Curiously, she tilted her head. “I remember a lot of things father. But, there is this one nagging little memory that’s quite fuzzy. I was hoping you could help me with it. Would you like a biscuit? I made sure they prepared your favorite.”
He nodded and Gina placed one of the scrumptious biscotti’s onto his plate. Chang took a bite of the biscuit and another sip of tea. “Before we get into that would you care to explain how I have a granddaughter, which you knew about, and didn’t tell me?”
At this point, Gina wasn’t surprised that he knew. It was really only a matter of time. “Hmm…that’s really an interesting question. It actually ties into what I wanted to ask you about Laurette.”
He wasn’t expecting that. “Laurette?” Her name hadn’t been mentioned in years. Instantly, Chang appeared uncomfortable. However, without breaking eye contact, he deftly picked up his cup of tea and took another sip. “What about her?”
Calmly, Gina asked, “Why haven’t you ever had this room re-decorated? It’s obvious you hate it.” She could see him swallow deeply while his face remained unchanged.
“I don’t hate this room. There are some memories that I choose to preserve. This room is one of them.”
“Did you love her then?”
“Who? Why all the questions?”
“Laurette. Did you love her?” Gina looked around the room and spoke as if answering her own question. “You must have considering this room hasn’t changed in over twenty years. The décor is a bit dated.”
“I can’t believe we’re talking about this. Or, that you even remember her.”
“Why wouldn’t I? Who wouldn’t remember their mother?”
The shock was evident on his face.
“What? You didn’t think we knew? See father, I can keep secrets too. But, back to my original question. Did you have her killed?”
Chang slowly lowered his cup. “So, you knew about her, yet you said nothing.”
“I am your daughter. You have taught me well. One thing you have always stressed was timing. How timing is everything. There was no need to say anything—then. I am curious and thought now would be a good time to get answers to some of the questions I’ve always had. Again, did you kill her? If so, why?”
Chang’s jaw clenched. ”There was only one way out of my home. She wanted out. I gave her an out.”
“You killed my mother because she wanted to leave you after forcing her to watch her children grow up only to know her as a lowly servant? Why not just let her leave?” Gina knew the answer to that already. Control. Chang demanded utter and complete control from everyone.
He ignored the question. “How long have you known?”
Gina waved her hands back and forth. “I’ve known since I was seventeen. I hope you know there is a small part of me that hates the fact you let Nina and me treat her like a servant. It would have been nice to have a mother.”
“She was a servant! I treated her better than any man would, even taking care of her daughters. Considering…” His voice trailed off.
Gina couldn’t hide the simmering anger in her voice. She’d held on to it for too long. “Considering what? That she was black, and we looked so much like her? For the record, we’re your daughters too.”
“I won’t tolerate this insolence from you. I am done with this conversation.” His voice was dangerously low. “Why didn’t you tell me about Cecily Manchetti?”
Calmly but boldly Gina spoke. “Because you would have used her to bring the Manchetti’s to their knees. She’s not a part of this game.”
“So what? Are you so weak that you wouldn’t do anything to protect this family?”
Gina raised her voice. “She is family! She’s Nina’s daughter.”
“She’s a Manchetti. I have no loyalty to that family, and I hold nothing but hate in my heart for all of them. They ruined Nina. The whole lot can rot in hell which is where I hope Luciano is right now.”
Gina’s exasperation grew. “Nina’s only fault was that she loved him. He didn’t deserve to die because of it.”
“Nina was weak! She dishonored this family and me when she disobeyed my orders to return home and marry the man I’d chosen for her. The death of Luciano was about business. I can’t help it if it also gave me pleasure to know he would no longer be walking the face of this earth.”
“Don’t speak like that about Nina! She wasn’t like us. She was good and pure.”
The disappointment was evident in his eyes. “I had such high hopes for you. Maybe Joseph should take over the business. He knows how to follow orders and to do what is necessary to remove a threat. Apparently, I will have to call him to get rid of my Manchetti problem once and for all.”
“I have no problem removing threats when necessary. There are certain lines I will not cross, though. Cecily is one of them. I won’t have her tainted by the Xiou family legacy.” Sadly, it crystallized in Gina’s mind, that although Chang was her father, he was an even bigger monster than she’d thought.
“You are weak and will end up just like Nina.”
Gina’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean by that?”
“I meant exactly what I said.” He took a long sip of tea.
Her voice came out in almost a whisper. “Was her car accident really an accident? Or, did you have Nina killed for her disobedience too?”
“What does it matter, she’s dead.”
She looked at her father as if she’d never seen him. The pain and anger that coursed
