IS HE REALLY MY FATHER?

Kiaraa looked at the exquisite door with a golden knob. Somehow she felt that it would lead her to death.

Ever since she was a child, she had never really had a close relationship with her father. He has always been too serious and stoic but she only got to see his gentle side towards her mother. Even though he always puts on a strict expression, she knew deep down that he loves her mother.

After an incident that happened years back, his cold nature became worse and he pushed everyone away. He sent Kiaraa and her brother to America and ensured to tighten the security around them.

"Come in!" she heard the same cold voice she had come to dislike so much after knocking on his door.

Kiaraa gently opened the door and then peeped in before walking in with an expressionless face.

"Good morning, father," she greeted, her tone was neither harsh nor soft and he just gave her a slight nod with his face still buried in his files.

Kiaraa scoffed inwardly at his nonchalant attitude.

'Couldn't he acknowledge his daughter a little bit by replying to my greetings?'

"Why didn't you see me last night?" he finally asked and Kiaraa stared at him with cold eyes. She turned her face towards the window without uttering a single word and looked at the fresh greeneries around to at least calm her raging mind.

When her head was calm, she finally replied, "It took me hours to travel from Austin to Seoul last night. I was truly tired after the flight and decided to rest and see you in the morning instead."

"I sent for you last night, what if it was something important? you can't just neglect my calls and give me baseless excuses Kiaraa," he finally looked up at her and that's when she snapped in rage.

"Nothing, I repeat, Nothing is more important than my health father. You haven't seen me or at least spoken to me for months and this is how you treat me when you finally see me? I said I was tired after the flight and that's final," she raised her tone a little bit higher unintentionally.

" LEE KIARAA!!!" He yelled. "Now listen to me child, don't you ever dare to talk to your father in that tone ever again," he continued.

She gazed at him one more time and finally looked out of the window again.

"Why did you send for me?" she asked, her tone held a flicker of annoyance in them.

"The Jangs are holding a party tonight in honor of their son," he began as he walked towards the window.

Kiaraa's eyes narrowed. She wondered where she would come up in all this but she didn't utter a word and just stared at his back indifferently waiting for him to continue.

"It's about time I bring you out and announce you as my daughter to the public, maybe then the culprit will get alert and try to phase another attack."

She gasped, 'This old man wanted to use me as bait to capture someone they have been searching for for years. Is he really my father?' she wondered.

"Father, using me as a bait is only putting my life in danger."

Hee nodded lightly, "You and your brother were sent to Austin for a reason Kiaraa and it's a masquerade ball so your face will not be revealed."

"You have no choice Kiaraa," he continued, "Sending you and your brother to the states has made the whole situation calm which makes our search quite difficult and fruitless. You and your siblings have never been revealed to the public which makes them think that the Lees have no heir. The ball is tonight, you have to get ready," he said and walked back to his swivel chair to continue his pile of work.

Kiaraa let out a big sigh as she stepped out of his study room.

'He sent us to Austin to keep us safe and now he wants to use me as bait?'

She dazedly walked up to her bedroom and was about to open the door when she heard some voices from inside.

"Mother, is Ara Unnie fighting with father again?" she heard a cute childlike voice.

"No sweetie, they are just having a discussion in high pitch, ok? Now help me choose what Ara is going to wear, we're going shopping," her mother replied, her tone was overly excited.

"Shopping? as in shopping for clothes?" Kiyomi asked again.

"Hmmm hmm," she answered and Kiaraa could hear the excitement in her voice.

"But mother, Sister Ara already has lots of clothes, then why are we going shopping?"

"Because your sister is going to an exquisite party tonight and she needs a majestic gown that will complement her beauty so well and besides all the dresses in her closet are offseason and I don't want my daughter to wear outdated dresses," she answered patiently.

"ooh!!!" Kiyomi exclaimed and Kiaraa could already imagine her making an 'o' shape with her mouth on her cute face.

Kiaraa opened the door and stepped in, then she saw the mother and daughter duo wandering around her bedroom.

"Ara my child, come and change your clothes, we're going to pick out an evening gown for you," her mother said.

"Mother, just like Kiyomi said, I already have lots of dresses," she walked up to her dressing table and picked up a hairbrush, "And don't tell me that they are off-season," she turned towards her mother and gave her a knowing look.

Her mother could easily order all the highly fashioned designer gowns to their house considering their status but instead, she prefers shopping herself. Kiaraa almost laughed at her youthfulness.

"No my child," she came behind Kiaraa and placed her hands on her shoulder. Kiaraa could see her beautiful face in the mirror.

"It's been a long time since you came back home so I just want to spend some time with you, what's wrong with going out to spend time with my daughters, huh?

"Let's just go shopping for tonight's party, we can also go to the spa and get our hair done if we have time, no?" she asked again and Kiaraa couldn't say no when she pulled out the mother card.

"Yes big sister, please let's go out together," and Kiyomi just had to fuel up the fire.

"Alright fine we're going out," Kiaraa agreed and the both of them gave out satisfying smiles. "Ok, so let's get you changed," her mother stated.

"Hey what's wrong with my outfit," Kiaraa said and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. she turned to her mother, "Mum let's go, there's nothing wrong with my outfit and I haven't even had breakfast yet," she grabbed a small white backpack and a street-style face mask just for fashion.

She stepped out of the room and turned around, "Shall we?" she asked and then her mother held Kiyomi's hand and walked out of my room.