Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
I don’t think there will be any more tea ceremony. . .
I could tell he was taking great care to not glare or raise his voice at me. Lei had spent most of his life being in a place of authority. This meant that when he asked a question, he got the answer exactly the way he fucking wanted it.
He ran his fingers through his hair then lowered his hands. “Tell me this.”
“O-kay.”
“You don’t want to tell me about the situation because whatever the problem is. . .it deals with my father and if I knew I would go in there right now and kill him?”
Fuck. He is his father’s son.
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
I pursed my lips, deciding that saying nothing was better than lying or spouting out some bullshit.
His sister is dead. I have to tell him. Right? But. . .the stupid test. . .
Lei crossed his arms over his chest, letting me know that he had no intention of going back into that ceremony without knowing what was going on. “Tell me what’s wrong, Moni.”
It’s going to break your heart. You don’t want to know right now. You’ve already lost so much.
“Moni.”
My eyes filled with tears but thank God none spilled out. “Lei. . .”
“Yes?”
“I fucked up yesterday. . .and at least today, I am trying to. . .do the right thing by you and. . .the East. . .and. . .”
“I don’t give a fuck about the East right now.” He frowned. “Do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because you look like you’re about to cry.” He unfolded his arms and took a step closer to me. “That’s my only concern right now. What’s wrong?”
“Like I said. . .I fucked up yesterday and I forgot to tell you something. It was so much happening.”
“What did you forget?”
“I told your father about. . .the feast up on Mount Utopia. . .”
“When my sister showed up?”
“Y-yes.”
“You didn’t fuck up.”
“He didn’t know what she said at the table. He was completely surprised.”
“Then, that tells me that Hu, Duck, and Chen are definitely not going back to my father about anything. They’re not his spies. That’s helpful.”
“Okay but I shouldn’t have told Leo what Yan said—”
“It wasn’t a secret. Everyone knows that Yan wanted to take over the East. It would make sense for her to come after me, once my father died.” But there was a notable different in Lei’s expression. Before concern had covered his face, now I noticed etches of fear. “Moni. . .what happened?”
Dear God. I don’t want to break his heart.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I had to say and then I looked up to gather more strength.
Do it. Just fucking do it.
The cherry blossoms above us swayed gently.
On the branches, two black crows perched and watched us and for a few seconds I wished I was them, just chilling in the sun with not a care in the world.
Sighing, I lowered my view and looked into his eyes. The love and concern in his gaze gave me the strength that I needed. “Lei, There's something you need to know and it’s. . .so sad. Heartbreaking. I don’t want you to. . .hurt or. . .”
“Whatever it is, Moni. It’ll be fine as long as. . .” Lei's expression softened as he took my hand and his grip was firm yet gentle. “As long as you’re with me, I’ll be fine.”
Fuck Leo’s cruel test. Lei’s heart is more important. I have to tell him. It’s his sister.
More tears—hot and unwelcome—pooled in my eyes and then spilled over.
I lowered my gaze, opened my mouth to answer but all that escaped was a choked. “I'm sorry.”
Those two words were inadequate—a weak apology for his loss.
Lei raised his hands, cupped my face, gently lifted my chin to make eye contact and used his thumbs to gently wipe away the tears on my cheeks. “Tell me.”
My vision blurred as more tears fell. “Your father brought me a present today. It was a box and. . .”
“A box?”
“Y-yes.”
“And. . .what was in the box, Moni?”
“Yan’s head. . .was in the box.”
Chapter seven
Shattered
Lei
Yan’s head. . .my sister’s head. . .was in a box? No. That can’t be what she said.
I stared at Moni, my mind refusing to process the words she had just spoken. There was no fucking way in this godforsaken reality that she could have said that.
Still, my world spun, the garden around me blurring as Moni’s words echoed in my mind.
I could barely breathe.
I couldn’t even think.
All I could see was Moni’s tear-streaked face and the raw pain in her eyes.
“No,” I whispered. “Are you. . .”
Moni’s eyes filled with fresh tears.
I shivered. “Are you sure it was Yan?”
“Y-yes.”
Anger, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of loss crashed into my chest.
Yan is gone? My big sister?
Letting go of Moni’s face, I stumbled back. My legs barely supported me as the reality of her death sank in.