Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“So, Leo was always very religious?”
“Always.” I nodded. “And therefore, he believed that art should make us reflect on both the beauty and the cruelty of the world.”
She glanced around at the towering ceilings and the luxurious decor, then turned to me with a playful glint in her eyes. “Lei, what was it like growing up in a place like this? It must have been quite the experience.”
“My father heavily guarded me, I barely got to leave the East. And when I did, it was to go to the Syndicate’s grand homes in the North or West. Therefore, I never truly understood how wealthy we all really were. In the early years, I thought most kids lived in a mansion or palace.” I grinned. “Honestly, when I did get free time, usually Chen, Duck, and me got in trouble.”
“Oh no.” She smirked. “What did you three used to do?”
“We were about twelve, full of energy and always looking for trouble. One day, we got our hands on skateboards. Don’t ask me how but we did. And we thought, what better place to try these skateboards out than the grand hall?”
“In here?”
I nodded.
“Oh I know someone whipped your little behinds.”
“Basically.”
She scanned the long space again. “But I bet it was fun as hell.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “There we were, skateboarding down this very hall. Duck was doing his best to show off, trying to ollie. Chen of course was more cautious, but still in on the fun.”
“And you?”
“I thought I was a daredevil, so I was skating backwards.”
She chuckled.
“And that was how I pretty much skateboarded backwards right into my father.”
“Oh shit.”
“He beat us with our own skateboards. I couldn’t sit for a few weeks.” I chuckled.
Monique widened her eyes. “Seriously?”
I nodded. “Seriously.”
“I mean. . .but you’re exaggerating a little bit? Right? You could sit the next day.”
“No. It was painful to sit in any way. For a good two weeks, we all had to lay on our sides and was allowed to eat in our bedrooms at night.”
“Jesus.” She studied me. “Yan said at the dinner table that your father put her in the hospital for beating you. Did she overexaggerate that?”
“No.” I shook my head. “That happened.”
“Damn. That’s. . .”
I raised my eyebrows. “That’s what?”
“Nothing.” She began walking.
I kept my pace next to her and squeezed her hand. “What?”
“That’s child abuse, Lei.”
Yeah. Dima and she will get along very well.
I slowly nodded. “But that’s the East.”
She glanced at me. “Is that how you are going to discipline your kids?”
Without any hesitation, I shook my head. “No. That bullshit dies with me. My sons and daughters will never know that sort of life.”
“Sons and daughters?” She smirked. “How many kids are you trying to have?”
I seared her with my stare. “How many kids do you want?”
She blinked. “Uh. . .I don’t know.”
“You should probably start thinking about that.” I shouldn’t have but I gazed at those lovely full breasts. “Have you ever thought about having kids?”
She paused and I stopped next to her.
She let go of my hand, put her back to me, and gazed at a portrait of my mother gazing at the pond in front of Lotus Blossom. “I’ve always imagined being a mother someday. Then, I started taking care of my sisters and I know being a mother isn’t easy at all.”
“But does that stop you from dreaming about having kids of your own?”
“Not at all. I still want them.”
“Me too.” I admitted. “But, you know, I’d want to do things differently than my parents.”
“Differently?” She faced me.
I nodded, searching for the right words. “In my household, my father was the ruler. His word was law. My mother had no say on most of anything. But I want something different. . . more equal, you know? A household where decisions and responsibilities are shared.”
“That sounds like a healthy approach. But. . .”
“What?”
“You’re the Mountain Master. You’re used to people listening to you all the time and so. . .you simply expect it from everyone.”
“I’m like that with you?”
She grinned. “Are you really asking me that?”
I tensed. “I am.”
“You’re like that with me.”
I sighed. “I wasn’t trying to be that way.”
“You just have to practice listening. . .”
“Listening to you.”
She looked back at the painting of my mother. “If we’re going to. . .be together then yes you would have to listen to me too. You think that would be challenging, considering the traditions you were raised with?”
“My upbringing was steeped in the idea of the head of the family having the final say.” I pushed through the pressure in my chest and spoke, “But I believe in change, in evolving.”
She smiled at me. “You’re willing to evolve into a nicer Mountain Master?”
“When you’re concerned.”
“And everyone else?”
“They’ll get the same bullying hard-headed ogre.”
Chuckling, she strolled away.
I was at her side fast, taking her soft hand into mine and pulling her closer to my side. “However, I’m not sure how easy it would be to give up some degree of control. You may have to remind me a few times about this conversation in the hall.”