Wealthy Love Snatch: The Shameless Ex-Wife

Chapter 29: The Debt, What Now?

"Nan Shaojie, your bodyguards seem rather reckless. Are they truly worthy of protecting the heir to the Dragon Empire?" A low, icy voice echoed from behind the group of men, chilling and detached.

The speaker clearly knew Nan Shaojie's true identity.

Nan Shaojie's brows furrowed slightly. Although the Dragon Empire was a force that instilled fear across the globe, his position as the heir was a well-guarded secret, concealed under the guise of a legitimate conglomerate until he officially assumed leadership. Very few people were privy to this information.

Whoever knew his identity must have significant power themselves.

Bingya stiffened, his instincts sharpening. Someone with the knowledge of their leader's true identity—this wasn't an ordinary adversary.

Both men turned their gaze to the figure emerging from behind the black-suited men. Under the cover of a black umbrella, Ye Tianlin strolled forward, his expression impassive, his dark eyes void of any discernible emotion.

The tension in the air instantly thickened.

A Clash of Titans

"Is it you?" Nan Shaojie's surprise was evident. He had been so preoccupied with Xiaoluo that he hadn't noticed Ye Tianlin's presence—or perhaps Ye Tianlin had been following him all along. Either way, the realization unnerved him.

More concerning was the thought of what Ye Tianlin's presence implied. Images of Xiaoluo being mistreated flashed in Nan Shaojie's mind, and his blood boiled. He clenched his fists, his body radiating menace.

Their gazes met in mid-air—Nan Shaojie's laced with fury, Ye Tianlin's as cold and unyielding as steel. The collision of their wills was like a spark meeting gunpowder, primed to ignite at any moment.

Nan Shaojie forced himself to calm down, suppressing his growing anger. He couldn't afford to lose focus; Xiaoluo was still in danger.

Ignoring Ye Tianlin, he took a step toward her. However, as he passed, Ye Tianlin shifted his umbrella, deliberately blocking Nan Shaojie's path. The provocation was unmistakable.

Nan Shaojie's icy glare shot toward Ye Tianlin, warning him to move aside before it was too late.

But Ye Tianlin remained steadfast, a sly smirk curling his lips. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, as if daring Nan Shaojie to make his move.

Bingya bristled at the silent standoff. "Master, allow me!" he growled, ready to engage.

Nan Shaojie hesitated only briefly, his attention split between Xiaoluo and the increasingly volatile situation. At last, he gave Bingya a subtle nod.

Bingya charged at Ye Tianlin with blinding speed, his punch swift and forceful. Yet Ye Tianlin evaded it effortlessly, countering with a quick grab and a calculated kick to Bingya's abdomen.

An Unexpected Blow

Caught off guard, Bingya staggered from the blow, clutching his stomach. He hadn't expected Ye Tianlin to be so skilled—he had underestimated him.

Before Bingya could recover, Ye Tianlin's men surrounded him, their guns trained on his head, leaving no room for retaliation.

Nan Shaojie halted, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He turned to see Bingya pinned, the barrel of a gun inches from his trusted aide's temple.

"Master, leave me! Save Miss Xiaoluo!" Bingya shouted, defiant even with the odds stacked against him.

A gunshot rang out, the bullet narrowly missing Bingya's head. It was Ye Tianlin who had fired, his movements calculated.

"Oh dear, it seems my gun misfired," Ye Tianlin said nonchalantly, his tone devoid of concern. He raised the weapon again, this time pressing it directly against Bingya's forehead.

"You're despicable!" Bingya spat, his defiance unwavering. "Go ahead, kill me! I won't utter a single plea."

Ye Tianlin's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "Shall I grant you your wish?"

A Game of Power

As Ye Tianlin tightened his grip on the trigger, Nan Shaojie's fists clenched tighter. His mind raced, torn between his loyalty to Bingya and his love for Xiaoluo. Both paths led to unbearable pain.

"You want to save her, don't you?" Ye Tianlin's voice broke the silence, taunting and knowing. "But here's the thing—Liang Xiaoluo is my woman. And I don't appreciate others touching what belongs to me."

The words hit Nan Shaojie like a sledgehammer. His jaw clenched, his rage barely contained.

"Claiming her as yours doesn't make it true," Nan Shaojie retorted, his voice low but seething. "She belongs to no one but herself."

Ye Tianlin chuckled darkly. "Really? Do you think the Dragon Empire's heir can offer her any better? Do you think she'll accept you once she knows the truth?" His tone was mocking, yet laced with menace.

Nan Shaojie flinched, his silence betraying the truth in Ye Tianlin's words. He was painfully aware of the secret that bound him and Xiaoluo in an unbridgeable chasm.

Ye Tianlin tossed his gun, letting it clatter at Nan Shaojie's feet. "Here's your chance, Nan Shaojie. But remember this—I don't want to see you near Liang Xiaoluo again."

A Dangerous Predicament

Ye Tianlin strode away, leaving Nan Shaojie standing frozen in the rain, his fists trembling with suppressed rage. Bingya struggled to his feet, his gaze burning with frustration and humiliation.

"Master—"

"Let it go," Nan Shaojie ordered, his voice tight.

Meanwhile, Xiaoluo found herself cornered by Ye Tianlin's men. Their towering figures and cold glares sent a shiver down her spine.

"Stay back! I'll scream!" she warned, though her voice betrayed her fear.

One of the men chuckled, his tone mocking. "Go ahead. Scream all you want. No one will hear you."

Panic surged through her veins. With no escape and no one to call for help, Xiaoluo braced herself, her heart pounding wildly.

The Struggle

Desperation gave her strength. Xiaoluo darted toward an opening, but the men were too quick, blocking her path and shoving her back against the wall.

"Enough games," one of them sneered. "You're coming with us—willingly or not."

"Why are you doing this? Who sent you?" she demanded, though her voice shook.

"You'll find out soon enough," the man replied coldly.

Her cries for help echoed in the rain-soaked alley, unheard by the world around her. But just as all seemed lost, a shadow emerged from the darkness—a shadow that carried the promise of retribution.