Chapter 13
Chapter 13 The Woman at the Gate
The following morning, a black car stopped outside the mansion.
A young woman stepped out.
She was approximately Richard's age, with dark brown hair and familiar green eyes.
She stood nervously at the gate.
Richard walked outside.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Finally, the woman whispered:
Emily: You look exactly like him.
Richard felt a strange emotion in his chest.
Richard: My father?
Emily nodded.
Emily: Yes.
Sarah stood a few steps behind Richard.
Emily looked at her.
Emily: And you must be Sarah.
Sarah nodded politely.
Sarah: It's nice to meet you.
Emily looked back at Richard.
Emily: I didn't come here for money.
Richard immediately understood what she was thinking.
Richard: I wasn't going to accuse you of that.
Emily gave a nervous smile.
Emily: After everything that happened with Victoria, I thought you might.
Richard opened the gate.
Richard: Come inside.
They walked into the mansion together.
Emily looked around the grand foyer.
Emily: My mother used to tell me stories about this house.
Richard stopped.
Richard: Your mother knew this place well?
Emily: She worked here when she was young.
Richard nodded.
Richard: Why did she leave?
Emily's smile disappeared.
Emily: Because your grandmother forced her to.
Richard's expression hardened.
Richard: Why?
Emily took a deep breath.
Emily: Because she discovered that my mother was pregnant with your father's child.
Silence filled the room.
Sarah looked at Richard.
Emily continued.
Emily: Your grandmother threatened her. She told my mother that if she ever told your father about me, she would destroy her life.
Richard clenched his fists.
Richard: Does my father know about you?
Emily shook her head.
Emily: I don't think he ever did.
Richard looked devastated.
His entire understanding of his family had changed in one morning.
Then Emily reached into her handbag.
She removed an old photograph.
Emily: But my mother kept this.
Richard stared at the photograph.
It showed his father holding a baby.
On the back was a handwritten date.
Richard recognized the date immediately.
It was the day his father had supposedly been traveling for business.
Richard: He was here...
Emily nodded.
Emily: He knew I existed.
Richard's heart sank.
Richard: Then why did he never come looking for you?
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
May you like
Emily: That's what I want to know.
