His Demoness

52 ⚔️ Decision

Her sister was living with the enemy.

Xiaoyu let her hands drop to her sides. Her stomach lurched with dread as she stepped away from Lanying. The crowd around them lapsed into a hushed silence, watching them with trepidation.

She shot a glare at Jiang Yuhan, before turning around to stare at her sister with a pleading look in her eyes.

Tell me you didn't do it.

Tell me that you didn't marry him and give birth to his child.

Lanying swallowed hard. Her bottom lip quivered nervously and her hands fisted into her clothes. Even as Xiaoyu desperately wished for her to explain, to tell her that she was wrong, she didn't.

Instead, Lanying's chest heaved and her red-rimmed eyes fluttered closed in resignation – a silence that spoke louder than words.

And just like that, reality came down hard on Xiaoyu.

Her heart sank. With a shaking head, she started taking slow steps backwards, drawing herself away from her sister. From the corner of her eye, she barely noticed how confused and worried Zhijian was. His hand reached for her, but she was already moving away from them.

Her hurtful eyes were pinned on Lanying.

How could you? Why him and not some other man?

Why?

"Please," her sister pleaded. Her voice cracked with remorse. "I can explain–"

With a look of betrayal, Xiaoyu turned and broke into a run, slipping through the crowd that parted for her. She heard voices calling after her but she refused to return. Bile rose in her throat and burning tears formed in her eyes.

She didn't stop running. She needed to be away from her sister, Jiang Yuhan and his clan.

Everything.

Running past the cottages, she entered the woods. She didn't know how far she ran, but once her legs grew tired, she slumped against one of the trees. Panting heavily, she glanced up and watched as patches of sunlight streamed through the canopy and made the small flower buds on the ground twinkled like stars.

As tranquil as everything around her seemed, her heart was unsettled. Why was it that no matter where she went, she could never shake the Jiang clan off her tail?

Several seconds later, footsteps came from behind her. She didn't have to turn to know who it was.

His concerned face came into view. "Hey," Zhijian breathed, stepping in front of her and letting his fingers entwine with hers. "What's wrong?"

She leaned her forehead against his chest, allowing his scent to calm her. "He's alive," she explained in a bitter tone. "He's together with my sister."

"Who?"

She squeezed her eyes shut. "Jiang Yuhan."

Zhijian stiffened for a moment. "Isn't he supposed to be dead?"

"That was what I thought too."

She felt his hands wrapped around her and pulled her closer into his chest, engulfing her in his warmth. He pressed a kiss into her hair and tucked her under his chin. Whenever he was around, she felt completed. Safe.

"I'm tired," she admitted feebly. "Tired of being chased and surprised."

"What do you want to do now?" he asked. "Do you wish to leave? Or stay? No matter what you choose, I'm with you."

Xiaoyu mulled over his words carefully. For as long as she lived, she had always been hiding herself and running away. And yet, if she continued to remain like this, she would never be set free from her past.