CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43; STOP IT.....

His chest constricted painfully at her words. He released her chin with a frustrated flick, standing abruptly. His fists clenched at his sides.

"Fine," he spat coldly. "If you want to die, suit yourself."

He turned and left, slamming the door so hard the walls trembled but still locked the door.

But Yueyao didn’t flinch. She lowered her head to her knees, tears sliding silently down her bruised cheeks.

When she’s no longer obedient, he is hovering all over her. What about the ten years? He hadn’t even asked what happened! Her baby who didn’t survive...

That night, as the mansion fell into suffocating silence, she sat on the edge of the narrow bed, staring at the moonlight streaming through the barred window.

Her thin fingers curled tightly into her palms, nails digging into raw skin.

’I will survive this... no matter what...’

She sat there blankly, exhausted. She stood up and walked to the window, gazing outside. Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud clang that echoed through the silent room.

Shen Xiao stood there, his tall frame filling the doorway, eyes dark and unreadable under the dim yellow light.

Without a word, he strode forward, his shoes thudding heavily against the cold marble floor.

"Come over here," he ordered coldly.

Yueyao’s eyes widened in surprise. She took a step back, her thin shoulders trembling violently, " Just leave me alone... would you?"

But he didn’t listen. His large hand wrapped around her fragile wrist, yanking her forward with brutal strength.

"Let go of me! Let go of me you bastard!" she screamed hoarsely, pounding his chest weakly with her fists as he dragged her out of the room.

Her cries echoed down the dark hallway as he half-carried, half-dragged her up the grand staircase to the master bedroom.

The heavy oak door clicked shut behind them with a finality that made her stomach twist in terror.

"No... please... don’t do this..." she sobbed, struggling violently in his grip. She didn’t want him to sleep with her... She hated every bit of his skin.

He ignored her, lifting her as if she weighed nothing and laying her down onto the massive king-sized bed.

The mattress dipped under their combined weight as he climbed in beside her, pulling her trembling body tightly against his chest.

His arms wrapped around her like steel bands, locking her in place as his warm breath fanned against the nape of her neck.

"Stop fighting," he murmured harshly into her ear, his low voice vibrating through her thin, frozen body, "Just stay here. This is where you belong."

But his touch made her skin crawl. Her chest constricted painfully as nausea roiled through her stomach in violent waves.

She tried to push him away, but his grip only tightened, his rough palm splayed flat against her abdomen, pressing her back against his rock-hard chest.

"Stop it... stop it... let me go... I can’t... I can’t breathe...!" she gasped, her breaths coming in short, ragged pants as bile rose up her throat.

Suddenly, her entire body convulsed as she retched heavily.

Shen Xiao stiffened in shock, his arms loosening just enough for her to tear herself out of his embrace.

She stumbled off the bed, clutching her mouth with trembling fingers as she rushed into the ensuite bathroom.

The sound of violent vomiting echoed back into the silent bedroom, each gag and choked sob stabbing sharply into Shen Xiao’s chest.

He sat there frozen, staring at the crumpled sheets where her thin body had lain just moments ago.