METAMORPHOSIS - PART 3 (Patreon)

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Part 3: The Forced Stand-in

Thalia Lee seemed to take pleasure in Quan Law's panicked expression. She smiled, leaned down, and whispered into his ear, “See? With just a little change, you're no longer yourself.”

Quan Law jolted in shock as he realized that the mirror now reflected the image of two women, nearly identical, like twin sisters. The only difference was that one of them wore no makeup—and he was lucid enough to know that one was himself.

Quan Law wanted to scream, to tear everything off his body, to escape from this nightmare. But his mind was spinning, and his limbs were weak. It was no coincidence that a stun gun was classified as a prohibited weapon.

Thalia Lee gently touched his chin and whispered, “This is only the beginning, Thalia Lee.”

“Damn it! Don't call me by your name! I'm Quan Law!” Quan Law screamed in despair—but it was only the voice inside his head. In reality, in the cold, desolate room, only Thalia Lee’s voice remained, “We still have a long road ahead.”

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Three days later. Quan Law himself had no idea how much time had passed. There were no windows, no phone, nothing to help him grasp the passage of time. Each day, a different group of women entered, as if each had their own area of expertise. They would pull him out of bed and begin his “training.”

Wearing high heels, learning how to walk with grace and fluidity.

Makeup, applying foundation, curling eyelashes, and painting lips to look alluring.

The movement of the hands, the subtle flick of the wrist while holding a wine glass, the perfect way to smile.

At first, he resisted. But each time he refused, punishment followed immediately. At some point, Quan Law realized that this stun gun could even increase its voltage. While it wasn’t lethal, the agony it inflicted was constant and inescapable.

He could barely eat. He couldn’t sleep well. The corset was tightened so much that he could hardly breathe. His body grew thinner, exhausted, drained of all strength. Then one day, he stood before the mirror and saw himself—his lips painted with a soft shade of red, his hair neatly combed, his once-pale skin now smoothed over with powder.

He gasped for breath. The person in the mirror stared back at him with unfamiliar eyes. His trembling hand reached up, lightly tracing the contours of his own face. Where was the programmer Quan Law from three days ago? The stranger in the reflection… who was she? The most painful part was knowing that this appearance—this transformation—was something he had prepared himself, the result of the relentless “training” of the past few days. But it still wasn’t enough…

About two weeks later, the door to the room opened once more. Thalia Lee stepped inside, scanning him from head to toe. She smiled, “Better than expected!”

Her hand glided lightly over his shoulder, gently adjusting the strap of the dress that had slipped off Quan Law’s shoulder, “It’s almost time for you to meet my future husband. He’s on his flight back home as we speak.”

Quan Law froze, his eyes widening in shock. Thalia Lee chuckled softly, “His temper is terrible. But don’t worry—as long as you behave properly, you’ll be just fine.” She tilted her head slightly, leaning in to whisper one final warning before turning away, “But if you don’t…” A cold, chilling smile curled on her lips, “You’ll experience the consequences for yourself.”

The door closed. In the silent room, Quan Law stood there, staring at his own reflection in the mirror. Inside the glass, there was no longer a man. Only a woman remained—her eyes empty and hollow.

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

That night. Quan Law sat frozen in the eerily silent room. Outside, an opulent clock ticked slowly, each beat like a countdown to the moment he would cross a boundary from which there was no return. Before him, a black silk dress lay neatly on the bed. Beside it, a pair of silver high heels rested in wait—their razor-thin stiletto heels poised like delicate blades, ready to cut into flesh.

Everything was set for the first meeting with Haze Thomas. According to the script meticulously planned by Thalia Lee, he was now—at least on paper—Quan Law’s future husband.

Quan Law knew he had no choice. Over the past two weeks, he had come to understand—resistance only brought pain. The gnawing hunger, the corsets tightened so mercilessly that even breathing became a luxury, the crackling voltage of the stun gun, always ready to remind him of its power. Physical torment. Mental exhaustion. A slow, inescapable descent into submission.

And then, unconsciously, he began to comply. At first, it was the little things—sitting up straight, walking carefully to avoid punishment. Then came the lessons—how to hold a wine glass, how to lift his chin when under someone’s gaze. Simple gestures, yet each movement felt like another chain locking him into this role. And now, this role was about to enter its next act—the moment he would face the devil, Haze Thomas.

Thalia Lee pushed the door open. The signature silk outfits she always wore were gone. Now, she had chosen a pair of long jeans and a simple T-shirt, sunglasses resting on her face. Everything about her appearance made one thing clear—she was about to leave.

Quan Law wasn’t foolish enough not to understand his current situation. It was obvious—Thalia Lee had done something, something that forced her to flee. And he… he was the perfect stand-in.

Thalia Lee let out a cold chuckle when she saw Quan Law still standing there, not yet dressed. Her voice was soft, but there wasn’t a shred of patience in her eyes, “What are you waiting for?” Quan Law didn’t answer. His fingers tightened around the edge of the dress on the bed, his breathing growing unsteady.

She stepped closer, lowering herself to his eye level, “I’ve taught you well, haven’t I?” Her fingers lifted his chin, forcing him to meet her cold, piercing gaze, “Tonight, you will meet Haze Thomas. You will be me. You will smile, be gentle, obedient—just like the perfect wife.”

Her voice dropped lower, a whisper curling around his ear like a cursed omen, “Your fate is in your own hands now. If you make him suspicious… he will kill you on the spot.”

Quan Law couldn’t breathe. She stepped back, her eyes gleaming with a silent challenge, “If you want to live, get dressed. Now!”

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

As Quan Law stepped out of the car and into the grand hall of a magnificent mansion, every step felt like walking on a tightrope. The black silk dress clung tightly to his body, its soft layers deceptively light yet suffocating, binding his every movement. Beneath the dress, of course, was women's lingerie. For over two weeks, he had been forced to wear nothing but delicate undergarments and sheer slips. And though it had only been that long, the days when he used to wear men's clothing felt like a distant memory. The high heels lifted his heels, throwing off his balance, turning every step into a trial.

His hands trembled—but no one could see it. Because he had been taught that if he was afraid, he must hide it behind a smile.

Haze Thomas sat in a grand armchair, his posture relaxed yet exuding a suffocating authority. Quan Law was nothing more than a lowly programmer, someone who had never been in the presence of the country’s top industrialists. But even he knew Haze Thomas—his reputation preceded him. The heir to one of the nation’s leading tech conglomerates, Haze had propelled the company far beyond what his father had ever achieved—so much so that he had forced the old man into early retirement. His secret? “Ruthlessness.” He would devour any competitor without hesitation.

Before this, not even in his worst nightmares would Quan Law have imagined himself standing this close to Haze Thomas. Unbelievably close. Because soon, this man would be the one sharing a bed with him. Lowering his gaze, Quan Law stepped forward—just as he had been trained to.

Haze Thomas’s voice was deep, laced with danger, “You’re late.”

Quan Law opened his mouth, but his throat was so dry that no words came out. The air grew heavy. Haze Thomas narrowed his eyes. It was only a fleeting moment, but the sheer pressure was enough to make Quan Law feel like collapsing.

And then, he laughed, “What’s wrong? Nervous?”

Quan Law clenched his fists, forcing his breath to remain steady. As much as he wanted to expose the woman who had fled just moments ago, he knew he couldn’t. He couldn’t make a mistake. If he revealed the truth now, Haze Thomas would undoubtedly hunt her down and punish her—but his own fate would be far from merciful.

PART 4 >>