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)
Yan looked up at him. “But I made the sword and—”
“It doesn’t matter who made the sword, Yan, but it does matter who holds the sword and that will forever be Lei.”
His words hung in the air.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
The carefree world Yan and I had created shattered under the weight of his disapproval.
He gestured to me. “Get the sword from her.”
I glanced at Yan and couldn’t move.
“Okay, Daddy.” Her shoulders slumped and the sword dropped in her hand.
I still didn’t move.
Seconds later, she gave it to me and then left.
So confused, I watched her retreat, head bowed leaving me alone with our father and the sword.
I was too young to understand the full implications of his words, too naive to see the dark undertones.
All I knew was, something had shifted that day.
Something irrevocable.
And little by little, Yan and I. . .we never were the same.
We never played the same.
The close connection we had as kids slowly widened between us, eroding into toxicity. Tainted by my father’s bullshit plans for the East.
Now. . .we would never heal the bond that my father had torn apart.
I thought. . .I had time. . .
Returning to the present moment, I took a shuddering breath and tried to steady myself.
Moni looked at me. “Talk to me, baby.”
“Yan deserved better than that.” I wiped my tears.
“I-I’m sorry for. . .telling him.”
“No, Moni.” I shook my head. “You think he just decided to kill her last night?”
“Yes. If I had never said anything—”
“My father is not that impulsive, Moni. He's cold. Calculating. This was planned. . .for a long time.”
My heart threatened to break free from my chest.
“But Song looked surprised.”
“My uncle was probably just surprised that he actually did it but I bet even Uncle Song knew of his plan months ago.”
“And your aunts?”
I looked up and to my shock, Aunt Suzi and Aunt Min were heading over. “Well. . .we’ll see, if my aunts knew.”
Moni glanced over her shoulder. “Oh.”
They both marched over with fury in their eyes, their usually pleasant expressions twisted into scowls. Their fists were clenched tightly and their steps were heavy as they approached.
I let go of Moni and fully faced them.
Aunt Min stopped four feet in front of us. “Lei, what are you doing? The tea ceremony was already going spectacular. Monique had all of their hearts with that speech and the tea smells delicious but is probably cold now—”
“Did you know my father killed Yan?”
Fast, Aunt Min stepped back like I brutally slapped her.
I frowned. “Did you?”
Widening her eyes, Aunt Min looked at Moni and then she turned back to me. “What did you say?”
“Did you know that my father killed my sister? Cut off her head.”
“What are these lies?” Aunt Suzi’s aggravated face now twisted in pure horror. “Do not ever talk about my brother in that way—”
“He killed her.”
“Lei.” Aunt Suzi pointed at me. “This is not funny. I do not know what you are trying to do but. . .”
She couldn’t even finish the sentence as that pointed finger shook.
I studied them both and understood one simple fact.
They didn’t know.
Aunt Min looked at Moni. “What is he talking about? Please explain this to me.”
Moni stepped forward. “Leo gave me a present before the tea ceremony. It was a box with Yan’s head inside of it.”
Aunt Min held up her hand. “That is. . .quite enough. I don’t find any of this funny! Stop it!”
Moni blinked.
In that moment, I noticed Chen and Moni’s ladies-in-waiting rushing over too. Apparently, it was about to be a big group meeting.
Aunt Min looked at me. “Why are you saying these things?”
I spoke. “Because it’s true.”
Aunt Suzi put her view on Moni. “Y-you never even met Yan so. . .how would you know that was actually her head in the box?”
I spoke for Moni. “Yan came to Mount Utopia after we left the hotel to train. I had a feast for her and during it Yan talked about planning on going to war with me once Father was dead.”
Aunt Min shook her head. “There would have been no war. We would have made sure of it.”
“That was my plan too.” I nodded. “But. . .perhaps my father didn’t trust that we could actually handle Yan.”
“No. No.” Aunt Suzi waved my comment away. “Monique only saw Yan once. That means it could have been anyone.”
I scowled. “He killed her.”
Chen and the ladies-in-waiting approached.
Aunt Min held her hand over her heart. “Where is Yan’s head?”
Chen shrieked. “W-what did she say?”
I pursed my lips and looked at Moni.
Moni swallowed. “Yan’s head is still in the box. I put the top over it so the kitchen staff wouldn’t see it and get traumatized.”
Chen raised one hand. “Excuse me. What do you mean when you say. . .Yan’s head?”
I frowned. “Father killed her.”
Chen quirked his brows. “But. . .this is a different Yan? Right? Not your sister, Yan?”