Chapter 35 No Pressure
Chapter 35
1/10
He extended his hand toward me and smiled like a gentleman. “Nice to meet
you, Ms. Nyra. I’m Liam Mendez.”
I smiled at him and said, “We’re done here, Mr. Mendez. The Nyra has no
intention of collaborating with you.”
Then, I left the lounge.
I also walked out of his life.
I stayed in the first–floor guest room for the next few days.
I did not see Liam in the house after that. Auntie Sidney said he went on his
business trip abroad and brought Rina with him.
She also told me Liam fired all the male servants in the house. It was difficult
to find female workers to perform heavy labor, so a batch of gardening
Chapter 35 No Pressure
robots was brought in from L.M.
Even though L.M. was a young company, it was one of the top technology
companies in the region.
Auntie Sidney also told me, “The robots look pretty cute, and they can do
anything. Don’t you want to look at them? I thought you were interested in
robots.”
I shook my head.
That was the third day after the incident. I had not left my room.
Even though all the male servants were gone, there were other female
servants.
Everyone in the mansion would have known about what happened. I could
not bear to face any of them.
Also, I felt safer in my room, even though no one should be able to harm me.
2/10
Chapter 35 No Pressure
Auntie Sidney sighed. “I’ll get some food for you.”
She left the room.
I lay on the bed and pulled the blanket up to my shoulders. The room was
warm, but I would rather be covered.
No one would be able to see my body that way.
3/10
Auntie Sidney bought me a bowl of macaroni, of which I took only a few bites.
She said, “You’re not eating enough. Do you want something else? Just let me
know what you want, and I’ll make it for you in the kitchen.”
I shook my head and said, “I want to nap for a bit.”
I lay on the bed again after Auntie Sidney left.
I shut my eyes and dozed off. Some time later, I felt someone pat my body. I
shuddered and opened my eyes.
Chapter 35 No Pressure
4/10
It was early afternoon, but the blackout curtains made the room completely
dark.
I held my breath. Not a sound could be heard.
When I was younger, my mother told me sleep paralysis was caused by
stress, and I need not fear it.
I was not afraid because I trusted her.
Don’t be afraid, I told myself.
Suddenly, there was a flash of blue light on the bedside cabinet.
I shuddered for a while before realizing it was my phone.
I hesitated for a moment before I answered it.
“It’s me.” Liam’s voice was as cold as ever. “Auntie Sidney said you haven’t left
the room, and you’re not eating your meals.”
17:59 Tue,
Chapter 35 No Pressure
I did not reply.
“Your father’s cook will come over soon,” he said. “Eat something.”
I still did not reply.
I was not throwing a tantrum. Instead, I thought if I said nothing, I would not
offend him.
Liam was also silent for some time. Then, he said, “I’ll be flying back on
Saturday…”
“Liam!” Rina’s cloying voice was heard. She sounded like she was clinging to
his shoulders. “What are you doing? Come with me, I’ve been waiting for
you…”
5/10
I put the phone back where it was, curled up on the bed, and closed my eyes.
Just let me sleep. I don’t need any pressure.
Chapter 35 No Pressure
The cook arrived in the evening. Accompanying her was Anna.
6/10
She looked flamboyant as usual. As soon as she came into the door, she said
to me, “Your husband always finds new ways to pamper you. To make you
eat, he paid Mrs. Crawford five times her salary to cook for you. Sigh, I’m so
envious!”
She sat down on my bed and took my hand. “You lost a lot of weight. You
must be very afraid.”
“What?” I asked her.
“Auntie Sidney told me the male servants bullied you, and you couldn’t bring
yourself to go up the stairs,” Anna said. “That’s why Liam fired all of them.”
I said nothing.
“Why is he going on business trips now though? He should be staying at
home with you,” Anna said unhappily. “I didn’t know L.M. has business dealings
in Europe.”
Chapter 35 No Pressure
“Anna, are you here only to accompany the cook?” I asked.
7/10
“It’s not just that.” Anna suddenly seemed awkward. “I need a favor from you.”
“Don’t look so nervous. It’s nothing serious,” Anna said with a smile. “It’s about
Harvey. Two days ago, he wanted to make out with me, and you know I can’t
do it now. He probably suspected something, so he went through my
handbag and found the receipt.”
“So you need me to corroborate your story?” I asked.
“Maybe,” Anna said warily. “Won’t you help your elder sister?”
I nodded. “Mm.”
I expected that to happen when I first agreed to help her.
Anna seemed visibly relieved. “That’s good to hear.”
Chapter 35 No Pressure
8/10
“But… are you planning to live the rest of your life like this? Can’t you find some
other way?” I asked.
Anna’s husband was named Harvey Bosworth. He ran a funeral service, a
niche business with massive profits. He was very, very rich.
When I was nine years old, my father arranged my sister’s marriage to
Harvey to finance the Nyra, which was facing a crisis. That year, Anna was 18,
and Harvey was 32.
The night before she married, Anna was crying to me. “Vivi, I don’t think I’ll find
any happiness in my life anymore.”
I never forgot what she said. At the same time, I wondered often if Liam
thought the same.
After the marriage, the Nyra was lifted out of the crisis, and Anna began to
look for other men. She adored handsome and bookish college students, and
she gave them the money Harvey gave her.
7
Chapter 35 No Pressure
Unlike me, she knew how to behave in front of Harvey.
At least Harvey had a claim over her body.
Before Anna left, she told me, “I’m actually very happy with my life, Vivi. You
don’t have to feel sorry for me.”
As I looked at the brilliant smile on her face, I nodded.
She put on her wide–brimmed felt hat and walked into the snow.
9/10
Mrs. Crawford was my parents‘ chef. She had worked for them for most of her
life. The first supplementary food I ate was the carrot purée she made. To me,
Mrs. Crawford’s cooking was the taste of home.
That night, Mrs. Crawford made all my favorite food.
I did not want to waste the food, but to me… it was tasteless. I did not have
any appetite at all.
Chapter 35 No Pressure
I went back to the room and lay on the bed.
10/10
While I was half asleep, I felt a hand on my body.
I was suffering from sleep paralysis again.
I did not open my eyes, though I felt a pair of arms encircle my body.
It was said that sleep paralysis was caused by demons.
Even a demon was gentler than Liam.
I forced myself to continue sleeping, but I did not stay asleep for very long.
I smelled that familiar scent of musk and tobacco again…
