Chapter 2: Conflicting Feelings
Taking a deep breath, Shona began to explain. "Ema, those men in the photo album are your half-brothers. I was married before I met your father, and I had thirteen sons with my previous husband. When he passed away, I decided to keep it a secret from you, fearing it could complicate your life."
Ema's eyes widened in disbelief. "Thirteen brothers? But why keep it a secret? I thought we were an open and honest family."
Rintaro joined in, his voice tinged with regret. "We were afraid of how you would react, Ema. We didn't want to burden you with our complicated family history. However, we've come to realize that it's unfair to keep such an important part of your life hidden from you."
Ema's mind whirred with conflicting emotions. On one hand, she felt hurt that her parents had chosen to hide this from her, but on the other hand, she was excited to know more about her newfound brothers. With a mix of determination and curiosity, Ema decided to reach out to her brothers one by one.