Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
However. . .some seemed to resonate with her passion, nodding and murmuring approvals.
Meanwhile, others looked unsure of how to react to her blunt, unfiltered truth.
Regardless. . .she is going to change the fuck out of the East.
As I stood there, watching her, a profound respect mingled with my protective instincts.
Moni was not just surviving the gauntlet of public scrutiny; she was navigating it with a fierce determination to be heard on her own terms.
I tensed.
It was a risky move, but perhaps it was exactly what was needed to pierce through the usual dance of politics and media in the East.
Was everybody truly ready for brutal honesty?
We will see.
“Forget about if the statements were racist or not.” Moni lowered her hand.
Hu raised his eyebrows and glanced at me.
Every pair of eyes was laser focused on her, and every microphone pushed out further and aimed in her direction.
“Disagreeing with someone's beliefs and opinions are one thing,” Moni paused, allowing her words to resonate within the stillness that had enveloped the crowd. “But the mercilessly taking of a life and the lives of that person’s family. . .the slaughtering of kids. . .because of a statement on social media. . .no matter how racist or wrong. . .is a profound level of depravity that I do not support.”
Oh shit.
The reporters stood like statues.
They knew who she was talking about—their beloved Grand Mountain Master—and was probably now scared to even report what she said.
In the East, when my father did something, it was right—ordained by God.
To question it was to be soulless.
In fact. . .besides my mother. . .she was the only person in the East to go on official record against my father’s actions.
Chen wiped sweat off his face. “She's done it now. . .they'll crucify her.”
But, she’s right, so it doesn’t matter what they think. They touch her, and I’ll rip their fucking hands off. In fact. . .
Stepping away from the car, I moved closer to her.
Each step felt like a declaration, not just of support, but of trust. My presence by her side was not just to offer physical protection but to publicly affirm her capability, intelligence, and strength.
I should have already hurried over here. I’m learning, Moni. Forgive me.
As I stood next to her, shoulder to shoulder and arm tightly around her waist, I could feel her slight tremble. At least now, she knew I was there for her, fully and without reservation.
I’ll never take this long to be by your side again.
Up so close, I also felt the press's anticipation, as well as the press’s silent hope that I would interrupt, that I would falter and give them the discord they hungered for.
But I remained silent.
It was Moni’s time to speak. If I was going to trust her, then I would not be the Mountain Master, interrupting and silencing her.
Still. . .just in case. . .I would be a solid presence next to her, ready to intervene not with words but with action should the need arise.
You better fucking respect Moni or I will show you more death than my father did.
While Moni didn’t appreciate the depravity of my father. . .I was my father’s son.
Violent depravity ran in my blood.
Next, Duck came into my view. He had moved a few feet to her other side, and his sword was still out as if he planned on slicing some of the press’s heads off.
More cameras flashed.
Well. . .Moni flanked by the Mountain Master and the Red Pole—that will be an interesting picture on all the newspapers tomorrow.
That one image alone would make her one of the most powerful women in the East. My aunts sat at the top of the list.
Moni’s voice remained steady and calm. “I talked to the Grand Mountain Master today, and told him that he was wrong.”
Several people gasped.
I blinked, trying to keep my face neutral.
You disagreed with my father. . .and you’re still alive.
A few others in the back simply left, nervously rushing away and not even wanting to be in the same area while this was going on, probably for fear that my father would kill them for just hearing any blasphemy against him.
In regards of our traditions, this was a massive mistake.
To date, no one had ever said my father actually murdered them last night, although it had been pretty damn clear that he had.
However, to say it out loud could cause a cataclysmic chain of events.
The truth, once spoken, could never be unsaid. People would have to decide to either swallow or fight it, and no one in the East would want to stand up against him.
Not one question came from the reporters.
Instead, the crowd sharply gasped a few more times.
Silent, Duck watched her with wide eyes.
Yeah. She’s definitely going to change the East.
“Alright. Alright.” Chen walked over to her and nervously bobbed his head. “Thank you so much for speaking today Monique, but we really have to go—”