From Neglected Wife to CEO’s Obsession novel Chapter 187

I never expected to stumble onto such a hidden gem in the middle of the mountains. The autumn leaves were blazing red, and the whole place buzzed with people.

Last time, I learned my lesson the hard way, so this trip I took the cable car up the mountain. Elliot and Blake clearly remembered our last hectic adventure too—they’d sent me this super detailed guide for what to do at the summit. We agreed on a time and spot to meet, then they took off up the trail with their giant backpacks.

The cable car wasn’t in a hurry. It drifted slowly past all the best views, and by the time I reached the top, half an hour had gone by. Wanting to save my energy, I grabbed a tea egg and a little cup of the local instant noodles from a vendor before heading out to explore the area.

Xiangshan is gorgeous any time of year, but nothing beats it in the fall. From the summit, the sunlit slopes below were a sea of red leaves. When the wind picked up, the colors rippled—deep, bright, flickering with light and shadow. It was breathtaking.

There was something fiery and passionate about it, but also a lonely, bittersweet feeling that only autumn brings. It tugged at me, making me want to walk right into the heart of it and see what secrets it was hiding.

After wandering all over, I got a message from Ryan—they’d made it to the top and were heading to our meeting spot. I realized I was still pretty far away, so I picked up the pace.

With about two hundred meters left, I saw three figures with backpacks waiting under a big stone ledge. All three guys stood out, but Ryan, with his striking mixed features, drew a lot of attention. Even so, Elliot somehow still managed to outshine them all.

Suddenly, chaos broke out up ahead. People started shouting, some crying, others screaming. The crowd scattered in a panic.

My heart skipped a beat. I scanned around for a safe place to hide, but before I could move, a big guy crashed into me as he tried to escape, knocking me hard. He vanished into the chaos. I lost my balance, hit the ground, and by the time I managed to get to my feet, dodging the rush of people, a woman with wild hair came at me, waving a box cutter, aiming right at my chest.

She was dressed well, but her eyes were wild and unfocused, filled with a stubborn, manic kind of rage. Blood dripped from her hands and the blade. I had no idea if it was hers or someone else’s. She kept mumbling curses under her breath—calling me names, threatening to kill me.

I was frozen with fear. My brain was screaming at me to run, but my body wouldn’t budge.

“Avery, look out!”

“Avery, move!”

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