Page 81 of Cruel Devotion

How could I reveal that her fate was entwined with mine in ways she couldn't yet comprehend?

That in my father's mind, she was not just an outsider in this intricate game but acentralpiece?

Yan rolled her eyes at me. “As usual, you have allowed Father to twist and turn you around at his will.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Have I?”

“You fell for theexactwoman that he has carefully planned for you to be with.”

Tension gathered in my shoulders. “My growing feelings for Monique have nothing to do with Father—”

“He gave her to you—”

“He did not. I came to her—”

“Due to Father—”

“Yes but not in the way that you think.”

“Oh. Of course, Lei.” Yan loudly chuckled. “God gave him a sign and she arrived? You track her due to Father's locket and that is how you meet her? Be smarter. brother.”

I placed my hands on the table and threaded my fingers. “Father has clearly caughtyouup on everything. But what do you know that I don't?”

“You know our father is smart and manipulative. You think he would just hand over Lotus Blossom to a woman he just met for a few hours,” Yan pointed at me. “You are better than this.”

I gritted my teeth.

Yan turned to Monique. “Where did you meet Father?”

“No. No.” I shook my head. “Monique, you don't have to answer my sister.”

“It is fine.” Under the table, she placed her hand on my lap and looked at Yan. “I met Leo in Glory's China Town.”

“What an incredible coincidence.” Some of the champagne spilled as Yan gestured with her glass. “Tell me, why wereyouthere in the first place?”

“My dad lived in Leo's old apartment building and I was there to see him but he never answered the phone so I was pacing outside by—”

“A tree where my Father meditated to God, praying for the right one to come to him. What a great story to tell the East.” Yan outrageously pointed at Monique. “Look, the woman that God delivered to our beloved old Mountain Master.”

I stirred.

Yan laughed. “Such a shocking coincidence that Monique's Fatherhappenedto be living in our old apartment building. I bet it was our exact apartment.”

Monique shrugged. “I don't know if it was.”

“How did your father even come to live there?” Yan leaned her head to the side. “Tell me, did he happen to meet a nice Chinesewoman who he fell in love with and just so happened to have him move in with her?”

Monique blinked. “Y-yes, but. . .that was over a year—”

“Of course it was. My father needed the next Mountain Mistress—one that would be worthy enough to stand in front of his people. It would have probably taken himtwoyears to find you.”

Chen widened his eyes.

What? No.

Yan set her glass down and crossed her arms over her chest.“And why did you need your father, Monique? I bet there was a connection to our father in some way.”

I spoke through clenched teeth, “You don't have to answer her.”

---