II - 73

It was Saturday morning, and with the snack shop closed for the day, the family decided to go out for some fresh air at I-ryeong’s suggestion.

“I’ll earn more money and buy you a new car too.”

I-ryeong still felt uneasy about her father’s old car, just as she had during the formal introduction. She remembered it being purchased when she was in middle school.

“It still runs fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“The repair costs are probably higher than the car’s worth.”

“Still, it works perfectly. Hop in.”

Her father seemed cheerful. The excitement of their first family outing together was evident on his face.

I-ryeong followed Jung-min into the backseat.

The car smelled faintly of something warm and pleasant—like winter in the middle of summer. It suited her taste.

“Taking a day off won’t hurt, right?”

She expressed concern for Jung-min, who was preparing for the college entrance exam. After all, this outing was planned unilaterally without consulting the family.

“It’s great! I was so excited I couldn’t sleep last night.”

Jung-min’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. His enthusiasm made her feel grateful.

Her parents got into the car and buckled up.

“Let’s go to the Han River, Dad.”

“The Han River? Didn’t you say we were going to the arboretum?”

Her father, Geon-tae, paused mid-start, puzzled by the change in destination.

“I really want to show you.”

“The Han River?”

All her father could think of was overflowing water and bridges. His confusion deepened.

“You can trust me. You’re allowed to have high expectations. Jung-min, you too.”

Seeing her daughter’s sparkling eyes, brighter even than Jung-min’s, Geon-tae started the car without further questions.

The roads were quiet in the early morning.

“What are we going to do at the Han River this early?”

“Father, let’s just trust I-ryeong. Okay?”

Her father remained curious, while her stepmother Ji-hyun gently reassured him. This warm, fuzzy feeling—how could she describe it?

With a light heart, I-ryeong leaned her head against the seat.

Her shoulder pain had subsided significantly overnight. There had been no contact from Kang Suk-tae or Hanna, and I-jun had assured her he would personally handle the incident involving her sister-in-law.

Though she’d heard from her teammates that the company’s name kept appearing on social media, she deliberately avoided checking. No need to stir up unnecessary anxiety.

“Oh! Look, it’s Brother-in-law!”

Lost in deep thought, she hadn’t noticed they’d arrived at the Han River parking lot until Jung-min’s exclamation brought her back.

It had only been a day, yet seeing him felt so comforting. A faint smile spread across her face as she looked at her husband.

“Did you invite Seo?”

“Yes. I-jun is essential for this.”

Unaware of her intentions, the family stepped out of the car.

“Thank you for coming all this way.”

“No trouble at all. You’ve done far more.”

I-ryeong watched silently as her father and husband exchanged greetings, their interaction now much more natural than before.

“Nuna, what are we doing at the Han River?”

“Curious?”

I-ryeong led the way, taking care of Jung-min and Ji-hyun.

“I’m curious, but my heart’s racing with excitement too.”

“You’re allowed to expect good things. Mother, you too.”

I-ryeong grinned brightly at Ji-hyun, her smile as refreshing as the clear morning sky.

The family headed toward the yacht marina they had visited before.

“Wow! Are we riding this today?”

“Yes. What do you think?”

Jung-min gave his sister a thumbs-up.

“Be careful getting on board. Mother, you too.”

“Thank you, I-ryeong.”

Even Ji-hyun radiated excitement, much like Jung-min.

Watching her family’s joy, I-ryeong felt glad she had brought them here.

“How have you been?”

After escorting her father-in-law onto the yacht, I-jun returned to greet his wife.

“We’ve only been apart for a day.”

“I missed you.”

“After just one day?”

Before long, the couple embraced tightly, gazing into each other’s eyes.

“It felt like a year.”

“Me too. I missed you.”

Happiness overflowed from their faces.

After asking about her injury, the couple boarded the yacht together.

“Are we really allowed to ride this?”

Geon-tae looked worried as he glanced at the couple.

The yacht was large and luxurious. The cabin, which Jung-min explored while holding his mother’s hand, was as elegant as a hotel suite.

It felt almost too extravagant for the family to board.

“Father, this yacht belongs to I-ryeong.”

“What do you mean, I-ryeong’s yacht?”

I-jun reassured him, explaining that it was a gift for his wife and there was nothing to worry about.

“The weather is perfect today, so let’s enjoy a refreshing ride.”

As I-jun began steering the yacht, Jung-min quickly moved closer to him.

Even in the sweltering summer heat, the breeze created by the yacht made everything feel cool.

I-ryeong settled into a comfortable spot, and soon her father joined her, sitting beside her.

There was silence between them as the yacht cut through the Han River.

“Seeing you live well makes me happy as a father.”

Geon-tae broke the quiet first.

“Do I seem happy? That’s good then.”

“I’ve always regretted not being able to do more for you when you were little. But seeing you content now fills me with relief.”

I-ryeong shook her head slightly and glanced behind her.

There was I-jun at the helm, Jung-min beaming brightly, and Ji-hyun smiling softly alongside them.

“Dad.”

The affectionate term, spoken after so long, visibly startled her father.

“How much did you love Mom? Or rather… how much did you resent me after she passed away?”

She finally voiced the question that had lingered in her heart for years, one she’d never dared to ask.

“I-ryeong, resentment? I’ve never once felt that way.”

Her biological mother had passed away from illness when I-ryeong was very young. Though her memories of her mother were faint, the sound of her father’s sorrowful weeping remained vivid in her mind.

“I know how much pain and grief you carried, and how much Ji-hyun comforted and healed you. It’s such a relief.”

Ji-hyun was truly someone she was grateful for—someone who had patiently waited for her despite her flaws.

“I-ryeong...”

Geon-tae’s voice cracked as he called her name, struggling to hold back tears.

“When I was little, I was such a difficult child. As I grew older, I became an even worse person.”

“Don’t say that. You were just expressing your emotions as anyone would. I understand completely.”

Finally, tears streamed down Geon-tae’s face.

“I treated you and Ji-hyun so poorly, especially Jung-min. It’s my lifelong task to make amends to all three of you.”

Watching her father cry, tears also rolled down I-ryeong’s cheeks. Yet her expression remained bright.

“Our house has gotten old. Please don’t worry about my feelings—remodel it or sell it and move to a new home. I’ll give up any claim I have.”

She decided to let go of the reasons she had clung to: her stubbornness against Jung-min and her reluctance to leave her childhood home.

She had feared that if she forgot her mother, even the faint traces of her memory would vanish entirely—along with the guilt of her past behavior.

“Stop worrying about my feelings.”

“My dear, I-ryeong... I-ryeong...”

Geon-tae couldn’t stop the tears from falling. He felt endlessly sorry for neglecting his daughter, a sin he believed could never be erased, even in death.

“Don’t neglect Jung-min because of me.”

I-ryeong tightly held her father’s hand.

“He’s my younger brother, after all.”

She spoke with a slightly excited tone, careful not to startle him.

“To hear you say that—it makes me so grateful.”

“My son, Cha Jung-min, not Cheon Jung-min.”

Her younger brother, who had carried their mother’s surname for eighteen years.

Despite having a biological father, he had lived as the child of an unwed mother.

I-ryeong felt overwhelming guilt toward Jung-min and Ji-hyun—guilt too deep to be forgiven or consoled with mere words.

“How long did you intend to keep me feeling like a sinner?”

“W-what? I-ryeong?”

“You’re right. He’s my younger brother.”

She had doubted it before, but now she was certain.

The boy with the beautiful smile and kind heart was her brother. The realization brought both shock and joy.

Even if others called her selfish, she was glad to have someone who brought peace to her heart as her brother.