Chapter 7
Jasmine’s heart lurched, her mind going blank.
When she stayed silent, Zachary turned to his assistant. “Arrange a full medical check–up for her-”
“No need,” she cut him off, her tone flat. “I lost my sense of taste years ago. Back when I hung around with those rich heirs, they made me take all kinds of ‘special pills‘ so I could… entertain them better. After a while; I couldn’t taste normal food anymore.”
The veins in Zachary’s forehead bulged. His voice was edged with fury. “You think that’s something to brag about?”
She retorted, “Why not? If you’re making money, what’s there to be ashamed of?”
That snapped his control. He swept the bowl of oatmeal and medicine onto the floor with a violent crash. “You’re not ashamed? Get down on your knees and lick it clean like a dog!”
The sight of the mess spreading across the tiles sent a wave of humiliation crashing over her.
She did not move. She only kept her head bowed, lips pressed tight.
His jaw clenched, his glare cutting into her. “So you do know that crawling on your knees for money is disgraceful? I thought you didn’t have a bottom line.”
Her lashes trembled. After a long silence, she lifted her head. “No. I was just thinking about the right price. Mr. Hudson, 500 bucks per lick. How’s that?”
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Chapter 7
Then, without hesitation, she yanked out the IV, slipped off the bed, and knelt on the floor.
Like a dog, she pressed her tongue to the floor, swallowing oatmeal and bitter medicine mixed with dirt.
Seeing it with his own eyes, Zachary’s breath caught, and he shut his eyes tight.
The pain in his chest was unbearable; at that moment, he wanted the whole world to just burn to ashes.
His fists clenched so hard his knuckles whitened, but no words came out. He slammed the door on his way out.
The moment it shut, Jasmine collapsed to the floor.
A violent nausea surged through her chest; clutching at her throat, she dry–heaved uncontrollably.
By the end, the floor was stained crimson with the blood she vomited.
She stared blankly at the glaring red, tears dripping down onto it–silent, soundless.
The next day, just as the allergic reaction on her body had barely subsided, she was taken to the villa.
Zachary’s assistant had a huge crate of fruit carried in and dumped in front of her.
“Ms. Walsh wants to make some pastries herself, so Mr. Hudson told you to handle these by hand and clean them all.”
Looking at the crate filled with durians, spiky chestnuts, jackfruit, and walnuts, Jasmine lowered her eyes.
Chapter 7
She reached out and grabbed a chestnut, the sharp spines pierced deep into her palm, blood seeping through her fingers.
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From dawn until night, she peeled without stopping. By the end, there was not a patch of intact skin left on her hands, only blood and torn flesh.
Zachary walked in hand–in–hand with Nicole. Looking at the blood- stained fruit, his eyes held not a shred of pity.
“Transfer her the money. The food’s filthy now–feed it to the dogs.”
On the third day, Jasmine was sent to the lakeshore to harvest pearls, soaking until her whole body was wrinkled.
On the fourth day, she was forced to wear a mascot costume and dance under the blazing sun, until she collapsed from heatstroke.
***
Day after day went by. Jasmine’s savings had finally reached five million, but her body was nearly at its limit.
Lateefa Khanam is a spirited writer who finds freedom in horse riding. She cherishes her mare and the newborn foal, calling them her little happy family.
