He glanced back, ensuring no one had followed, and swiftly slipped through the secret door.

After bypassing the open space ahead, a small secret room emerged in view.

In the less than ten square meter room, there was a bed and a small coffee table.

Opposite the bed, there was no sofa, but a chair was placed.

A slender figure lay quietly sleeping on the bed; upon hearing footsteps, she slightly opened her eyes.

Seeing who had entered, Rui Hui froze for a moment, then quickly sat up.

Her eyes were clear as she curled her knees, her whole demeanor exuding a defensive posture.

"Senior, what exactly do you want to do?" Rui Hui hesitated for a second, then spoke calmly.

Her tone was neither warm nor cold, not even a trace of anger could be heard.

As if Duke hadn’t kidnapped her here, but had politely invited her as a guest instead.

This calm tone made Duke pause too, and then he looked down at her.

Glancing at her slightly swollen belly, his eyes instantly filled with pain!

Realizing Duke was staring at her stomach, Rui Hui’s hand by her side suddenly clenched into a fist, resisting the urge to protect her belly, and instead looked at Duke nonchalantly.

Pretending as if nothing had happened.

Duke was her senior; they had known each other for many years.

During past training sessions, it was Duke who had taught her that when facing a stronger opponent, unless you are certain of victory, do not rush to reveal your trump card.

If you wish to avoid being harmed, you must remain calm and not let your anger and accusations provoke the other party into rash actions.

Under normal circumstances, Rui Hui would have certainly started cursing by now.

But now, trapped alone in this dark place without daylight, besides a single incandescent lamp, she couldn’t see any scenery outside.

To protect herself and her baby, she mustn’t anger Duke.

Apart from thinking of self-rescue methods, she also needed to buy enough time for Diwu Zexuan to discover her absence and come to rescue her and her baby.

"Rui Hui, if you think about it, we’ve known each other for many years. When I first transferred back to Germany, do you know how happy I was?" Duke’s gaze moved slowly from her belly to her face.

"I thought fate arranged our reunion as a different kind of sign."

"..."

Rui Hui unexpectedly raised her head, meeting Duke’s affectionate eyes, and froze in place.

Did his words mean...

"Senior..."

"You should know, what I most want to be is more than just your senior!" Duke stepped forward, grabbing Rui Hui’s shoulders with excitement in his voice, "If Diwu Zexuan hadn’t forcefully intervened, you would be mine by now!"

"What are you saying? I can’t understand a thing." Rui Hui’s eyes filled with surprise as she stared at Duke’s face, which had turned hideously distorted, instinctively retreating to avoid him.

Duke liked her, yet she hadn’t felt it at all.

Listening to his confession, Rui Hui felt no joy, only a deep sense of unease.

At first, she couldn’t understand why Duke went through such lengths to lure her here, but after hearing his words, she was even more shocked and confused.

"Senior, I’m already married and have a baby; you deserve a better girl."

"I only want you!" Duke’s grip on her hand tightened slightly, "Rui Hui, if you want to leave Diwu Zexuan, I can help you. As long as Diwu Zexuan is dead, you can be free of him forever!"