Chapter ~ Kneel And Apologise!

Her throat felt as though it were being strangled, making it difficult to breathe. 

Bai Xueyan gasped for air, opening her mouth in desperation as she groped blindly through the darkness, searching for an escape.

Ever since that incident, she had developed an intense fear of the dark. 

Even when she slept, she always left a small light on. Now, as the surroundings plunged into pitch-black nothingness, she felt herself being dragged back to that terrifying night.

Suffocation. Fear. Powerlessness.

Her panicked hands fumbled against unfamiliar surfaces, her breath ragged and shallow. 

She stumbled, her hair damp with cold sweat. Though only a minute had passed, it felt like an eternity.

Finally, her trembling fingers found the door. She pushed it open, inhaling sharply as the suffocating weight pressing against her chest eased slightly. 

The moment she stepped out, her body, tense with fear, finally relaxed. A dull ache spread through her limbs, the result of her frantic collisions in the dark.

Lu Yezhou was gone.

Just then, Manager Cheng appeared, having escorted Lu Yezhou away. Bai Xueyan wrapped a shawl around her slender figure, her face composed but her fingers slightly trembling.

Manager Cheng approached her, his tone filled with thinly veiled persuasion. "Do you have any idea what an opportunity this is? Pleasing Seventh Master could change your life forever. With his power and wealth, just a fraction of his favor would be enough for you to live ten lifetimes in luxury!"

Hearing this, Bai Xueyan cast him an indifferent glance and scoffed, "If you're so eager to be a phoenix, why don't you become one yourself?"

Manager Cheng stiffened, choking on his words. His hand trembled with frustration as he pointed after her retreating figure, his face contorted in anger.

"In this entire city, no one dares refuse Seventh Master. Do you think you can defy him without consequences? Are you not afraid of the price you'll have to pay?"

Bai Xueyan walked away without looking back, as if she hadn't heard a word.

"Bai Xueyan!" Manager Cheng bellowed after her, his voice thick with rage.

His expression darkened as he made his decision—he would fire her immediately. He couldn't afford to let her recklessness drag the winery into trouble with Seventh Master.

When Bai Xueyan received the termination notice, she wasn't surprised. However, she hadn't expected Manager Cheng to go as far as blacklisting her across the entire industry.

She let out a low chuckle, shaking her head. "They really think too highly of me. All this trouble over someone as insignificant as me?"

With no job, survival was still a necessity. After countless rejections, she settled for temporary work.

Today, she was a part-time waitress in a café.

The afternoon rush kept her occupied as she maneuvered through the bustling crowd. 

As she stepped outside to deliver coffee to an outdoor table, her gaze flickered toward the street. A sleek pink Maserati was parked by the curb, its license plate vaguely familiar. 

Bai Xueyan frowned slightly but continued her task, intending to return inside afterward.

Suddenly, footsteps approached from behind.

She turned instinctively, offering a polite smile. "What would you like to drink?"

The moment her eyes met the delicate yet cold gaze of Bai Xiaosheng, the air around them seemed to still.

A frail girl sat in a wheelchair, her skin pale, almost translucent, as if crafted from the finest porcelain. She was dazzling—so much so that she seemed to steal all the light around her.

Bai Xueyan's expression turned cold as her gaze drifted to Bai Xiaosheng's legs.

Three years had passed. She had thought she would never see this woman again.

Bai Xiaosheng, draped in a soft blanket over her lap, remained fixated on Bai Xueyan, scrutinizing her every subtle expression. However, Bai Xueyan's indifference ignited something furious within her.

A sharp scoff escaped Bai Xiaosheng's lips. "A lady of the Bai family reduced to waiting tables? How much lower can you possibly sink? Do you delight in humiliating our family?"

Bai Xueyan merely smiled, unbothered. "I thought the Bai family had already disowned me. Isn't this what they wanted?"

Bai Xiaosheng's expression darkened. Her fingers curled tightly around the edge of her blanket. "Because of you, my legs are like this! Bai Xueyan, you owe me an apology. Since I'm in a generous mood today, I'll give you a chance. Kneel down and apologize."

Her voice rang out, loud enough for the surrounding guests to hear. Humiliating Bai Xueyan in public—that was her goal.

Bai Xueyan arched a brow. "Kneel?" The idea was laughable. "If I had done something wrong, three years should have been punishment enough."

She shifted her gaze away from Bai Xiaosheng's legs, uninterested in further conversation, and turned to leave.

Bai Xiaosheng's fury exploded. Her sharp voice cut through the air. "Why are you just standing there? Didn't you hear me?!"

The assistant behind her stepped forward, grabbing Bai Xueyan's wrist and forcefully yanking her back. A swift kick landed against the back of her knee, making her stumble.

The sharp sting of pain shot through her legs, and cold sweat beaded along her forehead.

As she struggled to rise, the assistant pressed down on her calf with a firm stomp. A burst of pain spread through her limbs, pinning her in place.

Bai Xiaosheng's cold, mocking voice rang above her. "Kneel!"

To Be Continued...