Page 39 of Sweet Dominion

Aunt Min looked at Moni. “What is he talking about? Please explain this to me.”

Moni stepped forward. “Leo gave me a present before the tea ceremony. It was a box with Yan’s head inside of it.”

Aunt Min held up her hand. “That is. . .quite enough. I don’t find any of this funny! Stop it!”

Moni blinked.

In that moment, I noticed Chen and Moni’s ladies-in-waiting rushing over too. Apparently, it was about to be a big group meeting.

Aunt Min looked at me. “Why are you saying these things?”

I spoke. “Because it’s true.”

Aunt Suzi put her view on Moni. “Y-you never even met Yan so. . .how would you know that was actually her head in the box?”

I spoke for Moni. “Yan came to Mount Utopia after we left the hotel to train. I had a feast for her and during it Yan talked about planning on going to war with me once Father was dead.”

Aunt Min shook her head. “There would have been no war. We would have made sure of it.”

“That was my plan too.” I nodded. “But. . .perhaps my father didn’t trust that we couldactuallyhandle Yan.”

“No. No.” Aunt Suzi waved my comment away. “Monique only saw Yan once. That means it could have been anyone.”

I scowled. “He killed her.”

Chen and the ladies-in-waiting approached.

Aunt Min held her hand over her heart. “Where is Yan’s head?”

Chen shrieked. “W-what did she say?”

I pursed my lips and looked at Moni.

Moni swallowed. “Yan’s head is still in the box. I put the top over it so the kitchen staff wouldn’t see it and get traumatized.”

Chen raised one hand. “Excuse me. What do you mean when you say. . .Yan’s head?”

I frowned. “Father killed her.”

Chen quirked his brows. “But. . .this is a different Yan? Right? Not your sister, Yan?”

Before I could answer, Aunt Min held both of her hands to her head. “This is my fault.”

I shook my head. “It’s not your fault.”

“Leo asked me to invite Yan back to the States. I thought he needed her to convince you not to kill him but. . .” She trailed off, gripping at the fabric of her dress. “But he had other intentions.”

Aunt Suzi staggered a few steps back. “No. No. . .Leo couldn't have. . .This ismybrother you are talking about. Leo would never. He knows better.”

Aunt Min hugged herself. “We thought he wouldn’t kill little Chanel or Romeo. Kids that we watched grow up. But he did it.”

“Let's not jump to conclusions.” Chen interjected, but his eyes mirrored our horror. “We need to see the. . .head. To confirm.”

I could tell Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi wanted to cry but they wouldn’t. That was the way of their generation, to hold it all in—their emotions, worries, everything.

One was never to show any devastation or sadness on their face.

Aunt Min let out a long breath. “We need a plan for,if. . .Yan is really. . .”

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