Chapter 16
Scarlett’s (Leona’s) POVE
Over the past few days, Samuel, my biological father, has been busy searching for my adoptive father, Thomas. After finally finding him, Father brought him to the execution room and beat him mercilessly. My adoptive father’s face was battered, his body tied to an iron chair!!
“Is it true that you kidnapped Leona fifteen years ago?” he asked B
“No, I don’t know who Leona is.”
“Are you pretending to forget? Leona is Scarlett. Didn’t you change her name and give her that name?”
At first, my adoptive father kept denying it. Until finally, after being exhausted from the beating, he gave in.
“Enough, I’ll admit it. I really was paid to kidnap Leona. I was ordered to kill her. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I chose to take care of her up until today.”
I held my breath. My body stood frozen in the comer of the room, witnessing everything with my own eyes.
“I made a false report to Mr. Robert,” my adoptive father continued quietly.l
“I said that Leona was dead, drowned in the river. I gave a video of dumping her body, but it was only a mannequin. After I got paid, I fled abroad and erased all traces of myself.”
My father went into a rage. He strode over and grabbed my adoptive father’s neck in anger!!
“Why didn’t you return my child?! I searched for her for years! I even killed Robert back then!”
My adoptive father coughed as my father released his grip roughly.
Forgive me. I was only following orders. I didn’t know Mr. Robert was dead. I discarded all my identities for my own safety.“8
My father’s breathing was heavy, his eyes blazing with anger. But instead of finishing off my adoptive father right then, he made one decision.
“I’ll turn you over to the police. Let you rot there for the rest of your life.”
I shook my head slowly, reaching for my father’s strong hand.
“Dad, wait_“T
He turned, his eyes waiting for my response.
“I know he’s guilty. But.. if he had truly followed the order, I would have been dead that very moment. But my adoptive father chose to save me and take care of me. Shouldn’t you forgive him, Dad?”
My father fell silent, maybe my words were the opposite of his decision.
“Dad, we should be grateful to him. Please don’t put him in prison. At least that’s a reward for him for still giving me the chance to live.“[ Silence enveloped the room. No one spoke. Only the sound of our breathing could be heard faintly. I could see my adoptive father’s eyes brimming with tears.
I knew the decision was still in Father’s hands. But at least… I had spoken from my heart.
My father seemed to consider my answer, I knew, deep down, there must be a part of him that couldn’t accept that the child he’d searched for all this time was now defending the person who once kidnapped her
be ap
But for me, during those fifteen years with my adoptive father, at least he took care of me. And now, fate had reunited me with my real family.
“Yes, what Leona said is true. You should be grateful, Samuel!” my adoptive father shouted loudly.
“I didn’t kill Leona. I took care of her, raised her. Shouldn’t you reward me? Fifteen years isn’t a short time!”
His words now slapped my conscience. Whether he was sincere or not, every kindness he did was always tied to money. A mix of regret and amusement crept in. The child he raised had become a transaction.
My father clenched his fists, his jaw tightened. He took a sharp breath and then said firmly
“Fine. I’ll pay you for taking care of my child. How much do you want?”
My adoptive father gave a thin smile, looking satisfied
“Not much. Just five million dollars.”
I was shocked. Those words sounded like outright extortion.
my child of
My father stared at him coldly. “You’ll get one million dollars. After that, disappear from our lives. Never show up in front of my my family again.”
My adoptive father started to protest. He tried to bargain, speaking quickly and making excuses. But before he could finish his sentence, my father pulled out a gun from his waist and pointed it right at his head it
“So all this time my child was just a bargaining chip to you? Shameless! You should be dead this very second or rotting in prison for life. But because my daughter asked me to hold back, I’m letting you live. Only because of that.”
My adoptive father trembled. His breath was ragged. His eyes darted around wildly. But this time, he said nothing more. Slowly, he nodded, accepting that final offer bitterly.
With heavy breaths and his face still flushed with anger, my father lowered the gun slowly. But his gaze didn’t move an inch from my adoptive father
“I’ll make sure the money gets to
to you. But after that, you are nothing in my child’s life. Never existed. Understand?”
3:59 PM c d
adoptive father.
‘Til make sure the money gets to you. But after that, you are nothing in my child’s life. Never existed. Understand?”
My adoptive father swallowed. He tried to maintain his dignity, but his body couldn’t hide his fear. He just nodded once, quickly, like a child who had just been scolded.
I stood frozen, my feelings mixed. Part of me felt relieved that my biological father still kept his word.
My adoptive father glanced at me for a moment. That look either asked for understanding, or simply wanted to leave a final trace.X
“Leona, I don’t regret ever taking care of you,” he said quietly. “Even though it all ends like this.”
I looked back at him, flatly. “Thank you for not killing me. But don’t ever think you can buy me like your pet.”
My adoptive father’s smile faded at my response. He knew the bridge had been burned. And I had no intention of rebuilding it.”
My father signaled to his men. Two men in dark clothing entered and immediately dragged my adoptive father out of the interrogation
room.
The door closed. Silence fell.
Father stood in front of me. He didn’t stand as a harsh and explosive man. But as a father who had just reclaimed a child who had once been lost from his life. He pulled me into his embrace.8
“I’m sorry for finding you late, Leona. I’m sorry for letting someone else take my place.”
I didn’t say anything. But the tears falling down my cheeks answered for me.
