The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 57 - WHAT CASEY HEARD

EMMY was startled by her brotherʼs sudden outburst. Why did Casey suddenly say that Cecil Lancaster was a ʼbad guyʼ? Did that bastard bully Casey somehow? If he did, she swore sheʼd make him pay.

”Why did you call him a ʼbad guyʼ? Did he do something to you?” she asked.

Casey shook his head. ”I- I just know heʼs a bad guy. Sister, you shouldnʼt 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 ʼsomeoneʼ was most likely her. There was also guilt. As if telling this thing to her was some sort of crime.

Emmy couldnʼt understand the mixed expression on her younger brotherʼs 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 Caseyʼs hands. ”Casey, if you have something to tell me, anything at all, donʼt hesitate. I assure you, you wonʼt get in trouble. Trust me.”

Casey bit his lower lip, a sign that he was hesitating. When Emmy thought that he wouldnʼt 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 Fatherʼs 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 didnʼt expect that he would come in with Brother and they were talking about something serious. I already missed the right time to go out, thatʼs 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 Caseyʼs face. ”But- but I couldnʼt. Sister might end up in danger, how could I just stay silent? I donʼt 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 itʼs the best choice. That if they wavered now, there wouldnʼt be another chance to capture Cecil Lancaster and officially put him under trial. That was all that I heard. But itʼs easy to understand that they were trying to use you as bait to capture Cecil Lancaster.

”Doesnʼt that mean that Cecil Lancaster is a bad guy? I couldnʼt understand why Father and Brother would even put you in such a position. Itʼs 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 brotherʼs voice. She wanted to comfort him, but words couldnʼt come out of her mouth. Her brain just completely blanked out. She couldnʼt think of anything. The words ʼbaitʼ, ʼcaptureʼ, ʼtrialʼ, ʼCecil Lancasterʼ just kept on repeating inside her mind.

Just like what Casey said, itʼs 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 couldnʼt 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 couldnʼt understand the emotions that were swirling inside her right now. Anger? Disappointment? Sadness? She couldnʼt 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 couldnʼt breathe. Her breathing became more and more rugged.

”Sister, Sister! Whatʼs wrong?” Casey worriedly asked who quickly supported her. ”Iʼm sorry, Iʼm s-sorry, itʼs 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 Caseyʼs tears.

”Silly boy, how could it be your fault?” She gently kissed her brotherʼs 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 wouldnʼt just sit back and quietly be their ʼbaitʼ.