THE FORGOTTEN DAD

Chapter 25: A Showdown of Secrets

Emil's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he sped through the city streets, his mind clouded with rage. The conversation with Steven still echoed in his head, each word stoking the fire in his chest. He couldn't believe Dae Ho would stoop so low, using false accusations to tear him down and steal away the life he had built. But Emil wasn't going to let it happen. Not without a fight.

When he arrived at Dae Ho's office, he didn't bother with pleasantries or protocol. He stormed past the receptionist, ignoring her protests, and burst into Dae Ho's office. The door slammed against the wall as Emil entered, his eyes blazing with fury.

Dae Ho was sitting behind his desk, calm and collected as if he had been expecting this confrontation. He looked up slowly, his expression impassive, but there was a coldness in his eyes that made Emil's blood boil.

"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, Dae Ho, but whatever you're planning, I'm going to fight back with everything I have," Emil warned, his voice low and menacing. "You think you can just accuse me of money laundering and get away with it?"

Dae Ho leaned back in his chair, unimpressed by Emil's outburst. "Don't act like an innocent man, Emil. We both know you didn't get wealthy overnight by playing fair. You've been involved in some dirty business, and I have the proof to back it up."

Emil clenched his fists, his mind racing. He knew Dae Ho was serious, but he wasn't going to let this man destroy everything he had worked for, especially not over Jasmine. "Why now, Dae Ho? Why wait ten years to come after me?"

Dae Ho's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "Because I didn't think you'd go this far. Hurting Jasmine, especially while she was pregnant—that was too much. You don't deserve her, and you sure as hell don't deserve to be a father to her child."

Emil's anger boiled over. "You think you can take her away from me by framing me? This isn't about justice—it's about your obsession with Jasmine!"

Before the argument could escalate further, Emil's phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it at first, too enraged to care, but the buzzing persisted. Finally, he pulled it out, glancing at the screen. His blood ran cold as he saw the caller ID: it was from his family in New York.

Emil's heart sank as he answered the call, and the voice on the other end delivered the devastating news. His mother had passed away.

Emil's face went pale, the anger draining from him in an instant. Without a word to Dae Ho, he turned and bolted out of the office, his mind reeling from the shock. Dae Ho watched him go, a frown etched on his face as Emil disappeared from sight.