Not long after, they stopped in front of the pharmacy. Hue Chi went inside and bought all the things Hli Ja listed. They then stopped by the store and Hue Chi went to get new clothes for the boy as well.

That night, they rested at an inn in town so Hli Ja can bathe and tend to the boy. The next day the boy looked better. His expression seems better. There is a little life and trust in his eyes. Hli Ja smiled and leaned down, "From today on, you will be my little brother, I will be your older sister."

The boy smiled shyly and nodded his head. Since the pa.s.sing of his parents, no one has ever treated him so nice. The people who took him in treated him like trash, they barely fed him, and they always beat him up for the slightest thing. He had forgotten what it feels like to be cared for. Now, a beautiful nice sister wanted him to continue living and want him to be her younger brother. The feeling is a different kind of happiness he has never felt before. He replied in a soft low tone, "My father called me Pao Hua."

Hli Ja arched her brow, the boy finally spoke! She smiled, "Mm.. Pao Hua meaning sacred stone. I think it suits you really well. You must be very important to your parents, and they must love you very much to call you sacred stone. Don"t forget that."

The boy nodded. On the fifth day, the group arrived in the city where Hli Ja used to live. They stopped at the restaurant to eat before heading over to the grave site. When they arrived, the maids carried food, flowers and incense and set them on the grave. Hli Ja held Pao Hua"s hand and led him to the gravestone, "Grandma, I"m sorry it took me so long to come see you." She paused and then added, "Today, I brought my little brother whom I adopted along the way and your great grandchild in my belly. Your great grandchild will be coming in less than three months. We will come visit you again when your great grandchild is older."

Afterward, they stayed at an inn overnight before making their way back home. Pao Hua looked much better, livelier, and smiled more. The night before they reached home, they stayed at another inn. That night in their sleep, a.s.sa.s.sins ambushed them. Everyone in the inn was drugged except the group. Chue Yi, the two guards and maids were caught by surprised, they did not have time to fend for themselves before they were immobilized, tied and dragged.

Hli Ja was not feeling well that night so she was dozing on and off and heard the faint commotions. Suddenly, the door to her room was kicked open. The bang of the door alerted Hli Ja and Pao Hua awake. They got up from the bed and looked at the door. A few men dressed in black clothes walked in and behind them is a woman who looked like she is from a wealthy family.

The men rushed in towards Hli Ja and Pao Hua. Hli Ja tried to fend the men off but she has no weapons and with her belly, it was a little hard to move and soon they were held down. Pao Hua had his fair share of abused so he was not as scared of the adults before him but he did not know how to fight and he was only almost 8 years old. The men made Hli Ja and Pao Hua kneeled on the ground and held Hli Ja"s arms sternly. The unfamiliar woman inched closer. She had a big belly that looked like she was already on full term. She walked up closer emitting an aura of hatred and evilness in front of Hli Ja. She leaned forward and slapped Hli Ja on the face a few times until Hli Ja mouth bled.

Hli Ja felt pain on her face and mouth started to swell. She catched her breath, spat out the blood and shouted, "Who are you?" Panting out of beathe and pain at the same time.

The woman irked her brows and give off a satisfied look on her face, she replied proudly, "I"m Mua Kong"s lawful wife, Pa Chee. As you can see I"m about to give birth to our first child." Flaunting her belly in front of Hli Ja"s face.

Those words shattered Hli Ja"s whole world, she shook her head in disbelief as tears swelled up in her eyes, "No, this can"t be..."

"Oh yes, have you not figured the reasons why he locked you up at his place this whole time? Maybe because he didn"t want you to find out? Stupid woman. Don"t you know you"re just a mistress he keeps on the side to satisfied his desire?" Pa Chee shouted in disdain as she stood up and kicked Hli Ja"s stomach. Hli Ja coughed and writhed in pain and only after sometimes was she able to breathe again.

Pa Chee signaled for her men to drag in Chue Yi, the guards and maids. The guards and maids had a painful helpless expression on their face as they whimpered and tried to wiggled from the hold. Chue Yi was worried for Hli Ja"s safety as his Lord had given him only one duty and that is to keep her madam highness safe, "Your Highness," Chue Yi took all he can to muttered those two words looking regretful at the situation.