Illicit Infatuation-Lingorm

Chapter 10

Orm turned at the sound of Lingling's voice, her expression initially surprised and perhaps even a touch guilty. But her eyes widened as she took in the sight of Lingling, her face red and marked by the slap.

"Lingling, what happened to your cheek?" Orm rushed to her side, her concern for Lingling overriding any other thoughts in her mind.

"It's nothing..." Lingling tried to downplay the mark on her cheek, but her voice betrayed her. The pain and hurt were evident, both from the physical injury and the emotional turmoil she was going through.

Orm's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing as she gently touched the red mark on Lingling's cheek. "This doesn't look like nothing," she said firmly.

"It was... it was Jake," Lingling admitted, her voice shaky. Her eyes welled up with tears as the memory of the event resurfaced. "He... slapped me."

Orm's features hardened as she took in the news. Her grip on Lingling's hand tightened, a mix of anger and concern in her eyes. "He what?!"

Orm's anger towards Jake grew stronger, her eyes darkening at the revelation. "That bastard," she hissed through clenched teeth. "How could he lay a hand on you?"

Lingling trembled, the trauma of the event still fresh in her mind. "I couldn't take it anymore," she whispered, her voice quavering. "He was trying to... to force himself on me. I just reacted, grabbed a vase and hit him with it. I didn't know what else to do."

Orm's eyes widened in shock and anger, her grip on Lingling's hand tightening. "He tried to force you?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief and rage. "He had no right to touch you without your consent."

Lingling's tears started to fall freely, the pain and fear she experienced coming rushing back. "I didn't know what else to do," she repeated, her voice quivering. "I had to get away. I was so scared, Orm."

Orm pulled Lingling into a tight embrace, her voice gentle and soothing. "It's okay, you did what you had to do to protect yourself. You're safe now, I'm here."

Lingling melted into Orm's embrace, her body shaking with sobs as the emotions of the day finally caught up with her. She buried her face in Orm's shoulder, taking comfort in the warmth and safety of her arms. Orm held her tightly, one hand gently stroking Lingling's hair while the other rubbed soothing circles on her back.

Orm's heart broke at the sight of her beloved in such distress. She could feel the tremors running through Lingling's body, the fear and pain radiating off her in waves. It took every ounce of Orm's self-control not to march back to that house and tear Jake limb from limb for daring to lay a hand on Lingling.

But Orm knew that violence wouldn't solve anything. What Lingling needed now was support, love, and a safe haven. Orm pulled back slightly, cupping Lingling's face in her hands and gently wiping away her tears with her thumbs.

"Shh, it's okay," Orm murmured, her voice soft and soothing. "You're safe now, Lingling. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."

As Lingling's tears began to subside, her focus shifted to Orm and the sight of her packing her belongings. She suddenly remembered the fact that Orm was preparing to leave.

"Why are you packing?" Lingling asked, her voice a mixture of surprise and worry. "Where are you going?"

As Lingling bombarded her with questions, Orm's thoughts swirled with irritation and frustration as she dwelled on the intrusion of the paparazzi. She thought to herself, "Damn paparazzis, they have no sense of privacy or decency. Even in my hometown, I can't seem to catch a break from them. With my hiatus, I figured they'd leave me alone, but they just don't know how to give a girl some space."

Orm met Lingling's gaze, her expression torn between worry and responsibility. "Lingling, you know about the rumors spreading, right? My agent called. They want me to address the situation, clear up the misunderstanding. It can hurt my acting career if things snowball further."

"When will you leave?" Lingling asked, her voice trembling slightly. "And where will you go?"

Orm glanced at her watch, her expression thoughtful. "My agent wants me to fly out to Los Angeles tonight," she explained. "There's a press conference scheduled for tomorrow morning. But I'm not sure how long I'll be away," she admitted, her tone filled with a hint of regret. "It depends on how quickly I can address the situation and reassure my agency. But I promise, I'll come back to you as soon as I can."

Lingling's heart ached at the uncertainty of when they would see each other again. She wanted to ask Orm to stay, to plead with her, but she knew that Orm had obligations that she couldn't ignore.

Lingling buried her face in Orm's shoulder, her emotions a mix of sadness, fear, and love. "I'll miss you" she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared, Orm. What if something happens while you're gone?"

Orm held onto Lingling tightly, her words filled with reassurance.

"Don't worry," she said, her voice steady yet gentle. "I'll handle the agency and clear my name. They'll help me find a solution. As for your husband, I'll arrange for one of my bodyguards to keep watch. I won't let him do anything to hurt you while I'm gone."

Orm gave Lingling a comforting smile, her touch gentle against her skin. "We'll get through this, together," she affirmed, her voice filled with determination."

Orm caressed Lingling's cheek, her thumb gently grazing the red mark left by Jake. "And this bruise..." she said, her voice laced with anger and protectiveness. "I won't let him get away with treating you like this. He needs to pay for his actions."

Lingling leaned into Orm's touch, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. "I don't know what I'd do without you," she murmured, her voice filled with vulnerability. "You always know how to make everything feel better, even in the darkest times."

Lingling leaned in to place a gentle kiss on Orm's cheek. "Promise me you'll be careful, okay? And call me as soon as you can."

Orm wrapped her arms around Lingling, holding her close. "I promise," she whispered, her breath warm against Lingling's ear. "I'll be back before you know it, and we'll have all the time in the world to be together."

Orm's arms tightened around Lingling as she spoke, her voice heavy with tender determination. "Just hold on tight until I come back," she repeated, her words barely above a whisper.

Then, a flicker of uncertainty flitted across Orm's face, and she hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I'll miss you more than you could imagine," she added, her voice tinged with a hint of unsaid worry. She leaned down, her lips finding Lingling's in a quick, possessive kiss, as if trying to cling onto the last moments they had together.