Ahjumma Next Door

Chapter 28: The Moment of Truth

''This is even harder than I thought...'' the old man said as he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as he cradled his head.

Samantha, still wide-eyed and confused, could only look at each of the people inside that room.

Mina was looking anywhere around with tears on her eyes. Brooke was looking at her as if trying to send her messages but she was so confused to even get it. Teddy was leaning back on the couch with eyes closed as if praying for things to fall into place this time. Howard who was on the other end on a single couch facing the old Park was intently exchanging gazes with Emma who was surprisingly calm. And James who was there beside her was just as confused as she is.

''Almost 30 years ago...'' they heard the old man talk, ''I committed the gravest sins ever in my life. I made my daughter's life miserable. I threatened to kill someone. I mistreated the father of the baby my daughter was bearing.''

Emma flinched with her father's words. It's been so long, but she never thought such words would open up the wound she thought had healed already. She looked to her right, at the far end, Howard was sitting with a deadpan expression, perhaps trying to conceal his emotions.

''...I basically killed my own son Theodore...and... Even not literally, the same thing goes to my Emma and Howard's daughter. I hid my own granddaughter in the eyes of the people. What's worse is killing her in the mind and heart of her own mother and making her father unaware of things with the threat of killing his father.''

Samantha curled her hands into fists.

She didn't know this much.

She thought of the image of her dying grandmother, asking her to come to her, asking her to listen to her words, telling her her parents are still alive. Telling her her mother is Emma Park. The aunt she idolizes so much. And with that, her grandmother died. She remember the anger that was all over her grandmother's face that time. But she took her chance and asked him she wanted to leave the mansion.

She needed her own space, her own refuge. She asked Brooke if she knew more than that, and the girl said she only knew about her mother with the fear that she might get punished by her grandfather too.

She looked at the people on the other couch. No one dares to look at her. She wanted to ask them why no one told her about all these? Why no one approached her? Why when Brooke and Teddy knows that James was related to her dad?

She felt betrayed. She felt alone.

All these years, she's never felt so alone. So stupid.

Before she knew it, she was already standing with her hands still balled into tight fists.

''How come no one ever told me all these?'' she bitterly said, tears are now flowing from her eyes.

''S-s-sam...'' Brooke stood up too and was about to go to her side but Samantha stopped her.

''Brooke... You knew everything, didn't you? How could you do this to me? How about the girls? Do they know too?'' she asked Brooke, tilting her head a bit to her.

''Samantha I'm sorry!'' Brooke finally broke down and cried. She ran towards Samantha's side and knelt in front of her. ''Samantha, I'm sorry... I'm sorry....'' she repeated, as if that's all she can say.

''Brooke!'' Mina called her daughter. ''Please forgive us Samantha... Emma, Howard... Please... Let's stop living in this madness.'' She pleaded as the sight crushed her heart.

Emma wasn’t able to control her emotions this time.

When she arrived yesterday, Teddy sent someone to her and revealed everything to her to her utmost shock. She was told to keep silent and let things flow accordingly for Teddy already planned the revelation at the party, but it turned out with Samantha walking away in fear and surprise.