Chapter 44 Chapter 44. Zoria Reduced to a Silent Servant
Zoria quietly went back into the villa and headed to clean the balcony. A wicker chair sat there, once her favorite spot. She used to sit there reading, gazing outside, waiting for Zephyr to come home. But everything had changed. This place no longer belonged to her, and she would never wait for Zephyr again.
Faye was sitting on the wicker chair, leisurely basking in the sun. When she saw Zoria, she opened her eyes and said lazily, "Go pour me a cup of hot coffee, then clean the balcony."
Watching Zoria obediently follow her orders filled Faye with a sense of satisfaction. So what if Zephyr had not severed the bond, so what if Zoria was carrying his offspring? As long as Zephyr did not care about her, Zoria would never be able to rise. She would always be nothing more than a miserable pregnant Omega.
Faye looked at Zoria kneeling on the floor, wiping it clean, and gave a cold smile. "Zoria, you never imagined you would end up like this, did you?"
Zoria did not answer. More than ten days in the hospital seemed to have drained her of the strength to fight back. She did not look at Faye even once, only continued wiping the floor in silence.
Her silence irritated Faye. Faye’s gaze drifted to the cup of hot coffee on the table, and a malicious idea formed in her mind.
"My feet are dusty. Come here and clean it."
Zoria’s hand tightened around the rag. She stepped forward and carefully wiped the floor in front of Faye. Faye watched Zoria’s pale hands, a dark glint flashing in her eyes. She picked up the coffee, the heat rising toward her face.
"Ah!" Faye cried out, her hand shaking as the cup fell, spilling straight onto Zoria’s hand.
Zoria let out a soft groan, her face turning pale with pain. The smooth back of her hand quickly reddened, blisters rising almost at once.
"I am so sorry, Zoria," Faye said, pretending to panic. "The coffee you poured was too hot. I could not hold it steady, so it spilled on you. You will not tell Zephyr, will you?"
Zoria’s eyes reddened. She looked up at the fake concern on Faye’s face, clenched her teeth, her whole body trembling with rage.
Faye met her stubborn gaze and only smiled. "I heard that the day you were discharged, Zephyr took you to see your father, right? Is your father doing well? Oh, that reminds me, I know someone at the police bureau. How about I ask them to take special care of your father?"
The smile on Faye’s face reached her eyes, yet it sent a chill down Zoria’s spine.
"Do not touch my father!" Zoria blurted out.
Faye and Zephyr truly were a perfect match. Even the way they threatened others was exactly the same. They always aimed straight at her weakest point.
Faye’s eyes turned cold, her voice lowering. "Then keep your mouth shut. Do not say a word in front of Zephyr. If I find out otherwise, I cannot guarantee what I might do to make you regret it."
With that, Faye stood up, walked past Zoria, and deliberately slammed her shoulder into her.
Zoria staggered, nearly falling, and only barely managed to steady herself. She lowered her head, looked at the messy floor, swallowed the pain, and bent down to continue cleaning the balcony.
It was not until Zephyr got off work that she was finally allowed to stop and told to help carry the dishes from the kitchen. She had just finished setting the table when Zephyr came home. Faye stepped forward to help him take off his coat and hold his bag. They talked and laughed, looking every bit like a happy family.
The burned area on Zoria’s hand had blistered. Even the slightest heat sent pain straight through her. Trembling, she carried the last hot dish to the table.
Though Zephyr was talking to Faye, his gaze kept drifting back to Zoria. When he noticed her hand, his eyes paused for a brief moment.
"Let us eat."
Zoria still ate with them, but her seat had been pushed all the way into a corner. Zephyr and Faye sat close together, showing affection as they ate. It made Zoria feel unbearably uncomfortable.
After a few bites, she could not swallow anymore. The blister between her fingers rubbed against the chopsticks and burst, sending a sharp pain straight to her heart.
Zephyr noticed something was wrong with Zoria but said nothing. After the meal, Zoria rose out of habit and collected the dishes, taking them to the kitchen to wash. Once an Omega who never had to lift a finger for housework, she now moved with practiced efficiency. As Zephyr said, a slave should look like a slave.
Zoria had already gone into the kitchen, yet Zephyr’s eyes still followed her. Faye’s reflection disappeared from his gaze entirely. Faye clenched her hands, her chest tight with jealousy and anger.
What made Faye tremble with rage even more was what Zephyr said next. "I am sleeping with Zoria tonight. You should rest early."
After saying that, Zephyr stood up and walked straight toward Zoria’s room, decisive and unyielding, not allowing anyone to stop him.
Faye stared at his back, grinding her teeth.
After washing the dishes, Zoria rubbed her aching shoulder and returned to her room. The moment she stepped inside, she saw Zephyr sitting by the table, a lighter playing between his fingers. The flame cast flickering light over the Alpha’s brooding face.
The instant she saw him, Zoria’s heart felt as if it were being crushed. Breathing became difficult. Before she could say anything, Zephyr set the lighter down and curled his lips into a suggestive smile. "Zoria, it has been half a month."
His meaning was obvious. He wanted her.
The doctor had said that after half a month, mating would be possible. Zephyr remembered it clearly and had counted the days in anticipation.
The last shred of calm in Zoria shattered, leaving only fear. She instinctively tried to retreat, but Zephyr had already stepped forward, one hand gripping her shoulder, forcing her back against the door. The impact made a heavy thud.
Pain shot through her back, but Zoria did not dare cry out.
Zephyr slid his hand along her waist and moved behind her. With a sharp click, the door was locked.
The Alpha’s scorching breath brushed against her ear, his tall body pressing close. Zoria struggled weakly, but her legs were already pinned.
Her body stiffened, trembling uncontrollably. Her lips quivered as she sobbed, "No… please do not…"