Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
She was a calm presence, a grounding force in the midst of the chaos that seemed to follow me wherever I went.
The crow's cawing faded into the night sky.
I gulped.
With Monique's touch, my resolve altered.
Logic returned.
There was no point in starting a fight with Yan here, the East had enough to deal with, they did not need to know about in-fighting.
Moving my hand so that I held Monique's soft one, I lifted my view back to the table.
Hu's hands were under the table. I had no idea what he had grabbed, but it was lethal.
Duck had followed suit. His food was ignored. Fury blazed in his eyes as he watched Yan's men.
Yet, Chen—my devoted deputy—nodded at Monique and let out an exasperated breath.
I placed my view back on my sister. “Why are you here?”
Yan's eyes flickered between Monique and then me. A smile played on her lips. “I saw Father today.”
Those words knocked me off my guard. She might as well had slapped me.
More servers appeared in a parade of food and placed dishes after dishes on the table around us. Peking duck doused in blueberry hoisin sauce, steamed blue-spotted grouper sprinkled with rose gold flakes, and even more.
Yet, no one picked up their chopsticks.
All—even Monique—stared at Yan.
“He was getting all of his affairs in order.” Yan gestured for a nearby waiter to refill her glass.
The man rushed over and poured the golden, bubbly liquid. Once he finished, she took a large gulp and continued, “He gave me tons of properties, including Cloud Sea Tower. Have you ever been, dear brother?”
“I haven't.”
“It is in the heart of Shanghai, a solid blue towering skyscraper, every floor painstakingly designed by the finest architects.”
I leaned my head to the side. “Are you happy that he gave it to you?”
“I am not.” Yan's fingers idly toyed with the stem. Her eyes, once gleaming with malice, were now clouded with a pain that seemed out of place. “I wanted Lotus Blossom too, yet, Father told me that I still could not walk through those halls. Apparently, my past actions of disloyalty to you made me unworthy of even putting my foot into our childhood home.”
“Is that why you are here?” I studied her. “You want me to grant you Lotus Blossom, after his death?”
“Grant me.” She chuckled and took another gulp. “Little brother, the day that you grant me anything is the day you bleed on the ground like Chanel.”
Under the table, Monique squeezed my hand harder as if making sure I wouldn't jump up and harm my sister.
But little did she know that she had already calmed me. Her touch was a balm to my dark soul. With her by my side, there would be no need to fight this evening.
I slipped my thumb along her palm and gestured with my other hand for everyone to eat.
Chen remained still, watching Yan.
However, Hu and Duck who were surely hungry, returned to their bird’s nest soup, slurping and munching.
I let out a long breath. “What is this?”
Yan glared at me. “Are you going to introduce me to the woman that sits on our mother's throne? The woman who now has the keys to Lotus Blossom?”
Clearly nervous, Monique picked up her glass with the other hand and took a sip.
“There's no need.” I frowned. “If you know Father gave the property to her, then you know her name and you know her place in my life.”
“Yes. Yes.” Yan chuckled. “This Monique, is to be the next Mountain Mistress.”
My frown deepened.
Monique coughed on her champagne.
Chen stirred.
Fuck? Why did she have to say that?
Chapter thirteen
Family Drama
Lei
There was a suffocating tension at the table that silenced all and even stopped everyone from eating.
Monique put her glass down.
The air grew thick and heavy, each breath feeling like a conscious effort.
Every face at the table was a portrait of unease—eyes darted but no one made direct eye contact, and mouths were pressed into thin, tight lines.
I should have probably told Monique that she was a huge part of my father's plan.
However, so much had happened and amidst the chaos and tensions, there simply wasn't a right moment to bring it up.
But was there ever going to be a right moment?
Besides, I still wasn't sure how I felt about it, which was why I made a point to not think about it.
All I knew was that in this short time she had inexplicably become a force in my life. The way her laughter echoed in my ears long after it had faded, the warmth of her touch lingering on my skin, the way her mere presence could calm the raging storm inside me.
It was all magnetic—the pull she had on me.
When she spoke, I found myself hanging onto every word. I'd catch myself watching her when she wasn't looking, tracing the curve of her lips, the way her eyes sparkled when she was passionate about something.