ATTENTION!
Content Warning: Sensitive Themes
This chapter contains sensitive topics including assault and abuse but there is no "rape" here. Please be aware before you proceed.
***
"Please… let me go. I won't report you or sue you. Just let me go," Elena begged, her face a mess of desperation and fear. The once flawless makeup had faded, and tears streaked down her cheeks.
"Why do you want me to let you go?" asked the man, crouching in front of Elena, who sat on the floor with her hands tied.
"Didn't you say that we would be together forever? Don't you want to be with me?" the man persisted, trying to caress Elena's cheek.
However, Elena instinctively turned her face away, refusing to be touched by the man. But, her rejection only seemed to fuel his fury.
"Why?!" he demanded, his anger evident as he tightened his grip on her cheek to force her to face him.
"Don't you love me anymore, Elena?" he asked in a cold tone, holding her cheeks tightly, causing Elena to stifle her tears, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of her pain.
"No, I love you," Elena forced a smile, trying to mask her terror. "But you're hurting me," she managed to say, wincing in pain.
"Oh, I'm sorry," the man said, finally releasing his grip on her face. But his tone didn't match his words, and Elena knew this wasn't over.
"I really love you, Elena. You are mine."
Once again, his hand rose, and Elena struggled to hold back her fear as he caressed her face. His touch was rough and possessive, and before she knew it, his lips were on hers in a rough and intense kiss.
The kiss trailed down towards her neck, and Elena felt his hands trying to touch her body.
"No… No…" Elena finally tried to resist, refusing to be subjected to the detestable man's advances.
"NO!"
Elena jolted awake, her chest heaving, and her face covered in sweat. She looked disheveled and shaken from the horrifying nightmare she had just experienced.
"Are you alright?" someone asked, attempting to hug Elena's shoulders. However, Elena instinctively brushed away the person's hand, followed by a startled gasp of surprise.
"Ah, it's you," Elena said as she recognized the woman who had just touched her. Her tone became more relaxed, and the earlier hysteria subsided.
"You had another bad dream?" asked a woman with shoulder-length hair, her voice filled with concern. "What if we go to a psychiatrist? It's been two years..."
"I'm fine, Fei Fei," Elena cut in sharply, rejecting the idea from the woman who looked neat in her blouse and skirt.
"By the way, what time is it? What's my schedule today?" Elena asked, trying to change the subject as she walked towards the window and drew back the curtains. She wanted to bask in the morning sun, closing her eyes to savor the warmth.
She really liked the sunlight shining on this hotel room in the morning.
"Elena," Fei Fei said in a low voice. "I was really worried about you. You still have nightmares even after two years. You need help, Elena." Fei Fei persisted gently.
Elena opened her eyes at the sound of concern in her friend's voice. She turned her head to face Fei Fei directly.
"You know I can't do that, Fei Fei," Elena said, a tinge of bitterness in her smile. "I have too many enemies. They'll pounce on any weakness, and seeking a psychiatrist is one they'd exploit," Elena explained, feeling the weight of her own vulnerability.
"Of course we can do it secretly, but can we really trust a psychiatrist to keep it confidential? I can't take that risk," Elena hurriedly continued, anticipating Fei Fei's protest.
Finally, Elena decided to confide in Fei Fei the reason she hesitated to seek professional help. After all, Fei Fei was not only her secretary but also her close friend since college, a person she could trust.
Fei Fei fell silent, taking in Elena's explanation. Her expression remained worried.
"Don't worry! I'm fine. It was just a bad dream. Maybe meeting Jia Ni yesterday triggered it. That old hag has such bad aura," Elena said, trying to lighten the mood and reassure her friend.
"Anyway, it seems I don't have an important schedule this morning since you didn't rush me to get ready," Elena remarked, heading straight to the bathroom to get ready.
"Ah, yes. You only have a conference at 3 pm later," Fei Fei confirmed, pulling out her tablet to check Elena's schedule once more, even though she knew it by heart. She wanted to be certain.
The hotel room fell into silence, except for the sound of the shower water splashing.
After a while, Elena emerged from the bathroom, now seated in front of the mirror, beginning to apply her makeup. The facade of confidence and charm, concealing the lingering fear within her heart.
"Oh yeah, I managed to get the information you asked to find last night," Fei Fei said suddenly, remembering the important task she wanted to share with Elena earlier but had momentarily forgotten due to her concern for her friend.
"That fast?" Elena turned to Fei Fei, her surprise evident. She did urge Fei Fei to find the information quickly, but she hadn't expected her diligent secretary to come through overnight.
Fei Fei smirked sarcastically as she saw Elena's shocked reaction. "You called me at night to look up someone's information and asked me to do it as soon as possible," she retorted. She couldn't help but dig into the task like it was an emergency!
Elena chuckled in response to Fei Fei's remark. Her secretary's efficiency was truly admirable.
"His name is Li Yuchen, 32 years old. After graduating from school, he was sent to London to study at Imperial College, majoring in business management. He excelled in his studies and eventually decided to settle in London. He owns and works as a chef at a fairly well-known Chinese restaurant there. Based on the information I gathered, he is clean with no criminal record," Fei Fei informed while reading the details from her tablet.
Elena nodded attentively, listening to the report. Even though she had already proposed the idea of Yuchen becoming her husband, she wouldn't proceed without thoroughly checking the stranger's background before he became her husband..
After hearing the report, Elena couldn't help but think that there seemed to be no reason to not go ahead with her audacious plan. Yuchen turned out to have impressive credentials and a clean record.
"Well, I can dig deeper about him and his family background if you want," Fei Fei offered.
"Ah, no need. You've worked hard. Thank you," replied Elena who was still focused on her makeup.
Elena didn't care much about Yuchen's family background. In her opinion, the individual's character mattered more than their lineage. The information Fei Fei had found was more than sufficient.
"By the way, who is he?" Fei Fei asked curiously. "Are you planning to open a restaurant business or hire him as a private chef?" she continued, attempting to guess Elena's intentions.
Fei Fei was familiar with Elena's tendencies. Whenever she asked for someone's background check, it was often because she wanted to bring them on board to work with her or for her. It wasn't uncommon for Elena to recruit talents into her team.
"Ah, he will be my husband," Elena replied casually, not even bothering to look up at Fei Fei.
Fei Fei blinked her eyes in disbelief at what she just heard. The expression on her face resembled someone trying to process something because it sounded like she misheard.
Wait a minute… What did Elena say just now? Husband?!
"Hah?!" Fei Fei couldn't help but blurt out, unable to hide her astonishment.