#$3

###

Anna voiced the thought that had been gnawing at her. "How did they become a couple?" she asked quietly, her eyes searching Mo Xing's for some kind of answer.

Mo Xing glanced at her, his expression thoughtful before he leaned back slightly, his arm still securely wrapped around her waist. "It wasn't immediate," he began, his voice calm but laced with a hint of sadness. "Ling Buyi's husband wasn't someone who just showed up and swept her off her feet. It took him time. He knew who she was from the beginning—he knew her fame, her wealth. And he played the long game."

Anna frowned, feeling her heart sink a little. "What do you mean?" she asked softly.