Ethan Yu wasn't just a CEO. He was one of the top designers in the world—an industry legend whose insights were coveted by global firms and elite architects alike.
Being personally taught by him? That was a blessing few could dream of.
Yet here he was, patiently explaining basic drafting principles to Hailey Tang like a teacher guiding a struggling student. And she—this clueless little woman—still had the nerve to complain?
She had no idea how much of a rare fortune she was squandering!
"Alright, let's keep going," Hailey said, completely unaware of the growing storm in his dark eyes. "There's not much left. Let's finish this up so I can start drawing."
So eager to finish. So eager… to be free of him.
Ethan's eyes darkened, his voice suddenly sharp and cold. "That's enough for today. We'll continue tomorrow."
Hailey blinked in confusion. "Why stop now? There's only a bit left. Wouldn't it be better to finish while we're on a roll?"
"I'm thirsty," Ethan said curtly. "I don't feel like continuing."
"I'll get you some water then," she offered, already standing up.
But before she could take a step, he reached out and grabbed her wrist.
His hand was warm—firm—and in one fluid motion, he pulled her straight into his arms.
"W-What are you doing?" Hailey gasped, eyes wide as her breath hitched in her throat.
His dark eyes gleamed with mischief and something much more dangerous. "Didn't you say I'm thirsty?" he murmured. "Why go looking for water when it's already here?"
"Where?" she asked, genuinely puzzled as she turned to glance around.
That was when he yanked her back—and kissed her.
His lips crashed onto hers without warning, hard and searing, demanding her full attention. Hailey's brain short-circuited. For a second, maybe two, she forgot where she was, who she was, what she was doing.
All she could feel was him—his arms, his heat, his breath mingling with hers.
It was too much. Too sudden.
A soft gasp sounded near the door.
Both of them froze.
A young female employee had stumbled into the room. Her eyes widened in shock before she turned and fled down the hallway as if running from a crime scene.
Hailey's cheeks burned. Reality crashed down on her like a tidal wave.
She shoved Ethan with all her strength. "Get off me!"
Caught off guard, Ethan toppled backward in his chair, dragging her down with him. The two of them landed in a tangled heap on the floor.
"Ugh…" Ethan let out a low grunt of pain as Hailey fell squarely on top of him.
"You're heavy," he muttered.
"Serves you right!" she huffed, scrambling off him and giving him a small but angry kick. "Pervert!"
Then she grabbed her bag and bolted.
Ethan didn't move for a moment. He just lay there, stunned—and vaguely amused.
She had kicked him. Kicked him.
No one had dared to do that before.
But instead of feeling angry, he found himself chuckling.
God, she was something else.
That kiss… her soft lips, her stunned eyes, the way she'd momentarily melted into him before reality caught up to her—it replayed in his mind like a scene from a dream.
His lips curled into a smirk. He didn't regret it one bit.
Hailey ran as fast as she could through the corridors, trying to erase the memory of what had just happened.
Her heart was pounding—not from exertion, but from the kiss.
That man was insane!
They were getting divorced. He had no right to kiss her like that. No right to mess with her head.
Her fingers curled tightly around her phone as anger bubbled up in her chest. Was this his twisted way of playing with her feelings? Or worse—was he trying to trap her into staying married?
No way. She wouldn't let him mess with her resolve.
If anything, that kiss made her even more determined to leave him—for good.
Just then, her phone rang. She glanced down and saw Jo Ning's name flashing on the screen.
Her mood immediately lifted a little as she answered. "Jo Ning!"
"Hey, Hailey! Weren't you planning to come visit our university today? I'm free all day if you still want to drop by."
"Perfect timing. I'll head over now," Hailey said without hesitation. "I need a break from… everything."
"Great! I'll be waiting for you. Be safe!"
Hailey hung up and marched back to the office to grab her things. The kiss still haunted her, lingering on her lips like the echo of something forbidden.
She needed space. Time to think. And visiting Jo Ning was the perfect excuse.
She didn't know, however, that as soon as she left, rumors began spreading through the company like wildfire.
By the time thirty minutes had passed, every department—from logistics to accounting—had heard the shocking news:
President Yu had kissed his wife.
In public. In the office.
With a witness!
The gossip exploded in the company group chat. Screens lit up with messages.
"OMG! Our president kissed Mrs. Yu?! In the library?!"
"I thought they were getting divorced??"
"Maybe it's just a PR stunt?"
"No way, I saw them last week, he looked at her like she was his entire world…"
"Aren't they supposed to be splitting up? Why kiss her if he's letting her go?"
"Maybe he changed his mind!"
"Maybe he never wanted to let her go in the first place…"
The whispers were relentless. And Ethan Yu?
He let them talk.
Let them wonder.
Let them fantasize about what it all meant.
Because for the first time in a long time, he didn't care what people thought.
He had kissed Hailey Tang—and the taste of her still lingered on his lips.
And no matter how far she tried to run from him… she was still his wife.
At least for now.
And if he had anything to say about it?
She was going to stay that way.