But it hurt more.
“No.”
“She knew exactly who she was contacting. She knew who my father was. His history. His guilt.”
Emily shook her head.
“You don’t understand anything—”
“No,” Victoria cut in sharply.
“You don’t.”
She leaned forward.
“My father isn’t a hero.”
Silence.
“He’s a man driven by guilt.”
“A man who lost his wife… and a daughter… years ago.”
Emily froze.
“What?”
“A girl your age,” Victoria said quietly.
“She died because she didn’t get medical care in time.”
A long, suffocating silence followed.
“Because at that moment… my father was too busy working.”
Emily couldn’t move.
“Since then,” Victoria continued,
“he’s been trying to make up for it.”
“Trying to save someone… as if it could erase what happened.”
Emily’s thoughts spiraled.
“You’re saying… all of this was planned?”
Victoria didn’t soften.
“I’m saying your story… was the perfect opportunity.”
Emily’s hands trembled as she held the papers.
“That doesn’t change what he did…”
“Are you sure?” Victoria shot back.
“Or does it… because now it doesn’t feel so ‘special’ anymore?”
The question was cruel.
Precise.
Emily said nothing.
For the first time…
she didn’t know what to say.
Victoria stood.
“I came so you’d know the truth.”
She walked to the door.
Then paused.
“And to ask you something.”
Emily looked up.
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