Sohen and Minju simply sat at the table for a while, silently enjoying the view.
The atmosphere was calm, almost soothing.
The waiter brought them a light snack — fresh croissants, fruit, and warm herbal tea.
They ate slowly, barely speaking, simply taking a break from each other and from their emotions.
When the plates were empty, Minju put down her napkin and quietly continued:
- (Minju). "Your father... was the son of a very influential man. His father, that is, your grandfather, made his fortune in the early ’80s in construction. Over ti, he built an entire empire. A large, serious one, with many properties across the country."
- ()."..."
Sohen listened attentively, without interrupting.
- (Minju). "From what I know, your grandparents were an incredibly romantic couple, hehe... They even made a movie about their love. They truly respected and loved each other. The only ’thorn’ in their lives was your father. He grew up like a true god incarnate — everything was allowed and everything was possible, but life taught him quite quickly what a fall is..."
- (). "..."
She paused.
- (Minju). "Unfortunately, Grandma and Grandpa passed away about twenty years ago. Now their empire is run by your father’s older sister — your aunt. We have a very good relationship. I want to introduce you to her soon. She’s a very busy person, but she’ll definitely make ti for you."
Minju took a sip of tea and continued:
- (Minju). "I myself turned out to be a descendant of a family that was in the trade business. Or at least they used to be... My parents died fifteen years ago. I know even less about them, but I’m sure they were wonderful people..."
She suddenly opened her purse, took out a thin folder of docunts, and carefully placed it in front of Sohen.
(Docunts?... They seem relatively old, as they’re formatted in a style that’s very different from today’s... What is she...)
Sohen took the folder and began to read.
The more he read, the wider his eyes grew.
When he finished reading, his brain literally exploded from the shock.
(This is... This is... Damn it! This is...)
- (). "Is this... a ten-billion-dollar inheritance? From my grandparents... to their only grandson?"
Minju nodded quietly.
- (Minju). "Yes. All of this will belong only to you. This will be my first gift to you as your mother. You have every right to manage these funds and everything else your grandparents left you."
- (). "..."
She reached out and gently touched his palm.
- (Minju). "It’s yours, Sohen. By blood and by their last will."
- (). "..."
(Last will... Phew... Grandparents...)
Sohen sat at a table in the café, not knowing what to say.
He held a folder of docunts in his hands, his eyes wide open, his brain refusing to function properly.
Ten billion dollars... an inheritance from his grandparents, about whom he knew almost nothing... it was too much to take in all at once.
Minju looked at him gently and patiently, giving him ti to compose himself.
She continued quietly:
- (Minju). "I won’t lay claim to these funds. They are rightfully yours, but sothing troubles ... The na ’Sohen’ doesn’t appear anywhere in the docunts as the sole grandson."
- (). "..."
Sohen looked up at her, still in shock.
Minju nodded and continued to choose her words carefully:
- (Minju). "There is a certain secret connected to our family’s past. Most likely, your grandparents didn’t know your na for so reason. They knew you existed, but for so reason, they couldn’t find you. Then... unfortunately, they passed away quite soon."
She paused, as if gathering her strength.
- (Minju). "There’s also information that you were originally supposed to be nad sothing else — Yohen. In my opinion, that might be the problem. The docunts are worded in such a way that they only ntion ’grandson,’ without a specific na."
- (). "Yohen?..."
Minju sighed and added:
- (Minju). "Sothing serious happened in our family about twenty years ago, but there’s very little information about it. My partner and I are personally investigating this matter... And we’re not the only ones. There are still many secrets from the past."
Sohen recovered from the shock, nodded slowly, and suddenly wondered at the word "partner."
(Partner?...)
- (). "Do you... have soone?"
- (Minju). "..."
Minju smiled a little awkwardly.
- (Minju). "Yes... This person is very kind and helps a lot. I’m even thinking about marrying them."
Sohen said quietly:
- (). "I see..."
(Marriage... Well, she’s a beautiful and still young woman, so it’s perfectly normal, but... for so reason, I don’t like it..."
They kept talking for a while longer until Sohen’s phone rang.
The na Runo appeared on the screen.
(Grandma?...)
Sohen picked up the phone.
- (). "Hi, Grandma..."
- (Runo). "Hi, my dear..."
Runo’s voice sounded a little worried for so reason, but warm.
- (Runo). "Sorry to bother you. I’m at the Injustice Center right now. A serious situation has arisen here today... I really need the help of my physically strong and handso grandson. Can you co?"
The Injustice Center is an organization that defends won’s rights and promotes gender equality.
It’s one of those organizations that’s part of Runo’s life and in which she participates to support what she believes is right.
Sohen knew his grandmother wouldn’t call him just like that.
If she’s asking — it’s really serious.
- (). "Yes, of course. I’ll be there soon."
- (Runo). "Thank you, dear. I’ll be waiting for you."
They ended the conversation.
Sohen felt a bit awkward in front of Minju and said:
- (). "Sothing urgent has co up... I need to go now."
Minju nodded with a gentle smile.
- (Minju). "I understand. Don’t worry."
Sohen thanked her for her understanding and added:
- (). "Maybe we can talk again when I’m done?"
- (Minju). "Of course!... If you’re leaving now, I’ll go run so errands for a few hours too. Then we can et up sowhere else."
Sohen nodded, thanked her for the conversation, and left.
When he had walked far enough away that he was barely visible, the smile on Minju’s face slowly faded.
Her expression beca neutral, and a guilty, almost sad look appeared in her eyes.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
- (Minju). "???"
She picked up the phone.
The voice on the other end was playful and familiar only to her:
- (???). "Hi, my sexy little baby. How are you? Are you done talking to your son yet?"
Minju replied quietly:
- (Minju). "We talked a little... but he left suddenly; however, we’ll et up later today."
- (???). "Great... Don’t forget to find out more about the won he’s living with. By the way, we’ve already reserved a table at our favorite restaurant. I’ll be waiting for you to co back."
- (Minju). "Okay. I’ll try to ask more about his family. I’ll be back soon."
- (???). "I’m looking forward to it, my hot girl in red..."
They ended the conversation.
Minju sat there for a while longer with a blank expression, staring into space.
Then, quietly, almost silently, she spoke into the void:
- (Minju). "I’m sorry, Sohen... I’m sorry..."
...
The city of Hankpo.
Several thousand kiloters from where Sohen and his family lived.
Far from the main events, on the 51st floor of one of the city’s tallest skyscrapers, a spacious private office was shrouded in semi-darkness.
The large panoramic windows were darkened by special curtains, through which the city’s subdued light barely filtered.
Perfect silence reigned in the office, broken only by the soft hum of the air conditioner.
Seated at a massive dark-wood table was an unknown figure who was almost impossible to identify.
The only thing that stood out clearly in the darkness were a pair of gray, almost inhuman eyes.
Cold, piercing, with a barely noticeable tallic sheen.
The figure silently placed the phone on the table after the call and continued to examine the docunt they held in their hands.
Several minutes passed.
Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door.
- (???). "Co in."
The door opened.
A woman with a beautiful, sharp face and figure entered the office.
Her na was Soyun.
She had black-and-pink hair, styled into a sleek bob (tomboy).
She was wearing an elegant cardigan blouse and wide black pants.
In her hands, she held a thick folder of docunts.
The unknown figure raised her gray eyes and looked at her.
- (???). "Did you bring everything we need?"
Soyun bowed her head respectfully.
- (Soyun). "Everything we could find in such a short ti."
- (???). "Good. Good work. You’re free to go."
Soyun walked over to the desk, carefully placed the stack of docunts, and, bowing once more, silently left the office, closing the door behind her.
The unknown figure sat motionless for a few seconds, then set aside the previous docunt on the left and picked up a new folder.
The figure slowly opened it.
Inside were files.
- (???). "Karin, Phoebe, Runo... So those are all your nas, right?..."
The person was carefully looking through the photos of the beauties and their personal details.
The more this person read, the wider their smile grew — slow, predatory, satisfied.
- (???). "Oh..."
The person whispered quietly, licking their lips.
- (???). "You’re all so pretty..."
The gray eyes lingered on Karin’s photo, then on Runo’s, and finally on Phoebe’s.
- (???). "So pretty... I just want to ’eat’ them, ha-ha..."
The person leaned back in her chair, holding the file in her hands, and continued to look at the photos of the won who lived with Sohen.
A hungry, dark fire burned in her gray eyes.
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