When I hit my third month of pregnancy, we got engaged.

The Zhou clan protested fiercely, leading to a long confrontation back at his family estate. He returned early the next morning, and after that, every arrangement went through without a hitch.

His mother handed me an exquisite jade bangle: “For my future daughter-in-law.” Hearing those words made my heart swell with a strange, unfamiliar warmth.

Out of nowhere, Su Wen, my father, called from abroad. This time, he poured on the flattery, eager to use Zhou Yuandong’s influence to make his comeback.

I hung up on him mid-sentence, then forwarded his phone number to every single one of his debt collectors. For a man like Su Wen, leaving him with no path of retreat was the only fitting end.

Morning sickness hit me hard, leaving me exhausted even into my third month. The engagement party was kept intentionally brief so I could rest. Afterward, I sat on the balcony watching the moon, my mind a tangle of emotions.

He came home, wrapping his arms around me from behind to press a kiss to my cheek. “What’s on your mind?”

I looked at him point-blank. “Zhou Yuandong, do you love me?”

He let out a soft chuckle as he poured a glass of wine, bringing up something I had once whined to my best friend: If Song Zhaoran had been brave enough, I would have run off with him.

Setting the glass down, he pulled me into his arms, his hand resting behind my neck to keep me from looking at his face.

“How much do you think I have to love you to tolerate everything you’ve done?” he whispered before leaning in to kiss me.

Later that night, he was unyielding. “Tonight, I don’t want to hear another man’s name. Right now, I want you.”

“But… the baby’s in my belly. I’m scared.”

“I won’t hurt either of you.” Zhou Yuandong was already flushed with wine.

The icy demeanor he presented to the outside world gave way to a dreamy, lingering heat, a mixture of raw desire and overwhelming tenderness.

He kissed me until I was jelly, his fingertips trembling slightly against my skin. In our three years together, we had spent almost every day tangled up in each other—and after two months apart, my body missed him to the point of madness.

He lifted me onto the bed, my lace dress sliding down like water before shielding my face like a promise.

His kisses trailed from my neck down my curves, coming to a rest over my belly, where the tiny, unseen life was nestled. He kissed the spot gently, like drinking from a clear spring. My heart hammered against my ribs as I gasped out soft whimpers, whispering his name over and over.

Deprived of his affection for so long, his gentle touch felt like spring rain melting away the ice. A few minutes later, I dissolved into tears, begging him to stop. He held me close, soothing me, resting his hand over mine on my stomach, a breathtaking moment realizing our shared blood was growing right there inside me.

Tears streaming down my cheeks, I murmured, “Zhou Yuandong, I don’t love Song Zhaoran. Growing up, I only saw him as an older brother… I never loved him.”

I smiled, tilting my face up to kiss him. “If I had ever loved him, I would’ve been dead long ago. I never would’ve made it to the Xue residence to meet you.”

He always called me fragile, a spoiled girl who threw tantrums; he didn’t realize that deep down, I was stubborn to a fault. If I had ever loved someone else, I would have chosen death over selling myself to a stranger. And if I didn’t love him, why would I keep coming back after running away eighteen times?

Zhou Yuandong adjusted the pillows, protecting my belly as if holding a fragile treasure. He checked in with every movement, terrified of making me uncomfortable. I took it obediently, wrapping my arms around his neck:

“Hubby, Yanyan loves you. I’ll love you forever, and I’m never leaving.”

He froze for a fraction of a second, then surrendered to a deep, passionate rhythm, though keeping a shred of control.

“Little Yan,” he whispered, “I love you even more.” He pressed a soft kiss against my finger, right where the sparkling engagement ring sat. Catching a glimpse of the matching band on his hand, I turned my face away, my heart burning intensely.

The deep mark he had once left in my life would never fade. I thought to myself: Maybe my body fell in love with him long before my heart did.

But that secret, I’ll keep it to myself forever. Otherwise, it would only feed his unbearable arrogance.