Su Ding frowned, her heart filled with confusion. Why would Jin Ye's phone be answered by her uncle?
Had he already arrived?
With this thought, she immediately walked downstairs. Bodyguards were stationed on the third floor.
"Miss, please come in."
Su Ding strode into the room and saw the man sitting on the sofa at a glance.
"Jin Ye!"
The moment Jin Ye looked up and saw her, a ripple of emotion flashed in his usually calm eyes. He quickly stood up.
Simultaneously, the Ouyang family bodyguards on both sides raised their firearms.
They aimed at Jin Ye.
Jin family bodyguards, in turn, drew their guns and aimed at Ouyang Kai!
In an instant, the atmosphere turned exceptionally tense and dangerous. Su Ding's heart leaped into her throat!
"What are you doing!" she exclaimed urgently.
However, with the dark muzzles pointed at them, neither man showed any panic. They even seemed to be in a silent confrontation, testing each other's strength.
Ouyang Kai let out a low chuckle and gestured first, signaling them to lower their guns. "You've got guts."
Jin Ye's expression remained cold, but he also had his men lower their weapons.
"Likewise."
He said coldly, then, as if claiming ownership, he reached out and took Su Ding's icy hand. "I'm here."
His voice was somber, filled with heartache and anger.
At this moment, Su Ding's face was still bruised from the slaps, and there were several abrasions on her arms and neck, a truly shocking sight.
Jin Ye's heart felt as if it had been brutally squeezed.
"Uncle." Su Ding frowned, glancing at the bodyguards standing beside her. "Ask them to leave."
Ouyang Kai, being attentive to his niece, nodded.
The bodyguards retreated, and Jin Ye's subordinates also withdrew outside the door upon receiving their orders to guard the perimeter.
Now, only Jin Ye, Su Ding, and Ouyang Kai remained in the room.
"Young Jin, under what capacity are you here to demand someone from me?" Ouyang Kai sat on the leather sofa, lit a cigar, and squinted at Jin Ye.
Through the swirling smoke, his figure appeared and disappeared, yet he exuded an oppressive aura.
Jin Ye tightened his grip on Su Ding's hand and met Ouyang Kai's gaze directly. "I am Su Ding's husband. My wife has been taken by you, shouldn't I come to ask for her back?"
The cold retort revealed his suppressed fury.
"Heh, but as far as I know, you two are just a step away from divorce."
Ouyang Kai sneered, then his expression turned grim and terrifying. "If you truly loved her, would she have suffered such grievances?"
Jin Ye also felt a pang of lingering fear and anger. He said firmly, "I will seek justice for Su Ding."
"One is your sister, and the other is your old flame. You don't know that they targeted Ding Ding, do you?" Ouyang Kai suddenly lowered his voice, his domineering brows radiating a chill.
These almost accusatory words left Jin Ye momentarily speechless.
Ouyang Kai continued to question, "Since you know, yet you failed to prepare adequately to protect her, how can you claim she is your wife."
"Are you worthy?" the softly uttered sentence struck Jin Ye's heart directly.
Jin Ye's expression changed slightly. "I love her, this time I returned because..."
The words caught in his throat, turning into superfluous explanations. Jin Ye, who had always been composed and never flustered, found himself rendered speechless for the first time.
"Do you know, if I hadn't arrived in time, the person you would have seen upon your return might have been her corpse."
Ouyang Kai's words were chilling to the bone.
Jin Ye's heart tightened even further. After a pause, he said, "There won't be a next time."
"Yes, there won't be a next time."
Ouyang Kai nodded and said coldly, "Do you think I will give you a second chance to hurt her?"
Jin Ye asked sharply, "What do you mean?"
"I'm taking her away." Ouyang Kai looked at Su Ding, his previously cold expression gradually softening. "Ding Ding, come back with Uncle."
Su Ding thought of her grandfather not yet accepting her, and felt a bit uncertain.
She wasn't sure if Ouyang Kai was supporting her now or if he was serious.
"Yes." She nodded.
Ouyang Kai smiled, then looked at Jin Ye. "I will find a more suitable husband for Ding Ding. You know, there are countless wealthy families and royal clans eager to marry our Ouyang family's little princess!"
Ouyang family's little princess?!
Jin Ye's mind churned with confusion and shock. He looked at Su Ding, was she truly from the Ouyang family?
Hearing Su Ding call Ouyang Kai uncle, he had found it strange.
So Su Ding was indeed a direct descendant of the Ouyang family, and Ouyang Kai's purpose for coming this time was to reclaim her?
"No!"
Jin Ye refused outright, tightening his grip on Su Ding's hand. "I do not allow it!"
Su Ding felt Jin Ye's rage and panic. Her wrist bones were almost crushed, and the pain made her frown and try to pull her hand away. However, Jin Ye misinterpreted this gesture.
"I won't allow you to leave," Jin Ye stubbornly increased the pressure on her hand.
Su Ding gritted her teeth and said angrily, "It hurts!"
Jin Ye abruptly released her hand, looking at her reddened hand with concern, guilt, and bewilderment in his eyes.
Ouyang Kai watched Jin Ye coldly. "I don't have time to waste with you. On account of your grandfather, I'll let you leave unharmed today. From now on, stop bothering my niece. If you don't listen, don't blame me for being impolite."
"What do you want?"
Jin Ye was not one to back down, he retorted coldly.
This suddenly appearing Ouyang Kai, who claimed to be Su Ding's uncle, aside from the truth of his background, was also attempting to dictate his relationship with Su Ding!
Ouyang Kai did not take Jin Ye seriously at all.
He stood up. "Ding Ding, come back with Uncle and rest."
Jin Ye held Su Ding's hand, his deep, determined eyes fixed on her. "Don't go with him. I'll take you away."
Su Ding looked at Ouyang Kai on the side, and then at Jin Ye.
She felt conflicted.
But the scale in her heart couldn't help but tilt towards Jin Ye...
Although she had encountered trouble this time, Jin Ye was not the culprit, and it was impossible for Jin Ye to be watching her at all times.
The scene of Jin Ye bidding her farewell and being affectionate that morning, the sweet and touching moments they shared on the island in the preceding days, all caused her to fall deeply into Jin Ye's tenderness once more.
"Uncle."
Su Ding called out softly, her voice pausing slightly. "I..."