I asked, the words pushing out raw, direct and my voice trembling, questions which revolved and always on my mind since we were in the empire, my gaze locking onto hers like a challenge, unblinking as I looked straight at her.

"What kind of question is that? Why are you asking me? Of course you are my daughter who was carried inside my womb for nine months. You can ask everyone, and what makes you ask that foolish question, don't get me angry this morning," she said, her words slicing out ...