The CEO's Substitute Ex-Wife-Chapter 488: A Decade of Ambiguous Affection

Despite the major incident involving the First Terrorist Organization, it seemed to have caused little impact. Only Zhuque’s leg was crippled, and Fang Jiaqi was in critical condition. Xuanwu, Qinglong, and the others dared not speak out, as it was Mo Yao who had done it.

In the eyes of Qinglong, Baihu, Zhuque, and Xuanwu, Mo Yao of the Mafia held absolute power. They didn’t know Wushuang, Mo Chen, or Mo Xiaobai well, but had interacted with Mo Yao. Mo Yao inherited all of Mo Ye’s virtues: taciturn, secretive, and ruthless. Mo Xiaobai lacked authority in their eyes, and Mo Chen rarely interacted with them. Therefore, Mo Yao led them to mistakenly believe that the Mafia was solely under his control, creating the illusion that they feared him. They might dare to provoke Mo Xiaobai, but not Mo Yao.

No one dared to defy Mo Yao’s word.

Furthermore, given the relationship between Eleven and Ye Wei, the older generation of the First Terrorist Organization naturally wouldn’t say anything, and they had even less standing to speak. Crucially, Kaka, Zhou Muhan, Bruno, Chu Chu, and others remained silent, and no one offered to seek justice for Zhuque. Therefore, Qinglong, Baihu, and Xuanwu vaguely realized that seeking justice was wishful thinking.

They all knew that Zhuque had been targeting Wushuang lately, so they assumed that Zhuque had somehow offended Wushuang, which Mo Yao overheard, leading to Mo Yao’s reprimand.

Wushuang sat in Kaka’s garden, the air filled with the fragrance of flowers. This was Chu Li’s villa, where he lived when he was the leader of the First Terrorist Organization. After Kaka took over, he also chose this place as his residence. Located in the eastern center of the First Terrorist Organization, it was the best-viewed three-story villa with a garden within the organization. There were many roses here; the courtyard cultivated various roses—pink, red, champagne, and more—vibrant, bright, and fragrant, the garden perpetually filled with the scent of roses. Wushuang was easily reminded of her own rose garden here.

Rome also had a beautiful rose garden, which she loved.

The rose garden in Rome had more varieties of roses, and a more complete selection, including all sorts of rare and precious ones. Although Kaka’s rose garden also had many varieties, it couldn’t compare to the beautiful design of the rose garden in Rome.

But sitting here was truly a pleasure.

There was a greenhouse in the rose garden, with white wicker chairs inside. The roses in the greenhouse were difficult to grow, and the species were precious, many being unique varieties discovered by researchers.

She had no heart to admire the roses; her mind was preoccupied with something else.

Kaka brewed a pot of rose tea, and Wushuang watched him pour it casually, her eyes slightly narrowed. "Zhuque’s leg might not be saved. Are you really here having tea with me?"

"Jiaqi’s medical skills are superb; her leg won’t be lost," Kaka said calmly, his tone devoid of emotion, as if Zhuque’s injury was none of his concern. This further confirmed Wushuang’s suspicions.

"Try my rose tea. It’s not as good as yours, but it shouldn’t be too bad," Kaka said, handing the fragrant rose tea to Wushuang.

Wushuang’s heart skipped a beat. "When did you learn to brew flower tea?"

"Anything can be learned if you put your mind to it."

Wushuang lowered her head to drink her tea, seemingly not hearing him. Kaka looked at her expectantly and asked, "How does it taste?"

Wushuang glanced at him, seeing the expectation in his eyes, and raised an eyebrow. "Passed."

Kaka chuckled and poured her more tea. Wushuang frowned. "You didn’t call me here just to invite me for tea, did you?"

"You’re overthinking it. I just wanted to invite you for tea."

"Because I helped you establish your authority?" Wushuang slammed the teacup down. As she released it, the teacup shattered, and the rose tea flowed down the white table and chairs, a strangely vibrant color. A hint of anger rose in Wushuang’s eyes. If the person in front of her wasn’t Kaka, she probably would have already used the shattered pieces as projectiles.

"You’re overthinking it," Kaka said calmly, his expression unchanged.

Wushuang wondered, aside from that day at the Devil’s Castle when she saw a different Kaka, how many times had she actually met him over the years? Why were her feelings for him so deep? Was it because of the Hailan of yesteryear, the childhood envy that had unconsciously accumulated, or was it because she had grown accustomed to...

accustomed to seeking Kaka’s affection, accustomed to wanting Kaka’s affection, accustomed to receiving Kaka’s affection? Was this pursuit, this desire, this attainment merely an obsession, or something she truly desired?

She realized she no longer understood Kaka at all.

He had even schemed against her and her siblings, using Mo Yao to kill with a borrowed knife.

"I really wish I were a little dumber, that I overthought things. You’re not what I thought," Wushuang smiled coldly, looking at the rose garden. Sometimes women should be a little dumber; if they were, they wouldn’t know so much of the truth. "The Vermilion Bird got into trouble on the territory of the First Terrorist Organization, and you’re late, Kaka. Don’t tell me you don’t know what happened in the front hall. Everyone else is here, and you’re the last one. And don’t tell me you were delayed by something."

"My leg hasn’t fully healed yet." Kaka smiled faintly at Wushuang’s accusations, showing no emotion whatsoever, as if no one could tear off the mask on his face. Wushuang found him terrifying.

Kaka’s scheming was always used on others; she thought he was wonderful, everything about him was good. But Wushuang had never considered how terrifying it would be if Kaka used that same cunning on her.

Because she had never imagined it would happen so suddenly, she found it terrifying.

She had already questioned him so directly, and he still had the excuse that his leg was inconvenient?

Was it really just inconvenient?

A man who hides his true nature is charming, but if you can’t control him, that charm can turn into a terrifying backlash.

Wu Shuang sneered, "Since that’s the case, I have nothing to say."

She stood up, as if to leave, but Kaka grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. Wu Shuang’s arm hadn’t fully healed, and not wanting to suffer for her temper, she didn’t resist much. Kaka said, "Wu Shuang, where are you going?" "

I have nothing to say to you anymore," Wu Shuang said coldly. "I never thought that one day you would lie to me. Chu Nanfeng, who wouldn’t even say he liked me to coax me, actually lied to me one day. It seems I really am worthless in your heart."

Wu Shuang couldn’t break free from his gaze. The man’s eyes were like torches, fixed on her face like nails, burning her almost with intensity. In his eyes, Wu Shuang saw none of her usual composure or smile.

Kaka gripped her arm tightly, seemingly forgetting her injury. His gaze was frighteningly silent, icy and devoid of warmth. "In your eyes, am I really that kind of person? In your eyes, are you truly worthless? Mo Wu Shuang, how could you say such a thing?"

If it weren’t so important, why would he risk his life to save her? If it weren’t so important, why would he willingly bear the consequences knowing the consequences? If it weren’t so important, why would he rather be misunderstood than explain himself?

Kaka’s grip was painful, especially when it touched her wound, causing excruciating pain. Wushuang’s gaze darkened, and she immediately turned cold. "Let go of me."

He only tightened his grip. Wushuang’s brows furrowed like knives. "You’re going to break my hand."

Kaka finally reacted, slightly releasing one of her arms, but holding onto the uninjured one, as if afraid she would leave. Wushuang was furious. When did he learn such a bad temper?

Wushuang calmed her temper. "Are you using the boss to kill someone else?"

"Yes!" Kaka answered readily. He looked at Wushuang. "This is between Mo Yao and me, Wushuang. We’ll handle it. Can you please not interfere?"

Wushuang wanted to curse him. What did he mean by "their business"? She shouldn’t interfere? One was Kaka, the other was the boss, and it all started because of her. How could she not interfere? Once doubts arose in her mind, they were hard to dispel. If she didn’t explain things clearly

, Kaka’s words would only deepen Wushuang’s suspicions.

"Either you tell the truth, or you let me go. Don’t wait for me to choose," Wushuang said coldly.

Kaka smiled bitterly, his gaze unfathomable. "Is this all we can say between us?"

They never discussed business.

"What else is there to say between us?" Wushuang retorted indifferently, looking at Kaka. "I have a bad habit: if I let my doubts grow, one day I won’t trust you anymore."

Perhaps Kaka preferred this outcome.

Their relationship had been too strange these past few years; she knew it herself, let alone others. She knew how Kaka had treated her, yet a barrier always existed between them.

If one day they completely broke off relations

, never to speak again, Wushuang asked herself, could she do it? If that day truly came, sometimes she really wanted to push herself to the edge—either she would die, or he would.

Kaka was startled, looking at Wushuang intently. No longer trusting him?

"Moyao and I both know you really want to teach Zhuque a lesson," Kaka said calmly.

"So what? Didn’t I ask you to do it? I’ll deal with those who have offended me myself. There’s no need for you to do anything," Wushuang said, frowning. She didn’t like being deceived.

"And what about you? What you do for us, do you care whether we want it or not? Take this Azure Heart, for example. Do you think I’d like it? Wushuang, are you sure I really like it?" Kaka asked, his tone tinged with sorrow.

Wushuang’s heart skipped a beat. That day in the hospital room, Kaka said that Wushuang was prettier than the Azure Heart. Was he telling the truth? Did he really not like it? She had always thought he would.

Perhaps, he really didn’t like it anymore.

She just didn’t know that she thought she understood him so well, but actually, she didn’t understand him at all.

What had made the distance between them so vast? Was it the unrequited love she had endured for ten years, the suppressed longing, or the difference in their social status and the environments in which they grew up?

How much did she still understand about Kaka?

Wushuang suddenly felt afraid. If there was no understanding left, what would be left between them? She suddenly realized that all these years, she thought Kaka liked this relationship, but did he not like it at all?

He didn’t like this ambiguous relationship, he didn’t like her coming to London to see him, and he especially disliked physical contact between them. He only refused her because he was afraid of hurting their feelings.

Or perhaps it was guilt, or perhaps... pity?

Thinking of this, Wushuang’s gaze turned fierce. Kaka was puzzled, but Wushuang’s heart was in turmoil. Had she been wrong from the very beginning?

Kaka had rejected her long ago.

He had said he didn’t like her, and it was she who had taken the initiative to make their relationship like this. He only accepted her every time she took the initiative. Was this not what he wanted at all?

Her heart felt as if it had been stabbed several times, the wound still being twisted and ripped open, bleeding profusely and shattered. Her head throbbed with pain. All along, she had been deluding herself.

"Wushuang, what’s wrong?" Kaka noticed her distress and hurriedly asked what was wrong. He thought he had hurt her and quickly let go of her. Kaka tried to help her sit down, but Wushuang shook her head, stopping him.

A sense of foreboding washed over him. He knew Wushuang was in pain; with that expression, she was suffering. In all these years, she had only shown him such pain once.

That was ten years ago.

His heart suddenly ached. Ten years ago... Ten years had passed in the blink of an eye. It felt like he was back on New Year’s Eve ten years ago. That year, the young Wushuang smiled and asked him under the fireworks if he liked her, if he wanted her.

The mixed feelings of joy and sorrow he had felt then were still so clear in his memory. The fireworks that night remained forever etched in his memory, so vivid and beautiful.

They were the most beautiful fireworks he had ever seen.

"I’ve misunderstood you all along, and I’ve misunderstood our relationship, which is why we’re having this argument today—it’s awkward and embarrassing," Wushuang said coldly. Her back was ramrod straight; a queen never bends her proud spine, but this time...

she had driven herself into a corner.

"Kaka, all these years, I’ve been unwilling to accept this. There’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you again." Wushuang looked at Kaka firmly, like a goddess wielding a sword, invincible and incredibly brave. "Ten years ago, I told you I liked you, and you rejected me outright. Today, I’ll ask you again: if even today, I, Mo Wushuang, still like you, do you want me or not?"