Why did she run away? Why didn't she stay behind and fight back for her country?
"Yanfeng, I'm sorry, but I plan to go back," Yanyue said quietly, clasping her hands together tightly, and her gaze was firm.
There was a concerned look from Yanfeng on the couch.
"You can't go back," the man shook his head, "because it is too risky."
"It is a dangerous place for you now."
Yanyue got up from the chair and walked over to the large glass window. Klotho was not a big company, so she could still see people outside going about their daily lives from the fifth floor.
"Did you forget that I was the disposed and cursed princess?"
She seemed to recall her whole life from that question.
"My identity had always been a secret within the royal family. No one knows that there was a princess who was hidden away since her birth."
Yanfeng did not find those facts reassuring and still frowned.
"Lulu, your uncle could kill his brother because of his greed. Do you think he wouldn't find you a threat? Your life would always be in danger having just an ounce of the royal bloodline."
Yanyue was quiet. She understood that the moment she stepped back into Zanaark, she would be living like every day was her last day. But she had already decided to avenge her family. Her unborn child. Her dear brother.
She didn't know if Lucianne was still alive because the girl had eloped with her lover. She hoped that they were safe.
"Do you remember Sile, the childhood friend I told you about in those letters? He was the orphan boy my brother raised to become his confidante."
Yanyue turned around to face Yanfeng and continued, "I met him. He was still alive." She almost choked at the impossibility of it. Everyone she knew and had ever loved was either killed in front of her or after she left. She could not have imagined that Sile got away.
"I will go back with him after I settle matters here."
Yanfeng was speechless and did not believe she wanted to return to that hellish cage.
"Zanaark never wanted you to begin! They put you away as if your life was meaningless!"
"Regardless!" Yanyue shouted.
When she realized she was being brash, she sighed and turned back to look outside the windows.
"You don't know, but I was the cause of everything. If I hadn't...married that man, then he wouldn't have gained access to Zanaark's resources, and none of this would have happened."
Yanyue clutched her heart, and tears began trickling down her cheeks. She was in so much pain. No one could understand how excruciating it was.
For this fickle emotion called love, she abandoned her self-worth and caused many innocent people to die at the hands of enemies.
Before she died, she promised to right every wrong she had done. She was prepared to take the lives of those who had a hand in the termination of Zanaark.
Including him as well.
Beichen.
She would never let him go.
Yanfeng was stunned.
The woman in front of him was different from before. She used to be so naive and sheltered. But now she was clad in armor, and it was so thick that no one could penetrate it. Her resolve and determination were unmovable as a mountain.
"Lulu..."
"It's late. Please go back, President Yang."
Yanfeng was mad and could only leave to calm himself down. He knew she meant well, but she was not worried about her life, which upset him.
"I'll see you later!" he yelled as he went out reluctantly.
Yanyue sighed. She had to be cruel. She could not let Yanfeng be embroiled in this mess because he was the only family she had left. She had to protect him as well.
And her child. She caressed her stomach, and there was a kick from the little guy.
Baby. What should mommy do? I don't want to leave you behind at all...
"President Shen!"
Anxia rushed into the office and turned to the news channel on the television.
On the screen was Beichen standing in front of a podium.
Yanyue sneered angrily.
He did it.
For his beloved Wanyue, he would risk his reputation and lie to the public.
Very well. From now on, neither of them could share the same world any longer.
When she got home to the Eastern Palace, Beichen was already eating dinner.
No matter how much she loathed him, she would not starve herself or her child. She was not stupid like before. She couldn't believe she let herself go hungry once when he locked her away in that room in Bayside Garden.
She thought that changing to a new identity would make her smarter, but who knew that she was still so naive? She laughed at herself for being so foolish before.
She went up to the table.
"Where is your little mistress? Shouldn't she be here to show off because her beloved sugar daddy protected her from the media?"
Beichen raised one of his eyebrows, paused for a second, then continued eating and disregarded what Yanyue said.
Yanyue sat on the opposite end of the long table. She looked at him peacefully eating his food as if her words did not sting or outrage him. Of course, she was a little annoyed. He could control his emotions so well that she didn't know what he was thinking.
This man always managed to get on her nerves!
While eating her food, Beichen walked over and placed something on the table.
A navy rectangular box.
Before she could ask what it was, Beichen had already spoken.
"Wear this to the banquet tomorrow."
Another banquet? The royal family was not short of funds for entertainment parties!
She cleared her throat.
"Why would I need to go?"
"Don't forget that you are my wife," Beichen said.
Yanyue pretended to yawn.
"Look at this stomach. Do you think I can dance and walk around like I used to be able to do? I'm too tired lately. You can go with my sister."
Yanyue waved her hand as if dismissing Beichen, irritating him.
He didn't know why, but recently, she had been ignoring him, and he did not like that. She was so obsessed with him, but now she could reject him publicly.
"Didn't you always complain to grandma that I don't go anywhere with you? Well, now, I want you to go with me."
"I have never complained to grandma," Yanyue expressed with a slight pout. "Whoever is your source of information is not reliable at all."
Beichen leaned forward a little and took Yanyue's chin.
"Who was the one that wanted to marry me in the first place? Now, you don't want to do your duty? What will Grandma think if we don't go together? She is still not well, so don't anger her."
But it was more like don't anger Beichen.
Beichen looked at the woman's beady eyes and said one final time, "Be good and wear this necklace tomorrow."
His eyes wandered to Yanyue's oil-stained lips. It formed a pucker because of her tiny pout.
Her lips had always been a little plump and naturally pink. The oil from the food made her lips more luscious than it was, and it was inviting. Beichen had the urge to suck them clean.
He rubbed the oil under her lips and then bent down to lick the stains off. He stuck out his tongue and stroked the irresistible flaps, sucking it like a lollipop afterward. He did it so domineeringly that Yanyue could not pull away or react in time.
When he pulled away, he smirked at Yanyue, who was in a daze.
"Too much oil is not good for my son's growth. You need to eat more vegetables."
He was satisfied with the woman's reaction and went upstairs as if nothing had happened.
"Bastard," Yanyue yelled under her breath after the man and wiped her lips furiously with a napkin.
After the meal, Yanyue walked to her room. When she opened the door, she could hear water going off in the bathroom.
What was this man thinking?!
Yanyue couldn't help but exclaim quietly. He had always ignored her, but why did he want to stay here now? Did he want to have sex with her tonight too? But he could only dream!
She knew he liked to be clean, so she did not bother to take a shower or brush her teeth. She didn't even change out of her dirty clothes.
When Beichen got out of the bathroom, he saw Yanyue rolling over the bed. It was a funny sight because she was struggling due to her big stomach. She was stuck and couldn't roll all over as she wished. He was watching her on the bed and didn't realize that his lips rose into a smile.
After "dirtying" up the bed, Yanyue tucked herself in and slept.
Beichen went into the walk-in closet and changed into his pajamas. He had instructed the maids to bring his clothes over today, so everything he needed was within reach.
He walked over to the bed and got in. The moment he covered himself with the blanket, Yanyue sprung up from her "sleep".
"What are you doing?"
She was sitting on the bed and looked curiously at the man.
Beichen was nonchalant. He didn't open his eyes but replied, "Sleeping."
Yanyue frowned.
"I know. But why are you sleeping here?"
Beichen was annoyed and pulled Yanyue over to him.
"You-"
She was taken aback at the sudden tug. Once she stabilized, she tried struggling to push away.
He held onto her and said with a raspy and tired voice, "Be quiet."
"Let me go," Yanyue protested, attempting to snuggle her way out of Beichen's embrace again. "I won't shut up until you let me go."
Beichen had enough and finally opened his eyes. He looked at Yanyue and seemed to contemplate something.
Then, he leaned over and covered her lips. At first, it was just a small peck, but soon the motion started, and he began to French kiss her, almost gobbling her lips up.
Yanyue could feel the change rising from below. Her eyes widened, and she bit Beichen's lips, successfully forcing him to let her go. She didn't understand how he could become stiff from a kiss and questioned how he could always be so horny.
Beichen eyes darkened, and he touched his lips, which were slightly bleeding.
"Little wild cat..." he sounded, eyes staring at her dangerously.
Yanyue felt an unnerving ambiance coming from him and moved to the other side. She decided that she just had to let him sleep here tonight. Angering him further would undoubtedly wake up the beast inside of him, which she was not scared of, but she was simply out of energy to deal with him.
Yanyue sighed and closed her eyes to try to sleep. However, she did not shower, so her body felt sticky and uncomfortable. But she was already in bed and became lazy. Soon, she overcame tiredness and went to dreamland.
That night, she had a dream that she was swimming in a beautiful lagoon. The water was warm and soothing. While swimming, she kept touching the grass growing in the lagoon and would feel ticklish now and then.
She chuckled.
"It's ticklish..."
Beichen was using a soft sponge to scrub Yanyue in the bathtub. She kept moving so much in bed that he could barely sleep without getting disturbed. He knew she was uncomfortable because she did not shower to annoy him. He went into the bathroom to fill up the tub. Then, he carried the deeply sound sleep woman on the bed to the tub. He moved gently and scrubbed gently so as not to startle the woman.
He didn't realize before that she had a silly side to her. He didn't know what kind of dream she was having, but hearing the little giggles made him feel warm inside. It was a feeling that he had never felt with anyone before. He frowned because he was very conflicted with this newfound feeling toward this scheming woman who was the root of all his problems.
But he didn't want to think too much and quickly rinsed off the bubbles on her. He covered her with a towel and carried her back to bed. He took out one of her nightgowns from the drawer and carefully slipped it on her.
Once finished and climbed back to bed, Beichen contemplated something while looking at the woman. Then, he pulled her over into his embrace.
It was just a habit and nothing more, confining himself to the idea so he could sleep.