It appears you are all as invested in this story as we are, with so many passionate responses about the path Eadie should take!
This next chapter is one not to miss as Eadie discovers a secret about Kenji that leaves her shocked and confused. Remember to share your response at the end of the page and go in the draw to WIN A $200 Gift Card!
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If you missed last week’s chapter, you can catch up here.
Chapter Five - Kenji
Eadie felt a nagging discomfort she couldn’t quite unravel. Why had Yuri summoned Kenji so urgently after Eadie left her apartment last night? The concern in his voice and the speed of his departure had unsettled her.
After a restless night, Eadie skipped breakfast, hastily dressing to meet Kenji at their planned 11 a.m. rendezvous in the hotel lobby. But at 11:24 a.m., there was still no sign of him. Torn between relief and disappointment, she called him. Each attempt led only to his calming voicemail, a stark contrast to his anxious tone from the night before.
Kenji had seemed eager to spend time with her during her Tokyo visit, making his absence feel all the more peculiar. Had he overslept, forgotten, or worst case chosen not to see Eadie?
By 11:40 a.m., Eadie decided to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kiba Park, where her favourite artist, the late Kaito Ishki, was being honoured. Kaito’s revered work, celebrated globally, made him a Japanese national treasure. His pieces were coveted by elite collectors worldwide.
In the taxi, memories of discovering Kaito’s work with Yuri in a Chelsea gallery decades ago warmed Eadie’s thoughts. Yuri’s pledge to own a Kaito piece one day, despite struggling to pay rent back then, had always inspired Eadie. Now, Yuri owned three of Kaito's intricate works, testaments to her ambition and resolve for success.
Upon entering the gallery, Eadie was awestruck by Kaito’s colossal painting, “Soro,” spanning 14 ft by 7 ft. The stormy blues and blacks seemed to dance across the canvas like a thunderstorm. Rumours suggested Kaito’s declining health had required him to be harnessed to the scaffolding support to finish it. Eadie marvelled at the sheer brilliance and determination behind the masterpiece.
Adjacent to the painting, a plaque explained the work’s background, noting the Ishki family’s donation in Kaito’s honour. Below it, a framed black-and-white photo captured the frail looking Kaito, his elderly but extremely elegant elegant wife, and a towering young man beside them. It was reported to be the last family photograph taken before the artist had passed away
Eadie recognised his face instantly. Kenji was Kaito’s son!
Why had Yuri not told Eadie Kenji was the son of their favourite artist of over 2 decades? What is Yuri keeping from Eadie?
Do you think Eadie should confront Yuri? Or is it time to take matters into her own hands and start her own investigation? Let us know here
Watch our Founder and CEO, Trudie Cox, read Chapter Five...