[ The following chapters contain explicit sexual content involving actions taken against the female lead's will. These scenes depict coercion, emotional manipulation, and lack of genuine consent. Reader discretion is strongly advised due to the disturbing and non-consensual nature of the content. ]
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"Miss Pearl, you're awake," said Servant Xin, happy to see her open her eyes.
"Mhm. Help me sit up," Pearl Su replied helplessly.
"Yes, Miss." Servant Xin carefully helped her up.
"Pour me a glass of water. I'm a little thirsty," she said after sitting properly.
"Yes, Miss." Servant Xin quickly went to pour water.
After drinking, Pearl asked, "How long did I sleep?" She felt like it had been a long time.
"Two hours, Miss Pearl."
Two hours… four whole hours. Nearly the whole day was gone again!
"Miss Pearl, we should cover your veil again. If someone sees you, that would be bad," Servant Xin whispered beside her.
"No rush. It's almost time for dinner."
"What would you like to eat, Miss? I'll tell them to prepare it."
"Just some noodles."
Ugh. What could she even eat now? Her whole body felt weak. Even eating took effort. Only soft food was manageable, and talking was the only thing that didn't make her feel worse.
"Alright. I'll tell them now." Servant Xin turned to leave.
"Wait. What do you want to eat? Have them make something for you too," Pearl quickly stopped her.
Hearing that there was a portion for herself too, Servant Xin instantly felt grateful and happy. "Thank you, Miss Pearl. I'll go now."
When Servant Xin came back, she saw Pearl leaning against the bed with her eyes closed. She didn't dare disturb her and sat quietly nearby.
Time passed slowly. Then came a knock at the door. Servant Xin hurried over to open it. It was someone delivering their dinner.
She took the food box and brought it back inside. Seeing Pearl already looking over, she smiled brightly. "Miss Pearl, the noodles are here."
"Is someone guarding outside?" Pearl asked.
Servant Xin nodded. "Yes."
Pearl sneered inwardly. They were being very thorough.
Servant Xin took the noodles out of the box. There were two bowls, both looking exactly the same, each with shredded chicken and fish balls.
She picked up one bowl and came over to feed Pearl.
After eating, Servant Xin helped her cover the veil again. Pearl could only wait quietly.
Servant Xin sat back down and finished her own noodles, then tidied up and handed the box to the person standing outside. She came back in and sat again, quietly waiting.
She didn't know how much time had passed when the sound of the door opening came from outside. Servant Xin jumped up, startled, and looked nervously toward the entrance. A familiar figure stepped inside.
When she clearly saw the man's face, her eyes widened in shock. It was the man who'd gone through the wedding ceremony with Miss Pearl earlier that day. She quickly bowed.
Several others came in behind him, carrying items. They placed them down carefully and left silently.
The man looked at Servant Xin. "You. Leave."
"Yes." Servant Xin responded and went out.
Hearing the voice, Pearl cursed silently. He finally came. Now she would finally know which bastard had treated her like this.
She waited a long time, but didn't hear any sound inside the room. She was getting impatient.
Then came footsteps, slowly approaching her. A soft glow suddenly appeared before her eyes.
At some point, the room had been lit. The warm light filled the space. Pearl quickly lifted her gaze toward the person approaching, then let out a gasp of disbelief.
"It's you?!"
This scumbag man was supposed to be poisoned, yet here he was, standing in front of her looking handsome and carefree in a red wedding robe like a groom.
Was he the one she just married?
"What's wrong? My wife doesn't seem happy to see her husband," Alaric Yun said with a faint smile, eyes carefully scanning her face.
Her originally soft and pretty face was now covered with a formal and festive makeup. With every expression she made, her face seemed lively. He was clearly pleased.
Pearl Su wanted to spit in his face. Husband? How shameless could he be? Who would be happy to see this version of him?
In that instant, she understood. All that talk about a deadly, incurable poison—it was a lie. It was all a trap to lure her to the capital.
It was clear now that everything, including her current situation, was his doing. Too bad she couldn't move right now, or she would definitely kill him.
Her heart was full of anger and hatred, but she didn't show it on her face. She hid her surprise and looked at him with a cold, blank expression.
"Today, you look beautiful wearing a wedding dress for your husband. I'm very happy," Alaric Yun said with an easy smile.
Pearl Su almost choked from frustration when she heard that. A thin trace of anger appeared on her calm face.
"Haha..." Alaric Yun laughed freely when he saw her expression.
His long, strong fingers gently lifted her delicate chin, and the pad of his thumb softly brushed across her red lips.
Feeling that familiar yet now open and bold touch, Alaric Yun smiled again. "Wife, you don't know how adorable you look right now. I really like it."
Pearl Su wanted to die. She had just been shamelessly teased by him. This scumbag man deserved to die ten thousand times over.
Her light anger instantly turned into cold fury. Her eyes turned sharp like blades and shot daggers at the man standing in front of her.
Alaric Yun's hand kept caressing her soft skin, not stopping, his eyes observing her every reaction. Still smiling, he said,
"Whether you're happy or not, you married me. From now on, you're my wife forever. Remember that—it's for life."
"You'll never escape me in this lifetime."
Pearl Su looked at him with disgust. Wow, you're so full of yourself. Why don't you just fly to the sky?
"You don't believe me?" Alaric Yun smiled faintly, his tone full of hidden meaning.
Pearl Su responded by looking at him with even more contempt.
Then she turned her head away, pulling her chin out of his hand. She turned back and stared at him.
"This is how you repay me for saving your life?"
Alaric Yun curled his lips into a smile. "I did say I would repay you for saving me. I haven't forgotten that."
"And right now, isn't this me repaying you? Back then, I said I would repay you by marrying you."
Pearl Su was speechless. You can twist things like that? Seriously?
"Now that I've married you, I've repaid the favor. If you still want that one thousand taels of gold, as long as you're willing to manage it, the entire marquis' estate is yours. One thousand taels is nothing."
Pearl Su looked at him with disgust and said coldly, "I don't want anything else. Just give me the one thousand taels."
"So, my wife still doesn't want to get married,even if the groom is me." Alaric Yun shook his head and gave a disappointed smile. "How heartbreaking for your husband."
"But now that you're married to me, it's not up to you anymore."
When Alaric Yun said this, his eyes locked onto Pearl Su's with a dangerous gleam, his tone forceful and domineering.
Pearl Su wasn't scared by his words. She just felt speechless, like talking to him was completely pointless.
"Don't you think you're being really ungrateful?" she asked coldly, staring at him.