“You don’t think I keep up with what’s happening at the company? Well surprise, surprise, I do. I know all about that secret deal you made with Opal.”
“We have so many secret deals with companies all over the world. Yes, Opal outsourced Tarquinomid to us, but do you actually think I would poison Rachel? Why would I do that?”
Carlton looked at his mother accusingly. “Oh come on! You have been so hell-bent against Rachel since day one! Do I need to spell it out for you?”
Gaoliang spoke up, finally fed up with his son’s accusations. “Don’t be ridiculous, Carlton. SHE DID NOT POISON RACHEL! How dare you say such a thing about your own mother?”
“Dad, you don’t know half the things Mother has been telling me. If you could only hear what she’s said about Rachel!”
“Your mother may have issues with Rachel, but she would never do anything to harm her.”
Carlton started to laugh bitterly. “Oh, that’s what you think? You don’t have a clue what Mother is capable of, do you? Of course you don’t—you have no idea what she did in—”
“CARLTON,” Shaoyen said as a warning.
“What Mother did in London!”
“What are you talking about?” Gaoliang asked.
“The big cover-up in London…all to protect you.”
Shaoyen rushed up to her son and grabbed his shoulders in a panic. “SHUT UP, CARLTON!”
“NO! I WON’T SHUT UP! I’m sick of shutting up and not talking about it!” Carlton exploded.
“Then talk! What happened in London?” Gaoliang demanded.
“Please, Carlton, if you know what’s best for you, please don’t say any more,” Shaoyen pleaded frantically.
“A girl died in my car wreck!” Carlton spat out.
“DON’T LISTEN TO HIM! He’s drunk! He’s sick in the head!” Shaoyen screamed as she struggled to put her hands over Carlton’s mouth.
“What on earth are you talking about? I thought the girl was paralyzed,” Gaoliang said.
Carlton shook his mother off and ran to the other side of the room. “There were two girls in the Ferrari with me, Dad! One girl survived, but the other girl died. And Mother had it all covered up. She got Mr. Tin and your banker in Hong Kong to pay everyone off. She wanted you to remain blissfully ignorant about what happened—all to protect your precious position! She’s never allowed me to talk about it. She’s never wanted you to know what a fuckup I am. But I’m admitting it now, Dad—I killed a girl!”
Gaoliang stared at both of them in horror, as Shaoyen sank to the floor sobbing.
Carlton continued, “I will never forgive myself, and it will haunt me for the rest of my life. But I’m trying to take responsibility for what I’ve done, Dad. I can’t change the past, but I’m trying to change myself. Rachel helped me realize all this when we were in Paris. But Mother found out that Rachel knows this secret about my accident, and that’s the real reason she wanted her killed!”
“No, no! That’s not true!” Shaoyen cried.
“How do you feel now, Mother? The big secret is out, and your worst nightmare is coming true. Our family name will be ruined just like you thought it would—not by Rachel or by me, but when the police come and haul you off to jail!”
Carlton stormed out of the house, leaving his mother on the floor of the library and his father seated next to her with his head buried in his hands.
* * *
* Mandarin for “What the fuck are you saying?”
11
BUKIT BROWN CEMETERY
SINGAPORE
Every year, on the anniversary of their father’s death, Shang Su Yi and her brother, Alfred, would visit the grave where their parents were buried. Su Yi’s immediate family and a few close relatives would traditionally gather at Tyersall Park for breakfast before heading to the cemetery, but this year everyone met at Bukit Brown first. Astrid arrived early, coming straight from dropping Cassian off at Far Eastern Kindergarten, and hardly anyone was around as she strolled through Singapore’s oldest cemetery.