feel pity for her just because she was in pain or because she cried out.

With teary eyes, she turned her head and closed her eyes tightly, swallowing down her tears. Don’t cry, she told herself, don’t let the tears fall.

No one will pity you!

She had already borne so much pain.

Could this physical pain be worse than what she had experienced earlier today at the church: being humiliated by her fiance, threatened coldly by her father, abandoned once again by her loved one, and scorned by all the guests...

Ye Lu’s heart ached and she felt utterly miserable.

Look, it’s not a big deal.

As long as she thought of more painful things, even this physical pain didn’t seem to matter.

...

The night was tranquil, with gusts of wind howling outside the window, causing countless leaves and petals to fall. The sky was full of thick, ominous clouds, blocking out the moon and the stars, submerging everything in deep darkness. It seemed a storm was imminent, an uncanny feeling washing over her.

The wind rustled the hanging curtain, bringing a chill into the room. The lamplight was dim, and the silence was as still as death.

Ye Lu lay quietly.

Third Young Master Jun’s cold fingers traced over her pale face, chin and slender neck, softly touching the bruises he had made.

The anger in his eyes had faded significantly, leaving a dark, inscrutable depth. He looked at her, his mind filled with countless thoughts, a strange irritation overcoming him for the first time.

This woman was very stubborn. From the beginning to the end, she was always strong. The more defiant she was, the more he wanted to see her suffer and break.

But, he failed.

Even though her lips were bleeding from the pain, she had never begged him, not once.

"This is what happens when you defy me, understand?" he said, frustrated.

She stayed silent, her eyes closed, too lethargic even to lift her head.

Third Young Master Jun sneered, "Are you ignoring me? It seems you need more punishment, you still want to provoke me."

Ye Lu continued to ignore him.

The anger in Third Young Master Jun’s eyes flared up again. He grabbed her chin, this despicable woman liked to provoke him so much, let’s see if she could continue to ignore him.

But upon a glance, his expression drastically changed.

Underneath Ye Lu’s long eyelashes, her eyes were tightly closed, her face pale, her head drooping to one side, she had already passed out.

Third Young Master Jun’s hand, which held her, stiffened, and a sense of unnamed panic rose within him.

"Ye Lu, Ye Lu..." He shook her face but there was no response, while his palm could feel the heat from her skin.

Third Young Master Jun’s face turned extremely grim, he quickly picked up the phone, dialed Yan Su’s number, and ordered curtly.

"Yan Su, come here right now, I give you ten minutes!"

"Are you serious? Who’s about to die? I’m going to have to race over there in ten minutes, you’ll be responsible if anything happens."

By the time Yan Su hurried over, Third Young Master Jun was already sitting solemnly by the bed.