The room was silent after the Madame had said her piece. They all realized that she had waited a long time to tell them this. For them to account and atone for what they had done. For them to see her, not as the woman she was now but as the child she had been. The innocent child that had been denied everything.

“You know when I look back on it all, I don’t care for your money or your privilege. I just remember the broken woman that was my mother.” The Madame smiled softly a sad look on her face, “I saw you all living carefree and happy and I understood some of the pain she must have felt. I brought Wu Yifan here because he was my only way in but also because I wanted him to stand in the light but you people make it so hard.”

Kris closed his eyes as he listened to her. This woman, this Madame did care for him. In her own sick way. Her circumstances had led her here. He didn’t judge her for it.

“You are speechless,” the Madame laughed bitterly, “You have nothing to say? Is it because I am right?”

 “Yes, you are right. In part.” Gaelin whispered, “I am very sorry for what happened to you…”

The Madame cut Gaelin off and turned to the children, “Do you know what a Vacation is?”. Gaelin paled. “A Vacation is a code word that was used in the Consortium to describe when Oracle was called on to take care of a situation. When your father became president he abolished the law. Basically, the law went like this, any president could call on the Song Estate to take care of a problem. The Song Estate was then obliged to take care of whatever problem the Consortium was dealing with. No questions could be asked, the problem just had to be dealt with.” The Madame met Gaelin’s eyes, “How many Vacations have you been on President? Can you even remember? “

“Back then,” it was Yoongi who spoke, “I called on Song Gaelin to go on Vacation as you put it.” He looked across the table at his sons. “I suppose your grandmother's sister called on Song Minah in the same manner,” he looked then at the Madame, “But I don’t know much of what happened th