Exquisite Mission-Lingorm

Chapter 13

Mr. Kwong's eyes widened when he saw Lingling standing outside the hospital's room door, accompanied by Orm. The sight of his daughter, looking at him with a mixture of disappointment and hurt, froze him in his tracks, rendering him speechless.

Mr. Kornnaphat, too, stood motionless, his mind racing for an explanation to the situation. Then, realizing the gravity of Lingling's question and the intense scrutiny of Hongxi's disapproving gaze, he swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words.

Mr. Kornnaphat's face contorted with a mixture of resignation and guilt as he realized the weight of the truth that would now be revealed. He took a deep breath, his voice heavy with regret as he addressed Lingling.

"Lingling," he finally said, his voice quiet but firm, "the truth is that...I was responsible for the accident that took your mother away from us. Her death was, in part, caused by my actions."

Mr. Kornnaphat glanced at Mr. Kwong for a fleeting moment, and a moment of quiet understanding passed between the two men. Then, he returned his gaze to Lingling, taking in the anger and pain etched across her face.

He took another deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult confession he was about to make.

"Lingling," he began, his voice a whisper filled with regret, "The accident...it was a result of a business dispute between your father and me."

Mr. Kornnaphat continued, his voice heavy with remorse. "Twenty years ago... Mr. Kwong and I were business partners. However, a certain...incident led to significant financial losses for my company. In my anger and desperation, I made a...terrible decision. I sought revenge...by ordering one of my men to sabotouge the brakes of your father's car."

Mr. Kornnaphat's voice trembled slightly as he continued his confession, the weight of his actions becoming increasingly difficult to bear.

"I...I wanted to hurt Mr. Kwong...to make him pay for what I perceived as a betrayal," he explained, his eyes lowering to the ground. "But I never intended for your mother to become a victim. It was...it was a terrible mistake. One that I've carried with me ever since."

Lingling's face paled as she listened to Mr. Kornnaphat's confession. The realisation of the truth behind her mother's death hit her like a tidal wave, and a mixture of anger and disbelief washed over her. She stumbled back, her legs almost giving way beneath her. Orm, sensing her distress, instinctively tightened her grip on Lingling's arm, providing an anchor in the chaotic storm of emotions.

Mr. Hongxi stepped forward, his voice measured and deliberate as he picked up the story.

"That day, we were celebrating our 10th anniversary," he began, his voice wavering slightly. "We had planned a night out... dinner and a romantic drive through the city. But... but as we were driving, I tried to execute a dangerous turn...and when I attempted to slow the car, the brakes failed. It happened so suddenly... Everything was a blur..."

Mr. Hongxi's voice cracked as he continued, the memory of that fateful day still fresh in his mind.

"When I regained consciousness, I discovered that...I was in the hospital," he said, his eyes growing distant. "It was there that I learned the terrible truth...that the accident...that my wife... she didn't make it. The doctors said it was a miracle that I survived..."

Mr. Hongxi's voice grew firmer and more determined as he explained his quest for justice.

"After the accident, I made it my mission to uncover the truth behind what happened," he explained, his voice hardening. "And eventually, my investigations led me to the shocking conclusion that Mr. Kornnaphat was the one behind it. That was the start of our decades-long animosity. I vowed to make his life a living hell in the hopes of retribution for your mother's death."