His expression changed.
“Carter?”
Emma nodded.
Daniel looked toward Sarah.
“What was your father's name?”
“Michael.”
Daniel went pale.
Because he knew exactly who Michael Carter was.
CHAPTER 2 — THE PHOTOGRAPH ON THE WALL
Daniel walked to an old photograph hanging near the entrance.
He removed it from the wall.
The picture showed a younger Daniel standing beside a dark-haired martial artist.
Emma recognized him instantly.
“Dad.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
Emma looked at her.
“You told me Dad never trained here.”
Sarah didn't answer.
Daniel spoke quietly.
“Your father was one of the best students I ever had.”
Emma stared at him.
“How long?”
“Years.”
“Then why did he leave?”
Daniel looked away.
Sarah finally said, “Because he discovered something he wasn't supposed to discover.”
The students listened as Daniel explained that Michael had once trained and taught at the academy.
But Michael had challenged the academy's leadership after noticing that injured students were being pressured to compete and that some rank promotions were being granted for money and influence.
Michael refused to stay silent.
He documented what he found.
He confronted the academy's founder, Daniel's father.
The confrontation ended Michael's career there.
Emma was stunned.
“My dad never told me.”
“He didn't want you carrying his battles,” Sarah said.
Daniel looked at Emma's stance.
“He taught you himself.”
“Yes.”
“What did he teach you?”
“Balance. Timing. Control.”
Daniel smiled sadly.
“Sounds like him.”
Then Marcus Hill, an older instructor who had been listening from the back of the room, stepped forward.