Chapter 82: A Pleasant Flavor

Ye Zehong listened to Lu Yao’s account, his eyes filled with tenderness and pain. If Ye Hua had already set his claws on Lu Yao, then there was no reason for him to wait any longer.

"Let’s go home."

He scooped Lu Yao into his arms and strode out of the Ye family’s old mansion.

Lu Yao had wanted to remind him that she was merely bruised in the face, not crippled. Still uneasy, she said, "Your fiancée hasn’t come back yet. If we just leave like this and the Ye family finds out, won’t it cause trouble?"

She regretted the words the moment they left her lips.

Ye Zehong’s strikingly handsome features darkened completely.

"Qiao Wan’er is unworthy of being my fiancée. After tonight, she will no longer be engaged to me."

Lu Yao was stunned, her gaze brimming with confusion as she looked into his eyes. Was he truly going to unilaterally break the engagement? For her sake?

Her heart fluttered with complicated emotions, and she couldn’t help but ask, "Aren’t you afraid that Chairman Ye will…"

"He won’t!" Ye Zehong’s voice held a hint of lightness. "Just now in the study, my father gave me an ultimatum. I must immediately break off the engagement with Qiao Wan’er."

Lu Yao’s pupils quivered in shock.

"Why?"

"Because… the Qiao family is not worthy!"

Lu Yao was struck dumb, her clear eyes wide and expression frozen. Qiao Wan’er was known as the city’s top heiress—if even she was considered unworthy, then what kind of background and excellence would it take to be worthy of this noble man?

...

Elsewhere.

On her way to the restroom, Qiao Wan’er was suddenly blocked by a male servant who emerged out of nowhere.

In a foul mood, she snapped, "Even a stray dog dares block my way? Get lost!"

"Miss Qiao, stray dogs are much fiercer than pampered pets. I’m sure you’ll be absolutely taken with them." The male servant stepped forward, seized Qiao Wan’er’s hand, clapped a palm over her mouth, and despite her fierce struggles, dragged her into one of the workers’ rooms in the backyard.

"Get away from me!"

Qiao Wan’er kicked the man hard in the groin, making him double over in pain, clutching himself and howling.

She seized the chance to dash for the door.

The servant yanked her back by her clothes, and with the force, she tumbled backward to the floor.

The man, furious, straddled her waist and slapped her twice across her delicate face. His eyes glinted with malice as he snarled, "You wretch, if I don’t finish you tonight, I’m no man!"

"Spit!" Qiao Wan’er spat in his face, her voice full of fearless fury. "I’m the future second young mistress of the Ye family. If you dare lay a finger on me, you clearly have no regard for your own life!"

"When I’m done with you, you’ll never be the second young mistress." The servant’s ugly smile sent a chill through Qiao Wan’er, and fear flickered across her face.

She gritted her teeth, trembling with rage. "I’ll give you a hundred million—just tell me who sent you, and I’ll have my father forgive you."

"I have no one in this world. No family, no ties, nothing to lose. I have no money, only a worthless life. Money means less than dirt to me." As he spoke, the man leaned closer to her ear and planted a wicked kiss on her cheek. "Not bad. I like it."

Only then did Qiao Wan’er realize how grave the danger was.

She tried to struggle, but her limbs had gone limp and her vision blurred.

A jolt of terror shot through her.

Suddenly, she remembered the special drink Lu Yao had given her. Hatred twisted her features.

Lu Yao! That wretch dared to drug her!

Rage gave her a moment of clarity. In the chaos, she grabbed a nearby object and smashed it down on the servant’s head.

Blood spurted instantly.

The man touched his bleeding scalp, his expression turning cold. He slapped Qiao Wan’er hard, knocking her completely unconscious.

Damn her for daring to hit him.

Tonight, he’d make her beg for death.

He walked unhurriedly to a camera already set up in the corner and pressed the record button.

(End of chapter)