The Storm Came Before You

Yara remained in the hospital for a few days. Marcus never came to see her. His assistant sent a message on his behalf, telling her to rest well and return to work once she recovered.

Yara stopped pushing herself. She did not leave the hospital until her exhausted body had fully recovered.

The company group chat buzzed with gossip. Everyone was talking about Marcus and Quiana.

He booked an amusement park for a week to celebrate her birthday. Fireworks lit up the sky for three nights in a row.

He brought her to a family dinner and gave her the bracelet that was meant only for a future wife.

He bought a piece of land and planned to build a private ski resort. Even the name of the resort was connected to Quiana.

Yara read the messages quietly. Her heart felt nothing.

After she left the hospital, she went back to work as usual. She was careful and thorough with her work.

If anything required Marcus’ attention, she passed it to the other secretaries instead of handling it herself.

After a peaceful week, Marcus called her again.

She delivered the documents he needed and was about to leave when he stopped her.

“I have a meeting. Quiana doesn’t like eating alone. Stay here and keep her company.”

Her face stiffened. She wanted to refuse, but Quiana had already begun giving orders.

“I like steak. Cut it for me first.”

Marcus closed the door to the study. Yara swallowed her words and walked to the dining table.

After she finished cutting the steak, Quiana asked someone to bring over a large plate of walnuts and jackfruit.

“I want some fruit after the meal. There are no tools here. Use your hands.”

Yara looked at the hard walnut shells and the sharp spikes on the jackfruit. Her heart sank.

She knew Quiana was doing it on purpose.

But she could only obey.

After cracking the walnuts and opening the jackfruit, her hands were covered in small cuts.

Quiana still was not satisfied. She told Yara to go to the kitchen and bring the soup.

The soup had just come off the stove. It was so hot that her hands quickly turned red.

The pain became too much. Her grip slipped, and the boiling soup spilled onto her body.

Steam rose into the air. Within seconds, blisters formed on her hands.

The burning pain spread through her. She bit her lip hard to stop herself from crying out.

When Quiana saw Yara fall to the floor, she could barely hide her delight.

The next second, she saw the study door open. She quickly wiped the smile off her face and began to scold Yara.

“I heard from Marcus that you’re very capable. How could you not even carry a bowl of soup without spilling it? You even burned my hand.”

Marcus heard this and rushed over.

“Where did you get burned? Let me see. Does it hurt?”

Quiana raised the hand she had secretly pinched red and showed it to him. She forced a couple of tears.

“A few drops splashed on me. I don’t know if it’ll leave a scar.”

“How do you do your job? Quiana has been pampered since she was a child. She has never been hurt. She asked you to carry a bowl of soup, and you scalded her. Couldn’t you be more careful?”

Marcus’ face darkened. He could not help scolding Yara.

But when he saw the injuries on her body, he held back. He did not say anything harsher. He picked Quiana up and took her to treat the burn.

Before leaving, he saw Yara still standing there. His voice turned firm.

“Come to the hospital with us. Get your injuries treated.”

Yara endured the pain and followed them into the car.

Marcus drove very fast.

Quiana did not want him to realize she was pretending, so she cried out in pain from time to time.

He felt distressed when he heard her and kept turning to look at her.

His attention was so divided that he did not see the sports car speeding toward them.

There was a loud crash. The two cars collided.

The force of the impact threw Yara against the car door. It felt as if her organs had shifted. Sharp pain spread through her body.

Blood flowed out and turned her vision red.

Her body trembled. She forced her eyes open and saw Marcus carrying Quiana out of the car.

An ambulance siren grew louder in the distance. Through her fading awareness, she heard two urgent voices.

“Sir, this young woman only fainted from shock. The passenger in the back seat is bleeding heavily. If she is not taken to the hospital right away, her life could be in danger.”