Chapter 5 " Well , well , weren't you looking all mighty and proud on that horse just now , sister - in - law ? How come you're already on the ground ? " Crystal crouched beside Aria , blinking her seemingly innocent eyes at her with a mocking smile . Her foot pressed down even harder on Aria's injured hand . [ ] A sharp wave of pain shot through her , and Aria couldn't help but let out a cry . [ ] " Oh no , I'm so sorry , sister - in - law , " Crystal said with feigned innocence , pretending to have only just noticed where her foot had landed . She stepped away in mock panic and added in a soft voice . " Didn't see your hand there . My bad . " ] Aria finally managed to pull her hand back . Crystal reached out to help her up , pretending to be concerned , but Aria brushed her hand away and gritted her teeth as she sat up on her own ] " You must've hurt yourself in that fall , " Crystal cooed . " With riding skills as poor as yours , how could you be so shameless as to brag about teaching my brother ? " ] Aria's cold eyes locked onto hers . " Are you seriously going to pretend you didn't pull a stunt just now ? " " Ha ! " Crystal laughed and covered her mouth , giggling . " Come on , don't be like that . Just admit you couldn't ride . Now you're slandering me too ? No wonder my brother doesn't care much for you - there's clearly a reason . " Now Aria could see it clearly . Crystal was taking advantage of the fact that no one was around to openly target her . [] A year ago , Crystal had deliberately climbed into Aria and Mason's bed , pretending to be drunk . Mason had almost made a terrible mistake , thinking she was Aria . Fortunately , Aria had come home early and caught them in time . ] Enraged , Aria had raised hell over it . Mason , feeling guilty , sent Crystal abroad to study for a year , ignoring his family's objections . After Crystal left , their marriage had gradually returned to normal . In fact , Aria had been eagerly looking forward to their anniversary , hoping to start trying for a baby . But then Crystal came back and ruined everything . Now , judging by the side remarks and petty provocations , she seemed to hold a serious grudge Aria's voice was quiet and devoid of emotion . " Don't think I don't know what you really feel for your brother . But it's fine . I'll be out of the picture soon . The two of you can have your fun . " She turned to leave after speaking , whistling sharply in hopes of calling her horse back ] But Crystal grabbed her arm tightly , face flushing in shame . ] " Aria , what ... what do you mean by that ?! He's my brother . How could I possibly have feelings for him ?! " ] Aria turned back , eyes sharp like an X - ray , cutting through Crystal's pretense and exposing the vile thoughts she kept hidden . ] She curled her lips into a chilly smile . " You know exactly what I mean . Just a reminder - marrying your cousin is legally considered incest . And children born of incest are more likely to be born mentally challenged . Think it over . " Crystal's face turned crimson . She looked as if someone had just ripped the curtain off her darkest secret . She stammered incoherently : " You ... you're slandering me and my brother ! " ] ] At that moment , a wave of galloping hooves approached from a distance . Judging by the sound , a horse was running back . Aria instinctively turned toward the noise , completely unaware that Crystal , in her shame and rage , had drawn the same silver hairpin again , her eyes vicious , aiming straight for Aria's neck . [ ] The silver glinted under the sunlight , cold and deadly . Aria suddenly felt a chill run down her spine . Just as she began to turn around- A loud whinny rang out . The thunder of hooves exploded in her ears . Before she could even process what was happening , a blood - curdling scream ripped through the air behind her . Aria's heart clenched . She spun around and saw Crystal lying beneath the hooves of a filthy , scruffy white horse , being trampled mercilessly . Screams erupted from Crystal's throat . Her face twisted in terror as she thrashed under the horse's relentless stomping . Not far from her , a vintage - style silver hairpin lay quietly in the grass . ] Aria blinked . That horse ... looked familiar . ] Then she noticed a small tuft of pale brown hair on its head . ] ] Her entire body froze . Her breath caught in her throat . Clutching her mouth , she called out tentatively , her voice shaking : " Phantom ... 7 " ] The horse , which had been stomping violently , suddenly stopped at the sound of her voice . ] It turned its head , looked straight at her and actually walked toward her . " Phantom ! " Aria's voice broke with emotion . She reached out with trembling hands and grabbed the reins . " Phantom , it's really you ! " Never in her wildest dreams had she thought that the whistle she blew wouldn't summon the horse she had just ridden , but would instead call back her old warhorse , Phantom . ] Even more surprising . Phantom - usually so gentle and obedient - had clearly sensed danger and come to protect her . Aria ran her hands along its mane , shaking from head to toe . What she saw horrified her . ] Phantom's once - flawless white coat was now mottled with bald patches , tangled clumps of fur , and countless whip scars . [ ] This horse , her Phantom , had once been purchased for her at an exorbitant price by the Lane family at an auction dis coat had once gleamed like silk . Together , they had triumphed in countless competitions . ] To her , Phantom had never been just a horse . It was family . It was her pride and glory . But when Mason had taken him away years ago , he had been perfectly healthy . How had five years turned him into this ? || Aria's entire body trembled with grief . Her heart throbbed painfully in her chest . She swayed on her feet , barely able to stay upright . [ ] " Arial Crystal ! " The thunder of of hooves approached once more . A familiar voice shouted her name . ] Mason was riding toward them at full speed . Can