WHAT CASEY HEARD

EMMY was startled by her brother's sudden outburst. Why did Casey suddenly say that Cecil Lancaster was a 'bad guy'? Did that bastard bully Casey somehow? If he did, she swore she'd make him pay.

"Why did you call him a 'bad guy'? Did he do something to you?" she asked. 

Casey shook his head. "I- I just know he's a bad guy. Sister, you shouldn't marry him!"

She gently disentangled Casey from her and studied his expression. There was fear – the kind that showed that he was afraid for someone. And this 'someone' was most likely her. There was also guilt. As if telling this thing to her was some sort of crime.

Emmy couldn't understand the mixed expression on her younger brother's face. But she knew that he was hiding something. "Casey, did Cecil Lancaster threaten you in any way?"

Again, Casey just shook his head.

Emmy reached out and held both Casey's hands. "Casey, if you have something to tell me, anything at all, don't hesitate. I assure you, you won't get in trouble. Trust me."

Casey bit his lower lip, a sign that he was hesitating. When Emmy thought that he wouldn't say anything, his gaze suddenly changed and became more determined. He took a deep breath, as if trying to organize his thoughts.

"Sister, I- I accidentally heard something in Father's study," he finally managed to say. "I was hiding in there, trying to surprise Father. One of my friends showed me a video of him surprising his father. It was kind of funny. So, I wanted to try it. Because Father never had any kind of expression. I thought that if I did that, I could see a different expression from him. But then, I didn't expect that he would come in with Brother and they were talking about something serious. I already missed the right time to go out, that's why I heard a part of their conversation."

Emmy suddenly had a bad feeling. According to what Casey said earlier, this conversation definitely had something to do with Cecil Lancaster.

"But Father quickly found my presence and he made me promised not to tell you anything." A pained expression appeared on Casey's face. "But- but I couldn't. Sister might end up in danger, how could I just stay silent? I don't even understand what Father and Brother were thinking by putting you in such danger!"

Emmy tried to calm down even though her head was starting to be in a mess right now. She needed to know first the full context of what Casey heard. "Can Casey tell me what was it that you heard exactly."

"I only heard a little. But when Father and Brother entered the study, Brother asked if Father was truly trying to make Sister a bait. And then Father said that it's the best choice. That if they wavered now, there wouldn't be another chance to capture Cecil Lancaster and officially put him under trial. That was all that I heard. But it's easy to understand that they were trying to use you as bait to capture Cecil Lancaster.

"Doesn't that mean that Cecil Lancaster is a bad guy? I couldn't understand why Father and Brother would even put you in such a position. It's unfair! I asked them why but instead of answering me they just told me not to tell you anything. How could- how could they even behave like that? Is being family supposed to be like this?"

Emmy could feel the pain in his younger brother's voice. She wanted to comfort him, but words couldn't come out of her mouth. Her brain just completely blanked out. She couldn't think of anything. The words 'bait', 'capture', 'trial', 'Cecil Lancaster' just kept on repeating inside her mind. 

Just like what Casey said, it's not hard to understand what their father and brother were trying to do just by listening to those words. 

Her father was trying to indict Cecil Lancaster for god knows what crime. But he lacked evidence. So, he couldn't just go on and accuse him of anything because the other belonged to the powerful Lancaster family that had a hold over a part of the military. So, when Cecil proposed marriage, her father accepted it. Probably thinking that that was the chance he was waiting for. 

And so, Emmy ended up as a bait.

She couldn't understand the emotions that were swirling inside her right now. Anger? Disappointment? Sadness? She couldn't even begin to describe it. Everything inside her was just clumping up. The shadows in her heart was slowly eating her up. Eroding all the emotions, all the affections, everything.

Suddenly, she couldn't breathe. Her breathing became more and more rugged. 

"Sister, Sister! What's wrong?" Casey worriedly asked who quickly supported her. "I'm sorry, I'm s-sorry, it's all my f-fault."

Emmy turned to her brother. Seeing the tears flowing down his cheeks, it made her completely calmed down. Air started to flow down into her lungs. She raised her hand and wiped down Casey's tears. 

"Silly boy, how could it be your fault?" She gently kissed her brother's cheek. "Thank you for telling me, Casey."

And now, she had to have a serious talk with her father. Thinking of the things she heard, a cold glint flashed in her sapphire blue eyes.

They better gave her an acceptable explanation for this or she sure as hell wouldn't just sit back and quietly be their 'bait'.