The Rise of the White Lotus

The corner of Lexi's lips marginally extended which didn't reach to her eyes as a response from his compliment. Not making even a little sound, Lexi only stared at her husband, seemingly waiting for something from him. 

"Urgh..." Lowly grunting, Ethan Lu heavily sighed as he wiped his whole face with his palm. This look of hers, his wife truly was unpredictable especially to stuff like this one. 

Morris Liu was right: Lexi was a risk-taker. 

"Ethan, you're enemies are giving me the creeps— I am not liking it nor will they like it if they try to harm me or my family." A sharp glint bolted across Lexi's eyes as she coldly muttered. "Hoping that you will recognize the voice is one thing but after the whole conversation, I can't take it lightly anymore." After a beat, Lexi continued as her hand slowly curled into a fist. 

Unlike her gleeful, amused persona earlier while talking to the man, Lexi revealed how irked she was. Lexi never thought that she would be this alerted in her entire life but right now, the blood that ran through her veins was circulating too fast, her heart racing— pounding even— maneuvering her chest in an up and down motion, while her breathing grew heavy. 

She wasn't scared or anxious, well, you can say she was anxious in regards to her family's safety but aside from that, Lexi was certainly enraged. Angry to have these kinds of people surrounding them— knocking right in front of their doorstep. 

It was not like she didn't think about this before getting together with him, but it showed that it exceeded her expectations. That guy? A crazy person, displaying his dauntless taunting while knowing full well of her actions, Lexi had this foreign urge to protect her family no matter what the cost. 

"Love, I know... *sigh* no one will come at you like that if they are not my enemies— I'm sorry." Sounding exasperated, Ethan Lu muttered in distress as he paused while raising his gaze to Lexi's impenetrable invisible barrier. 

Only a fool would not think about that fact. After all, Lexi didn't have those kinds of people to the extent of giving her a fright. Hence, that person's aim was certainly him. He was just using Lexi for whatever reason they have. 

"Don't worry, he'll not call you again or bother you, I promise." Ethan Lu added before it was followed by a heavy sigh. 

Fuming pure rage was slowly shrouding his heart yet, right now, his priority was ease Lexi's worries. 

"No, Ethan. We talked about this; people that are coming at me, leave them to me while you support me from behind— I'll do the same to you. They are just doing this to divert your attention, you can't take your eyes away from your enemies." Shaking her head, Lexi refused as she stated her argument. 

She didn't know how, but her instincts were telling her that this was the reason. Hence, she couldn't afford to give that to them; She couldn't afford to lose her husband for shielding her always. 

"Love," Staring right at Lexi's eyes, Ethan Lu's paused as his gentleness slowly wore away as all his solemnity resurfaced all at once. "That's what I am doing— supporting you from behind. Trust me this once, hmm?" Slightly raising his brows, Ethan Lu earnestly uttered. 

The whole room fell into a momentary silence as Lexi and Ethan Lu didn't speak a word after his last remarks. On the other hand, the three who were witnessing the two argue made sure that their lips were locked closed, while limiting their breathing to lessen their presence. The growing 'tension' between the two, it was weird in a way, regardless, they could feel the heaviness of the atmosphere. 

"Fine!" After a while, Lexi rolled her eyes as she finally conceded. Although her temper rose early in the morning with this morning call, she did her part already. Hence, letting her man do the final blow to refrain from this situation happening again was the proper way to do— trust Ethan Lu. 

"Thank you," Smiling upon hearing that Lexi finally gave him the go signal, he was relieved. He could not let her play beyond the fire anymore. She already felt the heat thus, going further was his job to do and he must get it done. 

Furthermore, Lexi had already given them the things they needed. They only needed to see the person and do whatever it was. 

With that, Ethan Lu ordered the three to leave them alone for awhile. He didn't care about his appointment anymore because Lyrick Jiang already knew what to do. He just wanted to spend more time with Lexi, knowing that she was feeling awful talking to the man— also, to plan things with her. 

*****

After a while, when Ethan Lu was certain that Lexi was finally settled, he bid his farewell with a sweet kiss on her lips. 

"Don't worry anymore, alright?" Ethan Lu slightly tilted his head to the side with a meek smile on his lips. 

"Ethan, really, you're worrying me." Sighing once again, Lexi frowned because of what happened earlier would be etched deep in her mind. 

"I know and I'm sorry. But, we'll get through this okay?" Sliding his hands to hers, Ethan Lu guided it to place a kiss on the back of her hand. "Also, thank you for being a strong support." He expressed his gratitude for her help— all her help up until now and, for staying strong despite all of the odds she must face being with him. 

"What can I do? You're my husband." Shaking her head, Lexi lowly humored him, spending a bit more time with him helped her one way or another. 

Lexi then lightly slapped his shoulders, "You're already late to your meeting— go, I'm good now." Lexi said as she urged him to tend to his daily duties for the two of them had some work to do. 

"Alright, I'll see you tonight?" Reluctant to leave, Ethan Lu languidly stood up from the couch inside Lexi's office before he turned to her again. 

"Mhmm... Let's stay at Dad's place in the meantime?" Lexi hummed a tune before repeating one of their agreements earlier. 

"Okay." Ethan Lu smiled as he agreed without batting an eye. He then turned his back against Lexi and began departing the room. 

"Take care!" Just as Ethan Lu reached the door and was about to leave, Lexi added that made him turn his head back to her. 

"Of course. I love you." With a wink along with the click of his tongue, Ethan Lu playfully grinned before he completely exited the office. 

The moment he closed the door behind him, the grin on Ethan Lu's lips slowly faded as a menacing front replaced it. His subordinates outside, witness the gradual change as they were the first to witness the darkness emanating from him. 

'He'll deliver someone to hell— that's for sure.' They unknowingly thought in unison. Even Nico Zhuang could not help but not think the same as he already had forgotten when the last time he saw his master bear such expression. 

"Lyrick, did you cancel my meeting for the next three hours?" Ethan Lu began to take slow strides as he looked ahead and asked Lyrick Jiang that was following behind him. 

"Yes," After clearing his throat, Lyrick Jiang miraculously didn't fuss about it as he personally did it even without Ethan Lu's verbal orders. 

"Good. Bring me to him." Despite seeing only their boss' broad shoulders while they headed to the elevator lift, Jarred Guo and Lyrick Jiang could sense the diabolical sneer plastered across Ethan Lu's lips. 

****

[Grand Hotel - top floor penthouse]

A grand chandelier glittered the penthouse's living area, huge vases glinted the reflection of the room's luxurious setting, an overlooking view could be seen on the floor length transparent glass window wherein the curtains were tucked to the side, giving it a more blinding life like image across the room. 

Regardless of the tens of thousands of dollars worth of carpet, high-end furniture, and the cozy ambiance, a man was sitting blindfolded on a single wooden chair— which didn't belong to the aesthetic of the room— in the middle. 

His hands, arms, and feet were tied, fixing the figure to become one with the chair. His shoulders rattled from fright, as his lower lip trembled. He couldn't see the beauty he had around nor the very few men standing mutely to the side for his eyes were covered by a blindfold. 

Despite the thousands of questions he has in mind, and the opportunity to scream for help as his mouth was free— he didn't. Perhaps, it was his survival instinct as he was told to keep quiet if he wanted to leave in one piece. Thus, he did what he was told and so far, aside from the pounding of his chest, they didn't hurt him when they dragged him to wherever he was right now. 

Soon, the man who had tears beneath the blindfold heard footsteps coming closer before the door clicked opened, followed by an unfamiliar voice of a man. 

"Master, you can let Re—" Just as Lyrick Jiang wanted to talk this out with Ethan Lu, he stopped when he saw his hand raised indicating him to stop.

Ethan Lu bore nothing but wrath with him as his eyes landed on the shaking man in the middle of the penthouse. Slowly, as he headed inside, he began taking off his blazer suit jacket which he properly laid on the couch's armrest. He then took off his tie, then unbuttoned his white sleeve's cuff before tucking it up to his arms. 

Lyrick Jiang, as well as Jarred Guo who was also present with the rest of the very few teams in his squad, could only watch their master wordlessly do what he was doing— keeping their thoughts inside their mind. 

"Who— what do you want with me?" Stuttering, the man asked as he could feel movements inside the room yet, no one was speaking after Lyrick Jiang's attempt to stop his boss. Alas, that single question just saved Ethan Lu from forcing him to speak to discern if he was the caller that Lexi talked with earlier. 

It was him for sure— his voice didn't lie. 

Ethan Lu removed the wristwatch that Lexi gifted him and placed it along with the things he took off— keeping it in one place. Turning to the man inquiring, Ethan Lu unhurriedly took steps forward, to the man's direction. 

Stopping in front of the man who was about to piss himself from the fright of being clueless, a heavy, bone-breaking blow was thrown right on his cheek— instantly losing a tooth by the great force. 

The man was instantly blown by the excruciating pain, throwing all his wits away as he was inflicted with the most painful punch in his entire life— enabling him to cough his soul out. Meanwhile, Lyrick Jiang shut his eyes upon the contact of his master's fist to the man's face, while Jarred Guo bore no reaction at all. 

"That's what I want from you." Staring down, carrying zero remorse, Ethan Lu coldly responded as his eyes seemed to turn into the eyes of the devil. 

By the looks of it, the built-up steam inside him wasn't released yet as another jab, directing to the man's abdomen was instantly launched. 

"Sto— *cough* *cough*!" Unable to breathe for a second, the man, with desperation for the man who was hitting him with great force attempted to stop him, pleaded pathetically. Alas, he could not finish his sentence as another batch of loud coughs, along with another blow shut him up— before screaming for help. 

Ethan Lu was unfazed by the man's screaming, echoing across the whole penthouse as he wordlessly pulled his blindfold away.  

"Still want to scream?" The man's eyes were instantly shut by the light for he'd been seeing nothing but darkness for an hour. When his vision got used to the light, the very first image he saw was the dreaded gaze of Ethan Lu. 

Ethan Lu— in the flesh! Hence, attached to seeing who was the person mercilessly beating him, his silly hopes instantly vanished. Now, he realized that no matter how loud he shouted for help, no one would come to save him; it would all be mere loud noise.