Stolen Freedom

***This chapter contains strong language and intense themes. Reader discretion is advised.***

Yi Chen leaned back in his leather chair, his hand rubbing his temple. The clock on the wall blinked 11:03 PM. Another late night. He sighed heavily, shutting down his laptop. The once-bustling office floor outside his cabin was now eerily silent.

Sliding his suit jacket over his shoulders, he grabbed his keys and exited his cabin, the sound of his polished shoes echoing in the empty hallway. The dim lighting cast long shadows, and the hum of the air conditioning felt louder than usual.

By the time he reached the elevator, exhaustion weighed on him like a lead cloak. As the doors slid open with a soft chime, he stepped in and pressed the button for the basement parking lot.

The parking lot was quiet, the silence broken only by the occasional drip of water from a pipe. Yi Chen walked to his car, his movements automatic, and pressed the key fob. The car's headlights blinked as it unlocked.

He slid into the driver's seat, tossing his briefcase onto the passenger side. The moment the engine roared to life, a figure darted in front of his car. He slammed the brakes instinctively, his heart lurching.

The headlights illuminated a figure dressed in black—a woman, her face obscured by a mask, her head hidden under a cap, and her body wrapped in an oversized jacket.

Yi Chen didn't move. His sharp eyes narrowed, watching her through the windshield. Who would dare stop him at this hour?

The woman approached the passenger side and knocked on the window, her voice muffled but urgent. "Open... the door. Please... open it... Open the door!"

For a long moment, Yi Chen didn't move, his hand hovering over the central lock. Something about her desperation was unsettling, yet oddly familiar.

Finally, with a click, the door unlocked. The woman hurriedly got in, her breath uneven and shaky.

Yi Chen turned his head slowly, his face unreadable.

The woman pulled off her cap, revealing long, disheveled hair. Then, with trembling hands, she removed her mask.

It was her.

The actress.

Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear, darting around the parking lot as if expecting someone to burst in at any moment.

she look at yichen...she was so afraid...she said....!i need your help...help me ....

Yi Chen's expression hardened instantly, his exhaustion giving way to cold fury. "Well, well," he drawled, his voice dangerously soft. "Look who it is. After all the mud you threw at me... now you want my help?"

Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but no words came.

Yi Chen leaned closer, his tone sharp and biting. "Let me make this easier for both of us.if i killed you ....." His hand shot out, gripping her neck with a vice-like hold.

She gasped, her hands clawing at his wrist. "Yi Chen... I—"

His face was a mask of rage as he tightened his hold. "You made me a fool in front of the media, humiliated me in front of my family! Do you have any idea what your lies cost me?

your f**king post ruined my image ...and now you want my help...?

She choked, her voice coming out in gasps. "I... I... have evidence... that proves your innocence..."

His grip faltered for a split second, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. "Evidence?"

Her voice was weak, her breaths shallow. "A recording... a conversation between me... and Tai Jun..."

Yi Chen's hand slowly released her. She slumped back into the seat, coughing violently, one hand rubbing her neck.

She looked at him with teary eyes, her voice trembling. "Why are you being so... cruel to me?"

He scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Cruel? You think this is cruel? What you did was far worse. You destroyed my name, my life, my relationships. And now, out of the blue, you crawl back to me asking for help?"

She looked down, her fingers gripping the edge of her jacket tightly. For a moment, she said nothing. Then, her voice broke through the tense silence.

"They're looking for me... Tai Jun's men." Her voice cracked, her fear palpable. "He ordered them to kill me on sight. They're everywhere—my home, the island where I hid... I have nowhere left to go."

Yi Chen's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing.

She continued, her voice pleading. "If you don't help me, I'm dead. I'll give you the recording. I'll go public—I'll tell the media the truth. I'll admit the scandal was fake and that Tai Jun forced me to do it. Please... please help me."

He leaned back, his cold eyes locked onto hers. "So, now you crawl back to me? After everything you did?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the suffocating tension in the car. "Why should I believe a word you say?"

Her voice cracked, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Because... because I was wrong. And I have no one else."

Yi Chen's jaw tightened. For a moment, he said nothing, the air between them charged with unspoken rage. Then, he spoke, his voice low and biting. "You'll fix this. Every lie, every shred of damage you caused—you'll make it right. And then..." He paused, his eyes darkening. "Then, you'll disappear. Forever."

She nodded again, clutching her jacket tightly. The car sped out of the parking lot, leaving behind the suffocating silence of the basement.

****

Qin Lianyi unlocked the apartment door, phone pressed between her shoulder and ear, a light laugh escaping her lips.

"Yes, yes, I'm home now... When are you coming back from the U.S.? Hmm? Okay, love you, honey. Bye."

She pushed the door open with a sigh, stepped inside, and kicked off her heels. Her voice echoed softly in the quiet apartment as she called out, "Xiaoxue? Xuexue, Mommy's home!"

The silence that answered sent a shiver down her spine. Frowning, she flicked the light switch on.

The moment the room illuminated, her breath hitched.

A figure sat on the couch, legs crossed with an air of composed menace. The woman's sharp features were framed by jet-black hair, and her blood-red lips curled into a dangerous smile.

Qin Lianyi's voice faltered. "L-Lei Xian..."

Lei Xian leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her piercing gaze locking onto Qin Lianyi like a predator sizing up prey. "Long time no see, Doctor Qin. Did you miss me?"

Panic coursed through Qin Lianyi. Her hand darted to the small table by the door, grabbing the fruit knife lying there. She held it in front of her, her hands trembling but her voice firm.

"Don't you dare come any closer, Lei Xian!"

Lei Xian chuckled, the sound low and mocking as she stood and sauntered closer. Her black boots echoed ominously against the tiled floor.

"This is how you greet an old friend? A knife, Lianyi? Really?" She stopped a few feet away, her dark eyes glittering with malice. "I didn't come here to hurt you... yet. I came to talk."

"Talk about what?" Qin Lianyi snapped, gripping the knife tighter. "Whatever you want, the answer is no. I don't owe you anything, Lei Xian."

Lei Xian's smirk widened. "Oh, but you do. Eighteen years ago, you walked away from the experiment. You thought you were free, didn't you? But freedom, Lianyi, comes at a price."

"I lost everything because of you!" Qin Lianyi's voice cracked with anger. "My medical license, my reputation—I was in the hospital for a year because of that damned experiment! You ruined my life, and now you have the audacity to come here and ask for something?"

Lei Xian's expression darkened, the playful tone dropping from her voice. "Careful, Lianyi. I didn't come to ask. I came to tell. You'll do as I say, or..." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "I'll make sure everyone knows about your dirty little secrets. Your husband, your precious daughter—they'll find out exactly what kind of woman you were."

Qin Lianyi's heart clenched. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "You can't... You wouldn't dare drag my family into this."

Lei Xian tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Wouldn't I? Xiaoxue's such a sweet girl, isn't she? Ten years old, right? So full of life. Imagine what would happen if she knew her mother was complicit in illegal human experimentation. If she knew you helped ruin lives."

"You're a monster," Qin Lianyi spat, her voice shaking. "Stay away from my family."

At that moment, the door clicked open, and Xiaoxue's cheerful voice rang out. "Mom, I'm home!"

Qin Lianyi froze, her blood running cold. She turned to see her daughter skipping into the apartment, her schoolbag slung over her shoulder. Without thinking, Qin Lianyi rushed forward and pulled Xiaoxue behind her, shielding the girl with her own body.

Xiaoxue blinked in confusion. "Mom? What's going on?"

Lei Xian's smile returned, cruel and taunting. "What a lovely reunion. Don't worry, Xiaoxue. Mommy and I were just catching up."

Qin Lianyi's voice was laced with fury as she pointed the knife at Lei Xian. "I swear, if you so much as look at her again—"

Lei Xian held up her hands mockingly, as if surrendering. "Relax, Lianyi. I didn't come here to hurt anyone. But I did come to deliver some news."

Her next words sent a jolt of terror through Qin Lianyi.

"I found her."

Qin Lianyi's breath hitched. "Found who?"

Lei Xian's smirk deepened. "The object. Cheng Li's daughter."

Qin Lianyi staggered back as if the words had physically struck her. "No... That's not possible."

"Oh, but it is," Lei Xian said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Eighteen years, Lianyi. And now, I've found them both. Huan Yong and the girl. The experiment's legacy lives on."

Qin Lianyi's voice trembled with desperation. "What do you want from me?"

Lei Xian leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper. "Your testimony. Against my brother. You'll say exactly what I tell you to, or I'll tear your perfect little life apart piece by piece. Your choice."

Tears streamed down Qin Lianyi's face as she shook her head. "Why me? Why now?"

Lei Xian straightened, her tone turning cold. "Because you're the only one who knows everything about the experiment. And because you owe me."

Without waiting for a response, Lei Xian turned toward the door. As she opened it, she glanced back, her gaze chilling. "Think it over, Lianyi. But don't take too long. You wouldn't want Xiaoxue to get caught in the crossfire."

The door clicked shut, and Lei Xian was gone.

Qin Lianyi sank to her knees, clutching Xiaoxue tightly. Her tears fell freely now, a mix of fear and helpless rage.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Xiaoxue asked, her small hands wiping at her mother's tears.

Qin Lianyi forced a trembling smile, her voice barely above a whisper. "Nothing, sweetheart. Mommy's just... tired."

But deep down, she knew the past she had fought so hard to bury was about to resurface, threatening to destroy everything she held dear.

About Qin Lianyi:

Qin Lianyi was the courageous doctor who risked everything to help Hua Li escape with Xin Yi 18 years ago.