Sweet Lies

"South?" the words came out distant as if he was not talking to her but whispering to himself but she nodded.

"Yes, you are from there. Right?" she beamed, her voice holding a lot of excitement, "would it not be best if you show me where you grew up? Where you played when you were a child and what you did there. Of course, we also want to donate to your orphanage. I want to show my gratitude to that place." Mike was having a hard time keeping that smile on his face.

That place… he had grown up in an orphanage but he did not have a good image there. He had killed a child at a small age and ran from there.

Then he spent his life as a thief and joined a gang. They have taught him how to fight properly. That was the place he had learned sword-wielding and dirty tricks of fighting that no training camp of nobles would teach.

But if he would show all that to Lia, would she appreciate it?

Though she was a cold woman, justice and kindness were embedded in her soul. Others did not notice it because of her reptile skin but he knew it. He had seen her caring for others.

Would she ever understand why he needed to kill that child? That child has taken his bread. But..!

"There is nothing much to see. It... I will not feel comfortable showing you the dirty streets where I grew up, Lia. it will be better if we go to your summer palace." yes! There he could bask in the sun on a beach.

Her summer palace was near the sea. It had the best view. If possible, he wanted to spend all his life there only.

"Ah! The summer palace is getting renovated. Of course, we can go there when the renovations are completed but I still want to see south honey." she held his hands and squeezed them hard, "Looking at your sufferings, I will only feel better." looking at his furrowed brows, she laughed loudly.

She could feel everyone's confused gaze on her but she was amazed that even Mike dared to look grim when he should have expected it.

He should have expected her to come for him when he tried to hurt his family. Or had he thought that she would never realize it and die again?

How sure he must be to still pass the tea to her family despite receiving the warning?

"I mean, your suffering in the past shows how you grew up. How you became so strong and how you have reached here. Those experiences made you. Of course, I would love to know more about them." she could see her mother's eyes softening as if she was proud of her.

Lia had never explained herself. She had always been stiff and cold-hearted but to think love had changed her.

It had taught her how to express herself. If only she knew, death had done it.

No! No one would ever know that. She concentrated on the shameless man again who was grinning ear to ear with joy.

Sure that she was still in his control and that she might forgive his bad experience thinking that it was just a bad face.

Yes, keep believing it. Keep trusting her until she cuts every part of his existence.

"Alright, if you put it that way!" he made circles on their entwined hands with his index finger.

Each touch was getting more sensual than before. He did it even if they were sitting at the same table with her family.

Her father coughed lightly but concentrated on his lunch feeling helpless. Her mother chuckled and contended that their daughter was happy.

Not even once they cared about his past background or mind that he was a commoner.

Cami did not understand most of it except the fact that his sister was going south with her husband and did not offer him to come with them.

"Sister had changed," he grumbled before picking up the spoon and having his soup.

"I will take you to the summer palace. Alright?" She laughed and finally retreated with her hands in the name of eating the meal.

"I will ask the maids to prepare for our trip. If you need anything, feel free to inform the butler." he nodded. Of course, he would feel free, after all, it was his home now.

Soon, it will only belong to him! His back relaxed and his lips curved upwards as he leaned on the chair and had his meal.

She picked up the fork and stabbed the carrot while smiling at him. Chewing it hard, she smiled.

"By the way mother, I saw a new maid in Mike's chamber today. She is very rude. I want you to check her background again and ask her why she was behaving so pretentious. For a second, I thought something was going on between her and Mike." the man coughed, the soup spilled all over his clothes while he stared at her wide eyes.

His catch still did not stop when Lia tilted her head and met his eyes.

"I meant I felt it for a second. But of course, I know that you would not cheat on me." with her at least! You will still wait for Katherine. Right?

"Honey, you should not scare him that much." Monique laughed and shook her head. "What is the name of the maid though."

"I do not know. But she is staying in his previous room. Ask Ben, he must have hired extra help because of the marriage.'' The man fidgeted as if she was sitting on pins and needles. His eyes stared at the food as if it was his enemy.

The woman was becoming a trouble for his bright future.