The second button of Anya's shirt was about to give way when a sudden commotion erupted outside the room. The sound of heavy, racing footsteps and the shouting of guards shattered the deathly tension inside.
Zain's hands froze. An icy glint appeared in his eyes. He abruptly released Anya and turned toward the door. Just then, a message from the Head Guard flashed on his phone: "Sir, a young man is trying to force his way in. He claims to be the Madam's brother. How should we proceed?"
A cruel, deep smirk spread across Zain's lips. He looked back at Anya, who was still gasping for air, clutching the shirt tightly to her chest.
"It seems your savior has arrived, Anya," Zain said in a chilling tone. He picked up his phone and commanded, "Let him in. Bring him straight to my room."
Minutes later, the door burst open with a bang. Lu Wei stumbled in, breathless. His clothes were disheveled, and his face was flushed with incandescent rage. Behind him, four armed guards stood in a formation, surrounding him.
The sight of Anya in Zain's bedroom, wearing his shirt with her hair in total disarray, made Lu Wei's blood boil.
"Anya!" Lu Wei screamed, lunging toward her, but a guard violently shoved him back. "Zain Yan! How dare you keep my sister captive here? Release her this instant!"
Zain adjusted his wristwatch with agonizing nonchalance and stepped forward. Standing at a towering 195 cm, Zain's massive frame made Lu Wei look small in comparison, but the hatred in Lu Wei's eyes was equally formidable.
"You've arrived at just the right time, brother-in-law," Zain's voice dripped with a strange mix of venom and amusement. He deliberately emphasized the words 'brother-in-law.'
Lu Wei spat through gritted teeth, "Don't call me that! You've coerced her into signing those papers. This marriage is a farce!"
Zain took a deep breath and turned toward Anya. With lightning speed, he snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. Anya tried to resist, but Zain's fingers dug firmly into her waist—a silent warning that if she moved, Lu Wei would pay the price.
"A farce?" Zain asked, staring directly into Lu Wei's eyes. "Your sister is now mine, legally. And as for coercion... why don't you tell your brother, Anya? Are you here by choice or not?"
Anya looked at her brother with trembling eyes. She wanted to tell him the truth; she wanted to scream that Zain was a monster. But then, she remembered Zain's threat—the 'Dragon King' and the life of her brother.
"Wei... you should leave," Anya said in a broken, tearful voice, lowering her head. "I... I'm fine. This is my own choice."
"Liar!" Lu Wei roared. "Anya, you're afraid of him! Zain, I will destroy you!"
Zain gave a cold laugh and signaled his guards. "Our brother-in-law is exhausted. Take him to the guest house and show him our 'best' hospitality. He needs to understand what it means to be the son-in-law of the Yan family."
The guards began dragging Lu Wei away. "Anya! Anya!" his voice echoed through the hallway until it finally faded into silence.
The room returned to that same terrifying stillness. Zain released Anya and leaned in so close to her face that he was whispering against her skin.
"See? One mistake from you, and your brother's face won't be recognizable. Now... shall we continue where we left off, Mrs. Yan?"
A tear fell from Anya's eye and hit the floor. She realized that to save Lu Wei, she would have to surrender herself completely to Zain's cage.
The Master and the Slave: The Rules of Captivity
Zain handed Anya a black file. It contained a list of rules—rules where any violation meant the total destruction of Anya's family.
The Time Lock: You must arrive home from the office by exactly 7:30 PM. A single minute's delay means your career ends forever.
The Male Ban: Communication with any other man is strictly forbidden. Even at the office, you will only discuss work with female employees.
The Digital Cage: A tracker will be installed on Anya's phone. Every call and every message will be monitored by Zain.
Ownership of the Body: Anya must accept that she has no right over her own body. Zain may touch her whenever and however he pleases.
Isolation: She cannot step foot outside the house without Zain's permission, nor can she meet her mother or brother.
The Dress Code: Inside the house, she will wear clothes chosen by Zain. While she is permitted to wear 'expensive silks,' they are solely for the pleasure of Zain's eyes.
Nightly Submission: Every night, she must remain by Zain's side, regardless of her own wishes. Her silence will be taken as consent.
Financial Chains: She will have no personal money. She may buy whatever she desires, but the bill goes directly to Zain.
The Punishment Rule: For every broken rule, the punishment will not be inflicted on Anya, but on her brother, Lu Wei.
Master and Slave: In this house, you may be my wife, but in the office, you are my employee—or rather, my slave, and I am your Master.
No-Entry Zone: We will have separate rooms. Do not even dare to enter my room unless I summon you.
Secret Marriage: No one outside is to know about our marriage. In the eyes of the world, you are merely an ordinary employee.
This wasn't a list of rules; it was a death warrant for Anya's freedom. As she flipped through the pages, her eyes turned bloodshot with rage. Rules 4 and 7 tore through her very soul—the ownership of her body and nightly submission.
Anya's temper hit a boiling point. She slammed the file onto the floor and lunged at Zain like a madwoman.
"You are vile, Zain Yan! You aren't human; you're a disgusting demon!" Anya screamed, trying to dig her nails into Zain's face. She wanted to kill him; at that moment, she didn't even care about her own life.
But Zain? He had been waiting for this 'wildcat' to strike.
Just as Anya's hand neared his face, Zain caught both her wrists in one hand with lightning speed. He wrenched them upward, pinning her against the wall. Anya's chest heaved with rapid breaths, and tears of fury streamed down her face.
"Let go of me! Let go!" Anya thrashed, but Zain's grip was like iron shackles.
Zain leaned his face close to Anya's ear. There was a terrifying edge to his voice. "Mrs. Yan... you really are a wildcat. Are you forgetting your place?"
He twisted her wrist slightly more, forcing a whimper from her lips. Zain buried his icy gaze into her eyes.
"But unfortunately," Zain whispered in a low, lethal tone, "your husband is a Wolf. And a wolf never allows his prey the luxury of a scratch. He goes straight for the throat."
He gripped her trembling face tightly with his fingers. "These rules aren't for your protection; they are to remind you of your place. If you ever dare to raise a hand against me again, remember... Rule 9 will be enforced in a heartbeat. Do you want me to have one of Lu Wei's fingers severed and presented to you right now?"
Anya's body went numb. All her courage evaporated like mist. Zain released her with a shove, causing her to stumble back onto the bed.
Zain calmly straightened his coat and turned toward the window. "Pick up the file and memorize it. The rules go into effect tonight. And... remember Rule 12. Tomorrow morning, you go to the office as an 'ordinary employee,' not as my wife."
Anya gripped the bedsheets in her fists. She had lost, but a single spark remained buried deep within her heart.