Chapter 5

- Lucian -

"Ashina is dead and gone. I know you are a very powerful man, but there is nothing you can do to bring her back to life, and definitely, keeping her pictures will do no good either. It only reminds you of the past and that is why you are not able to move on. So take them away."

"Stacy this has nothing to do with Ashina. I understand your need, but are you asking me to do away with her pictures? Come on. It's not even up to a month that she died," I stated but she was not listening to me.

"You'll still have to move on no matter how long it is going to take and I will have to wait for you till then. This marriage will suffer if that happens. And if you insist, then I have no choice but to believe that you only married me to cover your shameful acts, and I will walk out of this marriage.”

I chuckled inwardly. Sometimes, Stacy thinks she can get to me with the emotional blackmail, and deep down, I want her to know I am not a bit moved by her words. If anything, I am doing everything because she is the only sister of the woman I love and I am doing it all for Ashina.

No woman will be able to talk me into this. Ashina was the only one I listened to, and did whatever she wanted. Stacy is just enjoying that benefit. Blackmailing me using the incident of that night is the most lame thing to do.

If not with regard to Ashina, I will do whatever I want.

"If that is what makes you happy," I finally said. "I'll have the frames removed by tomorrow."

"Thank you so much, honey," Stacy beamed with a smile and leaned forward for a kiss, but I walked away.

- Ashina -

I placed a hand on my chest in a bit to steady myself, my legs feeling wobbly. I did think that there was a misunderstanding somewhere, I hoped. And I believed all I needed to do was meet Lucian and tell him that I was still alive.

But after listening to the conversation between the two, I couldn't believe my ears. I tried making meaning out of the words but everything I heard was terribly unpleasant.

It brought more questions to my heart. Was Lucian secretly sleeping with Stacy before my death? Were they seeing each other? Is he really going to take my pictures away just to please her?

It means...it means he never loved me. Lucian never loved me. A few weeks after my death he does not mind doing away with my pictures. Hell, what was I thinking? He got married to my sister shortly after I died, how much more of getting rid of my pictures?

What is the point of telling him who I am? It wouldn't change anything since he never loved me. I was better off dead to give him room with Stacy after all. I made up my mind there and then. I will never let them know who I really am till I get my revenge.

I wiped the tears off my face. Lucian is not worth my love and definitely not my tears.

I heard noises, and saw the light ahead, coming towards me. I forced my jelly legs away so I wouldn't be found at his door. Because I had no light with me, I tripped in the darkness, colliding with something and making so much noise that immediately drew attention towards me.

"Who's there?" I heard a loud voice asked. I did not wait. I ran away, trying to find a safe place. Unfortunately, it seemed all the guards were on my trail and I couldn't get away despite running into different corners to escape them.

They speculated there was a thief and not long after, I was caught.

"Say, isn't that the new slave who was brought in earlier today?" Of them said after they had grounded me and thrown the lights to my face, blinding me.

"It is she, I am surprised," another replied with some contempt in his voice.

"We must take her to Lord Gizmo at once. He should know what best to do with her."

"No! No please," I pleaded desperately. "Please don't take me to him. I beg of you. I do not steal. Please."

But they were not listening to me.

Gizmo was very mad at the disturbance as he had retired to bed.

"What is this?" He asked the guards with a deep frown on his face.

"We are sorry for disturbing you, my Lord," one of them said with a light bow. "But we caught the new maid trying to steal in the royal chambers."

Gizmo's fiery eyes fell on me and I shook my head.

"I wasn't there to steal, please. I'm not a thief."

"What are doing in the palace and by this time?" Gizmo's voice came off cold. "You were told a few hours ago that you are not to come here unless you were sent for, so what are you doing here."

I did not know what to say, couldn't tell him why I was there. My silence seemed to fuel Gizmo's anger and he turned to the guards.

"Take her to the dark room."

"No!" I cried with fright, already knowing what that meant. "I'm sorry, please. I'm not a thief, I promise."

I was stripped off my shirt to the waist, save for my inner wear covering my chest, and my hands were tied up with a robe.

Gizmo walked in shortly after and he was given a long whip. He walked towards me with a hard look on his face.

"What were you doing here?" He asked as he approached me. "I hate when I ask a question and you're looking at me like a BITCH!"

The last word came out with the force of the whip landing on my bare back and I screamed. He did not stop, and with each next hit that followed, it seemed he was applying more force.

He did not look like he was going to stop anytime soon and I was sure my skin would have peeled up by the time he was done with me.

I closed my eyes and cried through the pain.

"Stop!"

The voice I knew so well and could never mistake for another, sounded in my ears and Lucian appeared at the door.