My Ares Son-in-Law

Zhou Keying wrapped her slender yet seemingly powerful arms tightly around Xiao Chen's arm, practically pressing her entire body against him. Their intimate posture made anyone who saw them think they were a couple deeply in love.

After doing all this, Zhou Keying slowly turned around and looked at her second aunt, Zhou Fenfang, who was standing a few steps away. Her voice trembled slightly, "Second aunt... why did you come out?"

She tried to make her voice sound calm, but the slight tremor in her tone betrayed her inner tension and panic.

Zhou Fenfang stood there, her well-maintained face frozen with a layer of ancient ice, devoid of any expression.

Her sharp gaze was like a poisoned steel needle, fixed on Xiao Chen, as if she wanted to pierce and crush every inch of his flesh and bone.

Under the bright lights of the mall in winter, her perfectly tailored Chanel suit gleamed with a cold, hard sheen, every line showcasing her nobility and majesty.

Xiao Chen's dark gray cloth clothes, in contrast to hers, appeared so plain and shabby, creating a striking class divide, as if the two came from two completely different worlds.

"I'm asking you a question!"

Zhou Fenfang's voice suddenly rose, its sharp tone carrying an undeniable air of authority, like a thunderclap, creating a small echo in the bustling atrium of the shopping mall.

The sudden noise drew the attention of several passersby in the distance, who stopped and looked over curiously, wondering what had happened.

"How can you be pulling and shoving each other in public like this!"

"Does the Zhou family still have any sense of shame?"

"Do you think your father's and my advice are less important than a piece of waste paper?"

"What did you promise us back then? You promised you would never have anything to do with any man in the ancient city! What does this mean now?!"

Every word Zhou Fenfang spoke was resounding, as if carrying immense force, like heavy hailstones crashing down on Zhou Keying's heart.

Xiao Chen clearly felt Zhou Keying's delicate body tremble violently in his arms, as if the sudden question had struck a nerve.

Her hands, gripping Xiao Chen's arms tightly, had nails that turned white from the force, almost digging into his flesh through his thin sportswear.

Those hands were cold and forceful, conveying a kind of despair like that of a drowning person, as if Zhou Keying was currently in the midst of raging waves, desperately trying to grab onto Xiao Chen as a lifeline.

Fear, like a tide in the darkness, instantly overwhelmed Zhou Keying.

She could feel her heart pounding rapidly, as if it were about to burst out of her chest.

Helplessness, like a vine, grew wildly in her heart, entwining her so that she could hardly breathe.

And that bottomless, suffocating feeling of being bound by the ropes of fate made her feel like a bird trapped in a cage, unable to break free of these invisible shackles no matter how hard she struggled.

This aloof and powerful CEO of Huamei Group, who is a force to be reckoned with in the business world, always presents a strong and decisive image, as if no difficulty can defeat her.

However, at this moment, faced with the iceberg of her family's will, she was as fragile as a thin sheet of ice, ready to shatter at any moment.

Her once proud head drooped slightly, and her once bright and confident eyes now looked dull and lifeless.

Her long eyelashes trembled violently, like the wings of a dying butterfly, their slight trembling seeming to tell of her inner pain and helplessness.

A hot tear broke free of its restraints without warning, sliding down her cheek and landing on the back of Xiao Chen's hand.

The tear, still warm from her body, left a burning mark, as if conveying all her inner pain to Xiao Chen.

Then, a second drop, a third drop... tears fell like beads from a broken string, quickly spreading into a small dark patch, forming a tiny tear stain on the back of Xiao Chen's hand.

Looking back on her years of independent struggle, Zhou Keying recalled the countless efforts and dedication she had poured into proving her abilities. She gave her all to every project and every negotiation, all so that her family could see her value.

However, now, her family's casual denial has rendered all her efforts futile.

It turns out that all her perseverance and struggle were so vulnerable in the face of her family's will.

"Let go!"

Zhou Fenfang's face was cold and stern, her eyes as sharp as cold stars, as she took a heavy step forward.

Her powerful aura instantly spread out, like a solid ice wall, carrying a bone-chilling cold, and pressed down on Zhou Keying and Xiao Chen.

The voice was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation, as if every word carried an irresistible authority.

"Come back to the provincial capital with me today!"

"Your company has been around for several years, but it's just a small operation and won't amount to anything!"

"The family has carefully considered and made a decision: the family group will officially acquire and take over the business!"

"The family will arrange for professionals to handle the rest for you!"

"You don't need to worry about these trivial matters anymore!"

Zhou Fenfang crossed her arms over her chest, raised her chin slightly, and spoke in a condescending manner.

"Acquisition...takeover?"

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Keying was struck dumb, as if by a bolt from the blue, and abruptly raised her head.

Her face instantly turned deathly pale, devoid of any color, and her lips trembled uncontrollably. She opened and closed her lips several times, but could not utter a single complete syllable.

For her, that company was much more than just a career.

That was a testament to her years of youth, the culmination of countless sleepless nights of her hard work.

She sacrificed countless leisure and entertainment hours and declined numerous social gatherings for the sake of this company, all so that it could grow and thrive step by step.

It was her only wing as she tried to break free from the constraints of her family and prove her abilities; it was the source of her confidence to survive independently in this complex world.

However, at this moment, it was easily broken by this aunt's casual remark, like snapping a fragile tree branch.

An overwhelming sense of bitterness and humiliation overwhelmed her instantly, like a surging tide.

She felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, and her body swayed precariously, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

She was only able to keep standing by tightly gripping Xiao Chen's arm.

Tears, like beads from a broken string, rolled down her cheeks, landing on the gleaming marble floor with a crisp sound before shattering, just like her broken heart.

I don't want to say it a third time!

Zhou Fenfang's voice suddenly rose, now filled with thunderous rage.

Her gaze, sharp as a sword, swept over Xiao Chen, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt and disgust, as if Xiao Chen were something utterly repulsive. (End of Chapter)