1 Chapter 1: After Happily Ever After

It was nearly sunset when she sauntered onto the rooftop of the tallest building in the palace. From there, she could see distant houses where villages bustled around in the golden glow from the sun. As the hour passed, dark clouds covered the sun and the sky darkened from red to gray. Waves of chilly wind passed by, but the lady in black remained unaffected as her eyes locked with the sky.

When she was born, she was named Li Wei. Her mother wanted her to grow up into a beautiful refined lady. Too bad, nothing in her name matched her character. In this life, she was nothing like a lady. Her mother was probably greatly disappointed from the heavens.

Instead of the leading lady, she's the villainess. Yes, she was an evil woman who stopped at nothing to get the man she loved and she shamelessly admitted to doing so. But here's the thing with villains, they never get a happy ending. Destruction is the reason for their existence.

With elegance, her fingers reached out to the cup of tea by her side and carelessly tipped the rest of the liquid onto her waiting mouth. As she drank, some escaped and trailed down her neck and stained her necklace. With a smile, she took a last glance at the sky before she left.

When the clock stroke seven, she appeared at the doorway of Hundreds Garden, the largest and most popular garden in Hai'an. A stone walkway connected the gate doorway to the main house door way. On both sides, hundreds of different flowers covered the ground in countless colors. It was July so all the flowers were in full bloom and filled the air with a nice fragrant scent.

From the doorway of the main house, a young boy stood waiting. Although he was only five, he carried an air of royalty and maturity that were rare in children of his age. When he saw her at the entrance, Khan Bohai's strong aura immediately disappeared as he ran out as fast as his legs could go, "Imperial Mother!"

Li Wei watched as her son came running to her. Khan Bohai was a great boy, one could say he was a genius who excelled in his studies. When he smiled, his dimples showed, just like his father. And for being so similar to him, she found it hard to love her son.

She didn't have time to think as he stumbled when he almost reached where she stood and she immediately bent down to catch him into her embrace. A pair of small round eyes looked at her, almost as if asking for permission, before his arms wrapped around her neck. "Imperial Mother, you came…"

"Of course, why wouldn't I? Didn't you leave a rose in mommy's room this morning to remind me to come here?"

"Imper—mommy?" His voice tested out the word carefully. "Imperial Mother, I can call you mommy now?"

Li Wei nodded as she gently pinched her son's small nose, "Of course. From now on, you can call me mommy."

"M-mommy, thank you. I'm so happy right now. Actually, daddy is waiting inside. It's a secret, but let me tell you," Khan Bohai's voice lowered even though no one was around. "Daddy's going to give you a big gift, he said it's even better than gold!"

Laughter filled the air as she watched his innocent expression, fully believing in his father. "Tell mommy, how big is it?"

"Daddy said it can fill the whole sky, mommy!"

"Mommy has a gift for daddy and you too. Let's go meet your daddy then, shall we?"

Khan Bohai gladly nodded as he slipped his hands into his mommy's. Mommy seemed to be in a good mood today, so he took the risk of boldly holding her hand. He must take advantage of his mommy's good mood before she changed her mind.

The mother and son could only took a step before Li Wei crumbled onto her knees in pain and her hand slipped from his. All the strength in her body dissipated as she clutched her stomach. Khan Bohai screamed as he saw blood on the ground when he turned around. "Mommy! Mommy, what's wrong?"

"Bohai, go get your daddy…" she managed to spoke as she fell onto the ground. Her heart broke as she watched her son cried out loudly, "Daddy! Daddy come save mommy!"

From the ground, Li Wei watched as Khan Bojing flew from the doorway in panic upon their son's words. Khan Bohai's face was stained with tears as he held his mommy's hand. He prayed she would be okay. If his mommy was okay, he promised he wouldn't ask for much anymore. He wouldn't make her spend time with him anymore, he would study hard and listened to daddy. He wouldn't sneak into her courtyard anymore, he would wait until she came to see him. He promised he'd be a good boy if his mommy was okay.

"Mommy, please wait daddy is coming soon. Mommy, I will ask daddy to buy you lots of pretty necklaces, your necklaces has been dirtied. Mommy, I will be a good boy so you have to be okay, okay?"

At her son's words, her eyes traveled down. The silver necklace she had on had turned black. That's when the realization hit her; she had been poisoned. She almost wanted to laugh if she had more energy. For a villainess to die from poison, it was ironic.

She had always imagined that she'd feel relieved, but that feeling was no where as she was filled with regrets. She hadn't cried for years, but as she laid there hopelessly, tears came streaming down her face. Li Wei had spent all her years hating Li Zhilan who took everything she desired, but at this moment the person she hated most was herself.

She barely managed to squeeze his hand gently as she spoke her last words. "Khan Bohai, listen to mommy okay? I'm sorry, baby. I'm really sorry… Promise mommy that you will be a good boy. If mommy leaves, you have to take care of daddy. After mommy leaves, tell daddy to find a better mommy for you."

"Mommy, don't say that. Only you're my mommy!"

Li Wei wished to hold her son in her arms one last time, but she had no strength left. When Khan Bojing's dark figure reached them, she gave him the gentlest smile he's ever seen. He was handsome and righteous as usual.She wanted to tell him, to say those words she hadn't found enough courage to speak aloud. When she open her mouth, only blood came out and there was no sound.

Then, her eyes close into darkness.

After she took her last breath, strong arms wrapped around her body and carried her away from the cold pouring rain.