The Ghost of the Mo Family

Lin Anyi barely slept that night.

Even after leaving her family home, her mind refused to quiet down. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the conversation over and over.

Mo Chen.

She had never met him before, but his name carried weight. People spoke of him in hushed tones, as if he were some kind of untouchable figure lurking in the shadows.

A once-great man who had lost everything.

But if that were true, why had the Mo family changed their minds and chosen her over Lin Meixiu? If Mo Chen was truly a cripple weak and powerless then wouldn't they have settled for anyone?

Something wasn't adding up.

By morning, her decision was made. If she was being forced into this marriage, she would at least find out who she was marrying.

---

The Mo family estate was as intimidating as its reputation.

A towering mansion sat at the center of sprawling gardens, its high walls giving off the impression of a fortress rather than a home. The Mo family's wealth and power were on full display, but the place felt eerily quiet almost lifeless.

Lin Anyi had pulled some strings to get past the outer gates. Now, she found herself standing in front of the main house, unsure of what to expect.

A butler greeted her at the entrance, his face unreadable. "Miss Lin, the young master does not receive guests unannounced."

"I won't take up much of his time," she said smoothly. "Tell him his fiancée has come to visit."

The butler hesitated before nodding. "Please wait here."

Lin Anyi crossed her arms, forcing herself to remain calm. A part of her still couldn't believe she was doing this. Barging into her future husband's home before the wedding? This wasn't something a well-mannered bride was supposed to do.

But then again, she had never been the obedient daughter they wanted her to be.

After several minutes, the butler returned. "This way, Miss Lin."

She followed him through a dimly lit hallway. The silence was suffocating, making each of her footsteps echo loudly.

Finally, they stopped before a door. The butler knocked once, then pushed it open.

"You may enter."

Taking a deep breath, Lin Anyi stepped inside.

The room was large, but not grand. Dark wooden bookshelves lined the walls, filled with thick, leather-bound volumes. A fireplace crackled faintly in the corner, casting flickering shadows across the room.

And there, seated near the window, was Mo Chen.

For a man described as a crippled recluse, he was striking.

Dressed in a crisp black suit, he sat in a wheelchair, his posture perfectly composed. His features were sharp chiselled jawline, high cheekbones, dark eyes that held an unsettling intensity.

He did not look weak. He did not look broken.

He looked dangerous.

"Miss Lin," Mo Chen's voice was smooth, but cold. "I wasn't expecting you."

Lin Anyi swallowed, willing herself to hold her ground. "I had to see for myself who I was marrying."

One of his brows arched slightly. "And? Have I met your expectations?"

She tilted her head, studying him. "I was told you were a ghost of a man. Someone who had lost everything."

His lips curved into something that was not quite a smile. "And do I seem like a ghost to you?"

"No," she admitted. "But I think that's exactly what you want people to believe."

For a brief moment, something flickered in his gaze amusement, perhaps. Or maybe something far more dangerous.

"You're not like your sister," he observed.

"You wanted Lin Meixiu, didn't you?" she shot back. "So why the sudden change?"

Mo Chen leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his wheelchair. "That, Miss Lin, is a very interesting question."

Silence stretched between them.

Lin Anyi had expected a sickly, pitiful man. Instead, she had found someone far more calculating.

This marriage was not going to be as simple as she thought.

And something told her Mo Chen had far more secrets than he let on.

---