✔ 𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀 𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐗

Chapter 10

The blue light of the police cars illuminated the darkness that evening. Two cars were parked in front of the gate of the Kang mansion, bathing the surroundings in a pulsating play of light. Police officers stood in small groups, spread out across the courtyard and also inside the mansion. Some had already gone into the secret hideout and were investigating the situation more closely. Their footsteps and quiet conversations could be heard. In the midst of this commotion, Kang Kyungho was arrested by two policemen. He was handcuffed and led by the officers to one of the cars. His distorted facial expressions reflected his thoughts and concern for his future as he fidgeted a bit. But the police officers remained calm and kept control of the situation.

The sounds of police work mingled with the excited shouts of the policemen and their radios crackled as they transmitted information.

Thia stood totally lost in one spot, watching her father being complimented into one of the myriad patrol cars. One of them had his hand on Kyungho's head, pushing him down so he wouldn't bump into himself as he got in. The image was so surreal to the girl who had been happily cooking some crap this morning and having an everyday conversation with her father.

Tears welled up inside her because she couldn't believe that Kang Kyungho had been lying all these years.

At the same time, she understood why Kai had to watch her every time. Why there were no servants in the house, no matter how many times Thia had asked. Why the office had been locked every time, because the policemen had found Liam's cell phone inside, which had allowed Kyungho to keep up appearances that the Huenings' eldest son was still in Miami.

Thia let her gaze wander and discovered some familiar faces, for Kai's parents had been notified. They were holding their firstborn tightly in their arms and crying. From joy or surprise or the shock that they had known nothing of all this. It was probably a little bit of everything Thia could imagine.

The 18-year-old's gaze continued to wander to the house.

There, her mother was probably still sitting on the sofa, looking down at her knees and shaking like a leaf, just as she had been a few minutes ago since Kyungho had passed out. Her condition was outwardly critical, but the ambulance had not yet arrived. A blanket had been placed over her shoulders, and a few minutes ago a policewoman had tried to ask her questions, but she had not yet been ready to answer.

She seemed traumatized by the years in that cold basement.

Without the food Kyungho had brought them at night, she would surely have starved to death. The small hose attached to the wall in the secret hiding place had given them the opportunity to drink water. On the floor they had found dirty mattresses and a few blankets with holes in them, and otherwise the room had been furnished with only a few other things. The two had been living like this for years and it was a miracle that they had not yet gone mad.

At least that's how Thia imagined it, but she couldn't bring herself to go into the house and check on her mother.

So many years she had spent hating the woman for leaving without a word, and now that it had turned out that it had all been a lie, Thia didn't know how to handle the situation. So she turned to the Huenings' family and walked slowly in their direction. Once there, Thia bowed deeply, still trying to hold back her tears.