168: [Bonus chapter]Tangled fates will always be connected

[Bonus chapter]Tangled fates will always be connected

According to Miriam, Dominic might be a genius as a child, but he was a sweet one. He was like just like Sebastian. He was a little distant from others, but he was a child to those he cared for.  2

One of the people Dominic looked up to and was fond of was his uncle, Leon.

Leon was Lionel, Dominic's father's twin brother. The Zhu Family had a close-knit relationship and Heaven could tell just how close Dominic was to his uncle. 

However, after that kidnapping incident, even though Dominic escaped in one piece and managed to get home on his own, he was never the same. Even though Old Madam Zhu and the current chairman took action accordingly, the damages were already made.

The physical wound Dominic inflicted in that incident had healed, but the wound in his heart was far too deep.

Since then, Dominic distanced himself from everyone. It didn't seem like it because he was still filial, but Dominic never gave his hundred percent trust to anyone. It didn't necessarily mean he couldn't trust anymore, but just not his all. There was always a fine line that was drawn as a protection for himself. Most of the time, he wouldn't expect anything from anyone in return as his defense mechanism to not get hurt if others ended up disappointing him. 

It was the very reason Dominic didn't believe in love.

His parents might have displayed love was possible, but for Dominic, it only applied to others, not him. Thus, Old Madam Zhu accepted Heaven immediately because they all thought Dominic wouldn't marry. Even if he did, they assumed it would be a marriage of convenience. 

[Inhale… exhale… begin to draw your breath into the belly…]

Heaven went to do yoga after spending some more time with Dominic and Sebastian after she helped Miriam with the refreshments. Because of the incident, Heaven had to stop going to the gym, which she already thought about before commencing her plans that night. However, she didn't want to stop her training completely, so she resorted to doing light yoga to stretch her muscles. Dominic supported her on this since it was a light exercise. 

This was also what she could call her me-time since they moved into this penthouse. The only time she could have for herself. 

'Leon Zhu…' Heaven took a deep breath as she slowly opened her eyes, only to see the clear wall in front of her. 'I didn't know the chairman has a twin brother.' 

Well, why was she surprised? The original Heaven had no interest in life, let alone in her husband's story. Moreover, she didn't think the Zhu Family had ever mentioned Leon's name ever.

'What makes this story interesting is this traitorous uncle is… still on the run. I can understand how he managed to do so.' Heaven moved her upper body to the side with her hand in the air until her palm and side were touching the floor. 'At the end of the day, he was still family. The blood that runs in his veins was still a Zhu. Therefore, the Zhu Family wasn't keen on putting him behind bars. His warrant only worked as a mere protection, so he wouldn't dare approach the family ever again.'

After a minute of stretching, Heaven pulled her body up to do the same on the other side. She kept her eyes on the wall, a part of her consciousness in the voice she was listening to and half of her mind drifting to the story she heard from Miriam. 

To be fair, Miriam was showing more usefulness than Miriam had realized. 

'I'm done tracking down the person who killed the original Heaven,' she thought, eyes glinting menacingly as if the yoga session wasn't for calming and peace of mind. 'As much as I hate it, considering I just trashed that suspect list after meeting Andrea, I have to make a new one.'

Who was the person who manipulated Andrea?

According to Andrea, she met this person back when she was still Andrew Song. At that time, Andrea was having a rough time in the gang she was a part of. Out of desperation to get the things out of her chest, she confided in a stranger whom she only met a few times in a local pub. 

Andrea said this person was easy to get along with, though she added that despite his easy-going nature, he gave off a dangerous vibe. He was the person who pushed Andrea to steal from the gang, subsequently telling her to exact her revenge because Andrea's life was in great danger. 

Being in the safety of the Zhu Family also sounded convenient since the gang wouldn't dare touch the Zhu Family. It was a win-win situation. Andrea could avoid the gang and she could avenge her deceased parents. As a gesture of friendship, this person offered Andrea a new identity for a small price. 

It was a vulnerable time for Andrea and she didn't realize she was being manipulated until she talked to Heaven in prison. Though it was too late for Andrea since she already acted before she realized things. 

'Andrea said this person is young. Considering the chairman is already in his late fifties, it's impossible it was Leon Zhu.' Heaven straightened her back, breathing calmly as she still followed the yoga lesson she was listening to. 'However, Leon Zhu still made it to the top of my suspect list for the reason he might have a son. Or maybe a devoted disciple.'

Heaven maintained a calm demeanor even when she heard approaching footsteps from behind.

"You called for me?" Bear's low baritone reached her ears. "Young Madam?"

Heaven didn't respond immediately as she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before saying, "Did you find it?"

"Pardon?"

"The rope." Heaven reopened her eyes, glancing over her shoulder. "Did you find it under the shelf in the wine cellar?"

Surprise appeared on Bear's face, a bit taken aback that she would boldly inquire about it. He had kept a tight lip even after recovering a suspicious-looking rope, observing Heaven from afar to confirm his suspicion. 

"If you did, what did you do about it, Bear?" she inquired calmly, fluttering her eyelashes at the wall before her. 

Bear's jaw tightened for a second before the surprise plastered on his face disappeared. "I burned it."

The moment Heaven heard his response, the corner of her lips curled up. 'If this wasn't fate, I don't know what is.'

There was only a single battle Hera had lost, and that was a battle against her fate. It never made sense to her or to anyone around her, as she was healthy. Some called it karma, catching up to her. It wasn't that baffling if that was the case, but when she woke up in Heaven Liu's body, everything in life suddenly lost all sense.

If Hera's illness was truly a work of karma, why did she get a second life?

Hera never truly got her answer, nor she was interested in getting them. If she was alive in another person's body, then there was no point in questioning them. But now, after everything that had happened, Hera had a hypothesis.

Perhaps this second life wasn't a gift granted by the heavens because they pity her, but an act or decision made by the heaven to keep Dominic and Sebastian alive.

And the best person who could protect someone like Dominic from evil was ironically none other than the devil herself. 

— END OF VOLUME 1 —

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