The Paranoid Female CEO’s Contracted Beauty (Omegaverse) - Chapter 23

“Director Xu is not at home at the moment.”

Li Ge recalled seeing Xu Qingyan at the hotel. She guessed that this Alpha was probably off spending time with another Omega, just like how Li Dahai had sold her to those powerful businessmen. They always looked for young, beautiful Omegas to satisfy their Alpha desires.

She wondered which unfortunate Omega had caught Xu Qingyan’s attention. Escaping from those big bosses had already been difficult enough. Escaping from someone like Xu Qingyan, a corporate board member, would be nearly impossible.

Still, Li Ge had enough of her own problems. She didn’t even know what her future would look like, yet here she was, worrying about someone else. The thought felt a little laughable.

The housekeeper led Li Ge into the villa but didn’t immediately ask her to do anything. She simply said, “Please wait a moment,” and turned to walk upstairs.

Li Ge didn’t move. She had already come to accept the desperate state she was in. Compared to being sold by Li Dahai, it felt like a better choice to sell herself. At least this way, she could retain a bit of control and freedom.

She sat hugging her knees tightly. A maid, seeing her like that, assumed she was cold. The maid went upstairs, brought down a blanket, and gently draped it over her shoulders.

Li Ge slowly lifted her head. The maid was smiling at her. It was not a mocking or pitying smile. It was a kind, gentle one filled with concern.

“If you’re feeling cold, Miss Li, please let us know,” the maid said. “Director Xu told us that anything you need should be provided. Whatever you ask for, we’ll do our best to fulfill it.”

Li Ge didn’t reply. She understood perfectly why Xu Qingyan was doing this. It was only because she was about to become her lover. Xu was putting on a show, pretending to be kind for now.

The maid noticed her silence and felt slightly awkward but didn’t let it show. Instead, she offered her a cup of tea. “Here, Miss Li. Please have some tea to help calm your nerves.”

Li Ge had no appetite. She didn’t want tea or even a sip of water. Still, she forced a polite response. “Thank you.”

Silence fell over the living room again.

The maid stood quietly by her side, observing her carefully. She felt that this young Omega was different from others. To be with someone like Xu Qingyan should have been a dream come true for most people. It meant having food, shelter, clothes, and the freedom to buy whatever one wanted. The only shameful part was the hidden status of being a mistress.

Aside from that, there was nothing to feel wronged about. Li Ge should have been happy.

But the way she looked now made her seem like someone who had just been taken by force. It made the maid feel a kind of sympathy she hadn’t expected.

“Miss Li,” the maid asked carefully, “you don’t seem very willing to be here. Could it be that… you didn’t come here of your own will?”

“I…”

Li Ge didn’t know how to explain. She hadn’t been forced to come here. Xu Qingyan hadn’t dragged her in. She had walked here on her own. But to say she came willingly wouldn’t be true either. She had no other choice. This was the only path left to her.

In the end, it had been her own decision. It had nothing to do with what Xu Qingyan had said or done.

Seeing her hesitate, the maid didn’t press any further. “There’s no need to be nervous,” she said softly. “Your being here already shows that Director Xu recognizes you. And she’s a good person. I believe she won’t make things difficult for you.”

She won’t make things difficult?

That made Li Ge want to laugh.

If Xu Qingyan had no intention of making things hard for her, she wouldn’t have said what she did back at the hotel. The truth was, Xu Qingyan was no different from Li Dahai or those seemingly respectable Alphas who did filthy things in secret.

Just like how she once believed in Gu Shi. In the end, she had just been too naive.

Trust. After tonight, Li Ge didn’t think she would ever believe in that word again.

The maid couldn’t guess what was going through her mind. Just as she was about to speak again, the housekeeper returned from upstairs holding a document.

She walked over to Li Ge and handed it to her. “Director Xu asked me to give you this. If everything looks fine, please sign it. She also asked me to remind you to read it carefully. Once you sign, it will be legally binding. Unless Director Xu agrees to cancel it, the agreement will remain in effect. If you regret signing, she has the right to pursue legal action.”

Li Ge took the contract with trembling hands. The word “Contract” on the cover looked like burning flames. It felt as though it scorched her palm.

“What if… I don’t sign it?”

From what the housekeeper said, it sounded like she had a choice. But she had no idea what the consequences would be if she refused.

The housekeeper smiled faintly. “You don’t have to sign it. But Director Xu said that if you don’t, the agreement won’t apply. In that case, everything that happens next will be decided entirely by her.”

“What… what does that mean?”

She genuinely didn’t understand.

If that was how it worked, then what difference did it make whether she signed or not? Wouldn’t Xu Qingyan still be in control?

The housekeeper narrowed her eyes and studied her carefully. The message had been made so clear. Was she truly this clueless? If she was only pretending not to understand, then her acting skills were worthy of an award.

“Miss Li, are you sure you don’t understand what I’m saying?”

Li Ge was genuinely confused. No matter what she chose, it seemed that Xu Qingyan had the final say. So what was the point of the contract?

The housekeeper noticed the uncertainty in her eyes and realized she truly didn’t get it. Her voice softened again.

“Director Xu means this. If you sign the agreement, everything will follow the rules written inside. If you don’t sign it, then there are no rules. Without those restrictions, everything will be based on her mood and judgment. Do you understand now, Miss Li?”

So no matter what, Xu Qingyan would still have control.

Then why bother reading it at all?

Li Ge, feeling hopeless, picked up the pen and signed her name without even looking through the document. She handed it back to the housekeeper.

The housekeeper frowned slightly. “Miss Li, don’t you want to read what it says?”

Li Ge clutched the fabric of her dress tightly. Her voice was low and full of resignation. “There’s no need.”

The housekeeper didn’t insist. She put the contract away and turned to the maid. “Take Miss Li to wash up.”

Li Ge had never been in a situation like this. She still felt a strong sense of discomfort and looked up. “I can do it myself.”

The housekeeper understood what she meant. She waved her hand at the maid. “If Miss Li wants to handle it herself, then don’t follow her. Just show her the way.”

The maid nodded to show she understood.

The villa was huge, even larger than the Xu family home that Li Ge had visited before. It took a long walk up the stairs and down a hallway to reach the bathroom, nearly five minutes in total.

When they arrived, the maid didn’t go inside. She simply stood at the doorway and made a welcoming gesture.

“Miss Li, the water temperature has already been checked. It’s perfect. Fresh clothes are prepared inside. If you need anything else, please call us anytime.”

Li Ge said nothing, clutching her dress as she slowly walked into the bathroom.

She stayed in there for a long time, nearly half an hour. It took so long that the maid began to worry she might have fainted, and anxiously knocked on the door.

“She hasn’t returned yet?” Li Ge asked softly after stepping out.

The maid replied honestly, “The housekeeper said Director Xu had an urgent situation at the company and will be back later.”

Li Ge felt like laughing. It was such a weak lie. Clearly, Xu Qingyan was still out enjoying herself and unwilling to come back, yet they tried to cover it up with something so obvious. It was almost ridiculous.

But perhaps that was for the best. Hopefully, Xu Qingyan would not return at all tonight. That way, she wouldn’t have to spend the whole night feeling afraid.

After her bath, the maid led Li Ge to Xu Qingyan’s room.

She had expected something extravagant and indulgent, but to her surprise, the room was simple and orderly. A wooden bookshelf lined with titles she had never heard of, a plain wooden wardrobe filled with neatly arranged clothes, two bedside tables, and a desk. That was all. The room felt surprisingly empty.

It did not match the image she had of Xu Qingyan at all.

But none of this mattered. It had nothing to do with her. However Xu Qingyan chose to live was her own business. She was just someone who had been taken in and kept, a mistress with no say in anything.

After the maid quietly closed the door behind her, Li Ge slowly sat on the bed. The thought of what might happen tonight filled her with fear. She curled into a ball and tucked herself tightly into a corner.

Time passed slowly. Her heart pounded harder with every second. She stared blankly at the changing numbers on the phone screen. The thought of running away crossed her mind more than once.

But even if she changed her mind and escaped now, where would she go? There was nowhere for her to hide. She would most likely be caught by Li Dahai and dragged back, forced again to serve those powerful men.

If that was her fate, it was almost better to stay as Xu Qingyan’s mistress.

Eventually, her thoughts blurred, and she drifted off into a shallow sleep in the corner of the bed.

She did not know how much time passed. The air grew colder as the night deepened. A chilly wind crept in through the cracks in the doors and windows. Li Ge pulled the blanket tightly around herself.

Then she heard the sound of a door opening.

It was quiet, almost imperceptible. Her nerves had been stretched for so long that she no longer reacted much. Relaxed by exhaustion, she paid it no mind.

A few minutes later, in a half-asleep daze, she sensed someone approaching the bed. The blanket was gently lifted, and a cold hand brushed along her arm. The sensation tickled, and she instinctively tried to brush it away.

Just then, she heard a voice she knew all too well.

“Awake?”

Li Ge’s entire body stiffened.

That voice belonged to Xu Qingyan.

When had she come back? Why hadn’t she noticed anything?

Sensing her tension, Xu Qingyan reached over and wrapped her arms around her from behind.

When she had entered and seen Li Ge asleep, wrapped tightly in a blanket, Xu Qingyan had originally planned to leave her alone. After all, the contract had been signed. Li Ge was already hers. There was no need to rush anything.

But once she lifted the blanket, she could not resist touching her.

“Xiao Ge, you smell wonderful,” Xu Qingyan whispered.

She buried her face into Li Ge’s shoulder, gently nuzzling her, then began kissing the soft skin of her earlobe. Her breath moved downward toward the back of Li Ge’s neck, eventually reaching the delicate gland hidden beneath the skin.

Warm breath on that sensitive spot sent a shiver down Li Ge’s spine. In that instant, she knew exactly what Xu Qingyan intended to do.

She was not wearing an inhibitor. If Xu Qingyan marked her now, she would belong to her completely for the rest of her life.

No.

She could not allow that.

Her drowsiness vanished in an instant. Li Ge instinctively tried to escape.

But Xu Qingyan gave her no chance. One arm held her tightly, while the other hand slipped down her spine and into the thin fabric of her sleepwear.

Li Ge’s eyes flew open. She struggled with all her strength.

“No, stop!”

“Why not?” Xu Qingyan asked, her voice filled with frustration and a kind of jealousy.

The image of Gu Shi flashed through her mind, and it made her angry. She did not believe that Gu Shi was able to resist temptation. That Alpha had always seemed untrustworthy.

Then again, she knew she was not any better.

Li Ge was not thinking clearly anymore. Her mind was overwhelmed, her body nearly paralyzed. She reached out and grabbed Xu Qingyan’s wandering hand with all the strength she had left.

But it was not enough. Xu Qingyan was stronger, and her resistance only seemed to make her more determined.

“Please, don’t,” Li Ge cried.

Xu Qingyan could feel her tension and began releasing pheromones to calm her.

Her scent, rich and dominant, filled the room. It overwhelmed Li Ge’s senses. Her body softened as if it had melted into the bed. She could no longer resist. Her own pheromones, sweet and light, began to respond involuntarily.

Within moments, the large bedroom was filled with the mingled fragrance of roses and jasmine.

Xu Qingyan’s desire peaked.

Her eyes darkened. The next second, she reached to unbutton her shirt.

Li Ge’s eyes widened in fear. Desperation gave her strength, and she fought back as hard as she could.

In her panic, she bit down hard on Xu Qingyan’s arm.

The pain was sharp, almost like being struck with a ruler across the palm. Xu Qingyan froze, caught off guard.

Xu Qingyan had long grown used to pain. Years of self-restraint had conditioned her to endure it. Even as Li Ge bit down harder, drawing a faint scent of blood, she only frowned slightly and did not release the hand that held Li Ge’s waist.

Li Ge saw this and bit down even harder. A faint taste of iron slowly filled the space between them.

Xu Qingyan had no choice. She was genuinely worried that Li Ge might break the skin, so she reluctantly let go of her.

So the saying was true. Even a rabbit will bite when pushed too far.

Li Ge took the chance to pull her robe tightly around herself and crawled away across the bed.

She was so nervous that her robe slipped slightly off her shoulder during the movement. A pale stretch of skin was exposed, delicate and soft under the moonlight.

Xu Qingyan caught sight of it clearly. Her throat felt dry, and she swallowed. She could no longer restrain herself and moved forward, pressing Li Ge down under her.

Li Ge was pinned and unable to move. She tried to push her away with both hands, struggling as hard as she could.

But the more she struggled, the more Xu Qingyan thought the Omega was teasing her. Her hands became even more reckless and bold.

“Xiao Ge, your scent is intoxicating.”

Not only was Xu Qingyan’s Alpha pheromone affecting Li Ge, but Li Ge’s own Omega scent was beginning to influence Xu Qingyan. The thin line of reason she had been holding on to was slipping away under the soft pull of Li Ge’s fragrance.

Xu Qingyan lowered her head to the back of Li Ge’s neck, licking gently before her lips touched the gland at the nape.

The moment her teeth grazed it, Li Ge suddenly covered her mouth with her hands. She could not believe the sound that had escaped her lips. She refused to accept that it had come from her.

Xu Qingyan gave a faint smile, her voice low and smooth. “Xiao Ge, I want to hear your voice.”

It was the middle of the night. The room was so quiet that even the softest breath was clear. The stillness made every moment feel more vivid.

Li Ge shook her head again and again. This was not her. She would never make such sounds. It had to be the pheromones.

Yes. That was the only explanation.

Even though she tried to convince herself, Li Ge knew her body was reacting. She was changing. She no longer felt fully in control. That overwhelming sensation was swallowing her whole, turning her into someone she didn’t recognize.

“Xiao Ge, why are you resisting? You clearly enjoy this. Don’t you?”

No. She did not. She did not enjoy any of this.

Her eyes filled with tears. The heat in her body was unbearable, like a fire consuming her from the inside. She clenched her fists tightly.

Xu Qingyan was suffering too. Her body was tense with restraint, but she was trying not to hurt her. She kept whispering soft words, trying to calm Li Ge down.

After what felt like a long time, the atmosphere began to settle.

Then, without another word, Xu Qingyan finally crossed the line.

In that exact moment, the tears that had been clinging to Li Ge’s lashes finally fell, one after another.

Xu Qingyan looked down at her and felt a deep pang of guilt. She wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. She had never been good at comforting people. All she could do was turn Li Ge’s face toward her and kiss her, deeply and wordlessly.

The night stretched on, long and silent.

When Li Ge opened her eyes again, it was already midday.

Warm sunlight streamed in through the window, landing gently across her face. The brightness woke her up. As soon as she tried to move, pain shot through every part of her body. It felt like she had been hit by a car. Even her bones ached. Every small movement brought a wave of burning pain. She had no choice but to lie still, completely exhausted.

Xu Qingyan was no longer by her side.

She had no idea when she had left. The spot beside her was already cold. She must have gone while Li Ge was unconscious. That made sense. After all, Li Ge was only a mistress. There was no reason for Xu Qingyan to stay with her.

Realizing this, Li Ge let out a hollow laugh. Tears welled up in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. They were not from emotion alone. It was her body reacting after everything it had been through.

From this day forward, she would no longer be the same Li Ge.

She was now the personal mistress kept by Xu Qingyan, the chairwoman of Xu Group.

“Miss Li, are you awake?” came a voice from outside the door.

It was the maid.

Li Ge wanted to respond but realized her throat was painfully dry and hoarse. She had no idea how many times Xu Qingyan had touched her last night. She only remembered that her voice had grown quieter with every cry until only silence remained.

Only one sound echoed in her mind.

Silence.

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