"Every man has his own destiny; the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him." - Henry Miller
"He knows," Nolan practically spluttered his coffee all over his new plaid shirt. "I mean, he's known all this time."
"Apparently, Amanda cracked after Conrad was arrested. She was convinced that, once I made the Grayson's pay, I would divorce Daniel and break up her marriage to Jack, so I could have him for myself," Emily snorted, amused by the unlikelihood her co-conspirator had foreseen. "She decided to confess all, before I had the chance. She told Jack the truth, in the hopes it would save her marriage."
"Aww, a stripper with a heart," he purred, unsympathetic to Amanda's plight. "Classic."
"Well, she's softened since her juvie days. When you have everything, you have everything to lose, and she had everything with Jack." There was a rare pang of sympathy that curdled in Emily's stomach, as she comprehended how much her quest had demanded from the ones she cared for. "But I need to focus on Sophia. She and Charlie have seen the Infinity Box. Amanda's pretty certain she convinced Sophia it belonged to her, so their suspicions should have died down, but I still need to find a secure place to hide it."
Nolan leaned his sleek physique against the table and pursed his lips, "Why not burn it?" Her eyes flared furiously at the outrageous suggestion, and Nolan repelled backward into his chair. "You're not the same person anymore, Em." His jawline softened and his face, subsequently, rounded with his smile. "By all means, keep your fathers' letters but the diaries are from the past. You don't need to reminded of that."
Her best interests were at the forefront of his heart and mind, but Emily remained unconvinced. She softly nodded her head, to indicate her consideration, when Charlotte bounded down the stairway and into the living room. "Hey, Nolan. Mom, have you seen Sophia?"
"Not since breakfast," her mother recollected, "Is everything okay? The two of you have been very preoccupied lately."
"Sister secrets, that's all," Charlotte light-heartedly dodged the question, as if she and Sophia were in the midst of arranging a birthday surprise for her. Charlotte strolled outside to the edge of the pool and dialled Sophia's number on her cell. It rang until the very last second. "Soph, where are you? I've been thinking about that old box that belongs to Amanda Porter, and I have an idea. When will you be home?"
"I'm not sure," Sophia bluntly answered, "I'm kind of busy."
The cold wind played with Sophia's raven curls, as she abruptly ended the call, and returned her attention to the headstone in front of her. An elegant font spelt Charlotte's name and Sophia knelt to touch the shimmered stone. Her fingers traced every letter, until she reached a 'V' for Victoria's name. Her stomach promptly churned at the sight of David Clarke's name. The discovery in the attic had riled Sophia's curious nature and suppressed the emotions of sadness that she had never been afforded the opportunity to know her father's family well. A male voice broke her tormented reverie, "Miss Grayson."
Sophia stretched to her heightened posture, startled by the elderly man, "Who are you?"
Charlotte's temporary abduction had rendered Sophia wary. The stranger removed a black glove and extended his hand, to formalise the introduction. "I was an old friend of your mothers and, once upon a time, your Grandmother's, too. Allow me to express my belated, yet sincere condolences for her misfortune."
"Thank you."
"Acceptance of loss is always difficult, but acceptance can be strenuous when the death is an unexpected one." The phrase was one Sophia related to her aunt, who was overpowered by the loss of her own mother, so much so that she resolved to end her life. "A wise man once said; fear not death, for the sooner we die -"
"...the longer we shall be immortal," Sophia said, in conjunction with him, before she identified the voice behind it, "Benjamin Franklin."
"You're familiar with him. I should have anticipated as much," he proudly admitted, before his free hand beckoned her away from the cemetery. "Come child..." They walked in silence for a few, brief moments, while he admired the clouds above. "A man's destiny can only be defined at the end of his journey. The time has come for me to accept that my journey has almost reached its end, yet my destiny still awaits its fulfilment."
"I don't understand," Sophia murmured, not even sure why the stranger provided her with such a sense of security and calm.
"Many years have passed since I first became acquainted with your mother and appointed myself as her sensei," he explained, further confusing the teenager. "I directed her to fulfil her own destiny, in order to fulfil mine but it is only now that I can truly comprehend the reason for my being." The wrinkles on his face were like a map to the soul and Sophia remained uncharacteristically silent, as his words delivered a cryptic chorus. "The box you found was only the start of your discoveries, Sophia. Your mother's secrets are protected by the walls that imprison her heart and the emotions she cannot bear to address." His body stiffened, yet his hand slipped underneath his coat and revealed a brown envelope. "The answers to your questions can be found, if you follow the instructions in this envelope. My ability to pilot your path has been eliminated, but forces greater than me will ensure your journey is not averted."
She readily tore open the envelope and the mug-shot photograph of Amanda Clarke, attached to a record of juvenile detention, dropped to the ground. The 'Allenwood' stamp stood prominently at the forefront of the document and Sophia's eyes digested the name; Thorne, Emily. "That's my mother's -"
The man had pre-planned his escape, and he opened the door to the black limousine nearby. "The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple."
"Hold on..." Sophia angrily yelled, "Hey!"
Without another word, he climbed into the limousine, where his partner-in-crime patiently awaited his return. His destiny had finally been fulfilled and for such, he would be rewarded. After all, experience had taught Takeda that every man must accept their destiny, no matter where it leads them.