The Devil CEO’s Reborn Lover

Wu Mei sat in the backseat of Qin Yanzhou's car, her wrists resting gently on her lap, the delicate rose-gold cuffs still locked loosely around her ankles. Though they didn't hurt, they made her heart race. His possessiveness... it terrified and thrilled her all at once.

The forest was far behind them, but the weight of what had happened clung to the air like fog. Qin Yanzhou hadn't said a single word since he carried her out of the underground tunnel. His jaw was tense, hands gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.

Wu Mei finally broke the silence. "I just wanted to help Mo Qing... she saved me once."

He slammed on the brakes.

The sudden jolt made her heart leap into her throat. Qin Yanzhou turned to her slowly, his eyes dark, piercing, and burning with fury.

"And who will save you the next time, Wu Mei? Huh? When you're pregnant, vulnerable, and wandering into god-knows-what underground world without telling me?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but his voice thundered over hers.

"I searched the entire city for you. I almost went mad thinking something happened to you. You're mine! You can't just vanish!"

Wu Mei looked down, the guilt slowly consuming her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't want to wake you. I left a note."

He laughed bitterly, leaning back in the driver's seat. "A note, Mei? A note? That's how little you think of how I would react?"

She felt the burn of his stare as he leaned closer, one hand reaching out to touch her cheek, surprisingly gentle.

"You think I won't chain you to my side if I have to?"

Her breath caught. "You already did."

He looked down at the cuffs, a wicked smirk appearing on his lips. "These? Oh, wife... these are just the beginning."

She trembled, not entirely from fear.

He leaned in even closer, their lips nearly touching. "Ah, my fierce, wild wife wants to play with me, hmm? Sneaking off into the woods, defying me... Is that how you tease me now?"

Wu Mei pulled back, blushing. "You're being ridiculous. I just... wanted to help."

He suddenly unlocked the cuffs from her ankles and tossed them aside, then gently took her hand and kissed her palm.

"You scared me. Do you understand? Not knowing where you were, thinking someone could've hurt you, or taken you from me... I would've burned the whole forest down."

His voice broke on the last word, and her heart softened.

"Yanzhou... I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be dangerous."

He looked up, eyes burning with something deeper. Obsession. Fear. Love. All tangled into one consuming emotion.

"You don't get to decide what's dangerous anymore. You're mine. Your life is mine. This child is mine. You move, you breathe, you live because I allow it."

His words sent a chill down her spine. They were wrong. Possessive. But why did they also make her feel wanted?

She swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. He leaned over and kissed her lips, gently at first, then deeper. His hand slid around her neck, possessive yet comforting.

He pulled back, their breaths mingling. "You're not going anywhere again without me. Do you hear me, Wu Mei?"

She nodded slowly.

"Say it," he demanded.

"I won't go anywhere without you," she whispered.

Satisfied, he was holding Wu Mei on his lap.

They arrived at his estate soon after, and as he opened the door for her, he didn't give her the chance to walk. He swept her into his arms and carried her inside.

Once in the bedroom, he set her down on the bed gently. Wu Mei looked at him with hesitation.

"Can we just rest? I'm still tired."

His gaze darkened. "Tired from running from me, wife?"

She bit her lip.

He crawled onto the bed beside her and hovered above her, his hand brushing her cheek. "Do you know what kind of punishment you deserve for making your husband sick with worry?"

"Are you going to tie me up again?" she challenged softly.

He smirked. "Maybe. Or maybe I'll just love you so thoroughly you won't even think about leaving me again."

She blushed, trying to pull away, but he grabbed her wrist gently and kissed it. Then her neck. Then lower.

"Yanzhou..."

He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "You made me crazy today, Mei. And now, you'll pay for that."

His lips found hers again, desperate and hot.

But then, just as quickly, he stopped.

He stared at her, the intensity in his eyes softening. "You're pregnant. I shouldn't... not now."

Wu Mei reached up, touched his face. "You worry too much."

He shook his head, resting his forehead against hers. "Because I love you too much."

They lay together in silence for a while, her fingers tracing small patterns on his chest.

"Tell me more about the place you saw," he said finally.

Wu Mei nodded. "It was strange. Magical even. Like a different world. There was this old house, and I found a ring there. I tried to take it off, but... it won't come off."

He looked down at her hand and saw the black and red ring.

"Take it off now."

"I tried. It won't budge."

His eyes narrowed. "We'll have someone examine it. Until then, don't touch anything strange again."

She nodded, but his protectiveness, while overwhelming, also made her feel safe.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her and held her close.

"Next time you run, I won't just put cuffs on you," he murmured. "I'll mark you in ways no one will ever be able to erase."

Wu Mei trembled in his arms, unsure if she should be afraid—or thrilled.

As she drifted off to sleep beside him, one thought repeated in her mind:

She was his obsession. And he... he was her dangerous comfort.

To be continued...

What do you think that will happen in chapter 38?

And don't forget if you like my book add to library