Chapter 7 Dad covered his face with his hands , his voice choking up and full of regret . " Betty , I'm so sorry . " " I'll give you the company , I'll put everything I have into training you . It'll all be yours ... " " I don't want the company . " I cut Dad off , then said : " Tm going to be a military doctor , because that's the only way I can get close to Mom . " All my hard work had never been about proving anything to him or fighting for some inheritance . I'd always been following Mom's hidden trail through the fog . Time flew by in intense studying and rigorous training . 1 graduated from military medical school with outstanding grades and became a field surgeon like I'd always wanted . During a mission supporting counter - terrorism operations at the border , I received a special patient . This person was badly injured , with shrapnel wounds all over , but the worst was a deep gash on their back that went right down to the bone . My eyes fell on an old scar near the patient's shoulder blade , and my heart started pounding . That masked rescuer who fought the kidnappers - when their shirt got torn in the struggle , I'd seen the exact same scar on their back ! I squeezed my eyes shut hard , forcing my hands to stop shaking . When I opened them again , I pushed everything else out of my mind and focused completely on saving this patient . Hours later , the surgery was over and the patient was stable for now . I looked down at the unconscious person in the hospital bed , tears already streaming down my face . This face was covered in scars of all different depths , and the features looked unnatural , almost nothing like the beautiful face I remembered Mom having . Suddenly , the person's eyes opened . Even if the world turned upside down and everything changed , I'd never mistake those eyes ! I couldn't hold back anymore - my whole body was shaking like I was afraid of breaking a dream , and I called out the name I'd kept buried in my heart for ten years : " Mom " Those eyes went wide , clearly reflecting my tear - stained face . A hoarse voice came from under the oxygen mask , " Bet ... ty ... " Those two words were like breaking a magic spell . I completely fell apart . I collapsed next to the bed and started sobbing uncontrollably . Ten years of believing and waiting , the loneliness of nobody understanding , the hurt of being misunderstood by Dad , the heartbreak of seeing Mom covered in scars . And finally , the pure joy of knowing for sure . It all mixed together and turned into tears I couldn't stop . I'm sorry ... Betty ... " Mom's voice was so weak , but she lifted her hand and gently squeezed my fingers . 22:19 From ' Beloved Daughter " to " Dead Burden ? Now Watch Your Perfect Family BURN ! 22.30 I wanted to squeeze back hard , but I was scared of hurting her injuries . The sobs came even louder then . Finally , after all these years , I'd found Mom ! After this ten - year game of hide - and - seek , I still won ! I could touch Mom - she was really still alive . But Mom's face was completely ruined , covered in scars . I knew exactly what this destroyed face meant . It wasn't just simple burns or cuts . This was what someone looked like after surviving a massive explosion and high heat , then going through countless reconstructive surgeries . I couldn't bear to imagine what kind of dangerous situation Mom had been in when she barely survived , or what inhuman pain she'd endured to stay alive . I couldn't even think about what kind of mission would require the organization to use her death as a complete cover - up , forcing her to live under a false identity for ten years straight . The only answer was that the enemy was extremely powerful and dangerous . If they found out Mom was still alive , it would bring total destruction to our family . So Mom used " death " to protect me , and this time , it was my turn to protect Mom . Being reunited with Mom was like a bright light illuminating my entire world . For a moment , I wanted to tell Dad this amazing news . But then I thought about our house filled with Kaya and Mrs. Hayes's laughter , how Dad had already packed away all of Mom's photos , how quickly he'd embraced his new life . He'd already started a new life without Mom . This news might not be good news for Dad - it might just be troublesome . So I kept it like a secret treasure , quietly celebrating that I'd found Mom . Mom and I developed this unspoken understanding . At the hospital , we were doctor and patient . Only in completely safe private moments were we mother and daughter . Mom never talked about her missions or experiences in detail , and I never pushed her for answers . I just used all my medical skills to carefully treat every injury Mom brought back from her missions . While Mom carried this heavy burden on the invisible front lines , I kept pulling her back from death's edge , quietly stitching up her broken body and also mending the ten years of missing motherly love . Until today , when I'd just finished surgery and got called to the leadership office . " Betty , " the leader's voice was heavy , with a hint of reluctance , then he said . " There's a mission that requires you to leave immediately . You need to see a critically injured soldier one last time My heart dropped like a stone , and this huge fear grabbed hold of me instantly I boarded the helicopter heading to the border . The whole bumpy , noisy ride , I felt nodding When someone led me into a temporary tent and I saw that face familiar yet strange , half covered with a white sheet every bit of my composure crumbled instantly 22:19 From Beloved Daughter to Dead Burden Now Watch Your than foot Pamile mudaATY 22 79 Chapter 8 Chapter 8