Chapter 4

After putting their plan in motion, the clans were upset upon finding the years of betrayal amongst each other.

Friendships and alliances that had been built on fake trust had suddenly crumbled over the span of a night. Hana’s father being the one who took the hardest hit amongst the clan leaders.

Hana’s heart felt troubled and full of guilt for turning against her own father. However, the fact that he had not only lied to her about Soto, but also something else that she discovered had fueled her revenge.

Hana found that her father had murdered her own mother. All this time, she thought her mother had died in child birth, but it was really at the hands of her father.

He had killed her mother over a misunderstanding, without finding out the truth and listening to her mother’s pleas that she was being framed.

A rival clan had lied and told her father the child within her mother’s womb was not his. They said her mother had been a loose woman selling her body for clan secrets to their leader.

Her father had been enraged and instantly took it out on Hana’s mother. Despite, her begging over and over for him to listen to her. He refused and with the small ounce of love he claimed to have for her mother, he promised he would keep the child, but take her life instead for her deceit.

It wasn’t until a year after Hana was born that her father discovered the truth. Hana was indeed his real daughter and the rival clan had lied to cover their tracks when they realized their drug operation might be discovered.

Even after knowing the truth, Kaito still never felt sorry for his horrifying actions while taking his wife’s life. He convinced himself it wasn’t his fault and she probably would have deceived him at some point.

Instead, he lived happily and always told Hana that her mother had sadly died shortly after giving birth to her. Kaito told Hana he had promised her mother to love her wholeheartedly for the both of them before she breathed her last breath.

Now, Hana knew the truth and she would seek revenge for all the hurt her father had caused her. He would pay for the person he took from her and for the man he was currently trying to separate her from.

At dawn, swords clashed in the cherry blossom grove. Hana fought alongside Soto, their blades weaving a desperate dance. Blood stained the petals, and honor hung by a thread.

In the final clash, Hana disarmed her father after what seemed like an exhausting battle.

“Why?” she demanded.

Kaito Tanaka’s eyes held regret. “I wanted you to be free.”

“Free,” Hana yelled in disbelief. “How have I ever been free?”

“All this time you have fed me lies, while keeping me in a gilded cage,” Hana voiced with a tone full of anger.

“That’s not true,” Kaito yelled in response.

Hana looked at Kaito, no longer with eyes of a daughter who adored her father over the years.

“I despise you,” Hana replied with a gaze full of hatred.

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