《Greek Biker Billionaire: Yuri》


 THE BEGINNING

    Madame Antonia descended into the basement, hoping tonight would be the night she seeded in breaking the child¡¯s spirit. After switching the lights open, she found the child curled up on the cold hard ground, sucking on its thumb, its eyes squeezed shut. For Madame Antonia, all the children that came under her care were objects that needed to be trained. In her eyes, they were gender less and mindless, their only purpose in life to prove that Madame Antonia was good. Madame Antonia lip curled as she observed hertest project. The child was emaciated and smaller than most other seven years old. But for Madame Antonia, it hadn¡¯t been starved enough.


    ¡°Get up!¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    A kick to the child¡¯s ribs punctuated the words. Its eyes flew open. Madame Antonia drew her breath sharply. She despised a lot of things about thistest project of hers, but none more than those violet eyes staring at her right now. Terrible in its deceptive purity, the eyes made Madame Antonia feel soiled and she shook her head violently.


    ¡°No! this was the work of the devil, using the child to make her feel like she wasn¡¯t guided by God¡¯s hand.¡± ¨C Madame Antonia (in her mind)


    But still, those big violet eyes stared, damning her, and Madame Antonia shrieked.


    ¡± Didn¡¯t you hear what I said!? ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    Seeing Madame Antonia taking one step towards her seemed to throw the child into a panic. It scrambled to its knees, pale body shaking hard as it bent its head.


    ¡± I am sorry, Madame Antonia. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice (it whispered)


    Please make Madame Antonia believe me, (in her mind), it prayed. It hated itself for being a liar, but no matter what it did, it just couldn¡¯t stop lying.


    When Madame Antonia reached the child, it threw itself prostrate on the ground. Her skin crawled when it tried to kiss her feet.


    ¡± Get away from me! ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    Madame Antonia shoved the child away with another kick to its face. It back a cry of pain. Madame Antonia hatred grew at how silent and stoic it was. Why was this child is so different?.


    ¡± You don¡¯t want to see me, do you? ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    ¡± No, Madame Antonia. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    The child shook its head fiercely even while keeping its gaze trained on the ground.


    ¡± I¡¯m happy to see you. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    It was lying of course, but it prayed hard that maybe this time God wouldn¡¯t tell Madame Antonia it wasn¡¯t speaking the truth. The child knew Madame Antonia was good and it was bad. It knew this, but it didn¡¯t believe.


    ¡± Liar! ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    Madame¡¯s hiss made the child bite its lip hard. Please God, please make me believe the truth. Please make me believe so that Madame Antonia would love me. (The child wish in her mind)


    Madame Antonia suddenly cupped its chin, forcing it to look up. The child¡¯s eyes shed with the woman¡¯s. Madame Antonia screamed.


    ¡± Stop looking at me like I¡¯m evil! ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    It tried to protest bit it wasn¡¯t given any chance. Madame Antonia hand cracked against its cheek. Madame Antonia tried to scratch its eyes out. And the Madame Antonia was gripping its hair, dragging it up the stairs and out of the basement. The child forced itself to keep quiet, hoping its silence would Madame Antonia forgive her. But what the child didn¡¯t know was that the more silent it was, the more Madame Antonia would despise it. In its desperate, innocent desire to please, the harder it had be for Madame Antonia to remain blind to the truth.


    Madame Antonia threw the child to the floor they reached the dining room. She waited for the child to cry and fight back, but it only raised itself to its knees, looking up at Madame Antonia with eyes that neither hated nor questioned. In those eyes, Madame Antonia saw the truth the real truth, and not what she had tried to convince herself and all the children that she had killed in the name of her love for them. Madame screamed.


    ¡± Why won¡¯t you just break? ¡°- Madame Antonia


    Pulling the child up to its feet, Madame Antonia waited for the child to lift its head before pping it as hard as she could. The child swayed on its feet, and the dance began. Soon after, the music of Madame Antonia palm cracking against the child¡¯s cheek yed in the room.


    Crack. Sway. Crack. Sway. Crack. Sway


    The child¡¯s vision dimmed, but it struggled to stay on its feet. The child and Madame Antonia had danced to this music for as long as it could remember, and the steps were simple to remember. It mustn¡¯t fall, mustn¡¯t look at Madame Antonia, and most importantly of all, it mustn¡¯t ever make Madame Antonia have trouble hitting her. Madame Antonia was speaking/singing now, lyrics to the music that the child didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡± Why wasn¡¯t it still broken?..


    Why did it still want to live?..


    Why couldn¡¯t it just break?.. ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia Sing


    If it had been allowed to speak, the child would have asked just one question. How did Madame Antonia want to break itself?. Madame Antonia voice became feverish.


    ¡± I can¡¯t be med. I was so scared. ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    As the child continue to dance to Madame Antonia music, it wondered dazedly if her own terror was the same as Madame Antonia. Did Madame Antonia feel like she felt now?


    ¡± I¡¯m not evil. ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    The child wanted to believe Madame Antonia. There must be a reason why Madame Antonia couldn¡¯t stop hurting her, couldn¡¯t begin loving her. Madame Antonia was good, and it was not.


    ¡± Those men beat me up, raped me the entire night, all at the same time. They were the monster, not me! ¡± ¨C Madame AntoniaThis content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    The music rose to a screaming crescendo, and the dance reached its peak. Madame Antonia was no longer content pping its face. Now, Madame Antonia fists began to color the child¡¯s eyes with bruises, and the cracking ps turned into painful thuds.


    Thud. Thud. Thud.


    Its eyes swelled shut, and the child struggled to dance even when it was half blind with pain.


    ¡± They told me to kill my parents so I did! I was scared, and that was why I did it! I was young like you. I can¡¯t be med. God knows I must be forgiven for what I did. They broke me! ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    The music suddenly stopped, and the child started to tremble. The silence was bad and scary, and she wished she could hear the music again. She didn¡¯t want this quiet, knew with all her heart that it was. Madame Antonia came out of her trance, and the first thing she saw was the child¡¯s eyes.


    ¡± No! ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    Madame Antonia grabbed the child by the hair, and still it didn¡¯t speak. It was terrified out of its wits, but it still knew what was right or wrong.


    ¡± Why?..


    Why didn¡¯t it break like Madame Antonia had?.. ¨C Kathryn Ice (In her mind)


    ¡± You¡¯re going to break! ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    Madame Antonia muttered feverishly.


    ¡± You¡¯re going to break like all the others did! ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    The beatingsted for an hour. By the time Madame Antonia vision cleared, the child was crumpled in a ball of pain. Madame Antonia knelt down, breathing hard.


    ¡± Open your eyes. ¡± ¨C Madame Antonia


    Slowly, its eyes opened. And Madame Antonia saw she had lost. It still had not broken.

 PROLOGUE

    AFTER 5 YEARS ¡­..


    ¡± You have to understand these things take time, Mrs. Rewis. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew


    The doctor¡¯s voice was gentle but resolute. Doctor Matthew Brynthe knew the powerful Rewis matriarch could have him fired for mere impertinence, but he didn¡¯t give a damn. His patient was his first priority and no one else. Kristina Rewis gaze swung back to the adjoining room, its two-way wall allowing her to study her 12 year old grandchild.


    ¡± Just tell me my grandchild will get better, ¡± ¨C Kristina said tightly


    ¡± Is that too much to ask? ¡± ¨C Kristina


    Doctor Matthew shook his head irritably.


    ¡± I know you are used to getting your way, but if you truly care about your grandchild. ¡± ¨C Doc Mathew


    ¡± Of course, I care!, ¡± ¨C Kristina snapped.


    ¡± Then don¡¯t force me to give you a diagnosis we both know I¡¯m unable to provide, ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew snapped back.


    ¡± If I can give you more reassurance, I would. But I can¡¯t. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew added.


    Kristina¡¯s face became stiff at the doctor¡¯s word, but her voice shook when she spoke.


    ¡± It¡¯s my fault, can¡¯t you see? I forced my daughter to give her baby up, and now I¡¯m paying the price. ¡± ¨C Kristina


    Her voice broke as she imagined the unspeakable horror her arrogance had forced her own flesh and blood to live through.


    ¡± I have all money in the world, ¡± ¨C Kristina said in bitterly


    ¡± and it does nothing for my grandchild. ¡°- Kristina


    The matriarch¡¯s grief was more than palpable, and the doctor was unable to remainpletely indifferent at the sight of the older woman¡¯s suffering.


    ¡± Not everything¡¯s lost. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew, making an effort to soften his voice.


    ¡± Your grandchild¡¯s exceptionally intelligent, her IQ score off the chart. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew


    ¡± I¡¯m not asking you if my grandchild is smart. ¡± ¨C Kristina


    ¡± I know that, ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew growled impatiently.


    ¡± But I¡¯m telling you this because I want you to be thankful for it! You¡¯re grandchild¡¯s formative years were spent under the care of an abusive woman. Your grandchild was beaten regrly and nearby starved to death. Most children would have grown up insane or twisted and evil because of it, but your grandchild became neither. That¡¯s a miracle and that¡¯s ¡­¡± ¨C Doc Matthew drew a deep breath.


    ¡± What I¡¯m about to say is against my professional training, but I will say it because I want my patient to heal almost as much as you do. ¡± -Doc Matthew


    He weary gaze settled back on his patient. Her eyes were glued to the wall mounted TV, which was configured to y downloaded episodes of food shows. After several months of theraphy, Doc Matthew had discovered that food was the only thing guaranteed to draw the twelve year old out of her shell. Prior to it, the child had refuse to even acknowledge being called by her name.


    ¡± I am it. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice, had muttered almost defiantly.


    ¡± I don¡¯t have a name because Madame Antonia says I¡¯m not good. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice, added.


    They had been the only words the child spoke of Madame Antonia, but for Doc Matthew is enough. He had seen enough victims of child abuse to read between the lines. Madame Antonia or whoever the bitch was, had used starvation as a way of reinforcing her beliefs on Kristina Rewis grandchild. Food had be a measurement of love and the child had learned to voluntarily starved herself until Madame Antonia considered her ¡± good .¡± The memory had the doctor feeling murderous. The taking of human lives went against his very nature, but for the so-called Madame Antonia, Doc Matthew was more than willing to make an exception.


    ¡± Doctor Matthew? ¡°- Kristina strained voice.


    She snapped him out of his thoughts, and the Doctor found the older woman standing next to the two way window, Kristina¡¯s eyes filled with despair while gazing at her grandchild. Doc Matthew came to stand next to Kristina.


    ¡± You¡¯re grandchild will never bepletely normal. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew


    The matriarch cry of pain but the Doctor ignored it, instead he asked in a hard voice.


    ¡± Knowing that, are you still certain you¡¯re able to care to her? ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew


    ¡± I love her! ¡± ¨C Kristina voice was both ravaged and absolute.


    ¡± I will do everything for her. ¡± ¨C Kristina added.


    ¡± I hope you mean that. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew face Kristina then.


    ¡± Because I wasn¡¯t lying. The trauma she¡¯s suffering from is so severe, Madame Antonia¡¯s conditioning to deep and ingrained. I¡¯m not sure we¡¯ll everpletely get rid of it. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew, added.


    Kristina Rewis head lowered, defeat destroying the mour that wealth and power bought and reducing her into an old woman burdened with the weight of the world on her shoulders.


    ¡± The only thing you can do is to be patient with her. If you never tire showing her love, she will get better. Eventually she may learn to trust you. She may believe that she¡¯s worthy of being loved. But never forget that she can suffer from a rpsed anytime, and anything can trigger it. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew, eyes bored into Kristina.


    ¡± Everything, but most especially Lying. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew, added.


    ¡± I understand. ¡± ¨C Kristina nodded stiffly.


    She held her tears back ruthlessly as she spoke. If her young grandchild could suffer this long without breaking down, so would she. When Kristina was about to leave, Doc Matthew wrestled with his conscience and his professional duty. The former won, he went after the matriarch.


    ¡± Wait, Mrs. Rewis. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew


    In the act of joining her granddaughter in the car, Kristina paused, and turning back, she saw the younger man running down the hospital steps. She waited for the doctor to reached her.


    ¡± What is it? ¡°- Kristina, deliberately didn¡¯t speak in Greek to prevent her grandchild from understanding. In blunt english, the doctor said.


    ¡± I know you worry about the time when she has to live alone and you¡¯re not there to guide her. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew


    ¡± I don¡¯t n on dying anytime soon. ¡± ¨C Kristina, inhaled sharply.


    ¡± I know that, but we both know death is unpredictable thing. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew, interrupted quietly.


    Behind Kristina, his patient stared back at him with guileless eyes that knew too little and too much at the same time.


    ¡± I want her to get well too, Mrs. Rewis, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m advising this. ¡± ¨C Doc Matthew, didn¡¯t wait for an answer saying grimly.


    ¡± Buy her a husband. Someone honorable. Someone who understand that she¡¯s emotionally crippled but not insane. And most importantly, someone who will not abandon your grandchild to the wolves when your gone.¡± ¨C Doc Matthew


    TWO YEARS LATER ¡­


    Kristina¡¯s daily routine had not changed despite learning that she had Stage 4 cancer. She still woke up early, when to work six days a week, and still flew all over the world attending business meetings. Her doctor¡¯s didn¡¯t approved, of course.


    ¡± Your already limited days on earth will be even more limited if you keep up what you¡¯re doing. ¡± ¨C Doc Fiona, warned.


    Idiots. Kristina thought, fuming. None of them had realized she didn¡¯t have a choice. She had to present a strong front for as long as her granddaughter needed her.


    A knock sounded on her bedroom door just as Kristina finished her bath, something that used to take minutes but now took her almost an hour and caused immeasurable pain.


    ¡± Come in. ¡°- Kristina said wearily.


    To her shock, it was her granddaughter, and she sat up abruptly.


    ¡± What is it, Kathryn Ice? ¡± ¨C Kristina


    6 months ago, Kristina had finally seeded in manipting the child into epting her name or nickname for that matter. Seeing how the girl abhorred causing anyone pain, Kristina resorted to emotional ckmail, crying copious tears as she told the child that she would die of loneliness if Kathryn Ice didn¡¯t stop thinking of herself as ¡®it¡¯.


    ¡± And you promise not to die of loneliness If I do what you want, Grandmama? ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    ¡± Yes. ¡± ¨C Kristina, had sniffed for effect.


    Her 14 year old granddaughter gazed at her for a long time, her uncanny violet eyes so bright it was almost like having a light shinning all the way to her soul. But Kristina had refused to feel guilty, telling herself that she wasn¡¯t speaking any untruth.


    ¡± Alright. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    Kristina¡¯s head had snapped up.


    ¡± What do you mean, alright? ¡± ¨C Kristina, whispered.


    ¡± I am no longer it. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    A heartbreakingly shy smile broke over her granddaughter¡¯s lips, and her voice was graved when she said.


    ¡± If you think I am deserving of having a name¡­ ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice, paused as if she was waiting for Kristina to change her mind.


    ¡± It would mean so much, ¡± ¨C Kristina, didn¡¯t of course (in her mind). She said shakily.


    ¡± If you let me call you by your name. ¡± ¨C Kristina, added.


    Another eternity passed befor her granddaughter finally nodded.


    ¡± Then from this day, I am Kathryn Ice Rewis. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    And that had been thest time they talked, Kristina thought painfully. Kathryn Ice had be distant and watchful again after that, and Kristina had been at a lost on how to reach out to her granddaughter again. She had even begun to feel maudlin, wondering if she had imagined it all until now. In front of her, Kathryn Ice remained by the door, her serenely beautiful face yielding nothing.


    ¡± What is it, Kathryn Ice? ¡± ¨C Kristina, asked gently.


    ¡± You haven¡¯t eaten breakfast. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice. It was a statement not than a question, spoken in an equally monotonic voice. Not knowing what to make of it.


    ¡± No, I haven¡¯t. ¡± ¨C Kristina, said slowly.


    Another watchful, calcting nce, and then Kathryn Ice said almost defiantly.


    ¡± I have prepared breakfast for you. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    ¡± Y-you did? ¡± ¨C Kristina¡¯s heart race at the words when she said.


    Kathryn Ice nodded.


    ¡± F-for me? ¡± ¨C Kristina¡¯s asked for the second time.


    Kathryn Ice nodded again.


    ¡± I w-would love to eat it. ¡± ¨C Kristina swallowed in an effort to control her emotions.


    Kristina started to stand up, only to have her granddaughter shaking her head at Kristina.


    ¡± Stay there. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    Kristina had started to smile at themanding note in Kathryn Ice voice when the door opened and her granddaughter pushed a trolley in, with a covered tray on top. The urge to smile dissappeard, rece by an intense desire to weep.


    ¡® Oh! Kathryn ¡® ¨C Kristina, said in her mind.


    The girl broke her heart everyday, with how strong and good she was, and Kristina could never thank God enough for it.


    ¡® Lord, don¡¯t take me away until I know Kathryn Ice¡¯s strong enough to survive without me. I beg you, Lord. ¡® ¨C Kristina prayed in her mind. In front of her, Kathryn Ice lifted the tray, and Kristina¡¯s breath caught.


    ¡± It¡¯s beautiful, Kathryn Ice. ¡± Kristina


    She had never described food as beautiful, but there was no better word for it now. On the ck rectangle box was white saffron rice on one side, and on top of it was egg white dyed pink and cut in the shape of cherry blossoms, with strips of nori seaweed making up its thin and almost intracately arranged branches. On the side was a mixed of fresh broli, cubed beef teriyaki, and carrots shaped like hearts. Swallowing back a sob, Kristina asked tremulously.


    ¡± Where did you learn to make this? ¡± ¨C Kristina


    ¡± The inte. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    The girl¡¯s eyes were bright and intense, her gaze focused intently on here grandmother¡¯s face.


    ¡± Do you like it? ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice, voice was sharp almost abrupt.


    ¡± Yes. ¡± ¨C Kristina, said simply.


    ¡± You may eat now. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice, bit of tension left taut form.


    As Kristina started on her meal, Kathryn Ice¡¯s gaze never left hers. When she was done and sipping a ss of lemon water, Kathryn Ice suddenly asked.


    ¡± Do you love me, Grandmama? ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    ¡± Of course. ¡± ¨C Kristina, heart broke for the second time that day. She poured all her heart into those two words.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time Kathryn Ice had asked the question. In fact, the girl liked to ask it at the oddest times. When they were in the middle of a shopping mall, when she saw Kristina tending to her private garden in her bedroom. There was no telling when Kathryn Ice would ask, and everytime she did, Kristina wished with all her heart she had a power to kill Madame Antonia over and over. Looking at Kathryn Ice¡¯s face.


    ¡± I will always love you. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice, said softly.


    No emotions crossed the girl¡¯s unblinking gaze as she asked.


    ¡± Why? ¡± ¨C Kristina, said simply.


    ¡± Because I do. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice


    ¡± And you don¡¯t need to do or say anything to earn it. ¡± ¨C Kristina, furiosly blinked back tears.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡± You are not¡­ Lying? ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice, frowned.


    Kristina met her granddaughter¡¯s gaze head on, praying to God that Kathryn Ice would see the truth she lived for.


    ¡± No. ¡± ¨C Kristina


    Kathryn Ice started walking towards her, and Kristina found herself beside anxiety. Had she said something wrong? Was Kathy mad?


    Kathy drop her knees.


    ¡± Darling, was is it? ¡± ¨C Kristina, let out a cry of dismay.


    ¡± If you¡¯re not lying to me¡­ ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice, words were a fragile whisper.


    Kristina paled. Kathy¡¯s body trembled so hard it was as if Kristina¡¯s granddaughter was struggling against the vilest demons inside her.


    ¡± Oh! Baby what is it? Tell me. ¡± ¨C Kristina


    ¡± If you¡¯re n-not lying, G-Grandmama, then I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll try to love you. ¡± ¨C Kathryn Ice, lifted tear-stained eyes to her.


    A sob escaped Kristina as she drew her granddaughter into her arms, and for the first time, Kristina felt Kathy¡¯s arms going around her. She choked on other side.


    ¡± Oh! Child, I love you. I¡¯ll always love you. ¡± ¨C Kristina, murmured the words over and over, her tears bittersweet because she knew that God had answered her prayers.


    Kathy¡¯s was strong now ¡­


    It was time for her to go ¡­


    ¡± She¡¯s different. ¡± ¨C Kristina, exined carefully.


    ¡± But she¡¯s not crazy. ¡± ¨C Kristina, added.


    The youngman seated across her only nodded, his angelically beautiful face perfectly expressionless. It reminded her so much of Kathryn Ice it was uncanny, and Kristina had to repress a shiver. ¡® Is this a good or bad omen, Lord? ¡®


    ¡± You¡¯ve read the reports I¡¯ve sent you? ¡± ¨C Kristina


    ¡± I have, Kyr¨ªa. ¡± ¨C Yuri Daniel, ( ¡®Kyr¨ªa in grecian means madam ordy )


    ¡± Then you know I¡¯m telling you the truth. ¡± ¨C Kristina¡¯s voice became fierce.


    ¡± I never thought you would lie to me, Kyr¨ªa. ¡± ¨C Yuri Daniel


    The man¡¯s voice was courteous and pleasant, something Kristina found admirable in young Greek men. But right now, she would pay a fortune to hear any emotion in that voice. Kristina made a snap decision toy all her cards on the table.


    ¡± I could have had any man in Greece, but I chose you because I know you¡¯re honorable and because¡­ ¡± ¨C Kristina¡¯s dainty shrug.


    ¡± You need me, more than I need you. ¡± ¨C Kristina, added.


    ¡± Touch¨¦, Kyr¨ªa. ¡± ¨C Yuri Daniel, inclined his head. His tone remained respectful but even, his face expressionless.


    Kristina refuse to feel defeated. The man she had chosen might appear too young for the daunting task she had for him, but she knew with all her heart that he was the only one she could trust. She would bet all her remaining days on earth on it.


    ¡± What¡¯s stopping you from saying yes?  ¡± ¨C Kristina, demanded.


    A moment of hesitation before the man answered slowly.


    ¡± I may be too cold for her, Is that the only thing you¡¯re worried about? ¡± ¨C Yuri Daniel


    Kristina¡¯sughter didn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    ¡± Let me make it clear to you then. I chose you precisely because of that. That coldness you speak of is nothing but a shield. I know because I use the same thing, too, to protect what I value the most. For me that is my granddaughter. For you that is your half sister. ¡± ¨C Kristina


    The man stiffened.


    ¡± Yes¡­ ¡± ¨C Kristina, acknowledge shamelessly.


    ¡± I know about her. I know you¡¯ve sacrificed your rtionship with your father for her, and it¡¯s that kind of selflessness.. No, that coldness.. I want from you. ¡± Kristina voice turned hard.


    ¡± Let us stop ying games. We both know you have no one left. No one but me. There is no one else in this world who has the wealth, power and motivation necessary to go against your father. I am your only chance, Yuri Daniel Athanas. So I suggest you be as cold-blooded as you say you are and say yes. ¡± ¨C Kristina


    Ten minutester, and Kristina was leading the young Greek Scion out of her office and downstairs, where Kathy was. Yuri was bemused when he realized where they were heading.


    ¡± She¡¯s in the kitchen? ¡± ¨C Yuri, with the exception of his own half sister, most heiresses of his acquaintance weren¡¯t even aware where their kitchen was.


    ¡± It¡¯s her favorite ce in the house. ¡± ¨C Kristina, answered briefly.


    Opening the door for Kristina, Yuri followed the older woman inside. He stopped when he saw the sole upant in the kitchen, his gaze immediately arrested by the 14 year old girl behind the ind, her head bent as she expertly minced spring onion on the chopping board. Sunlight filtering through the expansive windows at her back gave the girl a golden halo. Her hair, cascading down in a silky brown waterfall, hid most of her face, but what little he saw told Yuri that the girl was exquisitely beautiful and would be even more so when she matured.


    Even so, Yuri did not feel a thing. When the Rewis matriarch nodded at him, he walked towards the girl. They had agreed that he would speak to his granddaughter first and he would make his decision from there. Kathryn Ice Rewis didn¡¯t look up when Yuri¡¯s shadow fell over her chopping board. Her fingers paused, however, the knifeing to a stop mid-air. A second passed, and Yuri sensed she was waiting for him to speak. When he didn¡¯t, another second passed before her slender, elegant fingers started moving again.


    ¡± Hello. ¡± ¨C Yuri, finally speak.


    The girl stilled, and she was so perfectly motionless that with her ivory skin, one could be forgiven for thinking she was a marble statue. Slowly, she raised her head, and violet eyes met brilliant blue. Yuri thought, now he knew why her first and only day in the girl¡¯s academy Kristina enrolled her in had been disastrous. Those gypsy looking eyes were innocent and all knowing like a child¡¯s hiding nothing but seeing everything. Most people would feel condemned just looking at those eyes, Yuri knew. He was about to speak again when he saw her lips part, and Yuri stilled.


    ¡± Hello. ¡± ¨C Kathy voice was light and grave, beautiful and cold. But her violet eyes had a hint of wariness, and when Kristina came to join them.


    Yuri realized that the girl had already been briefed about him. What she thought of it, however, was impossible to tell. Her eyes were too much like his in that sense. Perfectly ssy, reflecting everything except her own thoughts.


    ¡± Darling. ¡± Kristina said softly. She waited for her granddaughter¡¯s gaze to meet hers before continuing.


    ¡± This is the man I was telling you about, his name is Yuri Daniel. Call him Yuri. And he¡¯ll take care of you he loves you, like I do. ¡± ¨C Kristina, added.


    Kathy¡¯s brows furrowed.


    ¡± You¡¯re not lying? ¡± ¨C Kathy


    ¡± I love you. Don¡¯t I? Will I lie to you? ¡± ¨C Kristina, swallowed.


    The violet eyes turned towards Yuri. In her gaze, he saw both his prison and his future.


    ¡± Will you love me? ¡± ¨C Kathy


    And for this girl, Yuri realized bleaky, it was that simple. Dishonesty had been beaten out of her system and Kristina¡¯s overprotective love hadn¡¯t given her any chance to discover the life would never be that ck and white. Meeting her gaze.


    ¡± Yes. ¡± ¨C Yuri, heared himself, lie.


    After, Kristina and Yuri were both quiet as they went through the majestic front doors of the Rewis Mansion. When the valet brought his car to the driveway. Kristina broke the silence.


    ¡± I will not go back on my word. ¡± ¨C Kristina


    ¡± I never thought you would. ¡± ¨C Yuri, murmured.


    The older woman hesitated, and it struck him at the moment how frighteningly frail she appeared. In her frequent photos on the society pages, the matriarch always had an untouchable aura about her, but there was none of her usual mour now.


    ¡± Are you alright? ¡± ¨C Yuri


    ¡± Of course. ¡± ¨C Kristina voice was nd as she knowingly added to her sins. ¡®Forgive me, Yuri Daniel Athanas.¡¯


    Kristina had deliberately witheld the truth of her medical condition from the younger man, fearing his refusal if he realized that he might have only months left before fate demanded him to tie himself irrevocably to a stranger. After epting the keys from the valet, Yuri faced Kristina again.


    ¡± Is there anything else you would like to discuss? ¡± ¨C Yuri


    ¡® A lot. ¡® Kristina thought painfully. ¡® Do you think you¡¯ll ever fall for someone like my granddaughter? Can you promise never to make her cry? Do you realized how terrified I am, knowing that I have no choice but to trust you? ¡®


    But in the end she knew she could not say any of those. Instead, she had to content herself with a promise.


    ¡± I will do everything in my power to help you save your sister, but you must promise me that you will do the same for my granddaughter. Save her when the timees that I am no longer by her side. ¡± ¨C Kristina


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!