Ruins To Radiance

"Then come live with me."

Ella's confusion is instant. Her brows knit together, eyes darting around as if searching for some hidden meaning in his words. Her lips part slightly, but no sound escapes. Her face held the biggest disbelief.

Then, slowly, her expression changes. The confusion hardens into something sharper—annoyance.

Her brows draw in further, lips pressing into a firm line. A slight shake of her head follows, and her arms fold over her chest as if guarding herself. This stranger—this absurdly handsome, far-too-helpful stranger—was taking things too far.

Meanwhile, Yi Chen watches her, his own expression unreadable. His mind tells him this is irrational. Why is he doing this? He barely knows her. Yet, deep within, something stirs. A voice, primal and insistent, whispers inside him:

"You have to help her. She's got the key."

His wolf growled, restless, pushing him forward. But a key? To what?

Ella lets out a dry, humorless chuckle, shaking her head. "I don't think I can do that."

She expects some kind of reaction. A scoff, an eye roll, anything. But no—Yichen just looks at her, expression unreadable, his face as cold and indifferent as ever.

His lack of response fuels her frustration. Was he even human? Did he not have normal reactions like other people? Was his face frozen like that?

Ella exhales sharply, crossing her arms. "Seriously? That's all? You're just gonna stare at me like a creepy statue?" She tilts her head mockingly. "Or is that your thing? Bringing random girls home and scaring them into obedience with your terrifyingly blank face?"

Still nothing.

If anything, he looks even calmer, as if he isn't even listening. Which is infuriating.

But what Ella doesn't know is that inside Yichen's mind, absolute chaos is unfolding.

"I swear to the Moon Goddess, if you let her walk away, I will rip my own tail off!" Kaelix growls, pacing inside his mind.

Yichen, arms crossed in his mental space, barely reacts. "That sounds like a personal problem."

"No, YOU are the problem!" Kaelix snaps. "You're ignoring instincts, Alpha! She's got the key!"

"Key to what, exactly?" YiChen challenges.

"The thing we don't fully understand yet but is definitely important!"

Yichen sighs, rubbing his temple. "You're ridiculous."

"I'M ridiculous? YOU'RE the one pretending you're not affected by her!"

"I'm not."

"Liar. You were literally about to offer her your house like some noble idiot in a bad romance drama."

"I already did," Yichen deadpans.

Kaelix howls dramatically. "SEE?! You're doomed. Doomed, I tell you! She's our mate! She's—"

Yichen immediately shuts down the link, tuning Kaelix out.

He brings himself back to reality. Kaelix, his wolf, had always been helpful to him but now it's just being impractical.

First, Kaelix urges him to pull over and help a random lady who seemed too helpless to be close to him, then it urges him to spend money on the same strange and disrespectful stranger? Why?

But,

Why did he, Liang Yichen, a royal blood of Silvaris, invite this helpless woman to leech off him?

Things were definitely wrong.

Ella was still talking, still throwing irritated jabs at him, but Yichen has only been half-listening. His mind finally quiets down, and he focuses on her once more.

"I'm leaving," she finally huffs, spinning on her heel.

Without thinking, Yichen grabs her wrist.

Not too tight. Just enough to stop her.

Ella freezes, startled.

And for the first time since they met, Yichen finally says something that isn't completely robotic.

"You shouldn't go."

Ella exhales sharply, rolling her eyes. "Whatever, I'm leaving."

Without sparing Yichen another glance, she spins on her heel and heads toward the hospital doors.

The fluorescent lights flicker above as she strides down the hallway, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her shoulders. She just wanted out—out of this suffocating place, out of this conversation, out of this entire messed-up situation.

Her life was messed up already, she could handle being homeless while keeping this baby.

But before she can reach the exit, a deep, unimpressed voice stops her in her tracks.

"So you're just going to run off?"

Ella stiffens.

That tone. Cold, condescending—like he's speaking to some unruly subject rather than a person.

She turns, eyes narrowing. Yichen stands a few feet away, arms crossed, his face carved from stone. Unbothered. Detached. And yet, his presence alone is suffocating.

"What's it to you?" she challenges.

Yichen doesn't answer immediately. He simply observes her, his sharp gaze assessing, calculating—like he's trying to make sense of something.

Finally, he speaks.

"If you've decided to keep the baby, then at least take responsibility for it." His voice is cold, matter-of-fact. No sympathy. No sugarcoating. Just brutal, cutting truth.

Ella's fingers twitch. "Excuse me?"

Yichen doesn't blink. "You're too weak to even stand properly, but you think you can handle a child?"

A sharp flare of anger shoots up Ella's spine.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" she snaps.

Yichen doesn't react. If anything, he looks bored.

"I don't care what you do, woman." His voice drops, laced with quiet authority. "But don't be foolish. If you walk out now, you're only proving you're unfit to raise it. You don't deserve it."

Ella's breath catches.

Not because she agrees. Hell no.

But because his words hit a nerve.

She already had doubts—fears, even—but hearing it spoken aloud like that, in such a detached, factual way, stung.

And he knew it.

For the first time, she sees a flicker of something in his gaze. Not kindness—Yichen isn't kind. But a cold, calculated intent.

Like he's watching, waiting. Testing her.

And that? That pisses her off.

"You don't know me." Her voice is sharp, shaking with restrained anger.

"No," Yichen agrees. "But I know responsibility. And I know cowards when I see them."

"Was that really necessary?" Kaelix groans.

"She's running away like a coward. I'm simply stating the obvious." Yichen replies coolly.

"You're being a jerk."

"And?"

Kaelix lets out a frustrated growl. "Listen, Alpha, I don't know how or why, but she's connected to us. You can pretend you don't care, but something about her is important. You felt it. Like a mate."

"I felt nothing." Yichen's voice is cold.

"Liar. We have the same feelings! You arrogant royal!"

"She's human. There's no way she's my mate. I don't even want one!"

"Then why are you still standing here?"

Yichen says nothing.

Because he doesn't have an answer.

Ella clenches her fists, glaring at Yichen.

"I don't need you." Her voice is sharp, defiant.

Yichen watches her, expression unreadable. Unimpressed. As if he already expected her answer.

"Suit yourself." He turns to leave, completely unfazed

Ella exhaled, relieved. Finally.

She gripped her bag tightly and turned toward the exit. Freedom. No more cold strangers. No more uncomfortable favors.

But then—

Her body froze.

A pair of figures approached the hospital's glass doors.

Her mother. Her brother.

Ella's stomach twisted violently. Her pulse hammered in her ears.

No. No. No.

What were they doing here? Why now?

Her mother walked with her usual elegance, head held high, expression defiant. Her brother followed just a step behind—taller, sharper, watching everything.

They were coming straight toward the entrance. Straight toward her.

Ella's breath hitched.

She couldn't let them see her.

Her fingers dug into the strap of her bag. Think. The hospital was huge. There had to be a way out.

Behind her, Yichen watched her sudden stiffness, his sharp eyes narrowing.

Her entire demeanor changed.

The relief was gone.

Now—she looked trapped.

Ella's mind raced. Run? Hide? No. They'd see her.

They were getting closer. Closer.

And then—

"Ella?" The voice was sharp and interrogative.