Emira smiled then and gave Shiqi a look that held many secrets. And then she uttered the words that would most hurt Shiqi... "You are wrong, He never loved me" she said softly.
Shiqi's laughter faltered. The sound was cut off halfway, sharp and sudden. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Emira, irritation flashing across her face. "What did you say?" she asked.
Emira lifted her gaze and met Shiqi's eyes without hesitation. Her voice remained calm. Almost gentle as she looked at the woman in front of her, "The woman on his mind all these years of captivity has still been his first love."
For a moment, the room went very still. Shiqi stared at her. Her lips parted slightly, as though she had not heard correctly. Then she frowned. "What do you mean?" she demanded.
Emira's smile did not fade. "Exactly what I said."
She shifted slightly, sitting straighter despite the ache in her body and said slowly, "Aron never loved me. Not the way you think. He never saw me as a woman."
