Chapter 2: "Everything You Want to Know"
"Are you really ready?" Gu Ziqian's voice was low, tinged with a hint of barely perceptible anxiety. The heavy door closed slowly behind him, sealing off the outside world and leaving only the dim light and their confronting silhouettes in the room.
Xia Weiwei stood in front of the door, her gaze drifting between Gu Ziqian and the room before her. It was her first time truly stepping into his private domain. The room was simply furnished, exuding a cold and orderly atmosphere. Abstract paintings adorned the walls, seemingly alluding to some unresolved emotions. At the center of the room stood a large black desk, neat and tidy, yet oppressive.
"I want to know the truth, no matter how terrifying it is." Xia Weiwei's voice trembled slightly but was resolute. She knew this moment was an unavoidable turning point in her fate. She was no longer the girl who fantasized about life. Now, she just wanted to uncover who Gu Ziqian really was, and what role she played in this game.
Gu Ziqian studied her intently, as if weighing her determination. He turned and walked to the desk, pulling out an old, yellowed photo album from a drawer. His fingers brushed lightly over the cover, and his eyes revealed a hint of melancholy.
"This is everything you want to know." He handed the album to Xia Weiwei, his tone heavy with unspoken emotion.
Xia Weiwei took the album, feeling its unexpected weight. She gently opened the cover, and the first page revealed a photograph of a young woman—the same woman she had seen in the old photo before. The woman was dressed in a white dress, her smile sweet and innocent, yet her eyes hid a deep sorrow.
"She is..." Xia Weiwei's voice quivered, feeling her heart tighten. The woman in the photograph bore a resemblance to her, but more striking was the sadness that was impossible to ignore.
"She was my fiancée." Gu Ziqian answered softly, his voice laced with unmistakable pain.
Xia Weiwei's heart sank, a cold current rushing through her veins. She had never heard any rumors of Gu Ziqian having a fiancée, let alone her existence. But now, the truth was laid bare before her, leaving no room for denial.
"Her name was Gu Wanqing," Gu Ziqian continued, his voice growing even deeper. "We were engaged. It was the only time in my life I truly loved someone."
Xia Weiwei remained silent, continuing to flip through the album. Each page was filled with photos of Gu Wanqing—she and Gu Ziqian smiling in the sunlight, playing in the garden, chasing waves on the beach. Everything seemed so perfect, like a happy couple, until Xia Weiwei reached the last page of the album.
It was a torn photograph, where Gu Wanqing no longer smiled. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes filled with despair and fear. The edges of the photo were worn, as if it had been touched countless times. Seeing this photo, Xia Weiwei felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart, making it hard to breathe.
"What happened to her?" Xia Weiwei finally couldn't hold back her question, her eyes filled with a mixture of emotions.
Gu Ziqian didn't answer directly but walked slowly to the window, gazing out into the night, as if reliving a buried past.
"She died." He finally spoke, his voice so low it was almost inaudible. "A week before our wedding, she was kidnapped, and the end...was tragic."
Xia Weiwei was stunned, her mind going blank. It was all so sudden, she couldn't process it immediately. She instinctively wanted to hold on to something but found herself at a loss for how to deal with this unexpected tragedy.
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Roman d'amour"The Mafia Boss's Ultimate Beloved Wife" is a modern long-form novel in the women's fiction genre, brimming with passion and intrigue. It masterfully blends elements of urban romance, thrilling adventure, and psychological suspense, creating a gripp...
