章 18: You're Mine
The dimly lit office was filled with an oppressive silence. The air was thick with tension, it made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She had been here many times before, but this time was different.
Taking deep breaths to calm her now racing heart. She straightened her posture, steeled her expression and turned to face him. Her tormentor.
"Did you finally come to your senses?"
His voice was low and his never-fading smirk was plastered on his smug face. She wished more than ever to wipe that smirk clean off his face, but she stood still clenching her fists by her sides and face deadpan. She would never give him the satisfaction of seeing the fear in her expression.
"I've paid off my debt"
His response was a menacing chuckle that rumbled in his chest and morphed into full laughter. There was no joy in the sound, and it sent shivers down her spine.
"You think that means you can just walk away?"
"I know it does" she countered eyes locking onto his with unwavering determination,
He leaned forward his lips curling into a mocking grin, "You're not bound by the debt anymore, Liling, but don't delude yourself into thinking you're free. You belong to me."
Her heart pounded faster in her chest, "I belong to no one"
His smile faded, replaced by a cold calculating look, "You're playing a dangerous game Liling"
"I'm done doing everything you ask" She met his gaze refusing to back down, "I refuse to continue"
He took slow deliberate steps towards her, "You're not going anywhere Liling"
She clenched her teeth in anger.
"You're not going anywhere Liling, you know why?" His hand shot out, grabbing her chin with a painfully tight grip. "You're mine, Liling. You've always been mine. And you will always be."
A seething wave of hatred flooded through her veins, causing her insides to twist and turn with a deep desire for revenge. What she would give to kill this man.
She stayed unflinching, refusing to show the pain he was inflicting on her. With gritted teeth, she spat back "You don't own me "
For a moment, they stood in silence, his piercing gaze meeting her steely eyes, the tension between them almost palpable. Then, without warning, he shoved her away, his face contorting with a sly menacing smile.
"Then I suggest you run. But don't forget. I'll always be watching"
She stumbled but caught herself, her heart pounding. She turned and walked to the door, her steps steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides.
She could feel Zhang Wei's eyes on her, feel his rage and hatred burning into her back. But she didn't look back. She couldn't. She had to keep moving, had to get out.
She opened the door and stepped into the hallway, the tension finally releasing its grip on her chest. She had done it. She had faced him and walked away. But she knew it wasn't over. Not yet.
*******************************
The morning sun cast long shadows across the quiet streets as Liling drove home, her mind still reeling from the confrontation with Zhang Wei. She could feel the tension in her muscles, the remnants of fear and anger lingering beneath the surface.
Pulling into the driveway, Liling took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She turned off the engine and sat silently, gathering her thoughts. She needed to shake off the encounter and focus on the present.
As she stepped out of the car and walked towards the front door, she saw a small figure peering through the window. It was Little Bun, most likely watching for her. In seconds his face lit up with excitement as he recognized her figure.
The front door opened before she could reach it, and Little Bun darted out, his small feet pattering across the porch. He ran to her, wrapping his arms around her legs in a tight hug.
Liling knelt, pulling him into a warm embrace, feeling his energy and joy wash over her like a balm.
"I missed you, too," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She kissed the top of his head and pulled back to look at him. His eyes were bright, his face a picture of pure happiness.
He quickly pulled out his tablet and wrote a message, holding it up for her to read: We can play today, right?
"Of course," Liling replied, her heart lifting at the sight of his smile. "What do you want to do first?"
His eyes lit up, and he wrote quickly: "Let's build a fort"
"Well then," she said laughing softly, "Lead the way, commander"
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