The private room soon emptied, and Leonard shut the door behind him.


    Inside the opulent room, silence reigned.


    Lysander leaned back on the couch, the dim golden light casting shadows over his sharp, chiseled features, adding an air of enigmatic mystery.


    Despite there being only two people left in the room, Lysander''s imposing presence made the atmosphere even more suffocating than when it was filled with others. M felt his aura enveloping her, leaving no space to escape.


    "Weren''t you just adamant about talking? Why note over?"


    In the intery of light and shadow, Lysander''s gaze was fixed on her, his fox-like eyes dark and cold beneath his short dark hair. "Come here, M. When you need a favor, you should act ordingly. Don''t you agree, my dear?"


    M stood still.


    She could sense the danger emanating from the man on the couch. She knew her earlier threats had angered him, making it impossible for her to approach.


    Standing at the doorway, she took a deep breath and said, "Lysander, the divorce is between us. If you think my terms are too high, we can negotiate, but I won''t tolerate you using this to threaten or harm my friends. You..."


    "Come here."


    Lysander interrupted, his voice even colder. "M, my patience with you is limited. Even more so with your friends."


    A heavy silence filled the air.


    M pressed her lips together, cautiously stepping forward, her heart pounding like a drum.


    Since their marriage, she had rarely seen Lysander like this. He usually ignored her, only using her when convenient, treating her like a mere object.


    Such intense, oppressive anger had only surfaced before their marriage and a few nights ago.


    Fear cast a long shadow over M''s heart.


    As she inched closer, her mind raced frantically for a solution. "I can be more flexible with the asset division, Lysander. Don''t push me. We''ve been married; can''t we just part amicably?"


    As soon as she drew near, her arm was yanked, and she was pulled into Lysander''s embrace. Her white down jacket slipped off, revealing a snug white sweater that highlighted her slender waist.


    Lysander held her tightly, lowering his head to her ear, hisugh cold and soft. "Amicably?"


    "M, when have we ever parted amicably?"


    "You had the nerve to demand back then; you should know by now, no matter what happens, you''ll have to endure it. You don''t get to decide if we part or not, understood?"


    Even as he spoke, hisrge, strong hand slipped under the hem of her sweater, making M shiver.


    She struggled, trying to break free, but he held her firmly. Her leg knocked against the crystal table''s edge, drawing a muffled groan as a bruise surely formed.


    Lysander paused briefly before continuing his advance.


    Overwhelmed by pain and anger, M snapped, "I didn''t do it. If you hadn''t insisted on taking that drink back then, none of this would have happened..."


    "Bang!"


    sses and bottles toppled from the crystal table, and M was mmed onto it, the pain shooting up her back, bringing tears to her eyes.


    Lysander''s weight pressed down on her a momentter.


    Through tear-blurred eyes, M could only see the fierce, dangerous glint in Lysander''s fox-like gaze, so deep and dark it threatened to consume her entirely.