Ava
His gaze.
Six years have passed, yet those eyes are still frightening.
Even if it's just a portrait.
Even if I know he's dead.
Truth be told, I would have liked to see the body, just to be sure the grim reaper took it, but I'm not family, so...
I escort Rori to the table and wait for him to sit.
The air is thick with unspoken words, dark, stale.
Attorney Jung glances at us briefly and continues reading the documents.
He leafs through the individual sheets, takes notes on a tablet, and after a few minutes that seem like an eternity, he looks up at me.
He's probing me as if I were a dissected frog, legs in the air, ready to be reduced to a pile of disintegrating offal.
I don't recall ever seeing him before, yet he seems to know me.
"Miss Allen, your power of attorney is in order, so I can admit you to the reading of the will alongside your client. As I explained to you the other day, as soon as the executors reach us, Miss Kim will be formally designated as a member of the family and heir to the assets that belonged to her father."
"You didn't specify what the estate of Mr. Tae Hyun was. I remind you, he renounced the Kim surname, taking his mother's, Nam," I remind him.
"I'm aware of the change in registry, but according to the provisions of the ancestor Kim, that didn't change the fact that Tae Hyun remained his son."
I frown and don't reply.
Never, in the long years since my father Tae gave up his family, has one of these people come looking for him.
I glance at Rori, who is sitting with her hands folded in her lap, apparently not following the conversation.
I nod, distracted, and stand up.
"When will the official reading be?"
"Now."
I give him a puzzled look, but he rises with a graceful movement, invites us to precede him, and escorts us out of the room.
We reach the living room where the rest of the family and a dozen people in dark suits have gathered.
It must be something big, otherwise the display of force is unclear.
They turn to look at us.
Min Jun ignores me. His gaze is all for Rori.
He looks troubled, but I don't intend to give him any more leverage with her.
I lead her to the far corner of the room and study the new arrivals.
They look like bodyguards, all dressed in black, in suits and ties.
I check for any swelling under their arms or waists, to see if they have a weapon, but it doesn't look like they do.
Their expressions are anything but friendly.
They're all Asian, and I realize I'm the only discordant note in this room.
The older man raises a hand, calling for attention, and the lawyer joins him.
He whispers something to him in a low voice, and I see the other nod.
"Mr. Park will continue the reading of the will and the letters addressed to you, in Korean, but I will translate for you. Please do not interrupt him. Any questions or clarifications will be postponed until the end."
He makes sure there are no objections and nods.
A small wooden trunk is brought in, apparently antique, carved with gilded oriental designs.
I half expect ancient parchments sealed with wax to be pulled out, but they are simply sealed brown envelopes.
I admit I'm a little disappointed.
The thickest package is opened, Mr. Park examines them briefly, and then clears his throat.
It's a monotonous reading, in a language I've almost forgotten, and of which I only know simple sentences.
I loved hearing Dad speak it, with that sweet cadence that fascinated me.
But then I also heard the harsher version of that language, full of threats and insults I've never forgotten.
Enough, Ava, this isn't the time, I tell myself, tossing back a strand of unruly hair.
Rori hesitates for a moment; I see her jerk her head up and her eyes widen.
I give her a surprised look and her hands clench into fists.
I squeeze one of her hands in mine and prepare to follow Attorney Jung's speech.
The first part is a complete list of real estate and businesses in Korea, then it moves on to American ones, with a series of restrictions and legal quibbles.
I get distracted after a string of names, studying the people present.
They are all in religious silence.
"After the preliminary investigation, let's move on to listing the execution points."
"What the hell is he talking about?" I whisper in my sister's ear.
But she ignores me, juts her chin forward, and continues following the reading in Korean.
"Miss Kim Aurora, Tae Hyun's daughter, will participate in the project's implementation as a direct heir, on the board of directors of Los Angeles Industries."
He pauses for effect, and I see my sister blanch.
"Miss Ava Allen will be the supervisor of this project, upon completion of which, she will handle the legal registration and paperwork for launching the startup in her sister's name."
"What the heck?"
"Miss Allen, I thought I made myself clear," the lawyer rebukes me, giving me a warning look.
What do I have to do with this?
I hold back the curses that rise to my tongue and narrow my eyes, concentrating on what they're saying.
"Regarding each individual production, you will receive envelopes containing all the legal and bureaucratic information you will need."
Mr. Park looks at us seriously and gestures to the men behind us, who begin to form a circle, closing the doors.
The air suddenly turns chilly, and a shiver runs through me.
What does this mean?
Attorney Jung explains the situation.
"Everything that has been arranged will be implemented in two months. In the meantime, for a period of thirty days, you will all be confined to this villa, in a sort of escape room. Those of you who manage to find the clues and solve the puzzles will be granted access to the designated share of the inheritance. Those who fail will be disinherited and will also lose the surname Kim."
A series of muffled exclamations pervade those present.
"This is madness!" Susy protests.
"What's the point of this farce?"
"I want to hear from my lawyer!"
But they're not given the chance to go any further.
"You can't leave. Hand over your car keys and follow the people who will escort you to your quarters."
I jump to my feet, ready to react.
"You too, Miss Allen."
"I'm not even thinking about it. This is kidnapping, and I'm not even part of the family!"
With a stealthy step and a strange smile, the man reaches me and hands me an envelope.
I stare at it as if it were a poisonous scorpion.
"What is it?"
"An order from the Los Angeles County Court, authorizing the execution of the will of the late Mr. Kim."
At the top edge, there's a name I thought I'd erased from my life.
Kim Ava Violet Allen.
Mine.