THE FORGOTTEN DAD

Chapter 63: A Father's Wrath

The Langston estate stretched out across acres of pristine land, a testament to the family's legacy. The estate's private equestrian center, one of the jewels in Langston Group's crown, shimmered in the midday sun. The horses were impeccably groomed, the stables spotless, and a few staff members milled about, discreet but attentive to Emil and his daughter, Eva.

Emil stood just outside the horse ring, his eyes focused solely on his four-year-old daughter. Eva's tiny hands held the reins of a chestnut pony, her laughter filling the air as she giggled in delight. She was perched high atop the horse, her little legs barely reaching the sides, but her confidence grew with each passing minute.

"Papa Emil! Look at me! I'm riding all by myself!" Eva called out, her voice full of excitement.

Emil's heart swelled with pride. There was something pure, untainted, in moments like this. His world might be spinning out of control, but here, in this serene pocket of his life, everything was perfect. Eva was perfect. She was a part of him he never knew existed until recently, but now that she was here, he would give her the world—and more.

"You're doing amazing, Eva!" Emil praised, his voice deep but warm, a smile touching his lips. He moved closer, walking beside the pony as Eva guided it around the ring. "Just like I showed you. Steady hands, gentle with the reins."

Eva beamed, her dark hair bouncing as she tried her best to follow her father's instructions. She looked every bit like her mother, Jasmine—those wide, curious eyes, the way she scrunched up her nose when she was concentrating. But there was something of Emil in her too. Perhaps it was the determination, or maybe the quiet confidence she radiated even at such a young age.

As Eva continued her ride, Emil glanced at one of the staff members standing nearby. "Make sure she's comfortable," he said with a nod, signaling them to keep a watchful eye.

The estate staff moved swiftly, always anticipating Emil's needs without him having to ask. He had made sure that everything in Eva's life would be seamless, perfect. She deserved nothing less. A life of luxury, of endless possibilities, was what he would offer her. She was only four, but already he had plans—private tutors, exclusive schools, anything and everything money could buy.

"Papa Emil, can I have my own pony?" Eva asked suddenly, her eyes sparkling as she trotted around the ring again.

Emil laughed softly. "Of course, you can. You can have a stable full of ponies if you want."

Eva's eyes widened, the sheer possibility making her smile even bigger. "Really? All of them just for me?"

"All for you," Emil confirmed, walking closer now, his hands in his pockets as he watched her with fatherly adoration. "Whatever you want, Eva. Anything."

For a moment, it felt like the world outside didn't exist. No Jasmine, no Ruby, no Dae Ho. Just him and his daughter. But, as always, the illusion was too good to last.

Ruby West appeared at the edge of the stables, her presence like a storm rolling in. Emil tensed immediately. She was dressed immaculately, her expression cold and calculating, the perfect image of a powerful woman who knew she held too much sway over his life. He could already sense the venom in her words before she spoke.

"What's going on here?" Ruby asked, her voice sharp. "Why is Eva out here, riding ponies, when Jasmine is busy preparing for her wedding?"

Emil's jaw tightened, but he refused to let Ruby see how much her words affected him. He gently lifted Eva off the horse and handed her over to one of the staff, giving his daughter a reassuring smile. "Go inside, sweetheart. I'll come see you in a little while, okay?"

Eva nodded, oblivious to the tension between her parents. "Okay, Papa."

As soon as Eva was out of earshot, Emil turned to Ruby, his expression hardening. "You have no right to bring Jasmine into this."

Ruby crossed her arms, her lips curving into a smug smile. "Oh, but I do. After all, she's the one who's going to be Mrs. Kim soon. Isn't that what the headlines say? While you're here playing daddy, Jasmine's off living her life, preparing for the grand wedding of the century."

Emil's fists clenched at his sides. He hated the way Ruby spoke about Jasmine, as if she was nothing more than a pawn in this twisted game. "Don't you dare speak about her like that. You've done enough damage."

Ruby raised an eyebrow, her tone turning mocking. "Damage? Don't act like you're innocent, Emil. You made your own choices, and now you're dealing with the consequences. You think you're some noble hero, taking care of Eva, but look at you. Langston Group is barely holding on, and everyone's talking about how you're the one who betrayed Jasmine."

Emil's eyes darkened. "I didn't betray her. You and Dae Ho are the ones who—"

"Oh, please." Ruby rolled her eyes, stepping closer. "You think people care about the truth? They don't. They care about headlines, about appearances. And right now, all anyone sees is you, the man who married the woman who destroyed Jasmine's life. You might still be the president of Langston Group, but let's be honest—how long do you think you'll stay in power with Dae Ho breathing down your neck? The investors are already leaning toward Aurelius Hotels, and once Dae Ho marries Jasmine, it's game over for you."

Emil's anger flared, but Ruby wasn't finished.

"You think spoiling Eva will make up for everything you've done? That playing the perfect father will erase the fact that you're losing everything?" Ruby's voice lowered, dripping with malice. "Jasmine's wedding is going to be the end of you, Emil. Everyone's already questioning your ability to run the company. And when Dae Ho takes over, do you really think he'll stop at just humiliating you?"

Emil glared at Ruby, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "I won't let him win."

Ruby smirked, stepping closer until her face was inches from his. "You don't have a choice. He already has Jasmine, and soon, he'll have everything else. You'll be left with nothing but your precious daughter."

Emil's blood boiled, his mind racing with thoughts of vengeance. "You think I'm just going to sit back and watch that happen?"

Ruby's smile widened. "What can you do? You're stuck. Dae Ho controls everything now. You can either watch as he takes everything from you, or you can act. But let me warn you, Emil—if you try to fight him, you'll lose. And you'll drag Jasmine down with you."

Emil's heart pounded in his chest, the weight of Ruby's words pressing down on him. He knew she was manipulating him, trying to push him to the edge. But she had struck a nerve. He couldn't let Dae Ho win. He couldn't let everything he had built be torn apart, and he couldn't let Eva's future be stolen from her.

"You think I'm afraid of him?" Emil's voice was low, dangerous. "I've already lost too much because of you two. But I'm not done yet."

Ruby tilted her head, her expression calculating. "So, what's your plan, Emil? Going to play the hero? Take down Dae Ho and save the day?"

Emil's eyes narrowed. "I don't need to save the day. I just need to destroy yours."

Ruby's smile faltered for a moment, and Emil could see the flicker of fear in her eyes. She tried to recover, laughing softly. "You're delusional if you think you can touch me."

"I don't need to touch you," Emil said, his voice ice cold. "I just need to make sure that when I go down, I take both of you with me."

For the first time, Ruby seemed unsettled. She took a step back, her smirk fading as she studied his expression. "You're serious."

"Dead serious." Emil's voice was calm, but beneath the surface, his rage was building. "You and Dae Ho think you've won, but you don't know what's coming."

Ruby's eyes narrowed, her confidence slipping. "What are you planning, Emil?"

Emil didn't answer. He simply turned away, his thoughts swirling with the weight of his next move. He would destroy them both—Ruby and Dae Ho. Whatever it took, he would bring their empire crashing down.

And when it was over, only one thing would matter: Eva's future. She would have everything, and he would make sure no one—least of all Ruby or Dae Ho—could ever take that from her.