Sean met Layla back in school; she was never the most friendly or interesting girl. Irritable, bossy, and foul-mouthed, she was far from the wife he had imagined. Yet, Layla became increasingly attached to him over the years, repeatedly asking for a chance, which he always refused. But after graduation, things began to change. With few prospects and feeling the weight of his uncertain future, Layla's advances started to seem like an option. She was pretty, her family wealthy enough to guarantee Sean a comfortable life, and maybe, just maybe, love could soften her rough edges.

'The perfect girl doesn’t exist, so why not?'

Inheriting a massive debt was the final straw. Seeing no other way out, he turned to Layla, who agreed to cover the debt in exchange for marriage. Since then, they've been a couple.

Unfortunately, Sean's hopes for a change in her attitude or a happy life were quickly dashed. It’s been half a year since he married Layla, and their relationship is a nightmare. Layla is toxic and abusive—she beats and mistreats him, and there are even rumors that she’s cheating. Asking her to change or begging for a different life does no good; she never takes responsibility, always finding ways to blame him for her mistakes. Yet, he live in her house and work at her father’s company, entirely dependent on her money, which keeps him trapped in this loveless marriage.

Once again, he lie in bed alone, exhausted after spending the entire day doing all the house chores by himself. Layla went out with her friends without even bothering to give him a word. At 1:00 AM, she stumbles home, visibly drunk. She carelessly tosses her purse and shoes onto the couch, her heavy footsteps echoing through the quiet house as she storms into his room, fuming with rage.

"Where are my fucking dinner?!"

She screamed, grabbing Sean by the arms and shaking him violently. It seems she’s in a bad mood, just like always.

Sean woken up with raced heart as he tried to find the right words, he winced, feeling her nails digging into his arms. He'd los count of how many times this had happened, but the pain never seemed to dull.

"I made dinner, but you didn't come until now. I didn't want it to get cold..."

Layla's grip on his arm tightens,

"What the hell is your problem?! you know exactly I'd be home late! and I expect my meal ready whenever I get home!"

Sean clenched his teeth, bracing himself for the usual argument. It was always the same, no matter how much he explained, Layla never understood.

"ugh- I tried to call you so many times, but you never answered," he protested softly, knowing that any resistance would only antagonize her further.

Layla sneered, her fingers digging deeper into his skin,

"Of course I didn't pick up! I was having fun, something you wouldn't understand, you boring prick!"

Sean winced, feeling the pinch of anger mixing with defeat in his chest. The constant insults, the blame, it was like a familiar and cruel song, playing every single night of his life. He tried to keep his tone measured, knowing how dangerous it was to respond with the same sharpness she used with him,

"I'm not trying to ruin your fun, I just wanted you to at least be informed. How was I supposed to know that you'd arrive so late?"

Layla's voice sharpens, cutting into him like a blade,

"It doesn't matter! don't you understand that? I expect obedience, not your stupid complaints! if I say I want my dinner ready whenever I arrive, you do it. no matter the time, no matter if I'm here one hour or twelve."

Sean's mind raced, searching for a way to diffuse the situation, the familiar feeling of despair setting in,

"I just... I wanted to avoid wasting food, that's all..."

Layla released her grip, only to swing her hand violently, connecting it with a sharp smack against his cheek. It stung, the pain cutting through him like a knife. Sean bit his tongue, restraining himself from reacting, knowing it would only fuel her anger. He winced silently, feeling the heat of the slap spreading through his face.

“Is that clear to you, now?” Layla demanded, her voice heavy with anger. The room seemed quieter than before, the air thick with tension.

Sean swallowed, the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. He forced down the pain and anger boiling inside him.

"I'm sorry. I should have taken care of the dinner, no matter what time you would be home." The apology tasted bitter in his mouth, like a poison he was forced to drink every night.

Layla reached out, her manicured fingers gripping Sean's hair tightly, yanking his head backwards. She pulled with a force that seemed fueled by the alcohol in her system, causing a sharp pain in his scalp as he winced and gasped softly.

"ugh!"

"You better remember this next time, huh?" Layla sneered, her breath hot and reeking of alcohol.

"I-I understand," Sean managed to say, his voice almost a whisper.

"I'll do better next time."

Layla chuckled darkly,

"You always say that, don’t you? Let's see if you hold your promise."

She finally let go of his hair, shoving him away.

Sean took a deep breath, his heart pounding and his scalp stinging. He massaged the back of his head gently, wincing as pain shoots through his scalp. If only he wasn't in a ton of debt, if only he wasn't that desperate and if only she isn't the daughter of one of the richest and the most influenced man in this country, he would've fight back or at least defend himself. But life sure can't be more crueller.

Despite the pain and the sting, he forced himself to look at her,

"Is there anything else you want?"

He hated the submissive tone in his own voice, but it was all he could manage to stay safe. Layla chuckled nastily, her eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, there is. I want a drink. Go get me a cocktail before I decide to give you another reminder about who makes the rules here."

Sean bit his lower lip, feeling the bitter taste of resentment but nodded anyway,

"alright."

He headed to the kitchen, feeling the weight of her expectations on his shoulders, and started making the cocktail, each measured pour a reminder of his helplessness in this hell-like marriage.

several minutes later, he goes back to the bedroom Layla's in with a glass of cocktail

Layla's eyes are fixated on him with cruel smile playing on her lips. Sean approaches her bed cautiously, and extends the alcohol to her.

"Here's your drink."

Layla took the glass with a smirk, her eyes watching him. As she takes a sip, she lets out a satisfied sigh and sits down,

"Now, get on your knees."

Sean flinched, the command sending a jolt of dread through his body. He looked at her in disbelief, but the warning in her gaze was clear. With a heavy heart, Sean slowly drop down onto his knees, feeling the cold hard floor beneath him.

Layla laughed softly, the sound a mix of mockery and satisfaction.

"Good, that's where you belong, right? on your knees, like a dog begging for scraps."

She took another sip of her cocktail, relishing in his submission.

Sean's jaw tightened, the insult like a dagger to his pride. But he knew better than to let it show. He swallowed the anger, forcing a neutral tone,

"Yes... I'm sorry."

Layla's smile widened, the power over him evident in her eyes.

"You should be. You should be ashamed of yourself, you useless, pathetic piece of trash."

She leaned forward, taking another sip of her cocktail.

"Now, bark like the dog you are."

Sean's mind raced, torn between the need to obey and the last shred of dignity he held onto. He knew resisting could lead to consequences, but he couldn't bring himself to bark like an animal so he remained silent.

Layla's eyes narrowed, the smile leaving her face.

"You're refusing me? Really, you're going to defy me?"

She set down her glass and stood up, her footsteps echoing on the floor as she approached him. She grabbed his jaw, forcing him to look up at her.

"I said bark! bark like the dog you are, or I'll make you regret it. Understood?"

Sean's heart was pounding in his chest, the fear and defiance warring inside him. He could feel her manicured nails digging into his skin, her grip as firm a chain around his neck but Sean remained silent, with jaw clenched tight. He would rather face the consequences of feeling more pain than giving up on his last straw of dignity by behaving like animal.

Layla's eyes flared with anger, her fingers tightening around his chin.

"Oh, so you think you have some pride left, huh? You think you can defy me, you worthless piece of crap?"

She let go of his chin and slap him across the face, sending him reeling.

"I SAID BARK, YOU DAMNED PIECE OF SHIT!!"

The smack stung across his face, but he kept his lips sealed, refusing to bark like a dog. His vision blurred from the unexpected slap, but he pushed himself back up onto his knees, his eyes meeting hers defiantly.

Layla was furious, her eyes wild with rage as she clenched her fists.

"You have some nerve, you useless pig! you really think you can defy me? I'm going to show you what happens when you don't obey me!"

She grabbed his hair, yanking his head back further, her fingers twisted into the strands of his hair, pulling tightly, a painful reminder of the power she had over him.

Layla's face reddened with rage, her patience snapping. She grabbed his hair again, yanking him up so he looked at her, their faces nearly touching.

"You really think you can get away with disrespecting me? You think you're too good to obey a simple command?"

She sneered, pulling at his hair harder.

The pain shot through Sean, but his eyes remained defiant, locked on her with a look that said he wouldn't give in. He might be trapped in a hell-like marriage, but he wouldn't let her break him completely. He gritted his teeth, the stinging of his scalp mixing with the burning of his cheek. Still, he didn't bark.

Layla's anger boiled over, her grip on his hair tightening as she hauled him across the room and down a door opening into the basement. The basement was dark and cold, and she pushed him inside, letting go of his hair.

Sean groaned in pain

He staggered, losing his balance and falling onto the hard floor, his body aching from the rough treatment.

"Ughhh.."

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Layla followed him down the stairs, her footsteps loud in the empty space. She closed the basement doors and locked it. She then turned the lamp which light isn't even that bright, emitting the dim light.

"You want to be defiant, do you? Well, let's see how long you can keep that up, you pathetic trash."

Sean pushed himself into a sitting position, watching her carefully. The dim light cast shadows across his face, hiding the pain coursing through his body.

"Why are you like this?..."

Layla let out a dry laugh, the sound echoing through the basement.

"Why?" she repeated, stepping closer.

"You really need to ask that? Don't you understand yet that your only purpose is to obey me, to follow my orders?"

She knelt down in front of him, her eyes cold and calculating. "You belong to me the moment you agreed to marry me in turn of paying your damn debt, you should've be grateful and do whatever I want in return, you damned loser!!"

Sean's jaw clenched, the memory of his desperate decision to marry her coming back to him. He had been desperate, backed into a corner, and she had played on his weakness, making him feel like he had no choice.

"That doesn't give you the right to treat me like this, I'm still your husband!" he said through gritted teeth.

Layla's hand met his cheek with another sharp smack, the sound loud in the small space.

"Shut up! You're a fool if you believe that. Husband, wife, it doesn't matter. You belong to me, body and soul. So you better learn your place real quick. You're nothing but a tool, a toy for me to use however i want!"

The force of her slap sent Sean's head spinning, his cheek burning. He felt the trickle of warm blood running down from the corner of his lip. He touched it gently, wincing at the stinging pain as he looked up at her, defiance still in his eyes.

Layla watched him for a moment, her expression cold and unfeeling. Then she rose to her feet, her high heels clicking on the basement floor.

"You can sleep down here. Maybe a night in the basement will teach you some manners."

With that, she left, closing the basement door and locked it, leaving him alone in the cold darkness of the basement.

Sean sat there, his body aching as he listened to her footsteps fading behind the door.

He drew a trembling breath and touched his swollen cheek, groaned as his fingers grazed against the small cut.

Sean leaned his back against the wall, wincing as the cold seeped through his clothes. The basement was freezing cold, the darkness weighing heavy on him. There was nothing to sleep on, no covers, no blankets, only the cold, hard floor.

[why's my life so fucked? where did all started to go wrong?] He thought to himself and sighed in resignation.

Sean tried his best to sleep, but the coldness of the basement, coupled with the lingering pain from Layla's blows, making it nearly impossible. Every time he closed his eyes, the cold seemed to bite deeper into him, causing him to shiver. The hours ticked by excruciating slowly, and he found himself tossing and turning, trying to find some semblance of warmth or comfort on the hard floor.

Finally, morning came, the first light streaming in through gaps in the basement window.

The combination of the cold night, the poor sleep, the physical abuse from Layla, coupled with the constant stress and anxiety, left Sean with a myriad of symptoms. His throat was sore and dry, his head pounding with a persistent headache. His body ached all over, a deep fatigue settling in his bones from lack of rest. His nose was runny and congested, and now it completed with a gnawing hunger in his stomach.

Suddenly, the basement door swung open with a bang, the light from outside spilling into the dim room. Layla's angry voice filled the space.

Sean jerked awake, blinking in the sudden brightness that seared his eyes. He slowly pushed himself into a sitting position, wincing as his body protested each movement.

"Wake up, you useless bastard! Get up and make me breakfast, NOW!"

"Yes, I'll go make your breakfast..." Sean mumbled, his voice hoarse.

Standing up, he rubbed his eyes tiredly, his breath labored, his whole body feeling heavy and achy. Seemed like he catch a cold, but he's oblivious to this fact and kept moving out the basement towards the kitchen after quickly washing up his face.

In the kitchen, he started cooking breakfast for Layla, his every movement mechanical and slow due to his fatigue and the cold he's getting. He tried to ignore it as he cooked, the task feeling like an insurmountable effort. His hand trembled slightly as he stirred the food, the headache like a vise around his skull. He took a moment to steady himself, leaning against the counter and taking a deep breath. He felt the cold settling deeper into his bones, making him shiver. With weary eyes he glanced at the clock on the wall, it is already 07:35am. He also need to get ready himself to work in his father-in-law's company, so he forced himself to move a lil bit faster. As he worked, he felt dizzy, his vision slightly blurred, the headache getting stronger. Yet, he continued, knowing the consequences of delay and knowing Layla's temper.

Every few minutes, he would pause, putting a hand to his head as the dizziness intensified. His throat was burning, his breath labored, and his nose was running. He sniffled, trying to keep it under control, but the effort felt like too much. He coughed a few times, his chest tight, pain shooting through his body. But he forced himself to keep going, to push through the cold.

Suddenly, Layla's voice cut through the air, loud and impatient.

"What's taking so long? I'm starving here!"

Sean flinched, her voice like a whip, making his headache worse. He tried to speed up but his fatigue made every movement slow and clumsy, his hands shaking a bit as he tried to plate the food.

"Almost... almost done, I'm sorry..." he said, glancing at the clock again. It was almost 8:00am now. He can’t afford to delay any longer. He grabbed the plate with breakfast, wincing at the pain that shot through his head, and carried it to the dining room. He set it down in front of Layla, who was tapping her fingers impatiently.

Layla looked at the food, her expression still annoyed.

"About damn time. You're incredibly slow today."

"I'm sorry... it was hard to sleep on the cold floor," he said, his voice cracked with the cold.

Layla gave him a disdainful look, her eyes locking on the shadows under his eyes and the slight tremor in his hands.

She raised an eyebrow, noticing the signs of fatigue and sickness.

"You look like death warmed over. You'd better not get me sick. I have a big meeting today."

Sean bit back a comment about how she could've avoided this if he hadn't forced to spent last night in the basement, but he knew better than to argue.

"I'll try not to..." he mumbled, his headache throbbing.

He took seat and start eating his breakfast as well. The food seemed tasteless, hard to swallow with his sore throat.

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Layla's voice echoed through the house again, sharp and annoyed.

"Sean, hurry up! I'm not going to be late because of you!"

Sean paused in his preparation, a sudden wave of dizziness making him grip the dresser for support. His headache was getting worse, his eyes were bloodshot, his face pale, and he felt feverish now. But he knew better than to keep Layla waiting, so he gritted his teeth and continued.

"Coming, I'm almost ready!"

Sean trudged out to the garage and got into the passenger seat as Layla demanded. The drive was quiet, Layla focusing on driving while he tried to suppress a cough. The passing traffic blurred together outside the window, their movements a dizzying whirl as his headache continued to pound. He rested his head on the headrest as he takes several short breaths, hoping it could lessen the pain slightly.

As Layla maneuvered the car into a parking spot, her voice cut through the silence.

"Remember, there's a family gathering in the next two days. Make sure you're fit and presentable, I don't want you to embarrass me in front of my family."

Sean winced at the reminder, the thought of spending a few hours with Layla's family, putting on a show of being the perfect couple, was the last thing he wanted right now.

"Yeah, I'll remember..." he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

They got out of the car, and she headed towards the elevator leading to the building where her office located at. She didn't wait for him, not even a glance back. Sean sighed, watching her go, knowing she didn't care much about his condition. He took a moment to steady himself against the car, the cold making him shiver and the headache making it hard to think straight. He pushed himself upright and limped towards the separate elevator that lead to his workplace.

When Sean entered the office, his junior who sit next to him, a lovely long haired girl named Sophia, looked up from her desk and immediately noticed his exhaustion and the paleness of his face. She stood up, her eyebrows furrowing in worry.

"Senior, you look horrible, are you feeling alright?"

Sean forced a weary smile, trying to downplay his condition.

"It's nothing, I just... didn't sleep well last night. I'll be fine, just a bit tired."

Sophia's concern didn't ease, her sharp eyes taking in the dark circles under his eyes and the subtle shiver that ran through him.

"You don't look fine to me. You're completely pale and shivering."

She put a hand gently on his forehead when Sean settled on his own desk, her touch cool against his hot skin and her worried frown deepened.

"And you're burning up. I think you've got a fever, Senior."

Meanwhile, Layla in her personal office watched the scene unfolds from the CCTV through her laptop.

As Layla watched the footage on her laptop, her lips twisted into a displeased frown. Her eyes lingered on the interaction between Sean and Sophia, her fingers tapping impatiently on the desk.

'The damn bastard, being ill yet being all friendly with that girl! He's too close to her, it makes me sick...' she thought, anger flared within her.

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"You should go see a doctor. You look terrible."

Sean shook his head, trying to brush off her concern despite his body protesting.

"I'm sorry for this, but I really can't skip today's work. I'll try my best not to pass my sickness on you."

"That's not the problem here"

"I'm fine, really. I just need to rest a bit. Besides, I have too much work to do today to take time off." Sean reassured, opened a new pack of mask and took one to use.

Sophia gave him a doubtful look, clearly not convinced by his reassurances. But she seemed to understand his stubborn determination to stay and work.

"Alright, but if you start feeling worse, you have to promise me you'll go see a doctor. And try to take frequent breaks and drink lots of fluids."

Sean nodded, appreciating her concern, but he was determined to push through the day, no matter how awful he felt.

He was also oblivious to Layla's watchful eye. Despite his ill condition, he still tried to maintain a stoic facade. Yet he couldn't deny the relief and small comfort he felt when Sophia helped him, her caring act making him feel less alone. But he always remember to keep a polite distance between them, knowing his status as a married man.

As time went on, Sophia noticed Sean's condition deteriorating, he was having more and more trouble focusing, his skin seemed paler, and his coughs became more frequent. As they were having their lunch break, Sophia, concerned for his health, leaned over and spoke softly, her voice filled with genuine worry.

"Senior, are you sure you can hold on till the end? You look even worse than this morning. You really should take the day off and rest, or at least go home early."

Sean looked up at her, his eyes dull with fatigue. She was right, he was feeling much weaker than before. His head was spinning, and even the simple act of eating felt like a chore.

"right... maybe I... I have to go home now, sorry for being a bother." he said with hoarse and strained voice.

"No, no, you're not a bother at all," Sophia assured him, grabbing a tissue gently wiping some sweat from his forehead.

"You're sick and need to rest. I'll tell our boss you're leaving early. Here, let me help you gather your things."

Sean nodded tiredly in acknowledgement. He was too exhausted to protest. With Sophia's help, he packed up his belongings and put on his coat. Every movement was slow and painful, the pain in his body and headache like a constant throb.

*[She'll definitely cut my salary once again this time]* he thought.

He used to Layla's tendency to cut his salary even with unreasonable reason and out of nowhere, let alone bcoz of taking a day off.

Once everything was packed, Sophia turned to Sean.

"Come on, let's get you home. Can you walk, or do you need me to call a cab?"

"Ugh... maybe...a cab would be better," Sean admitted, leaning on Sophia's arm for support. He took a deep breath and closing his eyes briefly until the wave of vertigo passed.

Sophia nodded, worry etched on her face.

"Yeah, I think a cab is a better idea. You look like you can barely stand."

She supported him to walk and guided him out of the office, one arm around his waist to steady him. They made their way down the hallway, each step an effort for Sean in his weakened state.

As they reached the lobby, Layla was already there, waiting, her annoyance etched on her face. Seeing Sean leaning heavily against Sophia, her irritation flared.

"Taking advantage of your illness to get close with another women, aren't we now?" she exclaimed sarcastically mixed with jealousy.

Sean flinched at Layla's tone. He knew that look on her face, her accusing voice. Even in his weak state, he knew better to defend himself against her.

"I... I..." he muttered, his voice hoarse and shaky. But before he could say anything, Sophia spoke up, her voice firm but respectful.

"Ms. Layla, he was feeling unwell, I was just helping him. Nothing more."

Layla sneered, scrutinizing Sophia from head to toe.

"Oh yeah? And you're just so eager to help, aren’t you? Always hovering around him, even outside office hours," she taunted, her eyes narrowing in a mix of jealousy and suspicion.

"Whatever. I'll take him from here, and you go back to your work. **thankyou verymuch**"

Layla's possessive behavior towards Sean was evident, her jealousy flaring as she saw him leaning on Sophia. She grabbed his arm, pulling him away from Sophia's supportive grip and practically dragged him to the car.

Sean stumbled along with her, too weak to resist. Each step was a struggle, his vision swimming and head throbbing. He could barely focus on anything apart from the effort of just standing up and the pain in his shivering body.

As they reached Layla's car, she practically shoved him into the passenger seat, not caring about his condition. His head spun as he landed unceremoniously. He leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes as the world continued to spin around him. The car ride back home was a blur, but every jolt and turn of the vehicle made his nausea worse, his headache more intense.

The journey was bumpy and slow, Layla's driving reflecting her irritation. With each bump, Sean winced, the pain in his head and body intensifying. The cold air from the A/C blew against his already feverish body, sending chills down his spine, He couldn’t help but shiver.

"Can you...lower the AC please?" he pleaded

Layla, lost in her own seething jealousy, barely glanced at him. "No, it's hot in here. Deal with it," she snapped, keeping the A/C at the same intensity.

Sean bit his lip, suppressing a groan. Each shuddering breath he took was ragged and hoarse. The chilling air made his bones feel like ice, every joint and muscle screaming in protest as he struggled to stay still.

Once Layla got him inside their house, she practically dragged him to their bedroom. Sean could barely stand, his feet feeling like lead. When they reached the bed, Layla pushed him down, causing him to stumble and collapse onto the mattress.

The room spun around him, shadows blending with the white ceiling. He groaned as pain rippled through him once he made contact with the bed.

"Stop being dramatic, you pathetic shit!" Layla spat out,

She still affected by her jealousy and couldn't help but takes on him.

Sean just lay there, too exhausted to respond or even defend himself. The pain was overwhelming, the chills racking his body even more now, His trembling hands clutched at the blanket, trying to pull it over himself for warmth, but each movement sent searing pain through him. He wanted to sleep, to just close his eyes and escape everything, but the pounding in his head made that impossible. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to will away the nausea that was now rising in his stomach. He tried to take deep breaths, but each one was a struggle, his lungs on fire.

In the background, Layla's voice continued, her words sharp and filled with anger, but they sounded distant, like an echo in the swirling fog of his mind. He couldn't make out her exact words, his fever addling his brain, making everything a blur. His last thought before he sank into a fitful sleep was a silent wish that he could escape this torment, even if it was just in his dreams.

As he finally succumbed to sleep, his fever-addled body succumbed to exhaustion, his breath now shallow and fast as he drifted off. His eyes remained closed, his features almost peaceful despite the feverish flush on his cheeks. The fever, now at its peak, ravaged his weak body. He trembled slightly under the blanket, the chills gripping him even in his sleep. His lips moved occasionally, whispering incoherent words, whether in the throes of a feverish dream or simply the random ramblings of a delirious mind, was unclear.

Layla, on the other hand, watched Sean sleep, her expression a mix of anger and bitterness. She couldn't shake off the jealousy and disappointment that burned within her. A part of her believed that he was being dramatic over a simple fever for attention or to avoid her, even though she knew deep down that it wasn't true. The sight of him sick and vulnerable stirred up conflicting feelings within her - a strange mixture of satisfaction at his misery, yet also a nagging concern hidden beneath her facade of anger. Her eyes lingered on his feverish face, and for a moment, a flicker of genuine worry crossed her mind.

For a fleeting moment, Layla considered checking Sean's temperature. Her hand hesitatingly extended towards his forehead.

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