"Xi Feng?? I was certain it was Amira," she replied, sitting up slowly, a wince crossing her face as the man steadied her on the bed.
The man chuckles.
"Your mother always dreamed of naming her first child Xi Feng," he said, a soft smile playing on his lips.
"My mother...?" Amira scanned the room, taking in the unfamiliar faces around her. Their mannerisms and attire were distinctly different from what she knew yet oddly, every word they spoke resonated clearly in her mind.
Amira glanced down at her body, shock washing over her as she realized her bump had disappeared. Panic surged within her, and she felt her breaths quickening, each inhalation a struggle as her scratched throat constricted painfully.
The man, sensing her distress, gently placed his hand over hers, offering silent support in her moment of turmoil.
"For an entire month, you've been confined to your bed. We were unable to keep the child. If it manages to survive, you will have to bear the heart-wrenching sight of watching it grow, burdened by pain and suffering. No mother could wish for such a fate," the man said.
"No... No No!!! My baby!!!" Amira cried out her voice carrying the weight and the sadness of the word.
"You should have chosen to save him instead," she murmured, her voice heavy with despair. "I don't want to live anymore..." With a trembling hand, she reached for the dagger at the man's belt, its cold steel glinting in the dim light as she aimed it at her throat.
"It's pointless to continue this existence when I have nothing left..."
"Amira, please stop. Just put down the knife," the man urged, his voice trembling with concern. But Amira defiantly shook her head, her grip tightening around the blade.
"Don't you dare come any closer! I swear I will do it!" she shouted, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination.
Nearby, the old lady watched with wide, anxious eyes, her heart racing as she sensed the gravity of the situation.
"A Rai, you have to do something! She's in no state to handle thisshe can hardly even stand—she just survived a nightmare."
"I'm..." He sighs.
"If she wants to kill herself, then let me help you with it," Amira heard as someone else entered through the door.
She turned her head sharply, her heart racing as she caught sight of dark silhouettes looming by the doorway. The bright sunlight poured in behind the figure, casting him in shadow and obscuring his features. However, in that fleeting moment, a glint of a familiar necklace caught her eye, tugging at her memory.
"You??"
He entered the room with a fluid grace, halting just in front of Amira. His long hair, glossy like satin, was elegantly pinned up, though a few loose strands cascaded behind him, reminiscent of rolling waves.
He tilted his head slightly, a silent challenge in his gaze as if to question whether she was prepared to face her demise.
She blinked as he pressed his hand firmly against the hilt of the dagger, coaxing her fingers toward her throat with an unsettling precision.
"Just a little more pressure, and then it will all be over. I promise it won't hurt," he said, his tone chillingly calm.
"What are you doing, Jin Long?" the old woman asked, her concern deepening with every passing moment.
"Not much—just lending a hand. I saved her life she owes me her life. It's only right if I take it back," Jin Long said.
With his gaze locked onto hers, he spoke softly but firmly.
"Go on."
Amira's lips trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks, transforming her into a vulnerable, emotional wreck. In a moment of desperation, she let the dagger slip from her fingers, clattering to the ground.
"If you need to throw a tantrum, do it somewhere else." Jin long said, moving away from the bed as he stepped out of the room.
A Rai moves towards Amira, the elderly man pulling her in as he gently pats her back.
"It's all okay."
Zyran pays a visit to the dungeon before he goes to carry out his punishment.
Marion, who hadn't seen the sun for days or had been able to eat properly, sat up as soon as he saw who had just visited him.
"Are you here to throw an accusing finger? You might as well kill me on the spot," Marion told him.
"Quite the opposite, I have other dire matter to discuss with you," Zyran told him.
"I have nothing to discuss with you. You and your family might as well cocoon other plans to take me out of the picture," Marion told him.
Zyran's lips curled into a cold smile, a chilling expression that signified the complete absence of warmth he once possessed. The light in his eyes had faded, leaving a cold steel in their depths.
"I am not here to negotiate," he said, his voice low and unwavering. "This is not a matter of choice for you."
Marion, standing defiantly, narrowed his eyes. "And what if I decide to refuse?" he challenged, his tone laced with a mix of defiance and uncertainty