Chapter 150 - I Knew It

When her eyes slowly opened, a weak sigh slipped past her lips. She couldn't sleep and her throat felt parched. 

Devon assisted herself to sit up. She set eyes on the glass placed on the bedside table. It was empty.

Out of habit, she flung her legs out of the bed. Walking around the bed, and picked up the empty glass.

'The kitchen isn't far and Lu always wake up in the middle of the night to drink. I might as well prepare a glass for him.' She nodded as she trudged outside the bedroom.

Devon peeked outside the door, looking from left to right.. The lights were dim, but it was still enough to see nobody else was there. She mustered her courage to walk out of the room and headed to the kitchen.

Just like what she had said, the kitchen wasn't far from their room as she reached her destination soon. She didn't idle around, pouring herself a glass of water in silence, and then put the pitcher back in the refrigerator.

She thought nothing would go wrong with fetching water late in the night. But things were about to go downhill because just as she placed the pitcher back to where she got it, a voice not far away from her prickled under her skin.

"Hello there, sister."

A chill crept down her spine upon hearing Julian's voice. Devon instantly froze on the spot, unable to look back and face him.

Julian sauntered towards the kitchen counter. He propped his side against it, arms crossed.

"My brother drinks a lot of water. He must have drunk a lot before going to sleep," He uttered as his eyes glanced at the glass of water on the kitchen counter.

Devon took a deep breath, calming herself down, and sported a forced smile. She slowly turned to face him.

"He did for sure," she replied, setting her eyes on Julian. She assessed his laid-back demeanor and convinced herself that there's no reason to fear him.

"I'm — I'm going back." She stuttered, clearing her throat, and reached for the glass of water. 

Julian's eyes were on her trembling hand. "Do I scare you, sister?"

Devon froze just when she was about to grab the glass. Was it that obvious? He might be offended if she couldn't get herself together.

"No," she answered under her breath while she raise her head. "Why would I..."

Her words trailed off as soon as her eyes met his. She had seen it. The brief smirk on his lips which vanished immediately. Her heart kept thumping against her ribcage as she breathed shakily.

"Sister?" Julian tilted his head to the side while she looked at him blankly. "Are you alright? Did I do something wrong?"

Devon opened and closed her mouth like a fish. All she could do was swallow the tension building up in her throat.

"Good — good night." She hanged her head low and attempted to reach the glass of water. Before she could reach for it, Julian suddenly grabbed her wrist, making her look up at him in fear.

A sinister smile appeared on his lip. "I knew it."

"What do you think you're doing?" Her voice shook, pulling her wrist away from him, but he tightened his grip.

"Oh, my dear sister." Julian pulled her to him with all his might.

The next thing she knew, Julian had her trapped with both his hands resting on either side of her — against the kitchen counter — standing before her.

Her breath hitched as he leaned forward. Her lower lip trembled as she planted her fist against his chest.

"Do you think I won't recognize you?" he inquired, tilting his head as he studied her face. "Even if you wear a hideous face, I will always recognize you, Kasdeya."

As soon as she heard him call her name, her heart sunk. She wasn't wrong when she felt Quentin's aura from him. This man tormented her all his life. So, even if he wore a different face, her heart instantly recognized him.           

"I... I don't know what you are talking about," came out a muffled, terrified response, but he just let out a chuckle.

"Playing a fool now, are we?" he raised a brow, bobbing his face to analyze her expression. "Did you forget how you sold me and the country to those savages?"

Listening to him only proved that he was Quentin. Only that real Quentin would know what happened to them back in their world.

"Kassy, my dearest, do you know what I was thinking before my head rolled to the ground?" His eyes glinted viciously, like a total psychopath. "I was thinking about you, my dearest. I was wondering how can you sell your own country for a personal grudge. Not only you killed me, but all my innocent subjects as well. You turn your back on our people, Kas."

"Your people." She blurted out as her entire body shook with rage. "They are your people and never mine. Those same people knew nothing but to exploit and hurt the weak. What happened to you and them are just --"

Devon couldn't finish her sentence as Julian grabbed her jaw. His thumb and middle finger pressing on either side of her cheeks as if he would crush her jaw.

"What happened to us is just? You have lost your mind, did you?" His weak chuckle sent a sense of dread in her heart. "How shall I punish you for saying such vicious words to your husband?"

Devon clenched her teeth as she clutched his chest tightly. She didn't look away from him, so he could read the hatred in her eyes. 

"Shall I take your lover's life in this world? Just like what I did to Arthur?" she froze as soon as suggestion lingered in her ears. "Hah... it's funny, don't you think? I got reborn in this world as an orphan."

Julian breathed out heavily through his mouth. He was born into this world with snippets of his memories in his previous life. Growing up, these memories also grew distinct and clear to him.

"I was not a firm believer, sister. However, I prayed day and night that you come into this world as well," He remarked, rocking his head sideways as he bats his eyes languidly. "I guess the deity didn't abandon me completely because he still heeds my prayers and here you are! Right in front of me."

Devon hissed as her burning eyes teared up from anger. She wanted to tell him to scram or just challenge him right here and now to a duel. But she couldn't do so since he was grabbing her jaw. 

"Oh, goodness, Kas. What should I do with you and my big brother, who got everything in this life?" His pupils constricted as a sinister chuckle slipped past his lips. "This is great, though. Since..." 

Julian trailed off as he diverted his eyes to the side. It glinted menacingly before setting them back on her.

"Remember, Kas. I will kill Lewis if you get in my way in this life." Julian slowly let her go and took a step back. "You know me, my dearest."

Devon gasped for air, assisting herself on the kitchen counter as her knees wobbled. Her mind was too muddled to think as her fear blanketed her judgment. 

"Eh? Ge? Sis? What are you two doing here?" came Dion's sleepy voice while rubbing his weary eyes. 

"Sister is fetching water, and I happened to do the same," Julian explained in his usual unfriendly tone. "Dion, come to my office tomorrow. We have to settle your issue with your agency. Don't give me a headache."

Dion frowned. "Yes, sir." He sauntered lazily towards the refrigerator to grab a drink. 

"Goodness... you already told me that a hundred times."

"And for a hundred of times, you never listen. Do you want Ge to settle it himself?" Julian raised a brow and glanced at Devon.

"Geez! I will, I promise!" Dion replied annoyingly, clicking his tongue.

Devon could only listen to their conversation. She glanced at Julian, glaring daggers at him, clenched teeth.

Julian shrugged nonchalantly. "Have a good night, sister." 

He then took a deep breath and left with a smile on his face. Devon stared at his back while her hand curled into a fist.

"Eh? Sis? Are you alright?" asked Dion once he turned and closed the refrigerator behind him. He walked towards the kitchen counter, lowering his head as he gazed at her. 

His eyes studied her and noticed the red marks on her cheek. Dion furrowed his brows as he frowned.

"Did Ge pinch your cheek? It seems it is swelling." Dion pointed out, but she ignored him.

He raised his brows as Devon suddenly picked up the glass of water and stormed away. Dion cocked his head to the side, puzzled at what just happened.

"Did she have a fight with Ge?" he wondered but didn't dwell on it since he learned not to meddle with the couple's affairs because they resolve it themselves, anyway.

******

'This can't be happening...! Of all people, why must he be in the body of Lu's brother?' Julian's sinister expression flashed in her head as she walked back to her room. 

'Don't get in my way this time..' were his warnings to silence her from speaking this incident to Lewis. She knew Quentin and how rotten he could be. He was the man who would do everything he had said.

"Lu..." she whispered, almost sprinting back to their room. When she reached the door, she unhesitatingly entered without wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes. 

Just as she came in, her eyes fell on the empty bed. Lewis was gone.

"Where did you go?" His cold baritone voice reached her ear, making her eyer shift in his voice's direction. As soon as their eyes met, he furrowed his brows and noticed the red marks on her cheek and wrist.