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)
None of it mattered.
My father had threatened her life, and even now she was still far away from me and with him.
I just had to have her back and safe with me, far away from his sharpened blade.
Father. . .please don’t kill her like you did Chanel. I understand now. . .just please. . .this is my life. . .my happiness. . .and Moni. . .
I swallowed down heartache.
Moni did nothing to be a victim of your threats. She’s good. Better than us.
Chen disturbed my thoughts. “The final battle is important to Uncle Leo. He will not do anything to mess that up.”
“So. . .you think I should honor letting him go if Moni is safe with me?”
“You must honor it, Lei.”
“I will never forgive him for threatening her life.”
“That’s fine. Keep that energy when you face him in the battle.” Chen let out a long breath. “After today is over. . .it will be two more days. There’s no need for him to mess up the deal. All violence will be realized during the battle.”
“I hope you’re right.” I watched the car ahead. “I’m just. . .afraid. I don’t want her to be another pawn in his games. I can’t stand the thought of her in danger because of decisions I can't control.”
Hu cleared his throat. “It’s not just about control, Lei. It’s about trust.”
I looked back at him.
Hu continued, “Trust in Monique’s strength, in her ability to stand beside you, not behind you.”
I pursed my lips.
Hu shrugged. “You love her. You want to protect her, but part of that protection is trusting her judgment, even when it scares you.”
Silence fell again as I processed his words.
Were my men right?
Did my fear and instinct to protect Moni cloud my judgment?
As if hearing me, Duck spoke, “We have to give Monique credit. She’s a fast learner when it comes to Uncle Leo and you.”
I turned around, put my gaze back on the car, and thought back to what Moni had said to me earlier, right before walking off with my father.
“I’m fine. Just. . .trust me, Lei. It will all be okay.”
I fisted my hands, knowing I had to keep calm.
Trust. . .
Such a simple word, but so heavy with implications.
Could I trust her to handle a man like my father? The man who had molded me with iron and fire, who had never once hesitated to use violence and death to teach me lessons.
Damn it, Moni. I will try my best to trust you. I swear to God. . .just. . .
Cold fear shivered through me.
I can’t lose you. I can’t. . .but. . .I’ll trust you.
My hands shook as I tried to go down this new path of thought.
Can I trust Moni to handle this? Well. . .she’s been handling me. . .and my men. . .pretty fucking decently.
I let out a long breath.
Alright. . .I’ll trust you. Maybe. . .you’ve got this. . .
The whole time, my thoughts had been consumed with fear about what my father was whispering in Moni’s ear—what lies and manipulations he was weaving around her.
But now, with everyone’s words lingering in the air, a new consideration began to take shape in my mind.
What if the true power of the conversation wasn't just what my father was imposing on Moni, but what she was imparting to him?
Fuck. . .Could you speak sense to him, Moni? Surely. . .you’ve been able to get me to calm down.
What if she was not just passively receiving my father’s threats or plans but actively challenging them?
It was hard but. . .I began to envision Moni, not just as a victim caught in the web of my father's dark designs, but as a negotiator, strong and cunning, using her position to shift the dynamics of power.
Please, God. I hope so.
Maybe she was planting seeds of doubt in my father’s mind, challenging his perceptions of control, or perhaps she was laying down her own rules to the game, making it clear she was no mere pawn.
I ran my shaking fingers through my hair.
It could be true. . .there was a reason my father would make her Mountain Mistress. Never would he have picked a weak-minded woman.
And I knew for a fact that there was nothing weak about Moni.
These thoughts brought with them a mix of emotions—pride in her courage and intellect, intertwined with a twinge of guilt for having doubted her capability, even if just for a moment.
She’s reasoning with him. . .yeah. . .I have to believe that. . .
I sat there, processing this shift in perspective, it was hard to admit this, but I also realized that my role might also need to change too.
Tension gathered in my shoulders.
While I was damn sure ready to protect her. . .I was finding it difficult to support her when she was navigating treacherous terrain.