A feather-light kiss made Anthony's pupils shrink to pinpricks. His wife's beautiful face seemed to merge with that of a monster.
Overwhelmed by sheer terror, Anthony fled the scene in a panic. He returned home and did his best to play the part of a husband who knew nothing.
From that day on, he lived beneath a crushing shadow and began secretly investigating his wife's secrets. He had to learn Funai Er's position within the cult and assess the danger she posed before he could find a way to protect himself—or perhaps even get justice for Tate.
That investigation lasted four years.
He was never able to escape Funai Er's shadow. Every time he went home, it felt like stepping into a den of dragons. So, under the pretext of "taking students out for field research," he left Yorikof Town with increasing frequency and for longer stretches at a time.
He didn't dare seek help from the church. Funai Er was too perceptive, and he couldn't even be sure how many of the servants in his house were her spies.
More importantly, he lacked evidence strong enough to ensure a decisive blow. If he exposed himself too soon and Funai Er escaped a fatal strike, he would be met with terrible retribution, torture, and then murder.
For four years, he endured loneliness and fear.
That continued until Sarah turned eighteen, was accepted into Yorikof University, and appeared before him.
Looking at her face, which bore some resemblance to Tate's, Anthony finally told her all the secrets he had kept buried for years.
Sarah lay on the bed, tears streaming down her face. Unable to speak, she could only send her grief-filled words to Yu Xing through their mental link. "She killed my brother... Funai Er..."
"My brother couldn't even