take medicine
1612 Words
He blinked, his hand trembling slightly, then lowered his head to kiss her eyelids.
After a few seconds of stillness, he released her and strode toward the bathroom without looking back.
She lay there motionless, as if lifeless.
Minutes later, he emerged dripping with water, a towel scrubbing through his damp hair.
Standing before her, his gaze swept over her body before curving into an inscrutable smile. "A clean girl. Good."
"Go shower." His powerful fingers gripped her chin. "Obey me if you wish to avoid a repeat performance."
Wanqing shuddered, slowly rising as she clutched the bedsheet to her chest, shuffling toward the bathroom.
Every inch of her body ached, yet the anguish in her heart eclipsed it all. Her own father had sold her out - while her mother lay fighting for survival!
Submerged in the tub, her composure shattered into wrenching sobs. Suddenly, strong hands seized her hair, yanking her upright. "Finished cleansing?"
She stared up at him, terror coursing through her veins.
"Five more minutes!" He vanished before she could respond.
Five minutes?
She frantically grabbed the body wash, scrubbing herself raw with trembling hands. Emerging, she found him seated rigidly on the Sealy mattress. His glacial command pierced the air: "Come here."
She inched forward, teeth sinking into her lower lip to stifle whimpers.
A humorless smirk twisted his lips at her compliance. Rising, he strode toward the exit. "You'll sleep here tonight."
The moment he disappeared, she lunged toward freedom. One step sent the room spinning, yet she steadied herself, massaging her temples as she crept toward the door.
Ear pressed against cold wood, she heard only silence. The door creaked open - escape seemed possible! Steeling herself, she gently closed it behind her and turned to retrieve her discarded dress.
"Not satisfied yet?" A voice lashed from the shadows.
She whirled with a gasp to find Mu Tianyang leaning in the doorway.
Clutching her chest, she stammered, "I... I just wanted to sleep."
"Sleep in formal wear?" His eyebrow arched dangerously as he advanced. "Or perhaps attempt another escape?"
"No!" The denial tore from her throat. His mocking expression exposed the lie, sending her stumbling backward. "I... have no nightclothes..."
His piercing gaze held her frozen. Finally, he nodded curtly. "Sleep. Test my patience at your peril."
She scrambled beneath the covers, eyelids fluttering like trapped butterflies.
The mattress dipped as he lay beside her. She turned to stone.
A derisive snort came from the darkness before silence reclaimed the room.
Exhaustion dragged her into fitful slumber haunted by nightmares.
Dawn illuminated an unfamiliar ceiling. Sitting up, shame burned through her at the sterile luxury surrounding her.
Running water echoed from the bathroom. Mu Tianyang was still here. Could she flee?
The door clicked open. He emerged toweling his hair, water droplets tracing the ridges of his torso...
Medication? What medication? Wanqing stared at him blankly.
He glanced toward the bedside. Following his gaze, she discovered a pillbox and water glass on the nightstand. Her trembling hands lifted the box, confronting the glaring label: Emergency Contraception...
Mu Tianyang strode toward the walk-in closet. "You'll handle birth control yourself next time - whether preemptive or post-"
He halted abruptly, pivoting with icy precision. "Remember - you're unworthy of bearing my child. Take those pills religiously, or face consequences beyond your worst nightmares."
The foil packaging crackled in her shaking grip as she swallowed the tablet per instructions.
Her gaze fell on the folded garments beside the glass. The top layer revealed delicate underthings. Her hand hovered, withdrew, eyes darting toward the closed closet.
The door clicked open moments later. She jerked her head down, pulse racing.
Mu Tianyang emerged adjusting his tie, impeccably dressed. "Change into those. Burn yesterday's outfit." When met with silence, his voice sharpened like a blade. "Am I understood?"
"Y-yes..." Her whisper barely stirred air. Clearing her throat, she forced louder obedience. "Understood."
His approving nod sliced through the tension before he exited.
Each stair step jabbed reminders of last night's brutality. Shame burned her throat. She needed to survive - for her hospitalized mother awaiting surgery.
The vacant living room echoed her disorientation. She lunged toward the exit.
Two sentinels materialized beyond the threshold. "Return inside, Miss Ding."
"I must go to the hospital!"
"Mr. Mu's orders."
Her fists clenched. "Where is he?"
"At corporate headquarters. You'll remain here." Steel glinted beneath their civility as they shoved her back, deadbolts engaging.
When Mu Tianyang returned at dusk, he found her curled like broken porcelain beside congealed takeout containers.
"Starving yourself?" His polished shoes halted near her face. "Pathetic."
She clutched his trousers with desperate strength. "My mother -"
"Eat. Then information."
She attacked the cold rice with feral urgency, choking down every grain. The empty container clattered as she rasped, "Now. Tell me."
His smile held winter's cruelty.
Mu Tianyang studied her for a moment before turning away. "Let's go."
Wanqing hurried after him, following to the hospital. She rushed toward Xu Kewei's room only to find it empty.
She froze. "Where's my mother?"
"In isolation." Mu Tianyang said. "The surgery this morning was successful."
"Where is the isolation ward?"
He led her to a glass-walled room where Xu Kewei lay unconscious beneath an oxygen mask.
Wanqing pressed trembling fingers against the glass partition. "Mom..." Sobs wracked her body.
"Why the tears?" Mu Tianyang's voice cut through her grief. "We're leaving."
She turned desperately. "I need to stay with her."
His gaze turned steely. "Have you forgotten? You belong to me now."
"But last night we already—"
A cruel laugh interrupted her. "You think one night was enough? You're not that valuable."
Shame burned her cheeks as she whispered, "She needs care..."
"I've hired the best nurses."
"But—"
"No exceptions!" He stepped closer, voice dropping dangerously. "Another word and I'll have them turn off her oxygen. Let's see how long she lasts in the garbage dump."
Her eyes blazed with hatred.
"Save your glare." He smirked. "Remember—I'm the reason she's still breathing."
Jaw clenched, Wanqing trailed after him, stealing agonized backward glances.
The black sedan pulled up outside an upscale bistro. "Wait here," Mu Tianyang ordered. "I'll park."
She nodded numbly. "Yes..."
His fingers dug into her chin. "Don't even think about running."
"...I won't." Her pulse quickened—how had he guessed?
With a derisive snort, he released her. "Out."
Wanqing stood rigid against the restaurant's stone facade, watching his taillights disappear. The open street tempted her, but guilt anchored her feet—how could she consider escaping while her mother lay hospitalized?
A familiar luxury car glided into view. She moved instinctively toward it.
The vehicle halted before her. Two women emerged as the driver sought parking.
"Now that your father's financial crisis is over, let's get those Cartier earrings—" Xue Lina's words died as she collided with Wanqing. "Watch where you're going, Ding Wanqing!"
Ding Caiyan sneered. "What are you doing here?"
Wanqing's nails bit her palms. These women—her father's legitimate wife and daughter—lived the life that should have been hers.
"Is your w***e mother dead yet?" Xue Lina's venomous smile froze as her eyes caught Wanqing's neck. She grabbed the girl's chin. "Let me see—"
Wanqing slapped her hand away, fury blazing.
Xue Lina's laughter rang cruel. "Look what I found—"
Wanqing's face palmed as she clutched her neck.
"What's the point covering it now after being kissed?" Ding Caiyan sneered. "Dare do it but not own it?"
Xue Lina noticed her guilty expression and froze. "Don't tell me you're selling yourself?"
"Shut your filthy mouth!" Wanqing roared.
Xue Lina recoiled before taunting, "Struck a nerve? Must be true then!"
Ding Caiyan gasped dramatically, "You actually prostituted yourself? Father would die of shame—"
"SHUT UP!" Wanqing lunged at them, tears of humiliation burning her eyes. "You homewrecking w****s!"
"Who're you calling w****s?!" The women shoved her hard.
She crashed to the floor with a cry.
Ding Zhigang's voice cut through the chaos. "What's this commotion? Get inside!"
The middle-aged man froze mid-stride, blood draining from his face. "You... Why are you here?"
Wanqing glared up with bitter laughter. "Why shouldn't I be?" Her voice cracked remembering how this man - her own father - had pushed her into hellfire last night.
Ding Zhigang's neck blotched red and white, eyes darting anywhere but her face.
"Enough dawdling! I'm starving!" Xue Lina yanked his arm toward the restaurant.
Crouched on cold tiles, Wanqing watched their polished shoes pass. She imagined plunging a dagger through their pristine leather. Suddenly she screamed, "DING ZHIGANG!"
The man stiffened, slowly turning. She'd... called him by name? Not 'Father'?
"Am I truly your daughter?" Her whisper carried lethal stillness.
His ashen face answered everything.
"Quit gawking! The steak's getting cold!" Xue Lina dragged him away.
Wanqing's tears fell freely now. The click of gilded heels stopped before her.
"Rot in hell with your mother," Ding Caiyan spat, grinding her stiletto into Wanqing's hand.
The scream echoed through the plaza. Curious onlookers clustered until a thunderous voice scattered them.
Mu Tianyang loomed like an avenging deity, his gaze turning arctic when seeing her mangled hand. "Who did this?"
She collapsed against him, pain blurring words to whimpers.
"WHO. DID. THIS." His growl promised bloodshed.
"C-Caiyan..."
"Caiyan?" His jaw clenched. Oh, Ding Caiyan would pay dearly for this.
"It hurts..."
"Endure it." He moved toward the restaurant.
"No!" She clawed at his sleeve desperately. "Please! Don't make me go back! Don't let them see..." If that woman discovered her shame, the humiliation would finish what the stiletto started.
- Writer
