METAMORPHOSIS - PART 7 (Patreon)

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Part 7: The Second Escape

“Oh, what are you doing, Thalia Lee?”

Haze Thomas’s voice was not too loud, barely more than a whisper, yet as it reached Quan Law’s ears, every syllable echoed like a death knell. Quan Law felt his entire body stiffen, his breath caught in his throat.

He didn’t have time to turn off his laptop screen, the word “RECORDINGS” remained there, untouched, along with several audio files, undeniable evidence that he had just eavesdropped on secrets not meant for him.

Haze Thomas stepped slowly toward Quan Law. Each footstep resonated with steady, deliberate rhythm, like a predator closing in on its prey. Quan Law’s hand instinctively tightened around the edge of the table. Was there any way out of this?

“I... I can't sleep.”

Haze Thomas narrowed his eyes. “Then what are you doing with those audio files?” His hands remained in his pockets, his demeanor devoid of any trace of anger. But Quan Law knew, Haze Thomas never lost his temper in the usual way. No one had ever seen what he looked like when truly enraged. Silently, he watched Quan Law’s every reaction, his gaze sharp and unyielding, like a venomous snake. He was waiting—waiting for the little mouse, Quan Law, to let down his guard, so he could strike and tear him apart.

Quan Law forced himself to smile gently—the same practiced smile he had perfected day after day, “I just wanted to find some soft music to help me sleep. I didn’t expect to open some old recordings by mistake.” But almost instantly, he realized his mistake—the silver USB drive was still plugged into the laptop’s port.

“I didn’t know what this was, so I got curious and opened it.” Lies. But it was the only way.

Haze Thomas still looked at him, his eyes not missing a single movement, not even the smallest one. Quan Law had to clench his teeth to keep his body from trembling. The act must go on! One second. Two seconds. Then three. The air in the room was thick, each of his heartbeats like the sound of war drums pounding against his chest.

Then… Haze Thomas smiled. A slow, cold smile. He stepped closer, leaned down, his hand lifting Quan Law’s chin, forcing Quan Law to look straight into his eyes, “Why…”

Quan Law swallowed a mouthful of saliva just before the rest of Haze Thomas’s sentence slipped from his lips, “Why are you curious about your own possession, Tha – li – a – Lee?” Haze Thomas deliberately pronounced Quan Law’s name syllable by syllable to increase the pressure. No! That wasn’t Quan Law’s name! How could he possibly make such a mistake?!

Haze Thomas’s breath brushed against Quan Law’s skin, carrying a faint scent of alcohol mixed with the familiar fragrance of mint. Quan Law clenched his hands tightly in his lap. He was truly cornered now! The so-called “fictional” accident he had made up—or rather, that Thalia Lee had devised for him—no matter how severe, could never have caused “memory loss.”

But at that moment, unexpectedly, it was Haze Thomas who let it go on his own, “Well, never mind. It’s alright. You’re probably just surprised by your own changes, that’s why you want to hear what you used to be like.”

Quan Law had no choice but to go along with the play. He smiled softly, his gaze gentle like that of an obedient wife, “So… do you prefer me the way I am now?”

Haze Thomas didn’t answer right away. His hand gave Quan Law’s chin a slight squeeze, then slowly let go, “I like an obedient wife.” It seemed this was a warning.

An hour later, Haze Thomas’s breathing had returned to its steady rhythm, showing that he had fallen back asleep. But now, he was holding Quan Law tightly in his arms. A form of assurance that Quan Law wouldn’t wander around on his own without his permission again.

Quan Law’s body was now “locked in” by Haze Thomas, but his mind remained active. How could he possibly sleep after going through such a nerve-racking moment? No matter how he turned it over in his head, escape was still the only way. He had to get away before the worst nightmare came true. But how? Last time, Quan Law had tried to run while Haze Thomas was away on a business trip, and that attempt had been crushed immediately when Haze Thomas ordered someone to intercept him right at the back gate—a place that usually saw no foot traffic at all.

Wait a minute! Quan Law had just thought of something… “A place that usually saw no foot traffic at all.” Then wouldn’t escaping on a regular day—when Haze Thomas wasn’t away on a business trip—be the better option? Quan Law knew how dangerous this decision was, but he had to try. He couldn’t bear to live through these trembling days any longer!

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

The moment Quan Law decided to run was a week later, when Haze Thomas finally stopped holding onto him while sleeping. For the entire week, he had kept a tight grip on Quan Law, ever since that night he slipped out of the room to look for the silver USB drive.

Quan Law gently opened the back gate. The door creaked slightly, and the chill of four in the morning swept in, slipping through the thin dress against his skin. If he could, he would’ve worn men’s clothing for this escape—but there was none left. In this mansion, his identity was that of a woman. Lately, he had even started to unconsciously think of himself as a real woman. The proof was that he no longer felt strange wearing women’s clothes or putting on makeup every day. More precisely, he had begun to treat them as part of a daily routine, and each time he jolted awake to that realization, he was gripped with even more fear.

Quan Law didn’t hesitate. He ran on the tips of his toes to avoid making any loud sounds. The mansion was still deep in slumber, with only a few dim lights spilling out from a distant hallway. That meant even the maids were fast asleep. Quan Law glanced around—no one at the back gate. The opportunity had come! Just a little farther now…

“Lady, where are you planning to go? Haven’t you been told that the master instructed you to always take us bodyguards along whenever you leave… even at four – in – the – morning like this!”

Quan Law’s entire body froze. The voice was deep—just as he had imagined from a tall, burly bodyguard. He turned his head. From the shadows, a bodyguard stood right by the door—the very spot he had been sure was empty just moments ago. His eyes widened, breath caught in his throat. How long had the bodyguard been standing there? No way! He had timed everything so carefully! The guard shouldn’t have been there. But Quan Law’s eyes weren’t lying to him. The bodyguard was definitely there. And goddammit… did everyone in this mansion—master and servant alike—enjoy dragging out their words just to intimidate people? The man had put extra weight on the phrase “four in the morning.”

Several seconds passed in tense silence. Quan Law clenched the sides of his dress, his fingernails digging into his skin until it burned with pain. He took a breath, his voice trembling slightly, but still laced with the softness he had been taught—and had taught himself—throughout this time, “Haze Thomas told you to follow me even at a time like this, from midnight to the break of dawn?”

Without waiting for the bodyguard to answer, another voice rang out—gentle, very gentle, but to Quan Law, it was heavier than a ton of bricks, “That’s right! He follows my orders to the letter!”

Slowly, Haze Thomas stepped forward, each movement deliberate yet heavy, like hammer blows striking against Quan Law’s chest. As always, Haze Thomas showed no sign of anger. He simply stood there, gazing at him with eyes as deep and dark as a bottomless abyss.

“And… could you tell me why… you were planning to go out at four – in – the – morning, and not through the front door?”

Quan Law clenched his fists. He couldn’t think of a single explanation…

“Don’t tell me that…” Haze Thomas’s finger once again touched Quan Law’s chin, lifting it, forcing him to look straight into his eyes. “You were trying to run away… a–gain.”

“Again?” Quan Law’s eyes widened. His heart felt like it had stopped beating. Haze Thomas knew already! There was no doubt about it. He knew Thalia Lee had planned to steal his money and run. And he also knew that a “different Thalia Lee” had come back to take her place. The only thing Quan Law thought he didn’t know—was that this Thalia Lee wasn’t a woman at all.

“I warned you already, Thalia Lee.”

Haze Thomas ran his finger along Quan Law’s cheek, gentle in a terrifying way, “I only like an obedient wife!”

Quan Law tried to step back. But Haze Thomas’s hand had already gripped his waist, pulling him into his arms.

“Scared?” he whispered, in a voice as gentle as a passing breeze.

Quan Law’s breathing grew rapid. No! He couldn’t die like this! He had to escape—right now! Without thinking, Quan Law broke free from Haze Thomas’s arms and bolted. He dashed toward the glass door. If he could just open it, just get outside, just…

But Quan Law’s entire body was yanked backward, his back slamming hard against Haze Thomas’s chest. Quan Law clenched his teeth. How shameful! They were both men, and yet his strength was far too feeble compared to Haze Thomas’s! Haze Thomas’s hand gripped Quan Law’s wrist tightly, with such force that Quan Law felt his wrist go numb.

Haze Thomas’s breath was right by Quan Law’s ear, “I told you already...” His voice was still gentle, but beneath it lurked a beast, waiting to strike.

“You can’t run away from me!

No matter… who you really are,

From now on, you are still my wife!”

The night was silent. All surrounding sounds fell away. The distant streetlights began to flicker out, making way for the first light of dawn. Quan Law’s hope dimmed along with them. He had lost!

PART 8 >>