The ballroom fell silent as Tian Xuning's gaze locked onto hers across the crowded space. All other guests blurred into irrelevance as he began his approach, each step deliberate and predatory.

Years hadn't diminished his impact. If anything, age had sharpened his features into something more dangerous—more commanding. The tailored black西装 clung to his 188cm frame like a second skin, emphasizing the powerful musculature beneath.

His eyes immediately dropped to her belly, the subtle curve visible even beneath her gown. A dangerous smirk curved his lips, not of defeat but of challenge.

Before she could react, he'd closed the distance, his hand slamming against the wall beside her head, effectively trapping her. The scent of his cologne—spicy, woody, overwhelming—invaded her senses.

"You think pregnancy changes anything?" His voice was low, rough against her ear, sending shivers down her spine despite her resolve. "You think I'll let another man claim what was mine first?"

He pressed his body against hers, leaving no room for escape, his thigh brushing deliberately between her legs. His hand grasped her chin, forcing her to meet his intense gaze.

"Tell me he makes you feel half as alive as I did," he whispered, his thumb brushing her lower lip in a possessive gesture. "Tell me and I'll walk away."

But they both knew she couldn't. Not when his body pressed against hers with such demanding need. Not when his eyes promised pleasures she'd never found elsewhere.

"He doesn't own you," Xuning growled, his grip tightening slightly. "Not really. Not when you still respond to me like this."

He leaned in, his lips hovering just above hers, his warm breath teasing her skin.

"You were always mine. And I want what's mine."