Captive Bliss in Damp Bones

[Forced marriage + stealing someone’s partner + twisted threats + forbidden tension with a married woman + a dark, possessive male lead who fights to claim her]

He wins her over by wiles at first, then takes her by force.

On a day of heavy snowfall, a distinguished guest arrived at the Lu residence…

Her husband introduced him. “Yanniang, this is Lord Yan, Yan Jiubai, the benefactor who saved our Lu family. He’s from Duanzhou too, so you could say you’re both from the same hometown.”

“Your younger brother pays his respects, sister-in-law. Please forgive me for dropping by unannounced.”

Nanyan met his deep blue eyes, where stars seemed to fall, and returned his greeting with a slight bow.

The gentle young man before her was dressed in plain clothes that could not conceal his natural grace. His smile was as warm as jade, and he seemed kind-hearted at first glance.

As he was leaving, Nanyan gave Yan Jiubai an oil-paper umbrella. He carefully wrapped it away, convinced that it was a token of love from his sister-in-law.

…

Not long afterward, when her husband was once again in danger of being thrown into prison and Nanyan had nowhere else to turn, she thought of him.

That day, she went to his door. Yan Jiubai smiled as warmly and elegantly as ever. “Why are you crying, sister-in-law? Brother Lu’s troubles can be settled with just one word from you…”

She looked up at him, puzzled. Yan Jiubai spoke gently, yet his words chilled her to the bone. “Your younger brother wants to ask something of you. I wonder if you’d be willing to give it to me…?”

An alternate world…