The day of the wedding had arrived.
Lin stood in front of the mirror, staring at the detailed gown that weighed her down. The soft silk felt unfamiliar against her skin, a reminder that today was not her day. It was a day that had been decided for her. A day she never wanted to come. The gown, the flowers, the grand hall, it all felt like a cage.
She looked around the room, taking in the detailed decorations, the soft sounds of the guests chatting in the hall, the quiet whispers of the servants in the background. Her uncle had arranged everything. All for the “perfect match.” All for a future she never chose.
Today, she was supposed to marry the stranger. The man who had been chosen to be her husband, the one who would bind her to her fate. A man she had never met, who was tied to the Tiger Clan and everything that she had been trained to protect herself from.
But she couldn’t do it. Not today. Not when her heart screamed in the opposite direction.
She turned toward the door, her decision made.
With shaking hands, Lin yanked the door open and slipped quietly into the hall, avoiding the servants and guests who didn’t even notice her slip past them. Every step she took felt like a heavy burden. The weight of her uncle's expectations, the weight of her duty, none of it mattered. This was her life. Her future.
And she wasn’t going to let anyone control it.
She made her way through the back halls, her breathing shallow. Her heart raced as she reached the exit, and for the first time, she could breathe. She stepped into the cool night air, the darkness wrapping around her like a veil of freedom.
But she didn’t stop. She didn’t look back.
Hours Later
Lin’s feet were sore from running, her breath coming in rough gasps as she pushed her body harder, faster, away from everything she knew. The sound of footsteps behind her had faded, but she didn’t dare stop. She needed to get far away. She needed to find a place where no one could tell her what to do.
As she ran through the forest, the moonlight barely breaking through the trees, she stumbled into an open clearing. The tall grass crinkled underfoot, and the world was still, as if it, too, was holding its breath.
And then, she saw him.
Xian.
He was leaning against a tree, his figure half-hidden in the shadows, his eyes sharp as he studied her. His dark hair was messy, and his clothes were simple, but there was a quiet strength about him that seemed to make the night air heavier.
Lin froze. Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind trying to make sense of everything. She didn’t know how long he had been watching her, but there was something about his presence that made everything else fade into the background.
He stepped forward, his eyes never leaving hers. “You’re not supposed to be here.”
She swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice. “I... I couldn’t do it.”
His gaze chilled, just a little. “The wedding?”
Lin nodded, unable to find words. Her chest felt tight like she might explode with everything she was holding in.
“Why?” he asked, his voice quiet, relaxed. “Why run away?”
Her eyes stung, but she refused to let the tears fall. “Because... because my life isn’t mine to control. Everything’s been decided for me. The wedding, the marriage, the clan, I have no say in any of it.”
Xian’s face remained indistinct, but his eyes searched hers as if trying to understand. “You don’t have to run.”
Lin laughed, but it was genuine. “What choice do I have?”
Xian was silent for a moment, his gaze intense. Then, without warning, he took a step closer, closing the space between them. Lin instinctively took a step back, but his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, gently but firmly.
“Your life,” he said quietly, “is yours to shape. Don’t let anyone, no matter who they are, decide your path for you.”
His words hit her harder than she expected. The weight of them, the conviction in his voice, made her chest ache. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust him.
But everything was so uncertain. So messy.
Her mind raced, and before she could stop herself, she spoke. “I don’t even know who you are. Why should I trust you?”
Xian’s lips quirked into a small smile. “You don’t have to trust me. But you have to trust yourself.”
She looked at him then, really looked at him. He was different from everyone she had ever known—quiet, uncommunicative, and yet somehow... true. He wasn’t like the people who had controlled her, who had treated her like a puppet. His words, his reality, made something inside her stir. Something she hadn’t felt in so long: hope.
“What now?” Lin asked, her voice slightly above a whisper.
Xian’s grip on her wrist loosened, and he stepped back, looking up at the stars above. “Now, we find out what you want. For yourself.”
Lin felt a warmness spread through her chest as the words sank in. For the first time in her life, someone was offering her a choice. No strings connected. No expectations. Just a path she could walk on her own terms.
She took a deep breath. “And what if I don’t know what I want?”
Xian glanced at her, his eyes twinkling with something unstated. “Then we figure it out together.”
For the first time, Lin felt like she was standing at the edge of something new. Something uncertain, but maybe... something real.
As she looked at Xian, she realized that maybe, just maybe, running away wasn’t the end of her story. Maybe it was the beginning of something far bigger than she could ever have imagined.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeB9e5kQrrs
