Page 177 of Cruel Devotion

I froze again.

“But. . .there’s no real confirmation.” Monique shrugged. “No DNA test or anything like that. Just the same last name and lots of old stories from my grandmother.”

My father definitely knew about the connection.

Once the East and West stopped fighting each other, they all became closer. This meant that my father kept many Killer Crow secrets. This would have easily been one of them.

Monique tilted her head to the side. “What do you think about that?”

Move on. There’s no reason to talk about it now.

“This. . .” I calmed myself. “It doesn’t change anything for me when it comes to building something with you. Just like my father picking you for me doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want to let you go.”

“O-kay.”

“It is what it is.” I shifted my focus back to the romantic date I had planned. “So. . .let’s enjoy Chef Li Mei’s culinary masterpieces and. . .only focus on us.”

Her expression brightened. “Alright.”

Recovering from the jolt of the revelation, I gently tugged her hand and led her away. “Anyway. . .I want to tell you why I decided to have us eat down here, instead of in the grand dining hall.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t think my mother ever liked the palace.”

“Really?”

“It was too big for her, too many people. Every day, she would escape back to Lotus Blossom and spend time messing around in the garden or just staring at the pond.”

“I can get that. Lotus Blossom is so big and amazing.” Monique smiled. “When we flew over it, I was thinking about all the things I would plant in that garden, and how relaxing it would be to sit out by the pond.”

“Whatever you want, seeds or anything else, just ask. I’ll make sure you have everything.”

She beamed. “Thank you, Lei.”

God, I love making her smile.

“Either way, not only did my mother dislike staying in the palace, she also hated eating in the massive dining hall too.” I shrugged. “She never wanted to eat there, but my father made her anyway. He believed that they had a duty to constantly host almost every night.”

For some reason, Monique frowned.

“However, when it was Valentine’s Day, their anniversary, Mother’s Day, or even her birthday,” I gestured to the double doors we were heading to. “This is where they ate.”

We stepped through the doors and entered a small, intimate space.

“Oh Lei. This is beautiful.” Smiling, Monique looked around. “I love it.”

The glow of candlelight bathed the room. Each flickering of flames cast dancing shadows against the white walls.

Jasmine and roses scented the air due to every corner having vases filled with flowers—peonies, jasmine, roses, and lilies.

In the center, a small table for two was set, and draped in a fine, white linen tablecloth. An arrangement of roses sat on top of it, in a crystal vase.

The table settings were impeccable, with polished silverware, crystal wine glasses, and fine China that gleamed in the candlelight.

“Lei, I can see why she loved it here.” She squeezed my hand. “All of the other rooms were huge and daunting, but this. . .it’s intimate, warm, and comfortable.”

“I’m glad you like this.” I guided her over to the table. “I wanted us to really have time to ourselves. No people coming in to interrupt. Just you and me.”

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