EMMY stood in front of her father’s study. She raised her hand and was about to knock when she noticed that her hand was trembling. She clenched and unclenched her fist to stop it from trembling. She thought that she had already calmed herself. But it seemed like that was not entirely the case.

After Casey told her the things he heard, she wanted to confront her father and brother about it. But they were not at home. Her father was probably at the parliamentary office. She asked their butler if he knew where her older brother was and was told that their father sent Tommy to one of the planets under their territory to do some surprise inspection.

She had to wait until her father returned home to talk to him. 

While waiting the whole afternoon, Emmy’s mind was in a mess. There were a lot of hostile thoughts. But she forced herself to calm down. Telling herself that maybe, just maybe, there was a good reason behind her father’s action. That there was no other better ‘bait’ than her.

But then again, even if that was the case, why couldn’t he just tell it straight to her? Yes, she would be angry. Who wouldn’t in that kind of situation? She’s not some doll or machine that didn’t have any feelings. But she could slowly understand. She could accept if there was really no other choice. She was willing to make a compromise.

But from beginning to end, any choice that she might have had was already taken from her. And that made her feel like she’s just some kind of tool that was not allowed to have her own will. Heck, it’s like she was not even allowed to feel anything.

Did her father even view her as his daughter? No, he probably didn’t even view her as a human being capable of her own thoughts.

It would probably be better if that was the case. Maybe he should have told those people from the fertility lab to remove the part of her brain that dealt with emotion. That way, he would have what he wanted – a doll with no feelings, existing only to do any of his bidding. 

But then again, maybe he would have loved to do that. Sadly, he had a wife that would prevent him from doing that. Her gentle and kind mother who couldn’t even hurt a fly would certainly not allow it. 

Now, more than ever, Emmy wished her mother was still here. Maybe things wouldn’t spiral to this point with her here.

She took a deep breath. When she saw that her hand was no longer trembling, she finally knocked on the door of the study.

“Enter,” said that familiar cold voice from the inside.

She opened the door and walked inside. “Father,” she called.

“What is it?” he asked, not even bothering to look at her. Just like always.

She told herself that she would remain calm during this talk. But this cold behavior that wouldn’t even acknowledged her existence just cut the last string of her patience. 

“Casey told me everything he heard in this study. Considering how all-knowing Father is, you probably already expected that to happen. Since Casey is not like Brother – a carbon copy of you. Which means you didn’t care whether I knew about it or not.” That’s the first thing she realized after her conversation with her younger brother. “Most probably because the engagement was already official and even if I found out about it, it would make no difference. Am I right, Father?”

She said that last part in an almost sarcastic tone.

Finally, her father raised his head and looked at her. As expected, there was no emotion in those cold sapphire blue eyes. Even if he was looking at her, it almost felt like he wasn’t.

“And your point is?”

She almost laughed. What should she expect? That he would explain everything to her? Apparently, she expected too much. She already knew how unfeeling he was. Really, she should have not expected anything from him at all. So, she also just went straight to the point.

“What kind of crime are you trying to put Cecil Lancaster on trial for?” 

“Rape and murder of multiple individuals,” her father answered without any emotion. He didn’t even hesitate. As if it wouldn’t matter even if she knew about it or not.

Emmy froze in place. When she thought there was nothing worse than her current situation, her father would do something that would make it even worse. 

“And your sending your only daughter as ‘bait’ for him knowing all that?” she asked, almost hysterically. “Do you still have a heart? No, you don’t. If you have, you won’t even think of doing this.”

Her father didn’t speak. He didn’t even try to defend himself or even try to explain why he should do this. As if it was only natural that his daughter should be sent to the bed of a suspected rapist and murderer. 

Even if she had a mental breakdown right now, he probably would just watch there.

Suddenly, Emmy felt very tired. 

“Why should I act like an obedient ‘bait’?”

She was surprised to hear how calm her own voice was. It’s almost like she was already drained of any emotion.

Her father stared at her for a few seconds. “I heard this afternoon that you told Cecil Lancaster that you don’t need to meet and that you would proceed with this wedding as planned. Then you don’t have to act like a ‘bait’. You don’t even need to attend your own wedding. I could just input your fingerprint in your marriage contract. Then deliver you to him. Unconscious or not, I’m sure Cecil Lancaster wouldn’t mind.”

Emmy couldn’t believe that her father was truly spouting these things. Anger, sadness, and pain all intertwined within her. And then, she slowly let go. She looked at her father the way he had always looked at her – without any emotion.

“I’ve never hated you the way I hate you at this moment. If only Mother could see you right now. How sad would she be.”

There was a ripple of something in her father’s blue depths when she mentioned her mother. But she was too emotionally exhausted to notice it.

She turned around and walked out of the study. A single drop of tear fell down from her eye.

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