Chapter 70

After Tian and Ray fell asleep, Taria sneaked out of the room, walking slowly as she wasn't able to use the crutches in order to keep them sleeping.

She walked towards the lake side as it was almost midnight, and she found him waiting for her there, staring at the lake and putting his hands in his pockets.

"So you really came, how is your leg?" Ve asked

"It's fine, let's talk about that now", Taria said calmly, then they sat down on the ground

"When I was fifteen, my parents died and you know how, which left me with no other choice than leading the family. What you don't know is the following: The family didn't accept me that easily. I got poisoned four times, shot six times, and assassinated in other different ways approximately nine times. I wasn't feelingless back then, I cried more than I could remember, I wasn't able to sleep for days, I didn't eat for a long time, and I was sick to the point I almost died. I hated everything about being the leader, I hated the family and everyone else, yet I kept moving on because I had someone to keep safe. I stayed awake working even if my eyes were almost closed, I worked even though I was poisoned, I worked even though I felt like dying, and till I got rid of everyone who stood in my way, I couldn't let my guards down the slightest, not even while sleeping, I reached a point where I slept with a pistol under my pillow. I trained Tian in a way no one would be able to hurt him like me, being able to handle poisons and being stronger than anyone else, and I'm willing to train his son the same way because in this life, only the strongest can keep alive", Ve said calmly

It was the first time Taria heard about Ve's life in these details. Her chest tightened and she was sad and concerned, yet she didn't agree with his ways

"Sorry to hear that, brother Ve. I know you had to face hell at a young age, but I don't agree with your ways. You were alone back then, with no one to lean on, but it's different now. Ray has me, his father, Josephine, Kai, and you by his side. He is not alone and he don't have to face the world alone", Taria said

"Can you guarantee that? He must be ready to fight alone even though he is not alone. No one can expect what life hides for us", Ve said

"He is still so young for this. It's ok to train him but not to this point", Taria said

"TARIA, your son is in huge danger. His father is dead, so he can't lead the family after me which leaves no one other than Ray to hold this responsibility, that's why he can't stay out of the family mess. I wished I died every time I handed him a poison and saw his small body getting sick, but I had no other choice. I might die at any moment, so it's my job to make sure your son is ready to face what I had to face with less damage", Ve said

"Ve, I…"

"Stop it, Taria", Tian said, putting his hand on her shoulder and looking into her eyes with a deep look

"Tian say something, you can't stand still while our son is being poisoned", Taria said

"Ve is right. Our son would have to hold a huge responsibility in the future, and it would be harder for him if he wasn't ready. The poisons he is taking won't kill him, I know how much it would hurt but he won't die. Our son is special, so trust him a little more", Tian said, kneeling in front of her and holding her hand, yet the deep look in his eyes was still the same.

Taria couldn't say anything, not after they both were against her, yet she could finally understand that her mother took the right decision on leaving her father after knowing she was pregnant. She trusted Ve, yet she couldn't stop imagining her son laying in bed after being poisoned, helpless and weak as he had never been.

"You are… assassinating him", she murmured, then she looked at Tian and shouted "you are the ones killing him slowly and painfully"

"I warned you from the start, Taria, I told you about everything yet you chose to stay", Ve said coldly, yet Tian, who was frozen after what Taria said, stood up fast and punched him on his face

"Don't talk to her like that", Tian said calmly, with black aura surrounding him.

"You failed, brother. You failed the family test and now your son is paying the price", Ve said calmly, wiping the blood that was getting out of his nose

"I will keep my son out of this, I think I already sacrificed enough", Tian said

"Do you think your sacrifices mean anything? Idiot. He was born a Leo, so he would have to face the Leo curse as long as he is alive", Ve said

"What does that mean?" Taria said

"I tried, Taria. Trust me I kept trying, yet this pain is endless. I tried to keep Tian out of this, but I couldn't. I tried to keep Ray out of this fucking mess, but I couldn't. I.. tried to end it all, but I couldn't. No one could, not for generations", Ve said, with a sad look in his eyes that no one ever saw before.

Taria realized by his broken look that there was no escape from this net. Her lover, her brother, and her son were stuck forever. No matter what they do, no matter what she does, there is no way out. However, she pressed on Tian's hand and said "ok. If my son was born to hold this responsibility then let him do it. If he had to drink poison then all I can do is take care of him, if he got wounded then I will make sure he would be treated well, he is not alone, so it won't be his own responsibility to be the hero"

Her eyes got braver, yet her voice was shaking. She already knew how much they both sacrificed for the sake of all the innocent people, and she saw them as heroes.

"This family.. is a family of heroes. and with this honor there must be a huge responsibility. I would be proud to see my son as a hero, and I would stand beside you all even if it would broke my soul", she said while her tears were getting out of her eyes

On the next morning, Tian, Taria, Ve, and Ray had breakfast together as Kai and Josephine had to take Ice for a check up. They all could feel how tense the atmosphere at the dining room was, yet they all preferred to stay silent. After the breakfast, Ve told the maids to get out, then he started talking

"Ray, your parents and I decided last night that we are going to give you the choice. It's either you keep your position as the next leader of the family, which you know how painful would be, or leave the family and live normally abroad", Ve said, clasping his hands on the table in front of him

"Ray, I will support you no matter what your choice was", Taria said, with a smile that hid her huge nervousness

"You don't have to give us an answer right now, think well first", Tian said, yet Ray giggled softly as if what they were talking about seemed so silly to him

"Is that really why all of you were nervous all the time?" Ray said while smiling, then that smile faded and got replaced by an expressionless face, cold and sharp enough to scare anyone.

"Uncle Ve, how many poisons did I gain immunity to?" Ray said calmly

"Seven, till now", Ve replied directly

"Wrong, it's 24, or actually 25 as I just took the last dose", Ray said, sending thunder into everyone's mind, and leaving them speechless

"I knew from the start that I would have to hold that responsibility, and I accepted it without hesitation. However, I'm not planning on taking it for free", Ray said calmly

"What do you mean?" Tian asked

"I'm… going to take revenge for everyone in this family", Ray said calmly

Taria, Tian, and Ve were shocked enough to not understand what Ray meant exactly. A little child like him talking about revenge and taking poisons at will seemed unrealistic. They all knew that Ray was special from the start, yet they never imagined reaching a point where they wouldn't be able to understand what is going on inside the mind of a six-years old. After that, Josephine and Kai came back and ended the confusion Ray put everyone else at.

"Hello, everyone", Josephine said energetically

"Hi, Josephine and Kai, how is our Ice doing~?" Taria said, getting up to carry the child

"Our Ice is the strongest baby. He didn't even cry while being checked", Josephine said proudly

"Kyaaaa he is still so cute", Taria said, then they both kept chatting energetically while the men were drinking their coffee peacefully.