Page 33 of Sweet Dominion

“I’m glad that you are learning me. It makes my heart flutter.”

He wasn’t having any small talk. “Who was bothering you?”

“Lei. . .”

“My father or someone else? Was it a phone call?”

“I think that the situation. . .should be solved after the tea ceremony so I can—”

“So there is a problem?”

I blinked. “Yes.”

“What is it?”

“I want to tell you after the ceremony.”

“Why?”

“I’ll tell you that afterwards too.”

He studied me for several quiet seconds and I felt like he was peeling back the layers of my very being.

I don’t think there will be any more tea ceremony. . .

I could tell he was taking great care to not glare or raise his voice at me. Lei had spent most of his life being in a place of authority. This meant that when he asked a question, he got the answer exactly the way he fucking wanted it.

He ran his fingers through his hair then lowered his hands. “Tell me this.”

“O-kay.”

“You don’t want to tell me about the situation because whatever the problem is. . .it deals with my father and if I knew I would go in there right now and kill him?”

Fuck. He is his father’s son.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I pursed my lips, deciding that saying nothing was better than lying or spouting out some bullshit.

His sister is dead. I have to tell him. Right? But. . .the stupid test. . .

Lei crossed his arms over his chest, letting me know that he had no intention of going back into that ceremony without knowing what was going on. “Tell me what’s wrong, Moni.”

It’s going to break your heart. You don’t want to know right now. You’ve already lost so much.

“Moni.”

My eyes filled with tears but thank God none spilled out. “Lei. . .”

“Yes?”

“I fucked up yesterday. . .and at least today, I am trying to. . .do the right thing by you and. . .the East. . .and. . .”

“I don’t give a fuck about the East right now.” He frowned. “Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because you look like you’re about to cry.” He unfolded his arms and took a step closer to me. “That’s my only concern right now. What’s wrong?”

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