The Psychotic Girl’s Revenge

Two children, around five years old, were squatting in front of a bench in the hallway. One of them, a little boy wearing hospital clothes, smiled as he watched the girl beside him.

A small white screen was set up on the bench, illuminated by a light.

The little girl squatted there, operating a control stick to make a vibrantly colored mermaid appear on the screen, saying as she moved it, “Here comes the mermaid! I’m the most beautiful mermaid in the sea…”

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The boy in the hospital gown clapped and laughed.

The little girl giggled, “See, this is called a shadow puppet fairy tale. I performed it in kindergarten, and everyone laughed so happily. Now I’m performing it for you so you’ll be happy too. Mom says that when you’re happy, you’ll get better faster.”

As soon as she finished speaking, heavy footsteps echoed behind them.

Polished men’s pointed leather shoes stepped backward on the shiny tiles, stopping just behind the two children.

Enrico stood there, looking down at the small shadow puppet in the girl’s hand, then at the two beaming faces. He clicked his tongue against his back teeth.

Great, another way to make people happy.

The next second, he bent down, snatched the mermaid shadow puppet from the girl’s hand, threw it into a box, and slammed the screen down with a loud “thud.”

Enrico picked up the small shadow puppet box and walked off, casually gesturing to Jaden behind him to clean up.

“…”

Jaden was dumbfounded.

“…”

The two kids looked at each other, then at the now-empty bench, and burst into tears.

Jaden quickly stepped forward. “Hey, hey, don’t cry, kids. Uncle will give you money to buy another puppet box, an even bigger one, okay?”

“Waaah-”

The children cried even louder.

The whole hallway echoed with their wails.

“…”

Jaden’s head was about to explode.

Boss, seriously, why can’t you just be a decent person?

…

Paige wasn’t sleeping deeply and vaguely felt someone moving her.

She slowly opened her eyes and found herself almost cradled in a man’s arms.

Enrico was leaning over her hospital bed, holding her as he laid her down. She could faintly smell his subtle scent.

“Why are you awake again?” Enrico frowned as he looked at her. Ever since he’d woken up, she hadn’t managed to get a full night’s rest.

“I’ve rested enough.”

Paige replied softly, leaning back against the propped-up pillow to look at him. “So, when can I be discharged?”

If she was in such a hurry to be discharged, she should at least act like it.

Enrico gave her a deep look, released her, and sat down at the bedside. He pulled out his phone and handed it to her. “You still have a while before you can leave. But your subordinates are getting discharged soon.”

Paige took the phone in surprise and looked down at the screen. It was filled with photos of her injured subordinates.

Some were already walking around;

Some were sitting on their beds, drinking water;

Others were leaning back, playing on their phones…

Each face still showed signs of illness, but they all had smiles, looking like they were recovering well.

She looked up at Enrico’s face and joked, “Did you force them to fake smile for these photos?”

Enrico’s face darkened. “Do I look like someone who would do that?”

“…”

Paige nodded seriously.

Enrico paused, then instead of getting angry, he laughed, the corners of his lips curling up as he looked at her. “It’s fine. Go ahead and be smug while you’re injured. Once you’re healed, we’ll see how I deal with you.”

“How will you deal with me?”

“Of course, I’ll make sure you can’t get out of bed again.” His eyebrows raised mischievously, and then he added, “And not a hospital bed.”

His bed.

“…”

That familiar line caught her completely off guard.

Paige silently pressed her lips together. It seemed she still needed some time to fully adjust to this Enrico who had returned. She couldn’t believe she had dared to ask how he’d deal with her…

She handed the phone back to Enrico, pretending the conversation had never happened. “Thank you.”

She knew he had taken photos of the Temple in Heaven members to put her mind at ease.

“Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of chances to thank me later.”

Enrico took the phone, raised his brows at her, his gaze meaningful.

“…”

There was no escaping this conversation, was there?

Enrico set the phone aside and leaned closer, his hand resting beside her, his entire figure approaching her, his handsome face inches away. His deep-set eyes fixed on her as his breath brushed her face.

The distance was so close, she could see how long and thick his eyelashes were.

He tilted his head, his lips hovering deliberately at the corner of her mouth, his voice low and husky, “Still sleepy?”

“…”

Paige didn’t quite get what he meant. Didn’t he say they weren’t on the hospital bed for that? Then why now…

Enrico looked at her. “Seems like you’re not sleepy. Let me show you something nice.”

With that, he stood up, walked to the window, and pulled down the blackout curtains, plunging the room into darkness.

He turned around, his long legs moving gracefully toward her bed.

“…”

Paige’s breath tightened. What was he planning to do?

Was he really going to act recklessly in the hospital? Had Dr. Clinton said her injuries were healed enough for that?

A whirlwind of thoughts rushed through her mind.

Enrico stood by her bed, reaching for her blanket.

Just when Paige thought he was about to lift it, the tray table on the bed was pulled up.

“…”

Paige was puzzled.

A small box was placed on the tray. Enrico sat at the foot of the bed, leaning lazily against the blanket as he opened the box and set up a small white screen.

A light clicked on, casting a warm, yellow glow onto the screen.

It looked like the glow of a sunset, or an old movie’s backdrop.

Through the screen, Paige couldn’t clearly see Enrico’s face, only a faint silhouette bathed in soft light, seeming both distant and near.

Soon, a cartoon ocean appeared on the screen.

A clumsy, cartoonishly drawn rainbow-colored mermaid swam across the screen.

Paige watched in bewilderment. “Is this shadow puppetry?”

This cartoonish shadow puppet seemed like something kids in kindergarten would play with.

“Are you moved?” The man’s deep, raspy voice came from behind the screen. “This is the first time in my life I’ve ever told someone a story.”

First time…

Paige leaned back against the soft, comfortable pillow, watching the stiff, jerky movements of the mermaid. “And the first story you tell me is about a mermaid? I’ve heard it before.”

“…”

There was a long silence behind the screen.

The mermaid fell off.

Those long fingers fumbled around in the box, searching for more shadow puppets.

Paige heard a frustrated sigh, as if he couldn’t find more pieces. Suddenly, something else appeared on the screen.

Colorful bubbles started floating across the sea, wobbling awkwardly.

Then, she heard Enrico’s sexy voice begin telling the story, “Once upon a time, there was a bubble living in the sea. She was the most beautiful bubble in the ocean.”

“…”

Paige stared at the rainbow-colored bubbles.

Well, they really were beautiful bubbles.