Chapter Fourteen
Ping lowered her gaze, unsure of what to say. She had prepared herself for cruelty, for cold indifference—but not for this. Not for a man who carried the weight of his own reputation like a burden.
Ling let the silence settle before speaking. "You still fear me."
It wasn't a question.
Ping hesitated. "I don't know."
Ling chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "That is the most honest thing you've said to me."
He leaned back slightly, staring at the sky. "People fear what they do not understand. And it is easier to be feared than to explain yourself a thousand times to those who have already made up their minds."
Ping frowned. "But that's no way to live."
Ling turned to her, his golden eyes sharp. "And what would you know of it?"
She flinched at his tone, but she refused to back down. "I know what it's like to be trapped. To have no control over your life. You think you've chosen this, but it sounds like you've just accepted what they say about you."
For the first time, something flickered across Ling's face—surprise, maybe even irritation. But then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"I do not care what they say." His voice was calm, controlled.
Ping exhaled. "Then why did you hesitate before removing your mask?"
Ling stiffened, but only for a second.
A moment passed before he finally answered. "Because you are not like them."
Ping's heart skipped. "What do you mean?"
Ling stood suddenly, his presence overwhelming. "It is late. You should rest."
He turned before she could ask anything more, leaving her alone with thoughts she wasn't ready to face.
Because in that moment, for the first time—she wasn't sure if she feared him at all.