Page 197 of Cruel Devotion

The flurry of questions, the flashes of cameras, it all blurred into the background as I focused solely on Lei, on the connection we shared that no amount of public scrutiny could diminish.

“Is she the reason why you closed the East?!”

The guards struggled to maintain order, their faces etched with concentration as they worked to create a deeper path through the turbulent sea of reporters and onlookers.

“Is she why you have been missing?”

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we reached the elevator.

Thank God.

My chest rose and fell.

I had never dealt with any form of social anxiety in my life, but this moment tested that.

How does he live like this?

Now I understood even more why his mother hated being in the palace and preferred Lotus Blossom.

There was no way I could do this every day.

It would make me crazy. They would have me on camera fighting this person and that.

Some of those damn questions were bullshit.

How long could I walk by stupid stuff like that and keep my mouth closed?

Finally, we reached the elevator.

Lei rushed us on.

Bolin and Fengge came too.

Lei shook his head. “We won't need you upstairs.”

More of his men hurried on.

Fengge sighed. “Unfortunately, sir. There's a crowd upstairs too.”

“Who the fuck is crowding that level?”

“Your harem and our aunts.”

Lei groaned in annoyance.

Bolin bobbed his head. “But it won't be as bad as this. We have men maintaining a path to your bedroom.”

The doors closed, cutting off the flashing lights and loud voices.

Lei looked like he was about to scream. Instead, he sighed again and gazed at me. “I’m sorry you had to go through this,Moni. It can be bad walking around the palace but notthisdamn bad.”

“It's like you’re the president.”

“I hold more control over their day-to-day lives than the president, so to them, I am.”

The elevator rose.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to say hi earlier.” Fengge looked at me. “Welcome to the East, Ms. Jones. Duck has already told us a lot about you.”

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