Chapter 8 - THE LETTER
They returned to the Kang estate before sunrise.
Mrs. Kang refused to sleep.
Neither did Emily.
She sat across from the old woman in the library.
Daniel stood by the fireplace.
Mrs. Kang placed an old wooden box on the table.
"This belonged to your mother."
Emily stared.
"How?"
"She gave it to me twenty-seven years ago."
Emily opened it.
Inside were letters.
Photographs.
A hospital bracelet.
And a small silver necklace Emily recognized immediately.
Her mother had worn it every day.
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
"Why didn't you ever contact me?"
Mrs. Kang lowered her eyes.
"Because I promised your mother."
"What did she ask?"
"That I stay away from you unless you were in danger."
Emily looked at Daniel.
"Why?"
Mrs. Kang took a breath.
"Because your father was dangerous."
Emily froze.
"My father?"
"Your biological father."
The room became silent.
Emily couldn't breathe.
"What do you mean?"
Mrs. Kang looked at her.
"Thomas Carter was not your biological father."
Emily's knees weakened.
Daniel moved toward her.
She raised a hand.
"Don't."
Mrs. Kang continued.
"Your mother worked for Daniel's father."
Emily shook her head.
"She was an accountant."
"She was more than that."
"Doing what?"
"Auditing his private accounts."
Emily's face went pale.
"She discovered the money."
"Yes."
"And my father?"
"Thomas agreed to help her."
"What happened?"
Mrs. Kang looked down.
"He betrayed her."
Emily closed her eyes.
The story she had believed her entire life was falling apart.
Mrs. Kang handed her a letter.
"Your mother wrote this for you."
Emily opened it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
She began reading.
My little Emily,
If you're reading this, then something has happened that I prayed would never happen.
Emily's tears fell.
There are people who will tell you your father was a good man. He wasn't. There are people who will tell you money is power. It isn't. The only power worth having is the courage to do what is right when everyone else is afraid.
Emily covered her mouth.
Daniel looked away.
She continued.
Mrs. Kang saved my life once. I promised her I would protect her family in return. I never imagined our children would someday cross paths.
Emily looked at Daniel.
Her heart pounded.
The letter continued.
Trust the son, not the empire.
Emily stared at the sentence.
"Why?"
Mrs. Kang answered.
"Because Daniel was the only person his father never managed to corrupt."
Daniel looked down.
His mother continued.
"Your father and Michael fought over the money. Your mother discovered the truth. She disappeared to protect you."
Emily shook her head.
"She died three years ago."
"Yes."
"Then who killed her?"
Silence.
Mrs. Kang whispered,
"We don't know."
Daniel stepped forward.
"But we will."
Emily looked at him.
Something had changed between them.
They were no longer strangers.
They were connected by a secret neither had chosen.
Then Park rushed into the room.
"Sir."
Daniel turned.
"What?"
"We found Michael."
"Where?"
"At the cemetery."
Emily's blood ran cold.
"Which cemetery?"
May you like
Park looked at her.
"Your mother's."
