Page 79 of Cruel Devotion

Under the cover of the table, a gentle hand settled atop mine, halting my hand from slowly pulling out my sword.

What?

My angry gaze shifted meeting Monique's soothing eyes.

I took in a deep breath, feeling my heart rate slow down as I stared at Monique.

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, includingCloud 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 wantedLotus Blossomtoo, yet, Father told me that Istillcould 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 youLotus Blossom, after his death?”

“Grant me.” She chuckled and took another gulp. “Little brother, the day that yougrantme 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.

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