Confidential Email
The night at 武家府邸 was so silent that even the ticking of seconds could be heard.
武傲神's room was still lit.
The laptop in front of him displayed a confidential report from Zurich—the place where all financial flows related to that year's death had been sealed.
"Final Draft – Confidentiel – The Reason 武傲天 Destroyed 宋家."
A file he had requested months ago.
Something no ordinary channel could ever access.
He opened it.
Each line that appeared… felt like a blade carving into his chest.
– the death of 武傲天's mother
– the hidden cause
– the name "宋行" listed as the primary beneficiary
– secret meetings between political powers and financial elites
– erased financial records from that year
– testimony from the head nurse
– a tampered forensic report
– and the entire twenty-year chain of investigation 武傲天 had endured alone… building a chessboard for revenge
武傲神 sat there for a long time.
Almost without blinking.
In his life, he had been proud of two things:
– reason
– morality
Now both were being shattered… by the truth in front of him.
He felt pain for his brother first.
Then for the woman he loved.
The person he cherished most.
The person he loved most.
Standing on opposite ends of the same blade.
No one was wrong.
But everyone was in pain.
A Conversation Between Brothers — A Truth With No Exit
武傲神 stood up and walked to 武傲天's study.
The door opened softly.
Under dim golden light, 武傲天 stood with his back turned, hands in his pockets, looking out over 云海.
His silhouette was rigid like stone.
But his shoulders trembled slightly.
武傲神 spoke, voice low:
"Is it because of what happened to your mother… that you approached 宋以燕?"
No courtesy.
No detour.
No politeness.
A question from a younger brother… whose heart was tearing apart.
武傲天 did not turn around.
No strong reaction.
No anger.
Just a faint sound:
"…Mm."
Almost nonexistent.
But enough to suffocate both of them.
武傲神 clenched his fists.
"But she has no fault."
That sentence drove a blade straight into 武傲天's chest.
His shoulder stiffened for a second.
But he did not argue.
武傲神 stepped forward:
"If the one at fault is her father… then let him pay.
Don't hurt 宋以燕 anymore."
武傲天 closed his eyes.
His lashes trembled.
For the first time in twenty years—
his hand tightened on the table… then loosened… then tightened again.
His heart hurt.
Not because of the accusation.
But because—
He had never wanted to hurt 宋以燕.
Not from the beginning.
Not even once.
Even when she was the central piece of his chessboard.
In the silence stretched like a string about to snap, 武傲天 spoke softly:
"神… why do you care about my wife… this much?"
A question like lightning between them.
武傲神 froze.
His chest tightened.
His throat burned dry.
He lowered his head.
Did not answer.
Because any answer… would push everything into the abyss.
The study door was slightly ajar.
Outside—
宋以燕 was standing there.
No one knew when she had arrived.
No one knew how much she had heard.
But her face had turned completely pale.
She heard:
– the death of 武傲天's mother
– 宋行 was involved
– twenty years of investigation
– twenty years of revenge
– twenty years of her life being placed on a trajectory she thought she chose
– ÉCLAT was not destiny… it was engineered
– she had been guided into fashion since childhood
– she grew up inside a system designed by 武傲天
– every "choice" she believed was free… was part of a larger design
– she was not betrayed… she was chosen
– and the gentle smile she once believed in… was not fake, but not natural either
2 parts real
8 parts pain
10 parts responsibility
20 parts hatred
She couldn't breathe.
She couldn't stand.
Her vision blurred.
Her ears rang.
Her heart beat wildly—
one beat pain, one beat fury, then blank.
Then—
Her body collapsed.
She fell onto the cold floor.
The sound echoed sharply… tearing through the silent corridor.
"燕"
武傲神's voice came first.
Like the cry of a man losing his soul.
He nearly dropped to his knees as he caught her.
His hands trembled so badly he couldn't even hold her wrist at first.
"燕! Can you hear me?!"
No response.
Her breathing was faint—almost gone.
He lifted her into his arms with the desperation of a man who had nothing left to lose.
He shouted downstairs:
"CALL EMERGENCY!
NOW!!!"
His voice no longer belonged to the calm heir.
Only:
– fear
– love
– guilt
– absolute panic
He rushed down the stairs, holding her tightly against his chest as if she might disappear.
Not caring who saw.
Not caring how many witnesses there were.
Not caring that 武傲天 stood behind him.
武傲天 stood in the corridor.
Watching his younger brother carry his wife away.
For the first two seconds—
He couldn't move.
His face turned pale.
His breathing broke.
Something in his chest tightened… to the point of suffocation.
He was afraid.
For the first time in his life—
Truly afraid.
Not of losing the chessboard.
Not of losing power.
Not of losing control.
But… of losing her.
The only woman he had never dared to love out loud.
His hand trembled.
For the first time in thirty-two years.
He tried to step forward—
But his legs wouldn't move.
He wanted to call her name—
But his throat locked.
Not a single word came out.
He stood there…
Watching his brother disappear at the end of the corridor.
And in that moment—
The most powerful man in 云海 felt his entire twenty-year empire
shatter…
because of one woman…
lying in another man's arms.
That night—
All three stepped into a battle none of them could escape:
– 武傲神: rushing to save her, no longer hiding his love
– 武傲天: trapped between love, hatred, duty, jealousy, and pain
– 宋以燕: carrying a secret in her womb… and a truth that could destroy her life
From that moment on—
The chessboard was no longer about business.
It became destiny.