Chapter 9

The soft morning light painted stripes across the rumpled duvet, highlighting the naked limbs intertwined beneath. Ling stirred, a contented sigh escaping her lips as she nuzzled closer to the warm body beside her. Then, a sharp, high-pitched voice pierced the hazy calm.

"Oh my god! What are you doing here, Ling!"

Ling's eyes snapped open, her heart leaping into her throat. There, framed in the doorway, stood her youngest sister, Fang, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and amusement. Ling instinctively grabbed at the duvet, her mind scrambling to make sense of the situation. The realization that her boxers were currently residing in the kitchen hit her like a cold shower.

"Oh shit! I'm at the...party?" she stammered, her face flushing crimson. "I forgot to wear clothes! Leave, Fang!" She managed a weak chuckle, the forced levity doing little to mask her embarrassment. Fang, however, was having none of it, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes. She crossed the room, heading straight to the bathroom cabinet.

"Quick!" she said, tossing a plush, floral robe towards Ling. "Mei's robe. I found it in the drawer."

Ling snatched the robe, grateful for any cover she could get, and retreated to the kitchen, her cheeks still burning. As she fumbled for her clothes, she heard a low, knowing chuckle.

"Wow, how could you do this to me? I mean at least Orm couldn't hear us a while ago! She always had deep sleep."

Ling's hand froze mid-button, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What? You know her too? Does she ask you if you're Mei a lookalike?"

Fang leaned against the counter, arms crossed, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. "No, I tell her about us triplets. Goodness, I should be dating Orm, not you, while you're working on our business."

Ling couldn't help but bristle. "Then now you realize it's not about business anymore. I can help Mei by giving her justice with my own hands."

Fang rolled her eyes, dismissing Ling's theatrics. "You had this organization to mess them for Mei, that's too easy. Why would you make it so difficult again?"

"I don't want to be in jail again because of that! I do that because I care, unlike you, you would rather have time on so much flirting, that also happened to Mei!" Ling retorted, her voice laced with a hint of bitterness. The unspoken accusation hung heavy in the air.

Fang pushed off the counter, her grin taking on a razor-sharp edge. "You're so lucky that I choose to have the same path in your business," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh yeah..." Ling grumbled, not willing to engage further.

Their tense exchange was cut short as a figure emerged from the bedroom, wrapped in a blanket. Orm's eyes darted between them, taking in the scene: Ling, clothed but ruffled, Fang, tattooed and radiating a barely contained smirk, and the awkward silence that permeated the room. Orm's expression flickered with a mix of surprise and understanding.

"I couldn't believe from what I see," she mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep. "Please let me get my clothes." She quickly passed them, her eyes fixed on the opposite wall, not wanting to prolong the awkwardness. Once through, she was gone, leaving Ling and Fang frozen in an uncomfortable tableau of sisterly tension and unspoken secrets.

Ling looked down at her clothes, feeling a strange cocktail of emotions churning within her. There was the embarrassment of being caught, the annoyance of her sister's constant needling, and a strange, unsettling pang she couldn't quite identify. The morning had begun with such peaceful intimacy, and now, everything felt fractured, exposed. She glanced at Fang, her expression unreadable. Was this what her life would be now? Constantly being pulled between her own desires and the complex web of her family's drama? Only time would tell. But for now, the silence hung heavy, broken only by the soft rustle of clothes being gathered in the bedroom and the lingering scent of morning intimacy.

The silence hung heavy, thick with unspoken challenge. Fang and Ling were locked in a bizarre staring contest, a battle of wills waged in the middle of Ling's cluttered apartment. "What now?" Fang finally asked, her voice tinged with exasperation.

Ling smirked, a slow, deliberate curve of her lips that sent a shiver down Fang's spine despite herself. "Look, don't waste your time with Orm," she said, leaning back against the doorframe. "She's not your type. You don't have what I have." The veiled arrogance in her tone was like a physical blow.

Fang shook her head, a mixture of disbelief and annoyance bubbling up inside her. "What are you planning to do with her?" She knew she shouldn't care. She really shouldn't care. But something about Ling's possessiveness set her teeth on edge.

Ling's expression softened, became almost pleading. "Nothing," she said, her hand going to her face with obvious stress. "She's a friend of mine, please find somewhere else, I begged you." Fang, however, didn't look so convinced about Ling's begging. Angrily, she turned and left, not wanting to give Ling any more satisfaction.

Then Ling saw Orm returning, now dressed again in her clothes, heading towards the counter to grab some snacks. Ling felt a familiar wave of desire wash over her, an urgent and almost primal hunger. All thoughts of Fang evaporated.

Before Orm could even turn around, Ling's pants were off, tossed carelessly to the floor. She moved with practiced ease, quickly pulling down Orm's trousers, her own erection springing free. She pressed against Orm from behind, the head of her large cock nudging against Orm's wetness.

"Fuck!!" Orm gasped, the snack falling from her hand. Her eyes widened as she leaned forward onto the counter, her breath catching. "Ahhh...you're making me so thirsty," she mumbled, her body already responding to Ling's insistent pressure.

Ling's thrusts became more insistent, faster, driving Orm into a frenzy of tangled limbs and moans. The rhythm was intoxicating, and Ling, caught in the heat of the moment, was teetering on the edge of release.

"I'm so hungry, I still wanna eat you," Ling murmured, her teeth grazing Orm's neck as she felt her balls tighten, the throbbing pulse telling her she was seconds away. She was going to leave her seed in Orm again, a ritual that was hers for the taking.

Ling's eyes rolled back, savoring every inch of Orm's warm, wet pussy. The tightness was exquisite, like nothing she'd ever felt before. Orm's nails dug into the laminated countertop, leaving small half-moons in the plastic as they pushed back to meet her thrusts. The sight was intoxicating, a symphony of passion and need that had Ling's blood singing in her veins.

Orm's hips rolled with Ling's, creating a delicious friction that had them both gasping for air. Ling's cock was thick and demanding, stretching her to the limits of pleasure. Each stroke sent waves of sensation through her body, making her toes curl in her worn-out sneakers.

The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the air, punctuated by their harsh breaths and muffled cries. The fluorescent lights above flickered in time with their movements, casting a strobe-like effect over their entangled forms. Ling's hands gripped Orm's hips tightly, guiding her into a frenzied pace that left them both trembling.

Orm's body was a canvas of desire, every moan and gasp painting a picture of pleasure that Ling devoured hungrily. She leaned over, her teeth grazing Orm's earlobe. "You're mine," she growled, the primal claim resonating in the room. Orm's only response was to push back harder, urging Ling deeper, her own need matching Ling's.

Ling reached around, her hand finding Orm's clit and began to rub it in tight circles. Orm's hips bucked, and her breath grew ragged. "Oh gods," she whimpered, her body tightening around Ling's cock. Ling felt the pressure building, her orgasm approaching like a runaway train. She knew Orm was close too; her walls were fluttering around her, her breath coming in gasps.

With one final, powerful thrust, Ling came, her cock pulsing deep inside Orm. Orm's own climax followed immediately, a cry ripping from her throat as she shuddered, her pussy clenching around Ling's cock in a series of spasms that sent her over the edge. They stayed like that for a moment, breathing hard, bodies locked together in a sticky, sweaty embrace.

Ling pulled out slowly, her cock glistening with Orm's juices. Orm stood up straight, turning to face her with a sultry smile. "Damn, I needed that," they murmured, running a hand through their disheveled hair. Ling couldn't help but admire the flushed cheeks and the sparkle in their eyes, a stark contrast to the tired, bored look they'd had when she first walked in.

They leaned into each other, sharing a gentle kiss, tasting the salt and sweetness of their mingled breath. Ling felt a tenderness bloom in her chest, a feeling she rarely experienced in the throes of passion. 

In that moment, a phone ring interrupted their moment, Orm wear her pants again and Ling decided to take a shower realizing she has go to work with her too. 

The wrought iron gates of Tan's mansion loomed before them, a stark contrast to the pastel-colored sunset bleeding across the sky. Ling, usually a picture of cool composure, felt a prickle of unease coiling in her stomach. Orm, beside her, seemed oblivious, humming a tuneless melody, her usual unflappable demeanor irritatingly intact. They were late, disastrously so, and the chilly reception from their boss, Prim, confirmed it.

"I thought you were informed about what I told you!" Prim snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. Her usually impeccably styled hair seemed a little disheveled, a sure sign of her agitation. "I think you two were the ones who sabotaged it, either both of you!"

Orm blinked, feigning innocence, a skill she had honed to an art. "What are you talking about, boss? We had nothing to do with this?"

"I'm fed up with those excuses, Orm!" Prim's voice rose a notch. "If you fail again to do your job, I will end your contract without any salary at all!"

Ling bristled. It was unfair to pin the blame solely on Orm. "Hey, why would you blame Orm all of a sudden?" she retorted, her tone laced with a hint of defiance. "You don't even let us explain our case. We're not perfect bodyguards, as you seem to think. Besides, you have so many bodyguards, you're lucky someone was protecting your son, unlike other parents."

Prim's gaze narrowed, turning its full force on Ling. "How about you, Mei? It seems like you've changed a lot."

Ling crossed her arms, meeting Prim's gaze head-on, "How about me? I think we're here to work now rather than talking about me." She delivered the words with a thick layer of sarcasm, then turned and barged past Prim, heading straight for Tan's room. She found him propped up on the bed, a grimace of pain flickering across his face. "Oh, sorry for interrupting, boss." She kept her tone almost apologetic but still with that edge of sarcasm.

"Could you tell me what happened in the kitchen?" Tan asked, his voice strained. "I slipped and almost had an accident." His knee was swollen and wrapped in a bandage.

Ling knew precisely what had happened. She had masterminded the oil spill herself. But she kept her face carefully blank. "Why don't you ask the maid about it? Why do you accuse us when we had nothing to do with it, boss?"

"I know someone did it!" Tan's voice tightened with frustration. "I don't appreciate someone making jokes at my expense!"

Ling adopted a tone of placating concern. "Calm down, maybe the maid is tired and accidentally spilled the oil while cooking. They work hard to take care of your son."

Tan's features remained tight with suspicion. "Oh, really! Then I want to organize a meeting with all the bodyguards, including both of you!"

Ling nodded, a barely perceptible flicker of something akin to amusement playing on her lips. "Alright, see you then."

Leaving Tan's room, she made her way out of the mansion, her mind already working on the next phase of her plan. She spotted Tan's sleek black car parked near the entrance, its polished surface gleaming in the twilight. Her hand tightened around the small, sharp pocket knife concealed in her pocket. With swift, practiced movements, she moved from tire to tire, making precise cuts in each sidewall. The air hissed out in barely audible sighs. The tires were now flat, completely deflated.

The driver, engrossed in his phone, remained oblivious to the subtle act of sabotage. Ling melted into the shadows and made her way back to the living room in time for the promised meeting, a cool confidence settling over her; she moved with the familiarity of someone who knew secrets that others didn't, and with that, a dangerous gleam in her eye.

The words hung heavy in the air, thick with Tan's barely contained fury. "All of you must know, I don't like what's happening here and I will be must strict, but I think I was thinking a better solution for all of you. I need you to learn so you better all kneel to me and I will give you a real punishment."

Ling, along with Pring, Ying, and Orm, dropped to their knees. She couldn't quite grasp the logic. Tan had merely sprained his ankle, a minor mishap. Yet, here they were, punished as if they'd committed some grave offense. It was ridiculous.

"Are we going to do this?" Pring asked, her voice laced with confusion. She clearly didn't understand the need for any punishment either.

Tan's face was a mask of stern resolve. "I will going to discipline all of you for not doing your job properly." He reached for his belt, the movement sending a shiver of apprehension through the kneeling bodyguards. "Now keep kneeling until I said you stand, understand!"

Ling's lips twisted in a sarcastic sneer. "How about you? Who's going to take care of you?" she retorted, her voice laced with a challenge that she knew may cause more trouble but she didn't care right now.

Tan's eyes flashed. "I can take care of myself. I don't care whatever it takes for all of you need to kneel, you need to feel your punishment starting today!" He turned and stalked away, leaving a silence punctuated by the click of his boots on the marble floor.

Ling rolled her eyes, silently mimicking his pronouncements. Her frustration was a tangible thing, coiling tightly in her chest. Her plan was carefully being laid out, waiting for the right moment to strike, but this sudden outburst from Tan was testing her patience.

The minutes stretched into an eternity. Orm, her face pale, began to sway. Try as she might, she couldn't keep her focus. Black spots danced before her eyes, and then, with a soft thud, she collapsed.

"What happened to her?" Pring's voice was filled with anxiety, mirrored by Ying, who also rushed to Orm's side.

Ling, her own annoyance momentarily forgotten, was instantly beside her companion. "Maybe she's tired," she said, her voice softening slightly. With practiced ease, she scooped Orm into her arms, noticing the unexpected weight. A strange thought flickered through her mind. She noticed that Orm's sides and belly were a bit too bigger than she used to be. "My god, she's getting a bit bigger than I thought."

A new urgency filled her as she quickly carried Orm outside, heading towards her car, her mind now racing with concern that was not about the crazy punishment but also to Orm's condition. She needed to get her to a hospital, and fast.

Ling was at the hospital, the sterile smell doing little to calm the frantic beat of her heart. She was hoping, praying, that Orm would be okay. She'd been reckless, hadn't anticipated the consequences of her... actions. Then finally, a doctor emerged, his face etched with a professional neutrality that offered neither comfort nor despair.

"What is it, doctor?" Ling asked, her voice trembling. She was too nervous to find out what it was. "Don't tell me it's something worse I need to hear?"

The doctor sighed, a sound that did little to alleviate the tension. "It's not that she's... sick, exactly. But I don't know if she's your partner, Miss... I need to tell you this."

"Don't make this a suspense, Doc, just tell me what happened?" Ling snapped, her patience wearing thin.

"She's pregnant, Miss."

The words hit Ling like a physical blow. Pregnant? Orm? Her? She couldn't believe it. Shock surged through her, momentarily paralyzing her. "I... I can't believe you're saying that."

"I think you need to calm down," the doctor said, his voice a monotonous drone.

"No!" Ling's voice was sharp, laced with panic.

She pushed past him, out of the hospital room, needing to escape the confines of those sterile walls. She needed air, needed to think. She knew, deep down, that the child was hers. She had been so careless, so distracted by Orm, by the unexpected connection that had sparked between them. Now, she was completely unprepared to deal with this, especially considering the other reason she was here in the first place. The thought of pretending to be a good bodyguard, of playing the loyal protector, felt suffocating.

Pulling out her phone, she scrolled through her contacts, her finger hovering over Dandao's name. He was the only one she could confide in, the only one who knew the true depths of her plans. "Dandao? You there? Could you have time for me to chitchat?" Ling asked into the phone, her voice still tight with anxiety.

"Yeah, sure. I thought you were gonna be focused on this job thing you were talking about..." Dandao replied, his voice laced with curiosity.

"I'm so tired of it. I have other problems to deal with. So, let's talk. Meet me at home."

"Alright."

Ling hung up, feeling a sliver of relief. Dandao wouldn't judge her. He would offer a solution, or at least, a distraction.

By the time Ling arrived at her mansion, the sprawling estate felt more like a cage. She bypassed the formal living room and headed straight for the bar, signaling her personal bartender for a whiskey, neat. As she sat on the plush, comfortable sofa, waiting for Dandao, she took a long swallow of the amber liquid, the burning sensation doing little to thaw the icy knot in her stomach.

Dandao arrived shortly after, her dark eyes immediately assessing her stressed demeanor. "Tell me, what's the problem?" he asked, settling into the sofa beside her.

Ling took another swig of her whiskey before speaking. "I can't do my plans alone now that Orm is pregnant with my child. I know it's mine. It's my fault. I was so distracted by her."

Dandao raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes. "You mean you enjoyed flirting with her? You never do that, like, ever."

Ling reacted in disbelief and despair. "I don't know what to do!"

"Calm down. What about the plan you were working on?" Dandao prodded, steering the conversation back to safer territory.

Ling ran a hand through her hair, her mind racing. "Now that my idea for flattening her tires isn't a good idea... How about this? I need your help. Pretend to be a kidnapper, or a regular robber. Destroy their house. Do it for Mei, my sister."

Dandao nodded slowly, considering the request. "Alright. We need to pick a disguise so they won't know we're from the triad." She said this to Ling knowing that it will be a lot of fun.

The idea, the return to the familiar world of schemes and violence, offered a strange sense of comfort. It was something she understood, something she could control. But Orm... the baby... that was an entirely different story, a story she had no idea how to write.

Ling stared at Dandao, the weight of her words pressing down on her. "What else do you need? Do you need some money? Don't worry about it, I will help you provide your needs, if you're thinking about the baby."

Her vision blurred. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. Orm, sweet, unsuspecting Orm, was now caught in the crossfire of her chaotic life. "I didn't mean for this to happen, and now Orm is dealing with this because of me." The guilt was a bitter pill she couldn't swallow.

"So, you want to take responsibility then?" Dandao asked, her voice laced with an unreadable emotion.

Ling nodded, the gesture jerky and desperate. "What else is the right thing to do? I should have to, but the thing is, Orm doesn't know who I really am. I'm just...some ordinary construction worker...and someone who belongs to the triad."

Dandao laughed, a short, sharp sound that grated on Ling's nerves. "Don't be so dramatic, Ling. You're so rich and could help her right away. We had this business all along and I take care of it always."

She was right, of course. The money was there, stashed away, earned through shady dealings and backroom deals. But that wasn't the point. The truth, the sheer hypocrisy of her life, was suffocating. She wanted to build a life with Orm, to make a family, but how could she when her foundation was built on lies and violence?

"You know I had to guide you to do my plan successfully, to get off this stress right away. We have to wear all black and destroy his house." Dandao continued, bringing her back to the immediate problem: Tan.

The plan. The plan to scare him, to rattle him, to make him pay for what he'd done. The plan that had seemed so simple, so cathartic, just a few days ago. Now, with Orm caught in the middle, it felt reckless and dangerous. But she couldn't back down. Not now.

She tried to focus, tried to channel her anxiety into action. She needed to be calm, she needed to be strategic.

The memory of that night swam back to her. The adrenaline, the thrill of the chase. Parking the car far away from the gates, shrouded in darkness. Nene, ever efficient, silently injecting the guards at the gate, leaving them slumped and unconscious.

"What's next?" Nene had whispered, her voice barely audible in the night.

Ling had been scanning the garden, searching for any other security, when she saw her. Orm. She was there, on guard duty, her face etched with worry. A pang of guilt twisted in her gut.

Nene poked her arm. "Um...boss."

"Throw some rocks on the window," Ling instructed, trying to keep her voice steady. "Remember, there's a young boy in there, and we are not killing him there inside. We are just destroying their home and scare them until they learn their lesson. That's the initial plan." She had to maintain control. She had to protect the innocent.

Ling grabbed the bag of rocks she'd prepared specifically for this purpose. She gave a curt nod to Nene and Dandao, and they began. The first stone shattered a window, the sound slicing through the silence of the night. Nene and Dandao followed suit, a chorus of shattering glass echoing around the sprawling estate.

Inside, Prim, was startled awake. "What is that?" she cried, fear lacing her voice. She peered through the gloom, trying to make sense of the chaos.

Ling signaled to her friends, and they crouched low behind the dense foliage, hoping to remain unseen by the remaining bodyguards. She raised her arm, ready to fling another rock, when she saw Orm. She was running towards the house, her face a mask of concern.

She was protecting them. Protecting the very people she was trying to terrorize.

The rock felt heavy in her hand. The plan, the revenge, the whole damn thing suddenly felt pointless, childish even. Was this really the kind of person she wanted to be? Was this the kind of world she wanted to bring a child into?

The shattering glass, the fear in Prim's voice, Orm's worried face – it all coalesced into a single, overwhelming wave of regret. She couldn't do this. Not anymore.

But what now? How could she stop this without exposing herself, without dragging Orm deeper into the mire? She was trapped, caught between her past and her future, between revenge and redemption.

The weight of the rock in her hand felt like the weight of the world. The only thing she knew for sure was that she couldn't let Orm get hurt. She deserved better. They all did.