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)
Song bobbed his head. “However, Lei should not give the body back to the West, until he can show that he has killed Leo.”
Leo touched his neck. “Make sure Lei shows them my head.”
“Uh. . .” I widened my eyes in horror. “O-kay.”
“That’s very important, Monique.”
“Alright.” I tried not to vomit from the idea of Lei having Leo’s head and Chanel’s corpse. It was all too damn much for my liking. Still, I pushed through my disgust and spoke, “So, then instead of delivering Chanel’s body to the West, hand her over to Chen at the end of the battle.”
Song gave me a half bow. “I promise to do that.”
“If. . .we even need the battle,” I added.
Leo smirked. “I explained why I must die, Monique.”
I gazed at Leo. “Okay.”
“You are in the East now.”
I sighed. “Well. . .I don’t want you to kill Yan because of what I just told you.”
“You would rather Lei be forced to kill her, after killing me?”
Fuck. Fair point.
“I must solve this problem, Monique. I am the one who caused it.” Leo rubbed his forehead. “Jing. . .tried to stop me many times during their childhood and. . .many times I ignored her. . .thinking that I knew best. I didn’t. This is why you must take control with Lei when it comes to my grandchildren. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” I swallowed. “However. . .I don’t like that a lot of the solutions in the East come with death.”
“Then, be the change, Monique.” Leo lowered his hand. “Damn it. We must have this tea ceremony—”
“Brother, we must get you out of here.” Song straightened his stance and began to go down the stairs. “Perhaps, I can talk to Lei and get some sort of agreement to let us safely leave the East.”
Leo snorted. “We took Monique out of the palace, he will not listen to you. He will be deranged.”
I touched my chest. “Then, I can talk to Lei.”
“Once you are out of this house and safely with him, the battle will begin, right here in his childhood home. And he will not compromise with you on that fact.” Leo shook his head. “A battle in Lotus Blossom. . .Jing. . .would shed tears in heaven at the sight.”
Death upon death. Why does the East have to be so violent?
But more important. . .why did I care?
And why. . .was I starting to lean further on the side of not wanting Leo dead?
Now knowing everything, Leo hadn’t just killed out of malice; it was strategic, almost paternal in its own sickly disturbing way.
He was pruning the branches that could choke the future he envisioned for his family—his kingdom.
And wasn’t there something almost loving in his ruthless efficiency?
He had orchestrated these dark deeds to protect something dear to him, much like a father might step into the shadows to keep his children bathed in sunlight.
It was this paradox that unsettled me the most.
Because I would do anything to keep my sisters safe.
I don’t want Lei and Leo to fight right now. It would break my heart.
Song continued down the stairs, and Leo began to command his men, telling them to go down and guard the bottom level. And all I could do was think back to Leo’s speaking of dying to reunite with Jing and how he believed his death would allow Lei’s true potential to unfold.
Damn. That’s some heavy shit. While I might kill for my sisters, I don’t think I would die for them. . .
It was crazy, but I found myself now wrestling with the idea of Leo’s death. Part of me—a part I wasn’t entirely comfortable acknowledging—didn’t want him to die. Perhaps because in this twisted new crazy reality, he was willing to be my guide in the East, however morally ambiguous.
There was this other nagging thing in my chest that I didn’t like.
Did part of me see him as a father figure?
That thought was a bitter pill to swallow if I even dared.
I had lost both of my parents and then been thrust into a role I was never prepared for, in this odd land of rules called the East where I had no knowledge of. Then, here was Leo, a figure so commanding, so sure of his world and its rules.
In fact. . .he was the person who made the fucking rules in the first place.
Yet, how could I reconcile these conflicting emotions—the understanding and the revulsion?
He was a killer, a manipulator, a mastermind who played with lives like chess pieces.
But, he also showed a capacity for love and sacrifice that was undeniably profound.
Maybe this was what power was—a heavy crown of thorns laced with blossoms, cutting into you even as it beautified your brow.
Then, many began slamming the front door over and over, yanking my attention back to the present moment.