Hong Yi stared at Xiamen, his eyes burning with guilt, heartbreak, and something deeper — a remorse he had carried for years without understanding why.
"Xiamen…"
His voice cracked as he reached toward her.
"I'm sorry. I never wanted you to go through all this because of me."
She looked at him — really looked — and for a moment her expression softened.
Then she forced a small smile.
"I'm alright," she said quietly. "This is nothing compared to what I went through when I was your wife." no. 1 business a billionaire
Hong Yi flinched.
The word hit him like a slap.
a billionaire wife.
A term he hadn't heard in years — a term that should never have existed.
A term tied to the coldest, most distant years of his life.
He stepped back, stunned.
"You… you still think of that time?"
Xiamen didn't answer.
She simply turned away.
"I was blamed for everything," she whispered, her voice low and trembling. "For your family's decisions. For the company's problems. For things I did not even do."
Hong Yi felt his heart twist painfully.
"But I don't want danger again," she said, shaking her head. "I'm tired. I need to see my son."
She walked toward the balcony doors.
Before she could take another step, Mr. Lin appeared from the side hallway, his expression unreadable. He gently caught her wrist.
"Xiamen."
She stopped, but did not look at him.
Mr. Lin stepped closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear.
"You realize," he said slowly, "you have made Emma your enemy."
Xiamen's breath hitched.
"She won't forgive you for today," he continued. "Her family is powerful. Very well known. They don't lose."
Xiamen lifted her chin, forcing composure into her eyes.
"I never wanted to fight."
Mr. Lin shook his head.
"It doesn't matter what you want."
His voice carried a warning.
"You embarrassed her. You made Hong Yi defend you. She will take that personally."
Xiamen's chest tightened.
"And…" Mr. Lin's eyes darkened, "you know Emma will become Hong Yi's wife."
Those words sliced through Xiamen's heart like a blade.
She didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't breathe.
Mr. Lin watched her closely — studying every flicker in her eyes.
"You should be careful," he whispered. "Emma is not done with you. And after today… she will come for you harder than before."
Xiamen finally found her voice, shaky and exhausted.
"I just want to protect my son. I don't care about anything else."
Mr. Lin let go of her wrist.
"I hope," he said softly, "that protecting him won't cost you more than you can bear."
Xiamen stepped back, her knees weak.
And behind her, from the other end of the hall, Hong Yi watched —
—he did not heard enough but :
Xiamen's past with him was deeper than he ever realized.
Her suffering was heavier than he ever imagined.
And her secrets… were far more dangerous than he ever understood.