Chapter 52: A Cruel Decision

As a naturally light sleeper, Murong Fanghua was immediately awakened by Ye Feng’s abrupt movements.

“Hmm? You’re awake…”

Groggy and half-asleep, Murong Fanghua rubbed her eyes and let out a soft yawn before turning her gaze toward him.

Ye Feng stared back with eyes as cold as ice. He desperately wanted to end her life right then and there, but he knew all too well that he lacked the strength. Charging at her now would only result in being easily overpowered.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Noticing his rigid posture, Murong Fanghua finally sensed that something was amiss. The way Ye Feng was looking at her was fundamentally different from the clingy, affectionate gaze he had shown yesterday.

“You…”

“Stay away from me! Don’t touch me!”

Seeing her reach out, Ye Feng scrambled backward instantly. Even as he tumbled off the bed and hit the floor, he ignored the pain, scrambling to his feet and backing away into the corner until he ran out of room. Only then did he turn, glaring at her with venomous fury.

“Are you…”

Gazing at his hostile expression, a sudden realization struck Murong Fanghua. Caitlin had mentioned earlier that the primary personality hadn’t been fully erased yet—which meant the person standing before her right now was the original Ye Feng!

“Don’t come any closer!”

Ignoring his warning, Murong Fanghua picked up a nearby robe and walked straight toward him.

Ye Feng’s eyes darted frantically across the room, searching for an escape. But in a room of this size, where could he possibly run? All he could do was glare at her with what he hoped was an intimidating expression, trying to scare her off.

Yet what he didn’t realize was that his soft, delicate features made his fierce expression look utterly harmless—less like a threat and more like an endearing, fierce little creature.

Within seconds, Murong Fanghua reached his side, gently draping the soft robe over his bare shoulders.

“Put something on. You’ll catch a cold like this.”

She reached out to caress his hair, but Ye Feng ducked away nimbly, snatching the robe off his body and hurling it onto the floor.

“Liar! Stay away from me! I don’t need anything from you!”

With a sharp shove, he pushed past Murong Fanghua and ran across the room.

Yet after taking only a couple of strides, his feet ground to a halt. This entire palace belonged to her family. What good would escaping this room do? Could he flee the palace? Could he escape this kingdom?

An overwhelming wave of despair coiled tightly around his heart. He hated everything—he hated Murong Fanghua most of all. She had promised to treat him well, yet she had subjected him to that living nightmare. He loathed her with every fiber of his being!

Watching him freeze after running just a few steps, Murong Fanghua stepped forward with a complex expression, taking his arm and gently wrapping the robe around him once more.

“I know you hate me… but please, can you forgive me?”

“Let go!” Ye Feng turned, staring at her with pure resentment.

Murong Fanghua shook her head firmly. She had no intention of letting him go.

“I said let go!”

Slap!

Ye Feng swung his hand, striking her across the cheek. Murong Fanghua didn’t dodge or block, taking the sharp blow full force.

“You…”

Seeing her unbothered expression, Ye Feng opened his mouth, but ultimately sank into bitter silence.

“Put the clothes on properly.”

Murong Fanghua retrieved the robe from the floor once more, placing it carefully around his shoulders.

“I don’t want it!”

Ye Feng made a motion to tear the garment off again, but her next sentence froze him instantly in his tracks.

“You’re pregnant. You can’t afford to catch a chill.”

His pupils dilated in shock, his eyes filling with complete disbelief. The hand pulling at the robe slowly went limp. He looked up at Murong Fanghua, then lowered his gaze to his own abdomen.

In an instant, a storm of overwhelming emotions surged through him. Yet a moment later, he forced himself to calm down. The child was innocent; even if its mother had committed unforgivable acts, the unborn life bore no guilt.

“Let go of me.”

Pulling his wrist from her grasp, Ye Feng walked back to the bed in absolute silence and lay down.

He no longer wished to speak. Revenge had been an impossible dream from the very beginning, and now it was entirely out of the question. He couldn’t bring himself to ensure a child was born without a mother.

Seeing Ye Feng lie down, Murong Fanghua hesitated for a moment before getting onto the bed and lying beside him. Her internal turmoil was even more chaotic than his.

She didn’t want to make her sweet boy sad, nor did she wish to anger him. Yet she had done both. She had assumed that turning him into an obedient pet would allow her to bypass these issues, but now…

“Don’t touch me!”

Murong Fanghua quietly withdrew her hand, an intense pang of guilt weighing heavy on her chest.

Ye Feng gently rested a hand on his stomach, completely at a loss as to how to welcome this unexpected life. Once the child was born, would he even be able to provide a stable, healthy environment?

What would his own situation look like by then? Would a loveless relationship between his parents cause permanent damage to the child’s upbringing? A barrage of agonizing questions raced through his mind.

Chime~

Murong Fanghua stared at Ye Feng’s turned back, wanting to offer words of comfort yet finding herself completely speechless. Just then, the soft chime of her phone on the nightstand broke the silence.

Hesitating slightly, she picked up the device and unlocked the screen. A bright red notification popped up in a chat window—a message from Lisa.

[Lisa]: Your Highness, the primary personality was kept under hypnosis previously and should be waking up right around now. I’ve attached an audio file below. As long as he hears this specific frequency, the primary personality will fall straight into a deep sleep. You can play it for him whenever needed.

Scrolling down, Murong Fanghua saw an audio message exactly 50 seconds long.

Her thumb hovered over the playback button, hesitating. Is this truly the right thing to do? she asked herself.

Yet gazing at Ye Feng’s cold, distant back, she ultimately pressed down. She couldn’t endure his resentment and cold indifference; she wanted her sweet, devoted little pet back.

An obedient pet was infinitely more comforting than a rebellious one.

Just as Ye Feng was pondering whether he should try to accept Murong Fanghua for the sake of giving the child a complete home, a painfully familiar melody suddenly echoed through the quiet room.

It was the exact frequency that had been blasted continuously in that windowless cell—a tune etched permanently into his memory.

Why is that music playing here? What is she trying to do to me now?!

Before he could process the thought, an overwhelming, unnatural wave of drowsiness slammed into his consciousness. In that fleeting moment, a terrifying realization washed over him—the absolute horror of having his own mind controlled.

Griped by that profound dread, he plunged into darkness.

“Master~!”

The moment Ye Feng opened his eyes, he threw his arms around Murong Fanghua’s neck, burying his face in her warmth. He had missed her so desperately—he had even dreamed about her.

With a slight tremble in her hands, Murong Fanghua wrapped her arms tightly around his slender body. Her resolve hardened. Once Ye Feng gave birth to the child, she would resume the psychological reconditioning until his original personality was wiped out completely. She would make him belong to her and her alone—even if it meant destroying the real Ye Feng in the process.

After all, she didn’t care about his inner self anyway; all she ever loved was this adorable, fragile shell.