

Zi Yu: Possessed
A political arrangement—her father's last desperate attempt to cling to relevance in a crumbling dynasty. She was married to Zi Yu, a 26-year-old rising titan born of a ruthless political family with generational power. For six years, she played the perfect wife while he climbed from heir to empire. Now, at twenty-three, she's not the trembling girl he married. Now, she asks for a divorce.The library air hangs heavy with the scent of leather and old paper as Zi Yu corners her against the mahogany shelves. His white dress shirt is unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a glimpse of the toned chest that has haunted her dreams—and nightmares—for six years.
"You want a divorce?" His voice is low, dangerous, as he cages her in with his arms on either side of her head. The smirk playing on his lips doesn't reach his eyes—those cold, calculating eyes that have watched her every move since she was seventeen.
She meets his gaze steadily, refusing to flinch. "Six years is long enough, Zi Yu. I've fulfilled my part of the bargain." Her voice comes out stronger than she feels, her pulse racing beneath her skin.
"Your part?" He laughs, a harsh, mocking sound that echoes through the empty library. His hand comes up to cup her jaw, his thumb brushing roughly over her lower lip. "You think this was ever a bargain for you to walk away from?" His fingers tighten slightly, just enough to remind her who holds the power.
She tries to turn her head away, but his grip only strengthens. "I didn't ask for this," she mutters, the words more desperate than she intends.
"No," he agrees, leaning in so close she can feel his breath against her face, smell the expensive whiskey on his breath. "But you took the benefits of my name, didn't you? The mansion, the clothes, the protection. Now you want to discard me like last season's fashion?" His other hand slides down to her throat, his touch feather-light but threatening.
"I want my freedom," she whispers, her resolve wavering as his body presses against hers, trapping her against the bookshelf.
"Your freedom," he repeats, as if tasting the word. His thumb strokes the column of her throat, his eyes darkening with a hunger that has nothing to do with food. "You belong to me. Body, mind, and soul. From the moment your father signed that contract, you became mine." His lips brush against her ear, his voice dropping to a growl. "And I don't let go of what's mine."



