The Devil's Favourite Obsession

”Emily?” Cixi turned toward Rafael and paused, surprise slipping across her face before suspicion followed right behind it. ”She replied to your messages?”

”Yes.” Rafael looked confused by the question. ”Why are you reacting like that?”

Cixi looked away instead of answering immediately and started walking.

Emily had ignored every message she had sent since last time, yet somehow Rafael had gotten replies without difficulty. The thought sat unpleasantly inside her chest, and no matter how much she tried to dismiss it, she kept wondering whether Emily had avoided her after what happened between them in the hotel in her office.

Perhaps their last conversation truly hadn’t sat well with Emily.

But what choice did Cixi even have? None of these people would have allowed her inside unless she forced their hand.

The thought stayed with her while they walked through the endless corridors of the Palace. Morning sunlight spilled through the tall windows and stretched across the polished marble floors, while servants carrying trays and flowers moved quietly through the halls.

After several long minutes, they finally reached the dining hall.

The guards standing outside immediately opened the enormous double doors for them before they stepped inside.

And the moment Cixi stepped inside, her footsteps slowed on their own.

The dining hall was overflowing with people.

Emily had once mentioned that nearly forty people lived inside the Palace, but hearing it casually and seeing almost all of them gathered together were two entirely unique experiences.

The room itself looked grand enough to belong to royalty rather than businessmen. A massive dining table stretched through the centre of the hall, long enough to seat fifty people comfortably, with elegant semicircular curves at both ends. Crystal chandeliers hung above them, and the soft clinking of silverware echoed faintly alongside the conversation.

At one end sat Michael Crown.

The opposite head remained empty.

The second Cixi entered, conversations quieted, and every single person looked at her. First with curiosity and then later seeing her pregnant belly, it turned into displeasure. There was only one pregnant female in the whole palace, and that was Cassian’s so-called fiancee.

Those disdainful stares made something inside her shrink instinctively because it felt as though she had walked into a room filled with people already waiting to dislike her.

Her eyes immediately found Emily. Then found Tamara. Ursa. Rosetta.

The three women looked at her as though she had brought filth into their bloodline.

”What happened?” Rafael asked after taking a few steps ahead and realising Cixi had stopped near the entrance.

Cixi lowered her voice. ”I am not sure I should be here.”

And for the first time since entering the Palace, she genuinely wanted to turn around and leave.

Even her parents had never looked at her the way these people did now. At least her parents never made her feel unwelcome. And this felt colder. Like rejection before even knowing her.

Rafael walked back toward her without hesitation before casually catching hold of her wrist.

”Don’t be silly,” he said lightly, ignoring everyone’s stare. ”You are sitting next to me.”

Before she could argue, he was already leading her toward the table. Cixi could feel the stares following her every step.

When they reached the seats beside him, Rafael pulled out a chair for her with exaggerated politeness. Cixi sat stiffly, though her eyes drifted toward Emily once more.

Emily didn’t even look at her. She simply continued eating breakfast as if Cixi’s presence had nothing to do with her.

The second Cixi settled into the chair, a loud bang erupted across the dining hall.

Several glasses rattled slightly. Cixi looked up to her right.

Rosetta had slammed her hand against the table. ”What is this leech doing in the dining hall?” Rosetta demanded while glaring openly at Rafael. ”Rafael, do you not understand this is a family breakfast? Outsiders are not allowed here.”

”How could we let a pregnant woman starve?” Rafael leaned lazily back into his chair as he found the outrage entertaining. Then he gestured toward the servants. ”Serve breakfast.”

”We are not responsible for solving world hunger,” Ursa cut in smoothly, though the disgust in her eyes remained obvious. ”And since when do you care about lowlife woman? Even if you are looking for entertainment, at least keep standards.”

The appetite Cixi barely had vanished completely.

”Today is the DNA test,” Rafael replied carelessly. ”Once the results come back, you can all continue acting dramatic afterwards. Until then, I see no issue with her eating breakfast while she is staying in the Palace.”

”There are servants staying in the Palace too,” Tamara spoke next while staring directly at Cixi. ”Should we start inviting them to family breakfast as well?”

The insult landed exactly the way it was intended to. Cixi immediately pushed her chair back slightly, ready to stand.

But before she could rise, Rafael suddenly placed his hand against her thigh beneath the table. And Cixi smacked his hand instantly.

”Ow.” Rafael looked at her in betrayal. ”That hurt.”

”Behave,” she muttered sharply under her breath.

”I am helping you.”

”And look what kind of help it is,” Cixi whispered back while glancing around the table again. ”I am leaving.”

This time, Rafael held the back of her chair before she could stand. Then he leaned slightly closer and lowered his voice enough that only she could hear him. ”When people become uncomfortable without reason,” he murmured with amusement dancing in his eyes, ”the correct response is to make them even more uncomfortable.”

Cixi turned toward him fully then. His expression carried no embarrassment whatsoever. Only amusement.

Why was he helping her this much? And if Rafael truly meant no harm, then why had Cassian specifically warned her to stay away from him?

Maybe Cassian simply didn’t get along with his family. After all, Rafael was only his half-brother. Perhaps the tension between them had nothing to do with her at all.

”You really think I should stay?” she whispered quietly.

”For the food alone? Absolutely.”

Despite herself, Cixi almost smiled. Then her gaze shifted toward Michael Crown. The head of the family continued eating calmly as if none of this chaos concerned him in the slightest. He neither defended her nor asked her to leave. He simply allowed everything to unfold naturally.

And strangely enough, gave her reassurance she could stay. If the head of the family wasn’t forcing her out, then why should she run away on her own?

She had to leave for the hospital after breakfast anyway.

So let them stare. If her mere presence ruined their appetite, perhaps that was their own weakness rather than her problem. Slowly, Cixi leaned back properly into her chair. Then she turned toward Rafael and gave him a faint smile.

Rafael grinned immediately, looking absurdly pleased with himself.