Chapter 4

My foot injuries hadn't even scabbed over when I got out of bed.

Changing into Julian's favorite white silk nightgown, I walked barefoot into the kitchen, sending away the terrified housekeepers.

Grinding, brewing. Boiling water poured in, a bitter coffee aroma filled the air.

In the rising steam, I stood with my back to the surveillance camera, pulling the thumb-sized transparent glass vial from the hidden pocket of my nightgown.

I pulled out the stopper. My wrist tilted slightly.

Drip.

The colorless, odorless liquid fell into the dark coffee, instantly dissolving.

I picked up the white ceramic cup, glancing at my left ring finger. The chip beneath the skin lay dormant. I suppressed my heart rate, then turned and walked towards the study on the second floor.

The door was ajar. Julian leaned back in his executive chair, flipping through documents, his brows furrowed.

I pushed the door open, walked in. The coffee was gently placed on the mahogany desk.

Julian looked up, his gaze like a knife, finally settling on my bandaged foot.

"Who told you to get out of bed?" His voice was sharp.

"You didn't sleep well last night, so I wanted to make you a cup of coffee." I didn't flinch, meeting his gaze with soft, submissive eyes.

Julian narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing me. He was accustomed to my fear and trembling; this active attempt to please him felt novel, yet it also made him suspicious.

He reached out and pinched my chin, forcing me to look up.

"Mia, what game are you playing now?"

My eyes shimmered with unshed tears. I reached out and covered his hand, gently rubbing it.

"Julian, I've thought it through," my voice was as light as a feather. "I can't escape you. As long as you're willing to save Ethan, I'll listen to whatever you say. I'll be a good girl from now on, okay?"

Julian stared intently at me. The chip in my ring finger remained still; my heart rate was steady, indicating no lies.

The gloom in his eyes receded. He released his grip, then pulled me into his lap.

"You should have been this obedient earlier."

He picked up the coffee, brought it to his lips, and took a large sip.

I leaned against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, watching that sip of black coffee, laced with hallucinogen, slide down his throat.

In the blind spot where Julian couldn't see, a chilling curve played on my lips.

Over the next half-month, I transformed.

Shedding all my defenses, I became the perfect golden canary. Whatever Julian wanted, I gave. Even the most disgusting, perverse requests, I accepted completely, proactively accommodating him.

Every morning, a spiked cup of black coffee was served without fail.

Julian reveled in my submissiveness. His guard dropped sharply; he no longer constantly monitored the cameras, even allowing me to stay in his study to organize documents.

I acted like a beautiful, thoughtless doll, quietly categorizing files. In reality, I was burning his access passwords and project vulnerabilities deeply into my mind.

Half a month later, the effects of the drug became evident.

Sleep was the first thing to collapse. Julian began having sleepless nights, waking up in a cold sweat even after taking sleeping pills. His eyes were bloodshot, his temper extremely volatile.

Late one night.

A loud crash exploded from the study.

I threw off the covers and rushed over. Mr. Davis, his assistant, stood outside the door, drenched in sweat, not daring to provoke him.

I pushed the door open.

The study was a wreck. Antique vases lay shattered on the floor, papers flew everywhere. His laptop was smashed against the wall, its screen fractured.

Julian stood in the center of the ruins. Like an out-of-control beast, his eyes bloodshot, his chest heaving violently. He stared intently at the shadows in the corner, guttural gasps escaping his throat.

"Get out! All of you, get out!" He screamed frantically at the empty air, veins bulging in his neck.

The hallucinogen was starting to damage his nerves; he was experiencing hallucinations.

I walked barefoot, stepping over the scattered ceramic shards, approaching the madman on the brink of rage.

Hearing footsteps, Julian spun around.

He gripped my throat, slamming me against the bookshelf, with enough force to nearly crush my neck.

"You want to harm me! All of you want to harm me!" Julian gritted his teeth, his eyes wild and unfocused.

I couldn't breathe, my face flushed, yet I didn't struggle.

I painstakingly raised my hands, cupping his twisted face.

"Julian..." I managed to gasp, my voice incredibly gentle. "It's me. It's Mia. No one wants to harm you."

Despite the searing pain in my neck, I hugged his trembling body tightly.

"Don't be scared. I'm here. I'll always be with you."

Those words were like a spell.

The madness in Julian's eyes abruptly paused, and the strength in his hands instantly left him.

Like a drowning man grasping for a piece of driftwood, he wrapped his arms around my waist, burying his face deep into my neck.

He took deep breaths of my scent, his whole body trembling.

"Mia... Mia..." he murmured incoherently, his pathological dependence peaking at that moment. "Don't leave me."

My bones ached from his tight embrace.

I reached out, gently stroking his back, soothing him like a rabid dog.

Looking up at the opulent crystal chandelier, my eyes were as cold as ice.