Chapter 10 - Riya's Resolve

After the servants left, Iris left to visit her mother in her courtyard. The courtyard she got herself was already a very shabby place to live in, she could only imagine what her mother was given.

Riya's courtyard was very far from Iris's own. It took a long time for her to get there. When she was close to the gates, Iris suddenly saw Azer storm out of her mother's courtyard, looking extremely angry. On his forehead was a garish wound with constant blood flowing from it. The servants by his side all seemed terrified as they followed him out in a hurry.

Iris was shocked. She hurriedly went inside the courtyard. Since there was a distance between the two, Azer didn't notice her. As she stormed inside, she saw a broken vase on the ground. Immediately, a great surge of worry overcome her as she rushed past the servant cleaning up towards her mother's bedroom. Once she went inside, she saw her mother dazedly sitting on the bed. After quickly scanning her mother for injuries and finding there were none, Iris felt relieved and went towards her mother.

"Mommy..." Her voice woke Riya from her trance. She looked up at her daughter for a few seconds then got up to hug her.

"Iris, did you finish paying respects to your father and grandmother? How was it, did they say anything to you?"

Iris shook her head in her embrace. Then she carefully asked. "Mommy, I saw father go outside just now. He had a huge wound on his forehead. Did you..."

"I did. I threw a vase at him." Riya cut Iris short and told her while smiling slightly.

Iris was stunned. This didn't happen in her previous life. Since when did mother had the courage to hit that man??? And look so nonchalant about it as well?

Riya saw her daughter's stunned look, and sighed a little.

"Iris, Ever since I married him, I had lived in the palm of Azer's hand, complying to his every order and tolerating his every antic. Even when he demoted me to a concubine and threw me away, I never complained or said a word about it to my family or to him. Whether it was out of despair or not, I never once questioned him or told him that I disliked his way of treating me or that I had had enough. I just quietly bore everything, thinking that he was a man I once loved. But you know, recently I realized that maybe, I never really loved him at all. Maybe, he never loved me either. I was just young and naive, and he was just a man hungry for the power behind me. There was no love at all. This marriage was bound to fail, and it did.

That is why, Iris, I have decided to let go of everything. I will for you, and only for you, stay strong and protect you from anybody that will dare to harm you. You are my daughter, and I love you alot. From now on, Mommy promises that Mommy will never let you suffer. Just wait for Mommy to become healthier, I will make sure no-one will bully my daughter or belittle her in the slightest. Even if I have the status of a concubine, so what? I am still Riya Vinsa, the 2nd daughter of the Master of the Vinsa family-a family of generals, and I will, by all means protect myself and my daughter from any sort of suffering!" Riya said with unwavering determination. Her eyes were glowing. Then she smiled at her daughter and patted her head.

"I hit your father just now because, not only did he insult me to be impudent, he said that the daughter I raised was a humiliation to the family. He even said that I didn't deserve to bear his child! I was furious! Then, well, impulsively I threw the vase on his head. He left angrily, swearing at me. But even though I was impulsive, I don't regret my actions. You see, Mommy actually didn't have the weak personality I have now. I used to be very hot-headed and tomboyish back when I was young. I did grow up in a family of generals after all! That's why, I hate being weak. I will become stronger, so I can protect us!"

Riya's determined and heated words caused Iris's eyes to moisten. She hastily rubbed them clean before looking up and smiling brightly at her mother.

"Mommy, I also want to become stronger! So that I can protect you! Mommy, I...I love you alot as well. I will also make sure Mommy isn't bullied!" She exclaimed, her tone spoiled.

Seeing her act like this, Riya also broke out into a laugh and both mother-daughter had a warm talk afterwards.

Iris truely felt happy, seeing her mother recover her spirits. The rumors of her hot-headed youth, she had heard as well. That was why when she saw her so soft and feeble, she worried even more. Now she just hoped that her mother would fully recover back to her energetic self...

At night:

Iris stood in front of a mirror, gazing down on her reflection. She had long hair that even after being tied in a ponytail, hung loosely down to her waist. Her complexion was fair and her skin was soft. It had been along time since she saw her pretty self.

She continued to stare at herself, especially her eyes. She had blood-red eyes. She had always loved these eyes that she got from her mother. Her pure, innocent red eyes. Now, they only contained darkness and blood l.u.s.t.

Iris sighed. She promised herself. Her loved ones would remain bathing in the dazzling light, while she...would remain hidden in the shadows, silently protecting their happiness. That was her second goal.