The day of the wedding dawned with a chilling mist that clung to the sprawling grounds of Mr. Lee’s estate.
The sky was an ominous slate gray, as if the heavens themselves disapproved of the union. Inside the grand hall, preparations were in full swing, each detail polished to perfection, though the air buzzed with tension.
Mr. Lee stood before a gilded mirror in his private quarters, adjusting the cufflinks on his crisp black suit.
His reflection stared back at him, sharp and inscrutable, as if daring him to feel something about the day’s events.
“Thinking about running, boss?” Kai quipped from the doorway, a crooked grin on his face.
He leaned casually against the frame, a playful glint in his eyes.
Mr. Lee shot him a sidelong glance. “Not today.”
Kai smirked. “You don’t sound thrilled, though. Want me to fake a fire? A bomb threat? Anything to spice things up?”
“Not necessary,” Mr. Lee replied smoothly, his voice laced with sarcasm. “This family drama is entertaining enough.”
Kai chuckled but sobered quickly. “Speaking of drama, your father and the Min dynasty are arriving. And they brought backup—Reginald included.”
Mr. Lee’s jaw tightened imperceptibly, but he resumed fixing his cufflinks as if Kai’s words didn’t matter. “Let them come.”
---
The sound of luxury cars crunching over the gravel driveway heralded the arrival of Mr. Min and his entourage.
The patriarch emerged first, his imposing figure cloaked in a custom-tailored suit that screamed authority. Behind him trailed his wives, their expressions ranging from disdainful to bored, and then his sons, each a picture of ambition and thinly veiled contempt.
Reginald, the golden boy of the Min family, stepped forward with a smug grin. His honeyed words were as sharp as knives.
“Brother,” he greeted, extending his hand as if they were equals. “A big day for you. Finally tying the knot.”
Mr. Lee didn’t take the bait. “Reginald.”
Their father, Mr. Min, spoke next, his tone laden with cold formality.
“You’ve outdone yourself with the arrangements. But I suppose excess is expected when you’re compensating.”
Sophia, who had been standing near the staircase in an understated yet elegant dress, caught the jab and stiffened. Her fists clenched, but she stayed silent.
She wasn’t sure why the insult bothered her so much, but the sight of Mr. Lee enduring his father’s venom stirred something protective within her.
“Compensating?” Mr. Lee echoed, his voice calm yet lethal. “Coming from a man whose empire still owes its foundation to my mother’s brilliance, that’s rich.”
The tension in the air thickened, and the room seemed to hold its breath.
---
Penelope appeared then, her timing impeccable as always. She floated into the room like a queen, her gaze locking onto Sophia with a venomous smile.
“Don’t you look quaint,” Penelope remarked, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Is that… last season’s dress?”
Sophia met her gaze with cool defiance. “It’s timeless. Unlike some things.”
Kai, standing nearby, nearly choked on his laughter but quickly turned it into a cough when Penelope glared at him.
“Play nice, Penelope,” Mr. Lee said without looking at her. His tone was mild, but the warning in it was unmistakable.
Penelope bristled but didn’t push further. Instead, she turned her attention to Mr. Min, offering him a dazzling smile. “Mr. Min, it’s such an honor to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about your… legacy.”
Sophia rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, “Legacy of arrogance, maybe.”
Kai heard her and snorted, earning a sharp elbow from Crystal, who had joined them unnoticed.
---
The wedding ceremony was set in a grand hall adorned with towering chandeliers and walls of glittering mirrors.
Samantha stood at the altar, a vision of cold perfection in a gown that gleamed like frost. Her expression was unreadable, but her grip on the bouquet betrayed her nerves.
As Mr. Lee approached the altar, the air seemed to shift. The whispers of the crowd, the strained smiles of the Mins, the veiled hostility of his stepbrothers—it all faded into the background. His gaze flicked briefly to Sophia, standing near the back with Crystal and Kai. Her dark eyes met his, and for a fleeting moment, something unspoken passed between them.
Reginald, seated in the front row, leaned toward Mr. Min. “Think he’ll go through with it?”
Mr. Min’s expression remained stony. “He will. For her sake.”
---
The reception was a grand affair, but beneath the surface, alliances were forming, and rivalries simmered. Reginald made his rounds, his charm a weapon as he worked to sow discord. Penelope hovered near Mr. Lee, her smiles saccharine, her words laced with hidden barbs.
Sophia, watching from a distance, felt a strange mix of emotions. Jealousy prickled at her skin as she saw Penelope laugh too loudly at something Mr. Lee said. But when Mr. Lee’s gaze caught hers across the room, the world seemed to pause.
He excused himself from Penelope’s side and strode toward her, his movements deliberate.
“You’re avoiding me,” he said when he reached her.
Sophia tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Am I? Or are you just used to everyone fawning over you?”
His lips twitched into a faint smirk. “You don’t fawn. You challenge. I prefer that.”
“Careful,” she teased, stepping closer. “You might start sounding like you enjoy my company.”
He leaned in, his voice a low murmur. “And if I do?”
Sophia’s breath hitched, but she recovered quickly. “Then you’d better get used to disappointment.”
His dark chuckle sent a shiver down her spine. “We’ll see.”
---
As the evening wore on, the tensions reached a boiling point. Mr. Min’s disdain for his son’s success, Reginald’s scheming, Penelope’s jealousy—it all coiled like a snake ready to strike. And through it all, Mr. Lee remained an enigma, his sharp wit and icy demeanor hiding the fire that burned beneath.
But when he caught Sophia stealing glances at him, he allowed himself a rare, genuine smile.
“You’re playing with fire,” Crystal whispered to Sophia, her voice laced with concern.
Sophia’s lips curved into a daring smile. “Good. I like the heat.”
YOU ARE READING
SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)
Romance"Beyond Shadows" In a world where darkness reigns, a young orphan's dreams of becoming a veterinarian are shattered by her aunt's cruelty. But when she's drawn into the mysterious world of enigmatic Mr. Lee - a powerful figure rumored to be "more th...
