Violet returned to her seat with Keisha in her arms. The kitten jumped on her lap and lay there comfortably. She then noticed some cat food on the table; thus, she put Keisha down and let her eat.
"Do you want milk on your tea?" After a short preparation, Allen serves the tea to Violet. He looked at her lovingly, but she failed to see it as her attention remained on Keisha while replying to him.
"Yes, please. Thank you."
Allen did not mind whether Violet paid less attention to him. More importantly, she is warming up to him. Thus, he attentively poured some milk into the bowl.
Violet glanced at the tea. At one look, she could tell that Allen had learned to prepare it from Riku. He and Akane would love to perform a tea ceremony when they gathered around.
Enticed by its pleasant aroma, Violet held the bowl with her two hands, drew it close to her lips, then took a sip. She let out a satisfying sigh after the hot liquid reached her throat.
'Well, not bad.'
While she enjoyed another bowl of matcha tea, Allen had his breakfast.
It was a peaceful morning. It was like a picture of a perfect family having tea at ten o'clock.
Allen could not hide the spark in his eyes and a genuine smile plastered on his face throughout that moment, praying he would keep waking up every day at the sight of the one he loved so much and sharing a meal with him.
However, countless storms constantly threaten to strike on his rare happy days. No one knows how dark clouds surround him, and the only light that illuminates his life is the woman sitting across from him.
~
SHEN MANSION, Dream City, Australia
"Welcome back, Master Shen."
"Hummed." Howard hummed and nodded at the butler that welcomed him at the entrance. His eyes wandered to the grand staircase, searching for someone, but he failed to find this person. 'Where is she?'
Howard was about to query the butler, but then hurried footsteps sounded from upstairs, followed by a high-pitched voice that full of enthusiasm.
"Brother!"
The woman, wearing an off-shoulder layered short red dress, ran down the staircase. A panic appeared in Howard's eyes with fear that she would sprain her ankle again.
"Slow down!" He rushed to the stairs to meet the woman at the last steps.
The woman ignored his warning but happily jumped on him for a warm embrace. He frowned, looking at her four-inch red stiletto. Then, he noticed some flour on her hair.
Howard narrowed his gaze. He lifted his arm and touched Hilary's hair. He did feel that his sister's body shrunk inside his embrace, evidence that she realized what she had committed.
"How often should I tell you that you are prohibited from stepping into the kitchen?" Immediately, he reprimanded his sister after he parted from her.
Hilary pouted as she narrated her reason coquettishly. "I just wanted to bake your favorite cake. Is that so bad?"
Standing cutely before him, she did not appear remorseful at all. Howard sighed helplessly as he could do nothing with it. He grabbed Hilary's arms and inspected both her hands.
As he had guessed already, Hilary burnt her fingers.
"Bring me the medicine kit!"
Howard's thunderous voice resounded in the entire Entrance Hall. He ushered Hilary to sit on the French chaise lounge at the side of the grand staircase. It did not take long for a medical robot attendant to appear, carrying a medicine box.
Hilary bit her lower lip, watching her twin brother tend to her burns. Her eyes glowed, and fear disappeared, seeing Howard was cautious in applying the ointment on her fingers with burn blisters. He would unconsciously blow on it, making him look adorable.
"Brother, I'm glad you're back. I need you to fit out the suit I made for you."
"Hmm… I will try it later. Lemme finish this first."
"Okay." Hilary smiled and nodded her head obediently.
After Howard finished applying an ointment to her burns, they headed to her studio upstairs for him to try on the suit she especially made for the engagement party in Mainland City.
Violet helped Howard with the buttons on the suit's wrists. While she scrutinized if everything was perfectly fit, she could not stop bringing up the party at The Peninsula in Mainland City. The Williams owns the hotel.
"Brother, I could not wait to see Angela and Arabella. It's been a year since the last time I saw them. If only I hadn't sprained my ankle, I should have attended Allen and Angela's birthday. Ah, I missed visiting Hiryuu Island! And oh, Arabella told me that Violet and Seth were there too! How wonderful that it would be if I were there! I haven't talked to her often as I am busy with school. I'm glad we're attending Alexa and Jayde's engagement!"
Hilary did not notice that her face was flushing scarlet red when she mentioned the Shang twins, as she could not hide her excitement to visit Mainland City for another reason, and Howard was aware of it.
Seeing the blush in his twin sister's cheeks, Howard's pupils shrunk. He knew Hilary had a secret crush on someone, and that man was Violet's twin brother, Seth Shang.
Fortunately, Seth is keeping his distance from Hilary; otherwise, the Shang family has already mourned over his dead body.
"Alright! I think there is nothing I should change. The suit fits you well! Don't you praise me?" Hilary was so engrossed in checking the details of the suit she didn't notice the deep frown on her twin brother's face.
Howard adjusted his emotion and smiled immediately when Hilary looked up at him.
"What can you say?" Hilary asked coquettishly. She did not give up until she didn't hear Howard's compliments.
"Of course, my sister is the best designer in the world. I don't trust anyone to tailor my suits but her." After saying this, Howard leaned over and kissed Hilary's cheek.
Satisfaction is exhibited in Hilary's eyes, hearing Howard's praises. She was delighted that, lately, Howard only wore the suits she made for him.
"Do you want to see the dress I made for myself?"
"Sure." Howard immediately agreed as he wanted to check if the dress was not too revealing. The engagement party is a gathering of the elites and prominent men, both from the Upper Class and Royal families.
After Hilary came out from the dressing room wearing the dress she made for herself, Howard darkened his face.
Hilary is wearing a red spaghetti strap, a long backless dress with a long slit on her right leg, and her front is exposing too much cleavage.
"You can't wear this!" Instantly, Howard bellowed to show his protest. He could not allow Hilary to wear this dress to the party.
Hilary was startled when Howard shouted at her all of a sudden. Her eyes immediately moistened from the shock that confounded her chest.
Howard glimpses the panic in Hilary's eyes. He rushed to her side and coaxed her.
"I'm sorry. I'm not angry at you. But you can't wear this dress to the party."
"Oh–okay… I… I will modify it…." Hilary stuttered as she hadn't recovered yet from shock.
Regretfully, Howard gently patted her head and whispered. "Hilary is the prettiest. This dress is too perfect for her. But the party is filled with hungry wolves. Brother would not allow those eyes to bathe on you."
Howard narrates his words like he was reciting a poem in Hilary's ears.
"Come here."
He held Hilary by the shoulders and turned her around to face the mirror. Looking at their reflections, Howard softened his gaze and said,
"Hilary is the fairest of them all. Brother is only protecting Hilary. Do you understand?"
Hilary nodded her head. Unlike Lavender, who is stubborn and independent, Hilary relies on Howard too much. Whatever he says, Hilary believes in him and no one else.
"Alright. I understood what brother meant. I will restyle my dress that suits him."
"Good girl. And because of that, I will cook your favorite steak for lunch. How's that?"
"Really?" Hilary's eyes twinkled. Upon hearing what Howard had said, the slightly gloomy mood she had dissipated in an instant and was replaced with glee.
"Yup!" Howard nodded and confirmed. "So, go on and change now."
"Alright! It will be only a minute!" Hilary was all smiles now. She is only a simple-minded person, and she's not interested in creating drama, so she was easily coaxed. All it needs is to treat her to her favorite food and bring her to her favorite places. It will brighten her mood fast.
After Hilary disappeared, the smile he plastered on his face immediately vanished. Howard constricted his eyes as Hilary's perfect curves played on his mind.
He opened his eyes and looked at his reflection in the mirror and hated whom he saw. His feature was a carbon copy of Vincent Shen, while Hilary looked exactly like Empress Ming, wife of Emperor Xing Shen, who he killed four hundred years ago and in this lifetime.
That's right. He killed Emperor Xing twice already. And if he is reincarnated once more, he is ready to kill him for the third time.
"Brother, I'm done! Let's go?"
Howard turned around after he adjusted his temperament. He smiled at Hilary and held her hand, leading her toward the grand kitchen.
Trailing the hallway, he often glanced at her twin sister, who was bringing up random topics. He put an effort to restrain himself from caressing that perfect jawline she got from their mother.
Hilary only wears light makeup, as usual, which suits his taste. She was naturally gorgeous, so she did not need to wear too much foundation and colors on her face.
"Brother, are you listening to me?"
"Hum?" Howard, who zoned out for a moment, was pulled back to his senses. He fixed his gaze on Hilary. He was welcomed with those puppy eyes, staring at him brightly.
Howard clenched his fist inside his pocket. He pinched his leg to keep his sanity intact, controlling himself not to lean over and claim those enticing lips.
"I'm listening," he said.
Howard covered the malicious stare; sometimes, he could not restrain himself when he was near Hilary.
Whereas his main reason is that he stole this body and killed the soul of the real Howard….
Is to be with her…
Howard peered at Hilary with those loving eyes which always longing for her as he muttered inwardly,
'You are mine till eternity.'