AOA 164

The warm and friendly atmosphere lasted for a long time. However, after finishing dinner and moving to a different location for dessert, my grandmother spoke up seriously.

“There is something I want to ask the two of you.”

“Yes.”

“Please speak.”

Both Baek Mugyeong and I straightened our postures.

“I told Minchae in advance, but it’s fine to stay out overnight whenever you want. You’re all grown up now, so you can go anywhere. However, if you are going to stay out overnight, please let me know. That way, the person waiting won’t worry. You know what I mean, right?”

Just as my grandmother said, she had already strictly warned me that I must disclose my destination if I plan to stay out overnight. She said that while I could go anywhere since I was an adult, I must ensure that the family living with me did not worry.

My grandmother was full of spirit again today. Faced with an elegant explanation, not only I but also Baek Mugyeong replied that we would do so.

“One more thing. No matter how urgent it is, wait until you graduate before getting married. You can study anytime, but if you miss the timing, it will take a lot of effort. Graduate, get a job, and experience life in the working world. It won’t be too late to get married then.”

It was advice directed at me. However, my grandmother looked carefully not only at me and Baek Mugyeong but also at the others.

“Mom is right. It’s okay to get married late.”

“That’s right. You have to graduate.”

“I also think it’s right to graduate first. If you miss it once, it takes a long time.”

Not only my aunts but even Sejun agreed with my grandmother’s advice. It wasn’t wrong. I knew it was advice given out of concern for me. Even so, I was flustered. I hadn’t even said I was going to marry Baek Mugyeong right now, so I wondered why they were acting this way.

“You’re right about everything, but I’m not getting married right now, Grandma.”

I gave my grandmother a look that asked, “Why are you acting like this?” At that, my grandmother smiled gently.

“As I get older, I’m getting a bit anxious. I’m worried that at this rate, you might suddenly end up with a child. Think about it after you graduate. Understood?”

“Grandma.”

“What do you think?”

“Grandmother is right. You must finish your studies first, no matter what.”

Baek Mugyeong, having been singled out by my grandmother, nodded vigorously. I was not surprised, as we had already discussed the matter. When Baek Mugyeong answered, my grandmother smiled.

“Then that is fine.”

Baek Mugyeong also wore a reassuring smile.

Baek Mugyeong, usually reserved, brought his social skills to the limit in front of my grandmother. It was amusing and cute to see him trying so hard to impress her, who held all the power, so I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Lastly, I have something to tell Minchae.”

My grandmother, who had been smiling elegantly until now, suddenly grew serious. Although she was smiling, judging by her rigid face, something must have happened.

“Is something wrong?”

“I hear your father is coming here to settle things.”

“…My father?”

At first, I thought I had misheard. But my grandmother clearly said it was my father.

“Right. The flight arrives on Monday, and since he said he would come over to the house, I made a separate appointment.”

“No, what nerve does that guy have! Mom, are you really going to meet him?”

It was Aunt Soyeon who yelled in my place. My grandmother made no secret of the fact that she hated my biological father. She resented, in particular, the fact that he hadn’t told her even after finding me. I wondered if he was in his right mind, seeing that he, who couldn’t possibly be unaware of this, had come all the way to my grandmother’s house to settle things over.

“We agreed to meet in Carlton on Monday afternoon, but you don’t need to worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

My grandmother spoke calmly, but sparks flew from her eyes. A determination to destroy my biological father radiated from her entire body.

“That is right. Do not worry.”

“How shameless.”

“Why is he suddenly coming here? Is there a problem?”

My aunts and Sejun each added a few words. Sejun, in particular, was very worried because he didn’t know that Jeong Guhyeon had died. While Aunt Jieun, who was standing nearby, was explaining the situation, Baek Mugyeong took my hand. It was only after being held by his warm hand that I realized I had been frozen.

“Are you okay?”

His kind voice brought a smile to my face. Everyone here was on my side. Of course, it was fine.

❖ ❖ ❖

The weather on Monday was sunny.

I paced around the reception room. I had to meet my biological father later, but I wasn’t worried. Rather, I was concerned that Baek Mugyeong hadn’t shown up even though the appointed time had passed.

My grandmother said she would meet my biological father and settle things herself, stating that I did not need to meet him. However, no matter how much I thought about it, I felt I was the one who had to handle it, so we decided to move forward together. To be precise, everyone decided to do it together, and Baek Mugyeong was included in that group.

Quite some time had passed since Baek Mugyeong contacted me to say he was leaving. The man, who should have arrived by now, didn’t show up. I started to wonder if something had happened.

“Hyung. It’s okay. If that man spouts nonsense, I’ll kick him.”

As I paced around the room with a worried look on my face, Sejun, who was with me, shouted energetically. My younger brother, who had recently transferred to a high school in the U.S., had just returned home and was fully prepared.

Honestly, I didn’t want to take my younger brother, a minor, there. But Sejun was stubborn. He strongly insisted that he didn’t want to be left out alone, so I eventually had no choice but to take him.

“You said you’d behave yourself.”

“You have to fight when it’s time to fight.”

“You sit far away.”

“Why?”

“Because nothing nice will be said.”

“You’re just going to tell me everything anyway. What a hassle.”

“Anyway, no.”

“I don’t want to.”

Sejun protested that he didn’t want to, but his words went in one ear and out the other. There were plenty of people going to meet my biological father today. Everyone, from my grandmother to Baek Mugyeong, was mobilized in full force. I didn’t know who my biological father’s companions were, but we certainly wouldn’t be outnumbered. Therefore, there was no reason for Sejun to join in and listen to my father’s nonsense.

While we were bickering, my maternal grandmother and aunts appeared. My grandmother, with her hair meticulously combed and dressed in a hanbok, exuded an overwhelming aura.

“Minchae.”

“Yes. Grandma.”

“Are you nervous?”

“Just a little. It’s okay.”

I strained my rigid face and forced a smile as naturally as possible. Everyone was worried about me. At times like this, I had to say that I was okay, even if I wasn’t.

“Stand firm and hold your ground. I’m going to teach that man a lesson.”

“Yes.”

“Right. But what about Mugyeong? He’s not here yet?”

“He’ll arrive soon.”

I was debating whether to contact Baek Mugyeong when I heard the sound of a car outside the window. Baek Mugyeong’s car was entering the mansion grounds.

“Ah, he’s here.”

“Tell him to come in for a moment. We don’t have to go and wait for them first.”

My grandmother, seated in a chair in the reception room, instructed the housekeeper to prepare tea. My aunts also took their seats.

I went to greet Baek Mugyeong. Like the others, Baek Mugyeong was impeccably dressed.

“You are here?”

“I’m late. The traffic was bad.”

“It’s okay. Everyone is waiting inside.”

“We have to leave now to make it on time.”

“Grandma says she’s going to have a cup of tea before she leaves.”

“Aha. I should ask for a drink too.”

Baek Mugyeong understood exactly what it meant. The man, smiling gently, took my hand and moved.

“Grandma is ready for battle. She’s overflowing with aura. It’s intense.”

“It’ll be over with Chairman Jeong soon.”

“How do you know that?”

“Grandmother is hiding her strength.”

“What does that mean?

“It’s true. Grandmother is hiding her strength.”

I laughed at Baek Mugyeong’s joke.

A grandmother hiding her strength. It suited her so well.

❖ ❖ ❖

We arrived at the hotel cafe 35 minutes late for our appointment. The biological father I knew absolutely hated people who broke appointment times, saying they lacked basic manners.

My biological father, who must have been angry, was dumbfounded when we appeared. There were five of us, excluding Sejun, who was sitting far away with Rob. It was only natural that my biological father, who came alone, was outmatched in terms of presence.

“If you were going to bring this many people, shouldn’t you have told me in advance? It is because of you, that Minchae is acting as he pleases.”

My biological father sneered at me, but my maternal grandmother didn’t budge. My aunts scoffed, too. Baek Mugyeong was indifferent, and I slowly took a deep breath.

My biological father’s face was gaunt when I met him for the first time in a long while. The skin under his eyes was dark and his cheeks had turned hollow. I didn’t feel the slightest bit of pity.

It was Jeong Guhyeon who appeared in my suffocating nightmares, but the person who tormented me the most before my regression was my biological father. Seeing him use me like a tool instead of rejoicing after finding the child he had lost as a child, I could not feel any familial affection for him.

My self-esteem hit rock bottom due to the constant verbal abuse. Although my cognitive abilities were impaired by drug, causing me to be less hurt, I still lived in a timid state. Until the very end, I moved like a puppet at my biological father’s command.

After regressing, I let my biological father’s words go in one ear and out the other. I took revenge in my own way and severed ties with him. I thought that even if I met him again, I wouldn’t be bothered.

However, facing my biological father’s face like this made my chest feel heavy. The fact that I was related to such a man by blood was horrifying. The only thing that calmed my turbulent emotions was the presence of my family beside me. So, without even greeting him, I simply sat down in a chair.

“Let’s order first.”

The main character of the day was my grandmother. She took the seat of honor, ordered a drink and told me to say whatever I wanted to my biological father.

“As you know, Elder, Minchae is inheriting everything from me. Instead of wasting time here, he must return to Korea and begin his training as the successor immediately.”

My biological father repeated exactly what he had said to me. Talking about being the heir, that I would inherit everything, telling me not to waste time, and that it would be more advantageous. The constant nonsense made my stomach churn. Honestly, I felt like I wanted to swing my fist and commit patricide right then and there.

But I held back my anger. Since Baek Mugyeong had been holding my hand under the table for a while, it wasn’t too difficult to endure my biological father’s nonsense.

The drinks arrived while my biological father was still rambling on. This time it was my grandmother’s turn after she finished her orange juice in one gulp.

“Chairman Jeong. It looks like you’ve forgotten who I am.”

“Excuse me?”

“To think you would come looking for me. You’ve gotten bolder.”