The woman wiped her eyes gently as Raven walked out, the sound of the door slamming behind him echoing through the house. I was still frozen where I stood, my heart pounding hard against my chest. The way Raven had spoken—so sharp, so cruel—kept replaying in my head. It was the first time I had ever seen him speak like that, especially to me. It felt like something unseen had cracked open, and whatever was inside could never be put back the same way again.
Jan moved quietly and sat down on one of the chairs. She patted the seat beside her, signaling for me to sit, but my legs felt too weak to move. The woman walked back to her seat and lowered herself slowly, her expression calm now, almost too calm, as if the storm from moments ago had never happened.
"I wanted to protect him," the woman finally said, breaking the silence. "That's why I lied before and said Minho was my son."
I swallowed hard, my throat dry.
"The pictures you saw," she continued, her voice steady, "those were moments I shared with him. He was actually kidnapped by some people, and we decided to keep him hidden for a while. At least until it was safe."
Jan glanced at me, concern written clearly on her face. I could feel my hands trembling.
"Jina," the woman called softly as she stood up and walked toward me. She took my hands in hers, her grip warm but firm. "Before Minho lost his mind, he told me something."
I looked at her, my chest tightening. "What did he say?" I asked, barely above a whisper.
She hesitated, as if weighing her words carefully. "He said he saw who attacked your father."
My heart skipped.
"And not just that," she added. "The school cameras showed it. That's why he broke into the system."
"My father?" I said, staring at her in disbelief. "I don't think Minho ever knew me. Or even met me properly. How would he know anything?"
She nodded slowly. "Jina, I know he was your father. Minho knows too. He worked with the investigator."
I shook my head, my thoughts spiraling. "My father was killed," I said, forcing the words out. "But I always believed it was the hopping cops. I don't think Minho knew anything about him."
"Jina," she said gently, but firmly, "your father wasn't just killed. He was led to his death. Someone placed that camera for him to see. It was meant to guide him there."
I inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, trying to steady myself. My heart felt like it was tearing apart from the inside.
"Okay," I said quietly. "I already know my father was murdered. I know those creatures were involved. And the camera… I don't think it was placed for anyone to see. I don't think it was meant to lure him."
"Jina," the woman called again, and this time fear crept into her voice.
Inside me, everything resisted. I didn't want to hear this—not now, not ever. I wasn't ready. I had never wanted to kill anyone, at least not until I fully understood my powers. Not until I could control what was inside me.
"Jina," she repeated.
I looked at her, my breath uneven.
"Ask Raven," she said slowly. "Ask him about the camera that was dropped in the office on January 2024, at exactly 9 p.m. Ask him why it was there."
My breath caught instantly. I gasped, my chest tightening as if something heavy had been placed on it. For a moment, I thought I would collapse.
I stood up abruptly, my vision blurring. Jan rushed to my side and held my shoulders.
"Jina," Jan said softly, "calm down."
The woman stood up as well, watching me closely. "Just ask him," she said. "Ask him politely. Listen to what he has to say before you decide anything."
I staggered backward, my legs barely supporting me. My mind was racing.
I knew that camera wasn't supposed to be there. I had always known. Someone had planned it—carefully, deliberately—so it would be seen. But hearing it said out loud made it feel terrifyingly real.
My lips trembled as I tried to speak, but no words came out.
The woman picked up her glass of red wine and took a slow sip, her eyes never leaving mine. The calmness in her gaze unsettled me more than anger ever could.
I turned to Jan, desperation in my eyes. "Jan," I said shakily, "can we leave now?"
Jan nodded immediately and stood up. "Thank you," she said to the woman, who returned a small, unreadable smile.
We walked out together. The cool air outside hit my face, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me. Jan held my shoulder as we stopped a taxi by the road.
As I got in, my thoughts kept circling back to one thing—Raven, the camera, and the truth I was afraid to hear.