Chapter 64 - I Think You Need To Get Married

"That's… gross."

Devon instantly shot glaring daggers at Ghost Lin, and the latter pursed her lips in a thin line. Obviously, Devon knew that — although inbreeding was normal back in her world — but Ghost Lin had to be more sensitive to her words. 

"It is against my will," Devon spat out, a little disgruntled. "Ghost Lin, please be sensitive with the words you speak and don't jump to conclusions easily!"

"Woah! Chill." Ghost Lin raised both her hands as a gesture of surrender. She slowly drew back, crossing her legs as she tilted her head to the side.

"I'm curious. How can you be the empress consort if…" Ghost Lin trailed off once again as she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Is the emperor your brother?" 

Devon's jaw tightened as she gritted her teeth. Her chest moved in and out heavily, as that could only be the answer to Ghost Lin's question.

"My brother… he had always been obsessed with me." Devon gazed down, as she didn't understand why she was telling Ghost Lin about it. She continued, anyway.

"I was locked up in a tower and spent my life in it for something I didn't do. I blamed my father and mother, resented them for not believing my innocence. During those times, he was the only one who believed in me, promising me to help me once he comes to power. 

However, everything was a lie. The reason they locked me up in a tower was his doing; he was the one who orchestrated the incident behind the curtains, all because of his jealousy. He projected himself as a warm and considerate person, but he's a devil inside. 

When he came into power, his promise to help me out of the tower didn't happen. Instead, he proposed marriage, and when I decline —" 

Devon's breath suddenly hitched as she shut her eyes closed, covering her ears with her fist, terrified. What was she doing? Why was she telling all this to Ghost Lin even though it'll just reopen up the deepest scar in her heart? 

"No," Devon muttered as she curled herself into a ball. No more, she thought, desperately trying to erase all those horrible memories from the past. 

Ghost Lin frowned, reaching her hand on Devon's trembling back, but the latter couldn't feel it. Even though Devon stopped talking, Ghost Lin already had a good grasp of what happened next.

"I'm sorry," Ghost Lin apologized, patting her back even though Devon couldn't feel it. "I'm sorry that you have to experience all that."

'She shouldn't have told me if it only triggered her trauma.' Ghost Lin muttered in her head, feeling a little guilty for it.

****

When Devon finally got a grip on herself, both Ghost Lin and Devon laid on the bed while staring at the ceiling. They remained silent for as long as they could remember.

"I'm sorry again." Ghost Lin pouted as she apologized for the nth time.

The corner of Devon's lips hooked up subtly. "You don't have to. It is I, who decided to tell you. I thought because I'm in this body, I can just pretend I'm recalling a long nightmare." 

But the pain and everything still felt vivid. Her helplessness when while she desperately screamed that echoed across the entire tower while he defiled her over and over until she could no longer scream or struggle; his affectionate gaze that disgusted her, his calloused palms holding her wrist, and her fears whenever she hears the doors opening. Everything still felt very vivid.

"Perhaps, it is one of the reasons I am reluctant to open up," Devon muttered with a sigh. "Part of me still wondered if I'm being true to my friend or he was truly being true to me."

"What do you mean? Don't you like him?"

"I do," said Devon with a bitter smile. "I trust him, but there's still a small part of me that couldn't help but think; what if everything until now was just a facade? That someday, he'd become just like Quentin? I can endure the physical pain, but I don't think I can endure being betrayed again."

Ghost Lin didn't speak anymore as she stared at the ceiling. She blinked before her eyes slowly widened, repeating Devon's last remarks until her brain could process everything. 

"What?!" Immediately, Ghost Lin tossed to her side until her face hovered over Devon. "What did you say?" 

"Pardon?"

"What is the name of that scum?" Ghost Lin asked in urgency, making Devon's brows knit. 

Still, Devon answered in a baffled tone. "Quen… tin?"

"Holy shit…" Ghost Lin cursed under her breath as she staggered back and collapsed on her back. Devon, who was confused, rolled to her side, quirking a brow.

"Are you alright?" Devon asked, puzzled at Ghost Lin's sudden question.

"Girl," Ghost Lin turned her head to face Devon with a mortified expression. "What does that trash looks like?" 

Devon frowned. "Why did you even apologize if you will still ask such questions?" 

"Just tell me."

Devon immediately rolled on her back, displeased at Ghost Lin's fickle heart. 

"He had sharp hazel eyes, narrow straight nose, thick brows, plump lips, and platinum hair color. Are you glad now?" Devon huffed. Ghost Lin didn't respond, so Devon turned to look at her. 

To her dismay, Ghost Lin was just staring at her in a distraught state. "Are you alright, Ghost Lin?" she asked, furrowing her brows. 

If Ghost Lin's opacity was high, Devon could immediately tell she suddenly turned pale. Her reaction brought anxiousness in Devon's heart and a sense of dread to her spine.

"Dear, I'm not sure, and I hope I'm wrong, but…" Ghost Lin gulped, staring at her apologetically. "… I think you should marry Wolf Qin as soon as possible."

"Pardon?"

"Do I have to repeat my words every time I tell you something important?" Ghost Lin quickly recovered as she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"How can you say that after what I have told you?" Devon bit her lip, utterly disappointed at Ghost Lin. She thought Ghost Lin could understand her even the slightest.

"How can I say that?" Ghost Lin scoffed, grinding her teeth.. "I happen to know someone named Quentin and he… he is my ex."