Chapter 15

ut I had to be strong for my sister.

"Of course," Father hissed, scowling at Qina.

"I should have known it was you causing trouble again."

He wrenched her away from me and into the lounge, raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.

But I took a step in his direction to protect her and Father lifted his arm again. I braced myself for the slap, but Fu Shao caught my father's wrist with his left hand.

His right hand was still grasping the knife he'd used to cut off Gengxin finger. The knife and Fu Shao hand were coated with blood.

My eyes widened.

As my Father was the master of the house, the master over us. So Fu Shao intervention was an insult against my father's honour.

While Martial Zhen drew his knife and Father had his hand on his gun.

While Fu Heng, Fang and Xu had drawn their own guns.

Gengxin was huddled on the floor, bent over his hand, his whimpers the only sound in the room.

Had there ever been a red engagement?

"I didn't mean disrespect," Fu Shao said calmly, as if war between B clans and W clans wasn't on the verge of breaking out.

"But Shen Mi is no longer your responsibility. You lost your right to punish her when you have made her my fiancée. She's mine to deal with now."

Father glanced down at the ring on my finger, then inclined his head.

As Fu Shao let go of his wrist, and the other men in the room relaxed slightly, but didn't put their weapons back.

"That's true."

He stepped back and gestured at me.

"Then would you like the honour of beating some sense into her?"

Fu Shao hard gaze settled on me and I stopped breathing.

"She didn't disobey me."

Father's lips thinned.

"You are right. But as I see it Shen Mi will be living under my roof until the wedding and since honour forbids me to raise my hand against her, I'll have to find another way to make her obey me."

He glowered at Qina and hit her a second time.

"For every of your wrongdoings, Shen Mi, your sister will accept the punishment in your stead."

I pressed my lips together, tears prickling in my eyes. I didn't look at Fu Shao or Father, not until I could find a way to hide my hatred from them.

"Zhen, take Shen Mi and Qina to their rooms and make sure they stay there."

Martial Zhen sheathed his knife and gestured at us to follow him. I stepped past my father, dragging Qina with me who had her head bowed.

She stiffened as we stepped over the blood on the hardwood floor and the cut-off finger laying abandoned in it.