CHAPTER 6
"Where were you when the Frost family was murdered in cold blood?!" Jade yelled at him, before taking a step backwards. "Don't tell me… No, you couldn't have. You c–can't… Y–you betrayed dad?"
Her voice broke as the words left her mouth. She hoped that her words weren't true, but she still couldn't help the thought that ran through her mind as she waited.
Her father had always told her he was there, in the shadows to protect him. So where was he? Her eyes suddenly turned cold as she stared him straight in the eyes and said, "Where is my black and golden box?"
"Easy there, young lady Jade. It is safely kept." His hands were raised in front of his chest in a surrendering and defenceless manner.
"I'll be the one to determine where is safe and where is not."
She stretched her hand with her palm facing outward, with her cold expression still clearly displayed on her face. "Hand it over, now."
"Easy, there princess and listen to me. You asked me a question, now it is my turn to explain."
Her brows moved up forming an arch as she stared at him with indifference. "Go on," she replied flatly.
"Thank you."
Awaiting her reply, he got none and moved closer to the leather cushion in the room to sit down. He sat down crossed legged with one hand on the cushion's headrest and the other on his thigh as his back rested fully on the couch.
His all-black outfit was a total contrast from the white room, giving liken to a black and white film.
"Please sit," he gestured for her to sit down on the bed with his hand on his thigh, but she refused him and said, "I'll pass. Cut to the chase," she said in a demanding, authoritative tone.
"Okay, you really are his daughter."
"My patience is running thin."
"Patience is a virtue…"
"That I do not have. I lost my patience and humanity when my family, relatives and close associates were murdered without a second thought. So answer me now, before the last shred of patience I have gets thrown out the goddamn window!"
Her breathing hitched, her chest rising and falling in reaction with her outburst just now. Her cold eyes that he wouldn't have thought could get any colder became worse, a cold red sharp piercing eyes stared at him.
Instantly his eyes became like hers, mirroring her anger and hate. It was as though they shifted. Her eyes widened as she noticed the change in his eyes but she quickly masked her expression and maintained her fierce aura.
"I hate them as well. I hate them the most. They took everything from me as well, but like your father would always say, do everything with a clear mind and you wouldn't regret it. Never make any decision out of emotions."
Her eyes softened a bit hearing her father's words from his mouth, but they still remain cold. She understood what he meant but right now, her heart was heavy and it bled from within, especially when she recalled how Asia was shot dead.
"I couldn't protect your father because I was busy protecting you."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Everything that it means, young lady Jade. On your sixth birthday when we first met, according to you, your father handed me over to you as your personal bodyguard. I was to remain in the shadow just as I did for him and guard over you."
He paused and watched as she took everything he said in, then continued.
"He had enemies and he knew they would want to get back at him one day by taking you out. He couldn't bear with that, the thought of losing you would kill your mother and himself, so I was tasked with your protection."
"But I had Asia. He had none like you. Didn't he know they would target him as well?"
"He did. I also guarded him then. It was a double guard duty and I managed to pull it off well."
"Until today."
"No, until three years back when his dealing spanned across our borders to other cities. He made deals with them before he found out they couldn't be trusted. He knew there was a plot against him and they were bent on taking him down, so he changed my duty to solely protect you. I protested of course, but damn Frost and his stubbornness. He wouldn't have it. To him, you were the most important thing in his life and he would willingly give his life for yours any day."
Jade's eyes widened upon his confession. True, she had felt watched countless times and was saved by someone when she met some strange crisis that Asia and herself couldn't get out from, but she couldn't pinpoint who it was that always helped her and called him her guardian angel.
Even at the mansion, when they ran out of the room, it was because the person shooting from across the house suddenly stopped. She could understand why now. He took care of it.
Even when they ran from her father's study, they encountered some men and were taken out by several bullets as they fought. She had once again thought it was any of the guards that were left in the house.
It was only now that everything made sense to her.
Her cold eyes changed as the tears threatened to break free. The screams from the people those men killed and her mother's shriek cry still rang endlessly in her ears.
Although she felt pain for losing her family, what pained her the most was watching her best friend die before her eyes.
Jade didn't know when the tears broke free from their sockets, but her vision suddenly became blurry and she managed to scoot over to the bed and sat down.
Everyone had risked their lives to save her but what was she supposed to do now after losing everything?
She felt weak for not being able to protect the people she loved. Her mother, father, best friend, relatives… They all meant the world to her, but now they were gone, all dead.