The moment the guest of honour could see clearly and she looked closer at the person kneeling down opposite from where she was kneeling as well, her
She was filled with joy at seeing her again but then an immense level of pain crouched at her heart almost instantly. Both emotions clouded her heart that it felt as though it would burst any second from then.
The two of them stared at each other for what seemed like forever but no one spoke, they both had their lips wide apart as their eyes widened in disbelief and relief all at once but immediately after, all that shone was a certain level of pain that seemed to transcend the heavens.
The more they looked at each other, the more it felt like they would cry any moment from then. Arctic who had been watching the reunion between the two felt like crying as well but what could he say or do.
He knew both of them would hate him for what he had done as each would have readily given their life for the other but the guest most especially would want to kill him for doing that.
Arctic closed his eyes because he knew what was coming right at the very next moment. He could not bear the thought of seeing it actually happening right before his eyes.
Together both ladies closed their mouths and pried it open again.
When they did this time, what came out were the words he wished he would never hear in this context.
"JADE!"
"ASIA!" As soon as they said each other's names the very same second, their tears broke free and they began to cry just seeing the other one.
It was a situation of tears of joy and sorrow. The pain was too much. Jade had never seen Asia in such a state before but now she did and what was worse was that she had been alive after her gunshot without proper treatment all these months and was suffering immensely in the hands of Zale Anders because of her.
"Jade, oh my goodness."
"Asia, you are alive." She let out a bitter laughter then smiled at her friend. "I am so sorry. I am so sorry Asia, I am so sorry for not searching for you after you fell off the bridge."
"You had no time and chance. You needed to go into hiding. I could still hear your screams when I fell down. Jade I would give up my life for you at any time and any day."
I missed you, so much."
"Okay, that is enough reunion for you two. You should be happy I allowed it. This was what your boyfriend papa here was preventing you two from having. Isn't he selfish because he knew you two would hate him," Zale interruptedly said.
Both Jade and Asia, as if on cue turned their gaze in Zale's direction and glared at him scornfully. "Glare at me, all you want but you two are under my authority you know."
"You are a monster. It was an understatement when I called you a beast. You are nothing close to being a beast but you are a die-hard monster. How could you do such a thing?"
"Hehehe… look at the ice queen calling someone cold. If I recall correctly both you and your bodyguard Asia had the nickname of being the ice queens. Tsk, you girls are not grateful at all."
"For me to show gratitude, I would rather spit at you if you call this gratitude." As if to emphasize her point, Jade actually spat on the floor close to hm.
"Tsk, I would make your stay miserable before actually kill you then there would be no stumbling block for my family to rule over Moon Crest City."
"What have you done?" Asia's cold voice resounded as she turned her head in the direction of her father. "Who told you I needed saving? Why did you not ignore the call and think of it that I was dead as I should have been had they not found me, huh?!" Asia yelled at him.
Arctic still had not said anything since both she and Jade had seen each other. He was too ashamed to let them see that he sacrificed one of the other. He made the choice over their lives when they would have readily sacrificed for the other.
He never wanted this to happen. He also had his plans as well as now his plans had been interrupted a bit.
"Zale, you have whom you want. Release her already."
"Why the rush, cold blooded Arctic huh? What is the rush for? Allow them to reminisce some more, don't you think?"
"Enough of your games!" Arctic hollered at the stunned man who became amused in a matter of seconds. "Games you say? You haven't seen anything just yet."
"Zale you have what you want, you have me, the heir and only stumbling block from you getting full control of Moon Crest, now let them go."
"Jade No!" Asia yield after her. "Hell no. I would not sacrifice you so that I can live. Of what purpose is my existence if I cannot protect you even if it means my life would be lost in the process? My life belongs to you."
"That is not true Asia, you know it. You mean more to me than a body guard and as you said, your life belongs to me, so I chose what happens to you."
Not arguing further she turned to face Arctic with a determined face. "I order you Arctic. I know you did what you had to. As a human being I understand. I have no regrets if you sacrifice my life for her. I would do the same too. You have a chance to save your daughter now, please do it. Ignore me and take Asia away from here."
"I am so sorry. I wish there was another way to do this, Jade."
"I know. I know you wouldn't betray me without a good reason and now that I see why, I have no regrets."