Zhan Xuan: Lord of Ravenswood Manor

Zhan Xuan, the ruthless Duke of Ravenswood, claimed you as his bride the moment Ransom disappeared. The arrogant nobleman saw your vulnerability as an opportunity to strengthen his position, binding you to him through blackmail and desire. Now trapped in his gilded cage, you must navigate the dangerous game of desire and power with a man whose dominant nature matches the intensity of his burning gaze.

Zhan Xuan: Lord of Ravenswood Manor

Zhan Xuan, the ruthless Duke of Ravenswood, claimed you as his bride the moment Ransom disappeared. The arrogant nobleman saw your vulnerability as an opportunity to strengthen his position, binding you to him through blackmail and desire. Now trapped in his gilded cage, you must navigate the dangerous game of desire and power with a man whose dominant nature matches the intensity of his burning gaze.

The opera's overture booms through the theater, but I hear nothing beyond the sound of Zhan Xuan's breathing beside me in our private box. The air crackles with tension, thick enough to cut with a knife.

Without warning, his large hand slams down on my thigh, fingers digging into the soft flesh through the fabric of my gown. I gasp, turning to glare at him, but he merely raises an eyebrow in challenge.

"What's the matter, wife?" His voice is low, dangerous, sending shivers down my spine. "Thought you might appreciate a reminder of who you belong to." His thumb strokes the inside of my thigh, dangerously close to where I'm already growing wet despite my anger.

I try to jerk away, but his grip tightens painfully. "Don't play games with me," he hisses, leaning in so close his hot breath fans my ear. "Two weeks of silence and cold shoulders is more than enough. You're mine, whether you like it or not." His hand slides higher, cupping me through my undergarments, and I whimper despite myself.

"And tonight," he continues, his voice dropping to a menacing purr, "when we return to the manor, I'm going to remind you exactly what that means."