Samuel gritted his teeth to suppress the pain splitting every flesh in his leg. The uncomfortable feeling crept toward his entire body giving him a shiver in his bones.
He tried to reach for the spear to snatch it from Vincent. However, Vincent stepped on his hand mercilessly.
“Don’t you dare?” Vincent hissed at Samuel. His eyes exhibit no pity at all but coldness in them.
“That’s an easy way to earn his death.”
Every person in that room turned their head to look at the gorgeous woman at the door.
Listening to the loud clunk of her high heels on the floor, Vincent softens his gaze at the woman walking toward him. His eyes never leave her, while his entire consciousness focuses on Samuel.
Samuel attempts to take this chance to free himself, but Vincent does not give him the opportunity. Instead, like what he did to Samuel’s right leg, he rotated the blade, cutting the joints in his left knee.
Samuel screamed, but Vincent seemed deaf.
“Why did you come?” he asked in a gentle tone as if he had no one he tortured at the moment.
The woman, none other than Hailee, pulled a dining chair and positioned it in front of Samuel. She sat down on the chair with grace, crossed her legs, then placed her two hands on her lap—a portrayal of a noblewoman.
Samuel constricted his eyes. He was on the verge of passing out, but he braced himself not to lose consciousness. There’s no way that he would give up now. He squinted his eyes, following Hailee’s movement.
Hailee looked so regal, like the empress back then. Even in this life, Hailee is emitting a royalty presence.
Ignoring the man her husband had tortured, Hailee smiled at Vincent and said, “Do you want me to finish it for you instead?”
Every knight and Jacob’s men in that room were stunned. They presume that they only heard wrong. There is no way that the sweet princess would say this.
They have witnessed the princess growing up as a sweet and kind girl. But the person they are seeing now is opposite to the one they used to know.
They were in disbelief that suddenly the princess had changed drastically. Some of them shared glances with a thought, ‘Is it because of Vincent Shen?’
Meanwhile, Vincent shook his head. He could not let Hailee stain her hands with Samuel’s blood.
“Darling, you shouldn’t be here.”
Hailee smiled to assure Vincent that she didn’t feel disgusted watching him torture Samuel.
“It’s alright, Hubby. I have something to tell your brother before you end his life.”
After saying this, Hailee lowered her eagle-like eyes on Samuel, pulling the left corner of her red lips as she said, “Greetings, your highness.”
Samuel grinned. How apparent that Hailee had the mood of mocking him while Vincent tortured him. This couple is sure matched, made in heaven.
Samuel shoots a dagger and looks at John. He reported to him that Hailee was still in a coma.
Ironically, she was well and looked healthy, now seated like a goddess in front of him, looking fresh and exquisite, as if nothing had happened to her.
Heh. John indeed fooled him!
“So? I assume the emperor and empress have regained their previous memories.”
“That’s right. And thanks to you and your master.” Hailee replied. Her tone is full of sarcasm. “There is someone you should see. A person you knew very well, even in our previous lives.”
Samuel creased his forehead as he followed Hailee’s gaze toward the door. “Liam!”
~
A few moments earlier…
“Empress, this is not a good idea. I promised Vincent. I would stop you when you thought of following him!” James has been begging her to stay behind. But he failed to pursue her.
In the end, James has to arrange their escape so that Geoffrey and the other knights will not notice them leaving Dream City.
They’ve finally arrived at Jackson’s Suites’ parking lot. James got out and opened the back seat, praying that the person he had contacted had already landed in Northern Australia before them.
Hailee stepped out of the vehicle. She was wearing a stylish white cashmere long coat. Underneath is a red bodycon dress with a long slit in the side, paired with five inches of a red stiletto.
“You should not come.”
Hailee made an abrupt turn and looked at the man speaking behind her.
“Liam? What are you doing here? You are supposed to join Andre, right?”
Liam did not reply to her, but he glanced at James. Hailee immediately understood what was going on.
She looked at James with accusing stares, ‘Whom you are loyal to?’
James cannot stand it. “Empress! Vincent doesn’t want you to get involved this time. But you are not listening to me!”
“So you betrayed me?”
“No!” James was helpless to defend himself. He only wanted Hailee to be safe from their enemies.
“He did not.” Thankfully, Liam spoke up, and James looked at him with grateful eyes. “I called James because I wanted to speak with you before I met the dark shaman. Then James informed me you are insisting on coming here.”
He added, “Hailee, convince Vincent to stay in Australia and let me finish the fight this time.”
“What are you up to now?” She was concerned. Liam is now limping after she shoots him in the knee. So it worries her how Liam would win against that man.
“What happened in the past should not be repeated. Okay?” Liam carried on. “Listen to me, Hail. Go back to Dream City with Vincent to protect your children. I should not be the one who fled this time, but you and Vincent. It is not a matter anymore of taking revenge on the dark shaman. You made a promise to your children to meet them in the future. Have you forgotten that?”
Suddenly, her tears uncontrollably poured down her eyes.
The promises… Of course, she remembers it now.
“Liam…” Hailee throws her arms around his waist. She closed her eyes and let Liam embrace her tight.
“Hail, I want you and Vincent to live happily in this life, along with your children. Vincent also regained his previous life memories. He would act stubbornly now, and you are the only person he listens to. I know him more than anyone else. He would insist on finishing this battle with his very own hands.”
“So, please convince him to go back to Dream City instead. I know he would insist that he is not a coward and that he never backed down from any fight. But this time… What you did not fulfill in your previous life. You have a chance now.”
“You and Vincent’s responsibility in this life is to celebrate your children’s birth, keep them safe and live well. There is no wrong if you are hiding this time. Remember in our previous lives, Hail. We should not let those children’s efforts in changing the course of our fate go down the drain. Those children risk their lives so that we live today. Do you understand me, little sister?”
Hailee sobs while nodding her head. “Oh, brother! I understand what you mean. I will talk to Vincent after he settles the score with Samuel.”
“Good! Let me and the others deal with that man. Okay? Master Williams is helping us.”
“Okay. It’s not cowardly to hide from the enemy. But it is to change the fate he carved for our family.”
Liam sighed with relief when he was able to convince Hailee. James, who is watching from the side, finally breathes.
Liam lifted his arm and patted Hailee on the head.
“Yes, that’s right. What he wants is for you to go to him. But we will not let him have his way. He badly wants Vincent’s soul and body for his ultimate plan because he knows he could use one of your children to kill Master Williams.”
Hailee parted from Liam. She is looking at him with bewilderment. “Why is he so obsessed with Shun?”
“I’m not so certain about that.”
~
Hailee blinked and pulled herself to the present. She peered at Samuel for a moment before she threw him a question.
“Why did your master hate Shun so bad?”
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