"Why did you harm her!?" the low, statically morphed voice from the speaker echoed in the room.
Even though she was not talking face to face with this person, Wanyue shivered as she listened to his deathly tone.
"Nothing happened to her anyway," replied Wanyue without an ounce of regret.
"If you can't seduce him without harming her, then our deal is out!"
"Wait!" Wanyue panicked. "I promise that Beichen will divorce her as soon as possible! I have a great plan!"
"I won't tolerate mistakes next time."
The man did not wait for Wanyue and hung up. Annoyed by his arrogance, she threw the phone to the floor. The mechanic broke into pieces.
"I don't need you to tell me what to do. I will take what belonged to me back," Wanyue declared to herself, her eyes wide and the veins on her face popped up. She was contemptuous because nothing had gone her way.
Yanyue should have died tonight after the fall. Unfortunately, Beichen saved her. That was most unexpected.
What Wanyue was worried of, Beichen seduced by Yanyue, seemed to become more real day by day.
On the surface, he looked like he cared, but she noticed that he had changed. Especially his impatience towards her; he was less tolerating nowadays. She found herself being extra careful now in front of him.
So, if Beichen knew the truth, then he would abandon her, probably even kill her. So, before things could reach that point, she had to make his divorce real.
And Wanyue had the perfect plan. It would not only get rid of her sister but as well as the old witch lying half-alive in the hospital. All she needed was to lure her naive sister into the trap.
She couldn't wait until all the people who blocked her ways to happiness were gone from this world.
The sinister and murderous reflection glaring from the windows revealed her spirit at the moment.
*
The room shimmered of morning light as the clouds passed the sun every so often. A pair of love birds outside the French windows on the tree spoke of love words with their beaks kissing each other.
On such a bright day, Suyin should have been joyful and shook with mirth. But, ever since that fateful day six years ago, as she watched the love of her life faintly pass away in her arms, she had never seen the days as beautiful again.
Now, a sunny day was just like a rainy day to her.
The pillow beside her was wrinkled of cold touch. Jinchen should have left a long time ago. This part of him never changed; he was always leaving her behind.
But she had stretched out of that phase of following behind him like a foolish little duckling. She came back with purpose, and this time it wasn't him.
Suyin reluctantly got up from the large bed and prepared herself for an eventful day.
The military base was outside the metropolitan because it required room to shelter personnel and the many pieces of equipment used in training operations.
Today was not the first time that Suyin came to the base.
When she was in college, she sneaked in to see Jinchen a couple of times. Even though he was just a year older than her, he was an extraordinary student and attended college while in high school. He didn't even need high school but still came.
After their high school graduation, he moved straight to lead the military on the king's order. To solidify support from the aristocratic and noble families, Jinchen must exhibit abilities to lead the country. And completing secret operations was one of the perfect ways to demonstrate his skills.
It was crucial because Yilonggua faced rebel attacks in the last couple of decades after the power shift to the current king. By receiving the majority's support, Jinchen would have one fewer problem after his enthronement. He could then gather resources from the aristocratic and noble families without delay to fight the rebels.
So, even though he was far away, she would always find the opportunity to sneak into his quarters at night. He would kick her out every time or have her dragged away, but that still didn't stop her.
However, on one particular night, he let her sleep on his bed. Then, a couple of nights later, they had their first time with each other.
Even now, she didn't understand why he didn't push her away because he should have hated her back then. After all, her father was the prime minister, someone who had different views from him, and also whom he kept on a close eye.
But, everything was useless because now they were like strangers on their islands. And she didn't know who to blame for this distance. But if anything, she had to blame herself for getting involved with the dangerous and unfeeling man in the first place.
How naive she was for thinking that his feelings were the same as hers because they have spent a few... a lot of times rolling in bed.
Youth never disappointed.
She cleared her throat to distract herself from those memories of their exuberant youthful days.
Suyin, get yourself together! There is no way that you can go back to the past! she thought as she squished her cheeks with her hands and sighed.
"Alright, focus on your mission!" she said to herself.
She saw a young man in uniform walking out from the gate.
"Hello, little boy!" she greeted spontaneously. Her enthusiasm took the young man by surprise. Ever since deciding to sign up, he hadn't seen anyone as excited as this woman. He wondered if she was crazy.
"Where can I find your General Feng?"
The young man stopped to bow. He still had to show respect to the civilian.
"I'm sorry, but without a pass, you cannot-"
Suyin pulled out a federal ID, her lips wide. She came prepared.
The young man was embarrassed but answered, "I apologize, crown princess. General Feng is in the field. Let me escort you!"
"Well then, thank you, cute little boy!" Suyin said and winked before entering the gate merrily.
The young man smiled a little awkwardly as he was ashamed for not recognizing the crown princess at first glance. He was just a new soldier working in the lower echelon of the military, so seeing the crown princess on important occasions was a given.
Seeing her up so close, he realized that the crown princess was a beautiful woman; the pictures that he had faintly seen did not do her justice. She was also cheerful and approachable compared to the other aristocrats and nobles he escorted.
His peers would be jealous when they found that he had personally interacted with the crown princess and even assisted her!
With this thought, the young man hurriedly in front of Suyin and led her to the field.
"Then, I will take my leave. Thank you and... please visit often, crown princess!" said the young man, bowing to show his respect. Then, he ran away nervously like a little boy after saying hi to his crush.
Suyin giggled a few times before laying eyes on General Feng in the field.
He was busy directing the new batch of soldiers, having the young men completing sets of push-ups, and running in laps around the field.
They were about done as the young men, running as if they were in a clumsy school competition, slowed down as the time trickled.
Perhaps, she should go somewhere first.
She knew the path to his quarter like the back of her hand. It was the last room down the spacious hall. The doors were all the same, but she recognized his room without counting the wood covers. Soon, she was standing outside his door—the door that opened many intimate moments for them, but also many painful memories later on.
She emptied the air stuffed in her chest before turning the knob. She didn't bother to knock. Except for when she was in there, he would always leave the door unlocked. He claimed it was for easier access to his soldiers.
Like always, Jinchen didn't bother to look up to see who it was. Everyone would knock before coming in, but she never did. This part of her was still the same even after six years.
He was relieved to say.
Suyin stood in front of his desk after slamming the door. "You haven't answered my question from last night."
Jinchen dropped his focus from his work to the serious woman. He wondered what play she had for today. It would certainly be entertaining, as she always was.
"You had questions?" he raised one of his eyebrows, "I just remember you asking me to fuck you harder and faster."
He was unmoved and unabashed.
Suyin's lips curled in disdain. "The letter," she said straightforwardly.
Jinchen didn't respond right away. Then, feigning surprise, he finally said, "Ah, that letter."
Impatient with his purposeful stalling, Suyin described, "It was sent to me by one of the victims to expose who the mastermind was. But, before I could send it to the king and ministers, the letter was gone. I never expected that it was you who stole it..."
Speaking about this didn't make her tear up anymore. Now, she was furious for being unfairly treated and ostracized. And she was unreconcilable because some things would never be able to return. Everyone even thought that she was the one who harmed Lady Chu-hua, so she had to bear everything and leave the country on his order.
However, she learned that all of this was part of his well-structured plan. She couldn't fathom the betrayal she felt even though they were never a thing to begin. However, the fact remained. And it was heartwrenching that by framing her, he also killed his son, the two-week-old baby that he would never know existed.
And he did not deserve to learn about that precious life.
Jinchen saw hatred in Suyin's fiery orbs. It was not the first time, but she never looked at him with those kinds of vengeful eyes. She had only shown it to him after she came back.
"It was indeed me," he admitted.
Suyin expected nothing less. "Why make me the scapegoat?"
Jinchen hesitated. He had his reasons back then, but he couldn't let her know about it yet.
"Because you were convenient." He didn't want to say this, but he had to. Only the gods knew that his heart was breaking in half.
Suyin sneered, "So I was just a chess piece." It wasn't a question.
"Precisely," confirmed Jinchen.
"Then, was sleeping with me also part of the plan?" asked Suyin, dispirited.
Of course not, Jinchen thought. He was not that kind of person. Sleeping with her was out of uncontrollable emotions that drove him crazy. She was the only person who had those effects on him.
It was only now that he realized he truly loved her. Before, it was just affection, but now he was sure that he loved the woman to death.
That was why he sent her abroad than have her stay to become her own father's chess piece.
But he didn't answer her question. Staying quiet was the perfect answer.
"You piece of trash!"
Suyin's heavy palm slapped Jinchen. Then, the next second, it fell on her cheeks. Tearing up and puffing hard, she dashed out the door. She was like a pathetic abandoned child.
Just as she reached down the corridor's corner, she crashed into a broad chest.
"Crown princess, what's wrong?"
Suyin looked up with misty eyes and red cheeks. "General Feng..."
Then, she backed away from his body, avoiding his gaze due to distress.
"Why are you crying?"
"I... I'm..."
Suyin shed tears quietly, looking like a sad puppy as she tried to hide her face away from him.
The man frowned, looked around him, and when he confirmed that there was no one else, he guided her to his office, a couple of doors down from Jinchen's own.