Trap, When Love Runs Deep You Lose Control

Serena froze for a moment, then heard Prince Nolan’s low, sorrowful voice behind her.

"Serena, isn’t this what you wanted—that I let you go? I’ll give you that chance now. I’ve found Ghost Hall’s location. I wasn’t planning to go myself, but now I’ve changed my mind."

"I’ve decided to sail out personally, to give both of us a chance. If I survive and return, the empress-making ceremony on our child’s one-month birthday will go ahead as planned. If not... I’ll let you go! Only life and death can separate us—only then can I let you go, Serena."

Prince Nolan pressed close against Serena’s back, ignoring the stiffness in her body, and continued, "Serena, I’ve never truly possessed anything in this life. My imperial parents, my brothers—better absent than present. You are the only thing I have. Unless I die, I can’t let you go."

"I once said I’d kill you before I died, but now I can’t bear it—I can’t do it. If you die, I’ll go with you. If I die, I want you to live well and raise our child. I believe any child raised by you will be a thousand times happier than I ever was."

Serena felt a dampness spreading across her back. She tried to speak, opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Prince Nolan’s slow yet commanding voice continued behind her: "I’ve never known what happiness is in this life. Only with you did I finally understand what happiness means. I hope our child can always be happy."

"Serena, farewell." The last word lingered, heavy with emotion, as if spoken after tears.

Serena said nothing and didn’t look back. After Prince Nolan left, she curled up into a ball and cried soundlessly: "No... don’t go, don’t go."

She tried desperately to stifle her sobs, but couldn’t hold them back. Tears kept streaming down her face.

Prince Nolan is too ruthless. Far too ruthless.

She knew perfectly well that everything Prince Nolan said was deliberate—meant to make her ache, meant to soften her heart. Yet she still fell for it.

Prince Nolan, you win.

"Mmm... mm..." Serena bit her lip so hard it bled, but still couldn’t stop the pain in her heart or the tears in her eyes.

"Nolan Dongling, what am I supposed to do with you? You’re always like this, always..." He knows exactly what she cares about, exactly what she fears—just like every time before. She knows this is a self-harming ploy, but she still can’t help it, can’t help feeling for that man.

"Baby, how did you end up with such a wicked father? So wicked, his heart is pitch-black..." Serena cried bitterly, her chest tight with pain.

Falling for a man this clever is truly not a blessing. The moment something goes wrong, he seizes your weakness, grabs your soft spot, and forces you to give in.

He’s ruthless and gentle, all at once.

Nolan Dongling, could you be any worse?

Serena’s trembling hand reached up and took off the Red Plum Jade Pin from her hair. Staring at the flame-red plum blossoms, her heart felt even heavier.

Vivid as blood!

The carving wasn’t skillful, but the care was clear—every edge was smoothed so it would never scratch her. Most important, on the back of every petal were two tiny characters: ‘Jiu-Qing.’

So small and unobtrusive, you’d never notice unless you looked closely—yet Serena had noticed.

Nolan Dongling. Serena Feng.

"Only death—only death—can separate us." Serena spoke in broken fragments, tears soaking her pillow and blurring her eyes.

What should she do?

......

"If love is a demon, then my roots are already sunk too deep. Unless you fall into madness with me, you have no other choice." Nolan hadn’t actually left—he was hidden in the shadows, silently watching Serena.

He didn’t want to hurt Serena, but without these ruthless tactics, he could never get close to her; in the end, they’d only drift farther apart.

Serena’s coldness was too painful. Prince Nolan felt lucky he wasn’t like William Wang—someone who would quietly let go just to spare her heartbreak and respect her choice.

Deep down, he’s just willful and domineering. Once he’s set his sights on Serena, even if it leaves her bleeding and wounded, he’ll never let go.

Whether Serena wants it or not, she can only—and must—be his.

"Take good care of her. If there’s any trouble, come to me at the palace." With these words, Prince Nolan gave Serena a lingering look, eyes filled with reluctance, yet he left resolutely.

No matter how long this contest lasts, he’ll be the final victor.

Prince Nolan made Serena cry, then turned and walked away, leaving Left Shore and the Eighteen Riders behind. They looked at each other, uncertain...

"Were we used? Was what we did right or wrong?" The Eighteen Riders knew Serena was smart enough to see they’d let Nolan through on purpose—otherwise, he could never have slipped in unnoticed.

"It’s done. Isn’t it a bit late to be asking now?" Left Shore shot the Eighteen Riders a contemptuous look.

After going out with Prince Nolan, the Eighteen Riders were growing less reliable than ever.

"We just didn’t want to see Miss Serena hurt. We never meant to betray her." The Eighteen Riders felt terrible. When they returned from the imperial mausoleum, Prince Nolan and Serena were fine—how did things change so suddenly? Stuck in the middle, they truly didn’t know what to do.

"You’ve already hurt her." Left Shore glanced at the hidden shadow guard nearby, stretched, and said, "Keep watch—I’m going to take a leak."

After Left Shore slipped away, he didn’t show up at all that day—even when Serena looked for him, he was nowhere to be found. Silently, he told Serena he knew nothing about Nolan’s visit; he’d been absent all day, leaving the Eighteen Riders to face Serena’s cold anger alone.

"If there’s a next time, you can just go serve in the palace." Serena knew the Eighteen Riders thought they were acting for her sake, and with Nolan now emperor, they dared not refuse him. But...

Her subordinates cannot make decisions for her—even if the order comes from the emperor, they are to obey only her commands.

This means she’s rejecting them.

The Eighteen Riders panicked and dropped to their knees: "We know we were wrong—please punish us, Miss Serena."

The Eighteen Riders cursed Left Shore in their hearts. That bastard ran off so fast, he didn’t even warn them.

Of course, cursing aside, the Eighteen Riders still took all the blame themselves—never exposing Left Shore. Serena didn’t actually punish them, but she didn’t tell them to get up, so they stayed kneeling in the courtyard.

If you make a mistake, you must accept punishment. If the cost is too low, people will keep making mistakes—just like Nolan!