The Story Weaver.

The Painting.

Kali stared deeply into the painting before her, her eyes scanning every detail. Something was odd about the painting - it seemed to be a puzzle, perhaps leading to a safe or a secret passage.

The painting depicted a messy kitchen, with a cat sitting amidst the chaos and a box of cereal on the counter.

Her eyes narrowed as she focused on the cereal box. She climbed down from the stool she had been standing on and began searching the room.

After a moment, she found a pen and a scrap of paper. She wrote down the name of the cereal, "H-sup," and then burst out laughing.

"Such an easy pie," she said, writing the word backward to spell "Push."

She looked at the picture again, noticing an open book on the kitchen counter. The book was designed for toddlers and had a simple message inside: "I for It." Kali laughed again, amused by the simplicity of the puzzle.

"Why is this so easy?" she wondered. She pushed on the frame, and the plastered brick wall creaked open, revealing a secret hideout.

Kali shook her head, smiling wryly.

"Dad is so gullible," she said, shaking her head in disappointment. As she stepped inside, her father emerged from behind, his expression a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

"How did you...?" he trailed off, still trying to comprehend how she had deciphered the painting's secret. She was only eight.

He cleared his throat to announce his presence.

"I knew you're there, Dad," she smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

"How did you open it... the door?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

She replied confidently, "It was too easy for me. I have a high IQ, I guess I got it from Mom."

Without hesitation, she walked into the building, her father following close behind.

The room was spacious, with a cache of weapons on one side and covered cars on the other. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight.

"Wow! It's a weapon cache!" she exclaimed, spotting the array of guns, swords, and other deadly tools.

She picked up a bow and arrow, expertly aiming at a human-shaped target board across the room.

"You see that, Dad? I'll strike its head!"

Grimm chuckled, impressed by her skills. "Alright," he said, and she released the arrow. It flew straight and true, hitting the target with a resounding thud.

Kali leaped in joy, thrilled by her success. "Bull's eye!" she shouted.

He smiled, proud of her. "Where did you learn that?" he asked, he was amazed. "By any chance, did your mom teach you?"

She shook her head, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Mom didn't teach me. I grew up in a hidden town next to a forest, so what did you expect? I go hunting with my friends, even though Mom doesn't allow it. But I'm sharp! I've even killed a wolf before. I wouldn't mind taking down a human!" she teased.

His expression turned serious, and he placed a warning hand on her shoulder. "Shh, that's not something to joke about, kiddo. You're not a killer."

The little girl rolled her eyes, unfazed.

"Not a Mafia daughter, maybe?" she shot back. His eyes narrowed, his expression darkening.

"Who told you I'm a Mafia lord? Your mom?" Kali shook her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

She explained, "I figured it out from Mom's coded conversations. She always said you were dead, but when she revealed you were my dad, I wasn't surprised."

Her father pointed his gun at her, testing her. "How sure are you that I'm your father? Aren't you scared?"

Kali trembled, then scoffed. "Let's drop the act, Dad. Do you want a DNA test? But I'm sure you don't need it... Ma mère sait que tu es mon père!" (My mom knows you're my father)

Her father smiled, impressed. "Such a two-faced devil at such a young age."

Her expression turned somber. "I know. A lot of people called me the exact same word - 'devil' - because of how cold I can be. It got me expelled from school, and I was rejected from 10 other schools in town. I had to quit studying. Mom went crazy, got me a private tutor who resigned after just two days. I guess that shock hastened her death. She was such a good mom."

Kali sighed and slumped onto a nearby sofa.

Grimm expression turned serious. "I'm sorry to say this, but to stay in my house, you must attend school. Trust me, it's not an ordinary school. It's the right school for kids like you.

He smiled ominously and sat down on the adjacent sofa.

She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of school?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

He smiled, a glint in his eye. "The kind of school that will teach you discipline and control. They'll burn your flawless skin if you break the rules, so you'd better behave."

The little girl eyes widened, and she grinned mischievously. "You want a bet?" she asked, holding out her pinky finger.

"Okay," her father agreed, striking a deal.

"I'll stay in this building if I win," Kali said.

Her father chuckled. "Okay! Why are we still here then?" He lifted her off the sofa, placing her on his shoulders with her legs straddling his neck.

As they walked out, he closed the entrance by pulling the painting back into place.

"So, what's your name?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

She rolled her eyes. "Didn't Mom write it in the letter?"

He pretended to be offended. "Did you just roll your eyes at me? Did you forget you're relaxing on my shoulder?"

She smiled mischievously. "My name is Karl, but call me Kitty. Mom gave me that nickname. And, Dad, please stop talking – you reek of cigarettes and alcohol."

Grimm stopped at the edge of the stairs. "I wonder where this leads," Kali said, eager to explore.

He heaved a sigh and climbed the stairs. "To get you some breakfast."

"After breakfast, can you teach me how to shoot?" Kali asked.

"What!? You're a kid!" He exclaimed.

"Je te déteste!" (I hate you!) Kali cursed, pouting.

He smiled sheepishly, looking up at her. "You think I don't feel the same?"

As they reached the top of the stairs, another door awaited them. Her father entered a passcode, and the door swung open.

Her eyes widened as she took in the sleek, modern interior of the white building. "Wow!" she breathed.

She jumped down from her father's shoulders, eager to explore. "Who was the building engineer and architect? Do they have a male kid with the same IQ? I wouldn't mind a date."

Her father chuckled, watching her enthusiasm. "Gross!"

Just then, a woman in her late 60s greeted him from behind. "Welcome, Boss!"

A younger woman squealed, jumping onto his back. "Baby!"

Kali, now out of view, seemed to have vanished into the sprawling building.

He roughly removed her hands from his neck, tossing her to the ground. However, she landed effortlessly on her feet.

"I think I've become too friendly with you lately," he said, his tone icy. "Didn't I warn you not to address me like that? You're just a full-time personal assistant, nothing more. Don't overstep your boundaries."

The woman's face contorted in anger and hurt. "Grimm...!" she yelled, her voice trembling like a child's.

He hissed, his expression disdainful, as he walked away from her.

He walked to a corner, Mrs. Nam following closely. "You saw that kid, she's—"

"I know whose kid that is," Mrs. Nam interrupted. "Hel told me before she left you."

His eyes widened in shock. "What? Mrs. Nam! You knew when she left and where she was this whole time? And you didn't tell me? Why?"

Mrs. Nam's expression turned solemn. "Because she knew you had a soft spot for her. She wanted you alive. You were at war with the Brandons back then. She needed to hide to keep your child safe, to keep you safe for today. She needed you to win the battle."

Grimm's face contorted in anguish as Mrs. Nam continued, "She only had a few years left to live. She was struggling with a brain tumor all these years... She didn't want to break you. You can fire me, kill me, but I did it for you... for them... for my son!"

His voice cracked as he sobbed, "But Mrs. Nam, you could have told me she was carrying my baby. I could have been a better father... maybe I could have quit being a lord. I could have done something..."

She hugged him, patting his back like a child.

Just then, Hazel screamed, "Ahhhhhh!!" as she spotted Kitty.

"Lord Grimmmmmmmm!!" Hazel shrieked again.

Grimm's expression turned stern as he took in the scene. "What the hell is going on here...?"

Hazel struggled to catch her breath. "Who is this underage girl?"

Kitty smirked, "I'm not underage."

Hazel's eyes widened in shock. "So, what are you? How did you even get in?"

Kitty smirked. "I'm Mr. Grim's daughter, Kitty. And you are...?"

Hazel stuttered, "What? Dau... What?"

Grimm adjusted his shirt, his expression calm. "You heard right. She's my daughter."

Hazel's face turned pale. "Holy... Darlin'..."

She stopped mid-sentence, noticing Grimm's stern gaze.

Kitty's eyes sparkled with amusement. "So you're father's mistress, or rather, his closest female bed companion in the mafia."

Hazel's eyes flashed with anger. "How dare you call me that!"

Kitty dodged Hazel's pointing finger. "Because it's obvious. You're not dressed like a business partner or a friend but rather as a slut."

Hazel's face reddened. "You little brat! How can you speak to me like that?"

Kitty smiled sweetly. "Stop worrying and get a more effective face lotion. You're getting wrinkles at a young age. The stress from frequent bed activities must have taken a toll on you."

Her eyes bulged in outrage. "What! What! Are you talking to me like that? Uuhh?!" She screamed, clutching her head as if overwhelmed.

"What! What? Are you talking to me in that manner? Uuhh?!" Hazel screamed, holding her head as she felt overwhelmed with emotion.

Grimm chuckled, shaking his head. "I guess it's true, my daughter doesn't lie... I guess."

He walked away with Kitty by his side, leaving Hazel in distress.

"Lord Grimm, how could you? How could you do this to me?" Hazel cried out, her voice filled with desperation and heartache.