Chapter 16 - Something soft

Ayu rocked Lina in her arms, trying hard to comfort her and wake her. Lina began to calm down and regain consciousness.

Although she was still not entirely awake or in her senses, Lina's nightmares stopped. The burning woman disappeared and her eyes opened slowly.

She couldn't really see because the bedroom was pitch dark. Her throat way dry but she felt something soft around her.

Unknowingly she clutched tightly on to Ayu's sleeve. Even though groggy, her senses were frighteningly sharp. She knew there was a person there, but it wasn't Shen. This person smelled different.

All of a sudden her hand instinctively flew at lightning speed towards the person above her. The strength in her movement was so intense, the arm that blocked her attack was almost shattered.

Ayu let out a loud cry in pain. She had been trained in martial arts since she was 8 years old and doubled as a bodyguard for Shen. She was not weak, nor was she someone to be trifled with. This was the only reason she sensed Lina's arm flying towards her and blocked.

What she hadn't calculated was the terrifying force with which she would be hit.

In her brain, she registered a shattered radius and carpals.

"Stop madam! STOP IT!" she screamed.

Now having fully woken up, Lina realised there was a woman in the room.

"Wh-wh-what's going on! Who's there!"

Ayu quickly switched on the bedside lamp, still reeling in pain.

As Lina's groggy eyes fell upon the face beside her, she gasped. The utter beauty of the woman standing over her bedside, hand clutching her broken forearm, face contorted in pain - froze her.

Still dazed, she raised her hand to touch Ayu's face.

"So pretty..." Lina whispered.

Instinctively, Ayu lunged back. She had no clue the madam could fight. And with such instinct and force. Moreover, she was acting strange!

Lina's gaze was riveted on Ayu's slim figure, the shawl falling off her shoulders to where her light brown hair reached. Her hair was slightly messy and wavy from the scuffle. She had the most enchanting green eyes, high nose and sharp chin. Her pretty pink lips were trembling, trying to remain composed in front of the madam, despite the pain she was feeling.

Lina could feel a somewhat regal and proud air around this woman.

Realising she was shaking due to the pain in her arm, Lina quickly got out of bed and walked up to the shaking Ayu.

"Are you okay madam, you were having a nightmare right now." she asked Lina, trying to maintain composure. After all, Lina was her priority when Shen was dealing with the matter at Moshi Corp.

"Of course I'm fine! Who are you and what happened to you?! How did you get in here and why are you clutching your arm like that!"

Ayu -- "....."

Seriously? This crazy woman almost killed her when she was just partially conscious! Who was this monster?

If she hadn't blocked Lina's hit with her arm, she would have been fatally wounded. Ayu shuddered just thinking about the damage this bunny-like madam would have caused.

On the other hand, she really didn't recognise her! The amnesia was real after all. Lina looked so confused and lost, and the way she was suffering earlier while asleep was so painful to watch. She had truly been concerned.

"Madam my name is Ayu. I'm young master Shen's assistant at Moshi Corp. He had to attend to a massive emergency at work so I was outside to look after you. He will be back before you wake up so I suggest you go back to sleep and get your rest. After all, you're just recovering."

Lina looked at her as if her heart was shattering. Shen wasn't home?

Why wasn't he home?

Why did he leave her!

Just yesterday he promised he wouldn't when she ran into his study.

"Take me to Shen right now."

Lina began acting like a spoilt child.

Ayu looked at the defiant little madam with exasperation.

Moshi Corp was probably a bloody battleground right now! Shen would personally execute her if she brought Lina anywhere close to the place.

Plus there were clear instructions from Dr. Yoshi that she wasn't to leave the house or meet strangers! Minimum stimuli was maximum recovery!

By bringing this madam to Shen, she would be signing god knows how many death warrants -- including her own!

But Lina looked like a child about to throw an uncontrollable tantrum.

Where the hell was that husband of hers, and how dare he leave her after he promised not to!

A sense of panic and alarm rose to Lina's chest. She didn't feel right, she felt nauseous. Her breathing became laborious.

"Oh god..." she whispered to herself as she ran into the bathroom and began puking violently into the toilet.

"Madam!"

Ayu ran after her, trying to pat her back and comfort her.

She was so dead. How did madam get sick!? What was wrong? Is this all because Shen was gone in the middle of the night? But she had amnesia - she didn't even remember who he was!

Ayu immediately rung for Butler Min and Housekeeper Tan. They brought up warm water and a medicine for Lina, but refused to go inside the bedroom with Ayu.

"Ms. Ayu...are you sure you should've gone into the bedroom? We have never been allowed to step in." Housekeeper Tan spoke to Ayu outside the room in a hushed tone.

"What the hell was I supposed to do, she was panicking and crying in her sleep! I'm supposed to be looking after her - keeping her safe. I have no idea what the hell is happening!"

"Should we call Dr. Yoshi?" Butler Min asked the two women.