Chapter 339 - Angry Honey

"Dr. Wang Shi, please. It's good Suyin wasn't hurt. I-I apologize on behalf of my daughter." Zeldiz kneeled, hands folded ahead. Her finest violet cotton gown was hand embroidered with silk threads, vented with gold beads, and layered in ruffles at hem and sleeves. Hand-hooked lace glove on her fingers. She wore a matching violet cotton headwrap, wrapped and pleated in elegance with a diamond in the center. From head to toe she speaks money. People like her don't accept mistakes that easily, it was shocking to see the proud Zeldiz on her knees.

A young girl of eighteen kneeled by her mother's side, eyes glistening with tears. She places a hand on Zeldiz's arms. "Sorry, mumma."

Zeldiz's eyes closed into a helpless sigh when she glanced at her daughter. "An iron is eaten by rust, so are the envious consumed by envy. Just because you like Dr. Wang, it does not give you the right to plan an assassin attack on his wife. My heart aches for your one-sided infatuation, but you cannot snatch or force another man's attention to yourself. You disappoint me, Zara."

"She's not his wife--"

"Shut up!" Zeldiz cut off Zara's words with a sharp sideways glance. "Never say it again. What is she to him, it has nothing to do with us. Everyone's the master of their own life. Your actions and words are outrageous. To think my daughter would droop so low! It must end now before you destroy yourself and the entire family."

Zara hung her head. "Yes, mumma."

"I'm confining you immediately. Your maidservant would sleep in your room from now onwards. All your bodyguards would be replaced. And as soon as the college admission opens in the UK, you are to send there for further studies. Your passport restricted to travel between El Sandrios and UK, solely." Zeldiz huffed out a breath and looked up to see Wang Shi. "I request you to put a lifetime ban on her entry to Cheyna. This will further ensure she doesn't follow you there."

"Quite an impressive motherly lesson you taught there, Mrs. Adin." Wang Shi rounded the table and stood, leaning against it. His tall legs crossed, one hand spinning the crystal paperweight, the other hand crossed behind. The posture screamed elegance, danger, and power. Zara lifted her painted eyelids, visibly attracted and taking every inch of him.

Her move earned her a glance from the man disdainfully dismissing that she lowered her eyes. 

"Sadly, it won't save your daughter from paying the price."

Zeldiz looked up, horrified. "I-I assure you, she'll be punished--"

"How? By doing everything you said just now?" He said. "That's not punishment but restrictions. You are just protecting your daughter from my wrath. Don't forget she attacked my--" he added weight to his next word, "--WOMAN."

"Dr. Wang Shi, you are a m.a.t.u.r.e man. Zara is just a teenager, please."

Ignoring her, Wang Shi pressed a hand on the vibrating phone in his pocket. Suyin. That's her fifty-eighth call. He flicked his wrist at Revon and sat down, rather opting to finish his glass of whiskey instead of talking to her. 

Revon stepped, "You will commit 50% of your wealth to the trust formed by Suyin for the orphaned kids here. And your daughter will serve next three years, seven days a week, six hours a day, serving orphans."

"Mumma, no!" Zara cried.

Revon ignored her, glancing at the door as two military personals dragged a man in and dropped him with a thump. Beaten to a pulp, but alive.

"He had already confessed everything, and according to the law of El Sandrios, his punishment is 1000 lashes, and ten years in prison. The same goes for the mastermind, i.e. your daughter--"

"No thanks. We are okay with the punishment you have decided earlier."

"Mumma--" Words stayed on Zara's tongue when Zeldiz cast a sharp glance. Zeldiz stood from her position, signed a cheque.

"This is all I have in my bank. In a month's time, I will pay the rest after selling my assets. Zara will report for the community service after elections." and she turned without waiting for a reply, dragging Zara.

"Revon forgot to tell--" She paused at Wang Shi's words, "--its is all over the news that one of your men sneak attacked Suyin. We disclosed nothing further, people can make their own stories. Don't put any hopes on election now."

Zeldiz's fist clenched. "I'll take your leave, Dr. Wang. Thank you," she said with clenched teeth. Getting out, she kicked the flower vase kept outside. Then a sharp slap across Zara's face. "I was never this humiliated before. Why can't you just die instead?"

Zara cradled her slapped cheek, crying, "I'm millions of times better than Suyin. Young. Rich. Beautiful. Good family background. Just like him, we too belong to a strong political and business family. Why did you kneel and scolded me in front of him? This is not you."

"Idiot. You do not know the power named Wang Shi. He's never alone but has the support of his three brothers from the Feng family, Xiu Mei, and underworld king Lu Xion. Offend one, and you offend everyone. Thank your stars that he is letting you go even after you dared to attack his beloved." Zeldiz said with gritted teeth, her sharp nails digging in Zara's arm, "I'd rather you be dead than get on the wrong side of these men. Once more you did something like this and I won't shy from getting rid of you."

"No!"

"Oh, try me dear."

Zara hung her head, "Yes, mumma."

******

"Bro, Sister Suyin is calling me--" Jin glanced at the screen, and then Wang Shi lying on the couch, rubbing his temples.

"Tell her, I'm in the emergency. Won't come home tonight." 

"Bro--"

"Just do as I say. Or do you need the order from President's son?"

*******

[Stuck in an emergency. Asked me to inform you not to wait. Won't make it to dinner.] 

Suyin bit her lips as she read Jin's message. Why ask Jin to message? Why not pick her calls? She looked over her shoulder. Sitting at the dinner table, Honey had his eyes set on her. 

She instantly held the phone over ear. "Oh, emergency? Is it serious? Ah, intestine rupture. Damn, it's a long complicated surgery. Yeah, I can understand you won't be able to join us for dinner. It's alright, I'll accompany them tonight. Will send a bento for you later--" 

RING RING 

Suyin gathered up every bit of her nerve as she turned to face Honey. Her phone ringing. Honey calling. 

He narrowed his eyes at her.

"I-I have to leave for the hospital." She walked to the corner to fetch two food bowls and slide them across Bagheera and Cleopatra. "Keeping a serving in microwave. There are three slices of chocolate cake in the fridge. I saved it for everyone. You guys love it, right?"

Only silence. Forget about Honey, even the two pets didn't spare her a glance. "I-I might be late. Do eat everything." She literally was talking to herself. Or maybe the walls. Just what was she hoping? She grabbed a shawl and keys, paying a last glance at the closed door, two pets sitting outside in wait, untouched food, and the laptop on the table with the movie Mowgli on standby.