A few hours later, there was a loud commotion in the hallway outside my room. Slowly, I opened my eyes, listening to the loud voice of Yan Si's mother. The words were a little bit unclear due to the thick walls, but I could grasp the conversation's meaning. Or the monologue, to be exact. Han Wei was urging Yan Si to wake up, and knowing how he slept like a bear in hibernation period; I could guess she found the task excruciating. I got up from my bed and came closer to the door. Normally, I wasn't a nosy, gossiping person. However, I couldn't stop wondering why Han Wei was so nervous. Her voice was laced with panic, and she sounded almost hysterical.
I switched the lights off, which I used to doze off until morning, and looked outside. Only my eye was visible. Han Wei was standing at the doorstep, stomping with her foot. From her profile, I could see she was red with anger and worry.
''Yan Si, I order you, get up right now, or I will beat you until your ass is red! I don't care that you are a grown-up man!'' Oh my, that was a sight to behold. I should definitely record it. I laughed mercilessly at his misery, and when I saw his dishevelled look, I almost couldn't hold myself. His eyes were half – opened, his hair standing in all ends like he was hit with electric current, and he was totally unaware where he was. He blinked slowly and scratched his ear.
''Mom, did the asylum throw you out, and now you come back to bully me?'' Had he been in his right mind, he would never say something like this out loud. I bit my palm harshly, barely suppressing my giggles. The silence following his unrespectable question was tensed. I was waiting patiently to see how Han Wei would beat him. And I wasn't disappointed.
''You prick, did your father taught you to speak this way to me?! Let this mother of yours teach you some respect!'' She grabbed his ear, twisting it painfully and, after that, slapped the back of his head continuously. He ran into his room, pleading for mercy while I stuck my head outside. If I wasn't afraid Han Wei would beat me next, I would take my phone and record a video. Well, I had to admit, his mother could be over the top sometimes, but watching how she made Yan Si suffer was a pleasure like no other. Thinking the fun for tonight was over, I was ready to close my door when I heard her words.
''You idiot, do you know how worried I am for you? When your father told me that this cursed Kang Xianliang wants your life for compensation, my heart stopped beating. I was scared stiff, and I couldn't even breathe. How dare he…'' Her voice stopped abruptly while I stood rooted on the spot. I came out of my room, stopping a few steps before the open door of my cousin's bedroom. I could hear distant sobs and hiccupping. The silence that followed was breath-taking. I felt my chest was heavy, and I wanted to go in and try to offer some comfort. I could say that we found the whereabouts of the man who stole the money. But before I can act, her terrified voice filled the air.
''Your father and I agreed to send you away until this problem is solved. The plane is ready and is waiting for you. Xi An will come with you too so that you won't be alone.'' I froze on the spot. I knew the situation was quite serious, but I couldn't really imagine Kang Xianliang fulfilling his threat. Yes, there was this case with CEO Fu, but I found he was quite a shady person while I was checking his background. He was in court for money embezzlement, but the accusations were later dropped thanks to Kang Enterprise. However, later he had the audacity to lie Kang Xianliang trying to involve him in the Ponzi scheme. He holding grudges exacted revenge. However, Yan Si had nothing to do with Kang Xianliang. He never offended him. So, unless he wanted to incur the wrath of Yan Corporation, Yan family, their allies, he wouldn't act that ruthlessly. Well, of course, he wouldn't let the money matter to slip but still.
''Hmm, if that is the case, I want to go to Italy and take tang jie with me.'' Now, I was dumbfounded. Why did he want to go to Italy with me?
''What? Fine. I don't mind. Italy is farther enough. Kang Xianliang shouldn't be able to hurt you there.'' She sounded more relaxed now. ''I will go and wake her up. Later, maids will come to pack your luggage.'' When she came out of the room, she stopped, surprised to see me there. After that, her face became gloomy. ''Did you eavesdropped just now?'' A cold sweat ran down my back when her threatening voice rang out. Behind my back, Yan Si had taken his phone. The moment he saw my coldly shining eyes, he waved back at me. If my life weren't endangered, I would have beaten him into nothingness.
''Aunt, I hear voices from biao di's room, and I was worried. Why does he want to go to Italy with me?'' I tried my best to play clueless and innocent. Han Wei's eyes narrowed at me, and she sneered derisively.
''I didn't see you for years, and you have become such an actress. I suppose this is a family trait.'' One of my brows raised at her biting remark. What had she against my family? I stayed quiet because she was my elder, and I couldn't be disrespectful towards her. She looked at me, condescendingly, and my only answer was an indifferent stare. Seeing that I have nothing to say, she reminded Yan Si to hurry and left us alone. When she was out of sight, I stepped into my cousin's bedroom and looked at him.
''Was she always like this, or this is something new?'' He glanced at me thoughtfully.
''I am not sure. As far as I know, there was a feud between your mother and mine. The reason why was forbidden for discussion when both of you left for Scotland.'' Hmm, interesting. Since I knew Han Wei, I didn't have any negative feelings towards her. During my childhood, she was really irritating but seeing she acted with uncle, mother and Yan Si the same way, I didn't mind it that much. That was her personality, after all, and nothing could be done except ignoring her and finding ways to reduce the conversations. I could bear for a while being in her company. However, things were different if she had ill feelings toward my family and me.
''Ok. Let's left that aside. Why do you want to go to Italy with me? I don't want to be a third wheel.'' He snorted.
''You won't be a third wheel. Besides, I will need your help. I am planning to land in Venice, where Bei He is. I want to catch him and force him to return the money.'' Hearing this, I almost couldn't resist to facepalm myself.
''Pray do tell how did come up with this brilliant idea.''
''It's not stupid! I have a plan. I will tell you when we land.'' A plan, he said. I didn't know what happens in his brain; however, I knew if I weren't with him, he would lose his head without realising. Later, I would try to change his mind about this plan. Some more capable people should handle a person like Bei He. I took a deep breath and turned to the left.
''You are so lucky to have a relative like me. Not everyone is capable of tolerating a person like you.''
''Yes, tang mei, thank you!'' I pursed my lips angrily and shut the door loudly.
The morning air was crisp and fresh. The sun was shining brightly, and its warmth gently caressed my skin. I was lying on the concrete next to the pool in the yard of Leonardo’s two-story house. My eyes were closed, and I was exuding an air of tranquillity. Or at least I hoped my pretense was believable enough for the security guard whose eyes were glaring at me with murderous intent. I wish I could sigh, but that would give me away. Honestly, at this point, the constant threats to my life felt like an annoying chore I had to constantly deal with. A normal person would be scared, constantly on edge, looking behind their back to make sure there isn’t a crazy personal hitman or a mentally unstable woman trying to end them, but maybe because I died once, I became a bit indifferent. Or maybe my indifference was a result of me going cuckoo. Whichever one it was, I was too lazy to give a sh*t.The security guard looked around for the fifth time during the last ten minutes. No, not because h
Trigger warning, panic attack, suicide, ptsd 1 month later, Valetta, Malta I raised my hands wrapped in boxing gloves and tried to relax my shoulders. They shouldn’t be stiff or too high. That would make my belly vulnerable. I put my right leg forward and crouched a little just enough to easy to avoid an attack coming to my face. I looked at the man standing opposite me and once his eyes met mine, I tried to hit him with my right fist. He blocked it as always, but it didn’t’ mean it will stop me from trying to punch him again and again. When I tried to hit him for the fourth time, he raised his fist so quickly I couldn’t even see it before I felt pain on the left side of my head. I staggered backward and shook my head like a wet dog. ‘’ I told you to be careful when you attack because you leave your guard open.’’ Leo’s voice was even and unbothered. On the other hand, I was already breathing with difficulties. ‘’Don’t focus only on attacking. You need to prot
For the first time in a long while, I felt some semblance of satisfaction. Was it because Leonardo, the man I used to love so much without being reciprocated, was standing in front of me? No, definitely, not. It was because of the fear in the eyes of the woman who ordered my death and almost succeeded in taking my life. Her skin was as white as a sheet of paper, and her dark eyes were round with dread. Did I look like that when Xavier took a picture of me and sent it to her? Did she feel the same thing as me now? If the answer was yes, I could truthfully say that I understood her. I sincerely understood why she enjoyed watching the person she hated suffering. My gaze full of malice was promising endless pain if I got the chance to get near her. Noticing the promise in my eyes, she quickly hid behind Xavier. As always. God, I just wanted to see her alone without the protection of her dog. I clenched my jaw, sensing my boiling anger but then forced myself to calm down. I wante
“All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day.” Never in my life did I believe there would be a day when a quote from a comic would relate so closely to me. But recently, I started feeling that the bad days in my life are far more than the good. I was so tired of fighting to keep my sanity. To fight to stay afloat of the sea of misery that was pulling me to its depths with every passing day. I didn’t think I had more strength to swim. I gave up.I looked at the woman kidnapped and wanted to torture me for some unknown reason. Earlier I tied her wrist and ankles with the same rope she tied me before breaking free. My eyes found hers, and I noticed the slight trembling of her body. Her nostrils flared because of her heavy breathing, probably caused by her fear. Yes. It wasn’t funny to be let at the mercy of other people. But I was curious. Did I also look that pathetic
When I was left alone, I used the time to go to the bathroom and pull the lid of the toilet bowl. There I sat in for a while, not thinking about anything. I watched the white door blinking and not letting any thought or emotion in my head. For the first time in a while, I felt some semblance of peace. Why was my life like that? In the beginning, I blamed Leonardo and Bianca. But now? After this hallucination, I didn’t know what to think. Was what I saw something created by my stressed subconsciousness? It was possible, but it couldn’t explain the familiarity I felt. I had that feeling of being aware of it at some point but forgetting about it.However, I couldn’t accept the other option. I wasn’t strong enough mentally to do it at this point. So, for now, I would just bury my head in the sand and believe it was a bad dream caused by the constant stress I lived in. I went to wash my hands, and while doing so, the door opened, and another woman came in.
The door opened to a spacious hall bearing an ancient ambience. I blinked confusedly, wondering what was happening. Many people were inside wearing traditional Chinese clothes, their gazes pointing expectantly at the place where I was standing. Just a moment ago, the make–up artist was preparing me for the interview, and now suddenly, I was on some set for an ancient drama tv-series together with many other unknown people. I must be dreaming. But, normally, people didn’t realise they were dreaming while I was keenly aware that what I see wasn’t real. Then my body started moving on its own accord, making everything even more surreal. My back was as straight as an arrow, my head held high and my breathing steady. But deep inside, I was feeling anxious. Why was I moving without wanting it? I felt like a marionette. I tried to move my head around and better look at the environment, but it was impossible. The only thing I could see was the red hem of my clothes and t