Page 40 of Sweet Dominion

She couldn’t even finish the sentence, telling me she wasthatclose from cracking.

Suddenly. . .Aunt Suzi dropped to her knees right beneath the cherry blossom tree and just stayed there.

My heart broke at the sight.

A breeze hit and delicate petals fell around Aunt Suzi like soft tears.

I wanted to bury my face in my hands. The agony was too much to bear, but they were around and now I was back to being the Mountain Master.

I had to lead.

Aunt Min hugged herself tighter. “Suzi, get off the ground.”

Aunt Suzi just remained there with a blank look.

We have to kill him now.

I turned to Moni’s ladies-in-waiting. “Take the Mountain Mistress back to the palace and make sure no less than thirty palace guards are around her.”

They nodded.

Moni widened her eyes. “Lei. . .I understand but I don’t want to leave your side.”

“If he killed my sister.” A cold shiver ran through me. “Then, he will kill you.”

Aunt Suzi just stayed on the ground; silent and sad.

Aunt Min straightened her dress as if it were wildly wrinkled. “Lei, we must do this in a careful manner, and we must do this together.”

“Arewereally going to do this together? Kill my father? Can you even help me do it?”

“I stand with you. I cannot even. . .stomach my brother right now.” She scowled. “One could never kill family. There must be limits.”

“Then, you will go back in the ceremony and make sure that he dies today?”

Aunt Min parted her lips.

On the ground, Aunt Suzi closed her eyes.

Chen held out his hands. “We. . .still have to see if it is really Yan’s head.”

“It’s her.”

“It can’t be.” Chen shook his head. “I-I don’t think Uncle Leo could ever. . .he can’t. Right? Lei? He couldn’t.”

“He did.”

Chen looked like he wanted to lower to his knees and stay on the ground just like Aunt Suzi. Yan and Chen were the oldest of us which meant they remained close. Even when she went back to China, she would call him on his birthdays and holidays.

He’s not going to be okay after this.

I let out a long breath. “Chen, you should help Moni and her ladies get back to the palace and stay there—”

“I-I need to confirm it is Yan.”

I gritted my teeth. “We don’t have time for this.”

Moni grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Lei. . .give him a minute.”

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