Chapter 40

"He can't force you."

I let out a choked laugh. Sometimes I forgot that she was younger than me. These were the moments that reminded me.

"He can. He will."

"Then you'll fight him with all you've got."

"Qina," I said in a whisper.

"He is going to be the master of Fu (Black clans). He's a born fighter. He'll laugh at me if I try to resist. Or my refusal will make him angry and then he'll really want to hurt me."

I paused.

"Zuli told me I should give him what he wants, that I should try to make him be good to me, try to make him love me."

"Stupid Zuli, what does she know?" Qina glared at me.

"Look at her, the way she cowers in front of that fat fool. How she lets him touch her with his sausage fingers. I'd rather die than lie under a man like that."

"Do you think I can make Fu Shao love me?"

Qina shook her head.

"Maybe you can make him respect you. I don't think men like him have a heart to be capable of love."

"Even the most cold hearted bastards have a heart."

"Well, then it's as black as bad. Don't waste your time on love, big sister. You won't find it in our world."

She was right of course, but I couldn't help hoping.

"Promise me, you'll be strong. Promise me you won't let him treat you like a mistress. You are his wife, Su Shen Mi. My big sister."

"Is there a difference?"

"Yes, the mistress at least get to sleep with other men and don't have to live in a golden cage. They are better off."

I snorted.

"You are impossible."

She shrugged.

"It made you smile." She turned and her expression darkened.

"Fu Shao sent his lapdog. Maybe he was worried you'd run."

I followed her gaze to find Xu standing at the crest of the small hill overlooking the bay and the dock.

"We should have taken that yacht and run away."

"Where could I run? He'd follow me to the end of the world."

I glanced at the elegant golden watch around my wrist. I didn't know him much, but I knew men of his kind. They were possessive.

Once you belonged to them, there was no escaping.

"We should go back. The wedding cake will be presented soon."

We put our shoes back on and walked back toward the noise. I ignored Xu but Qina scowled at him.

"Does he need you for everything? Or can he at least take a piss on his own?"

"Fu Shao is the groom and needs to attend to the guests," Xu said simply, but of course it was a reprimand in my direction.

His eyes settled on me the moment I returned to the festivities. Many guests were already drunk, and some had moved up to where the pool was and were taking a swim fully clothed.

Fu Shao held his hand out and I bridged the distance between us and took it.

"Where were you?"

"I just needed a moment to myself."

There was no time for further discussions as the cook rolled a table with our wedding cake toward the center.

So it was white, had six tiers and was decorated with lilac flowers. Fu Shao and I cut it under another round of applause, followed by congratulations and put the first piece onto our plate.

He picked up a fork and fed me a bit as a sign that he'd provide for me, and I then fed him a piece as a sign that I'd take care of him as a good wife was supposed to.