The day after the funeral, the sky was overcast, as if mirroring the heavy grief that loomed over the neighborhood. The air was still, as though nature itself was holding its breath, silently watching the events unfolding among humans.
Emma hadn't slept well. Everything she had seen and heard the previous day echoed in her mind: Sohin's heart-wrenching sobs, Dae-hyun's reddened eyes—something she had never seen before—and that mysterious man, Alfred Soo, who had carried Yoon-hee away with unnatural speed. There was something missing, a strange feeling of emptiness in her memory, as if an important detail had slipped away.
She slowly rose from her bed, staring at the ceiling for a moment, certain she had forgotten something crucial. She didn't notice the card placed on her nightstand—something that didn't belong to this morning but to a truth yet to be uncovered.
When she stepped outside, she found her grandfather, Jin-sol, sitting in the backyard sipping tea. He was calm as usual, but there was something different in his eyes—something akin to caution… or anticipation.
"Good morning, Grandpa."
He glanced at her with a faint smile but noticed the dark circles under her eyes.
"You didn't sleep well, did you?"
"Not really…"
He sighed, set his teacup aside, and said:
"The events you witnessed aren't easy for a girl your age. But the days ahead will bring you more than you expect. Just be prepared."
A chill ran down Emma's spine. She didn't fully understand what he meant, but before she could ask, knocks on the door interrupted them.
Her grandfather opened the door to find Sohin standing there, clad in a black coat, her face pale and eyes dim from exhaustion and tears.
"I'm sorry for coming so early, but… have you seen Dae-hyun?"
Her grandfather frowned.
"He hasn't come home?"
"No. He hasn't shown up since the funeral. His phone is off, and no one's seen him."
Sohin's voice trembled as she spoke:
"You know him better than anyone. You know he tells you everything. If you don't know where he is, then it means one of two things: either he's in serious trouble… or he's trying to start some himself."
A shadow of sorrow crossed the old man's face, as if a dark memory had resurfaced. He replied in a low, grave tone:
"He's reckless, as always… He trusts his strength too much. That's what I fear for him—he doesn't know when to stop, when to retreat or surrender…"
Sohin nodded silently, confirming his words.
Noticing her trembling, the grandfather gently placed a hand on her shoulder and invited her inside.
Sohin sat in silence, her expression still haunted by shock. Emma brought her a cup of green tea, hoping to soothe her frayed nerves. After a moment, Sohin finally spoke, her voice weak but laden with emotion:
"Last night, I saw him… He came home with a face I'd never seen before. It wasn't the Dae-hyun I knew—not the vibrant, optimistic person. I knew Yoon-hee had something to do with it… No one else could break him like that. I decided to confront her, to demand answers, but…"
She paused, her hands shaking around the teacup.
"But when I woke up this morning… I found her dead in front of her house."
A heavy silence filled the room, devoid of any comfort. Everyone was trying to process her words, but none of it made sense.
Suddenly, the grandfather stood up, as if a dangerous thought had struck him.
"I need to do something."
He headed toward the kitchen.
Emma stayed with Sohin, holding her hand tenderly, trying to offer some reassurance.
"Everything will be alright. Grief doesn't last forever, just like joy. Everything has its opposite… It's an endless cycle."
But before Sohin could respond, she began coughing violently.
"I'll get you some medicine," Emma said, standing up to head to the kitchen.
However, before she entered, she overheard her grandfather speaking on the phone in a hushed but sharp tone:
"What happened must not repeat itself. Do you understand? I know she's a smart girl, and suspicion is already creeping into her mind. I won't let another member of my family get hurt."
He paused, then added coldly:
"Act more human, Alfred."
Emma froze behind the door. Her heart pounded wildly—a mix of terror and confusion overwhelming her. She didn't understand everything, but one thing was clear: there was a secret far bigger than she had imagined.
And then…
She remembered…
Emma rushed back to her room, her mind racing to the notebook written in her father's handwriting—how it had ended up in her grandfather's house, and most importantly, the contents of that card.
She stormed back to her grandfather, her voice trembling with anger and fear.
"Grandpa…" Her beautiful eyes were filled with horror and denial.
He looked up at her, silently urging her to continue.
"All these strange things happening—the screams, the blood, the mysterious people, and most importantly…"
She hesitated, then pulled out the carefully folded card from her pocket and placed it in front of him.
"I saw this card in my father's notebook."
Her eyes widened as if accusing him:
"He was murdered. It wasn't an accident. What do you know about his death?"
Her grandfather's gaze darkened as he held the card between his fingers, as if it were something dangerous—something that shouldn't be touched.
"It was hidden well."
"What do you mean? And what does my father's death have to do with you? I want to know everything!"
Jin-sol sighed deeply, as if he had anticipated this question but had hoped to delay it a little longer.
"Emma, there are things about your father he never told you. Things he thought would protect you…"
He weighed his words carefully before adding:
"But it seems the time has come for you to learn the truth."
Before he could continue, Sohin's phone suddenly rang, shattering the tense moment.
She glanced at the screen, and for a brief second, a faint smile flickered across her face—the caller seemed to bring her comfort. But as she answered, her expression grew paler with each passing second, her trembling hands barely able to hold the phone.
She ended the call abruptly, grabbed her coat, and rushed toward the door.
"Sohin! Where are you going?!"
Emma called out in alarm, but the girl didn't answer. She paused at the door, turning back to them with eyes filled with fear and shock.
Then, in a choked voice, she whispered:
"Something happened… Something that was never supposed to happen."
And with that, she left—leaving behind only silence… and endless questions.
---
In the next chapter…
- What lies behind the secret of the card's symbol?
- Was Emma's father murdered? And how is her grandfather involved?
- Who called Sohin?
Why did she smile at first, only to despair by the end?