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A bitter laugh escaped Hyun-soo’s lips. Sure, she could fetch a drink for them. But it was Eun-seo’s attitude that irked her—the way she always spoke to her as if it were her right to boss her around.
“You didn’t have to throw it at me. You could’ve just asked.”
Eun-seo tore her eyes away from her phone screen and glared at Hyun-soo.
“What did you say?”
“Don’t talk down to me like that.”
“Shut up and go get your damn drink when I tell you to. Got it?”
“…”
“No response? Are you out of your mind? Hey!”
While most people experienced emotions in gradual stages—1, 2, 3, 4—Eun-seo’s emotions leaped straight from 1 to 40, then rocketed to 100. Today was no different. Her sudden outburst drew the attention of nearby customers, prompting their father, Hyun-sung, who always cared about appearances, to step in and pat Eun-seo on the back.
“Kim Eun-seo, calm down. Just go get the drinks.”
As he gently patted Eun-seo’s back, he casually gestured for Hyun-soo to do the errand. What was she supposed to feel toward this man whose heart hadn’t changed in ten years? Toward someone who remained exactly the same?
Hyun-soo closed her mouth, abandoning whatever else she’d intended to say, and stood up. Even as she brought the drinks back and set them down in front of them, waves of hurt surged within her.
“Has anything changed about me?”
“Our daughter is always beautiful.”
“Ugh, stop with the clichés. Look closely.”
“Well, I don’t know, Dad.”
“I cut my hair. It’s shorter than last time by this much. How can you not notice? Don’t you care about me at all?”
When Eun-seo snapped irritably, Hyun-sung chuckled awkwardly. His hurried grab for the drink glass revealed his attempt to defuse the situation. But Hyun-soo’s mood continued to plummet. “Last time”? That phrase made it painfully clear that the two of them had already met without her.
Both Kim Eun-seo and Kim Hyun-soo had been abandoned overnight when their father ran off. So why, after ten years, had he only wanted to see one of them first? Whether in the past or now, she realized with a pang that she would never come first in her parents’ hearts.
“…So, Hyun-soo, if you could just pitch in a little…”
“Hey! Hey!”
Eun-seo’s sharp voice pierced through the air. Hyun-soo looked up from her sweating glass of iced tea to find both of them staring at her intently.
“What?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’? Were you even listening to what Dad was saying?”
Instead of answering, Eun-seo’s combative tone elicited a sigh from Hyun-soo. Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of fatigue, Hyun-soo opened her mouth again.
“I didn’t hear clearly. Can you repeat that? What did you say?”
“Do you always zone out when someone speaks once? Seriously!”
“That’s enough, Eun-seo. Let me explain,” interjected Hyun-sung, stopping Eun-seo mid-sentence. He smiled warmly, appearing healthier now than before thanks to the weight he’d gained over the past decade.
“Dad has a great idea. I’m planning to start working again.”
“Oh?”
For some reason, Hyun-soo felt uneasy.
“But for that, I need money.”
“Why would you need money to work? What are you talking about?”
“To start a business, you need capital.”
“A business?”
“Yes. What else do you think I know how to do?”
Hyun-soo’s lips parted weakly, but no words came out. She was too stunned and baffled. That business he supposedly knew how to run—how had it ended again? It had failed miserably. The failure had scattered their family to the winds, and now, ten years later, they were reunited here.
Hyun-soo shook her head firmly. Absolutely not.
“I’m against Dad starting another business.”
Hyun-sung’s face crumpled instantly. His gaze turned fierce.
“So, are you telling me to live begging for the rest of my life?”
“Who said that? Why don’t you just live normally and work like everyone else? Why must you insist on starting a business?”
“And why are you opposing it? Let’s hear it.”
“Are you seriously asking me that?”
“Yes! I’m asking because I don’t understand! Or rather, I do understand—it’s about money, isn’t it? You don’t want to give me a single penny!”
Hyun-soo bit her lip in disbelief. How could he say such nonsense so confidently?
“It’s not about money. No!”
“Not about money?”
“No, it’s not!”
“Then stop arguing and contribute to the business.”
“Dad!”
“What? After ten years, your father who finally shows up asks for a little money, and you’re stingy about it?”
This was maddening. Hyun-soo glanced at Eun-seo, hoping for help, but her sister simply sat there with her arms crossed, looking utterly indifferent. Judging by her expression, she’d already discussed everything with Hyun-sung.
“Let’s say I hypothetically support this business idea. Where do you think I’d even get the money? I don’t have any savings left—I used everything to buy a house. What do I have left?”
Hyun-sung smirked silently as he stared at Hyun-soo.
“You may not have cash right now, but you know where to get it, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Yoon Guk. That guy.”
Hyun-soo’s face turned deathly pale. How did Dad know she was close to Yoon Guk? There was only one answer: Kim Eun-seo. Her sister must have told him everything.
“The guy who freeloaded at our house. You can’t pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about.”
Hyun-sung snorted derisively, as if mocking the unpredictability of life. But Hyun-soo couldn’t laugh. His audacity to mention Guk, despite what he’d done, left her speechless.
Hyun-soo glared at Eun-seo. With a casual wave, Eun-seo smirked back.
“Yoon Guk… Who is he? Why would he be a source of money?”
“If you have to ask, our youngest daughter must think her father is an idiot.”
“That’s not what I meant! Why would he give us money when we’re unrelated?”
“Still playing dumb, huh?”
Sighing deeply, Hyun-sung pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Before he could light one, Hyun-soo stopped him. He placed the lighter and cigarette pack on the table, clicking his tongue in annoyance.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know about the bond you formed with him when you were younger? Reuniting after so long and living under the same roof again—it’s not just coincidence, is it?”
“Employer and employee. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Enough excuses. Just convince him to fund my business. If he opens his wallet, this venture will be smooth sailing.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You can’t?”
“Yes, I can’t.”
“You’re shameless.”
Hyun-soo froze mid-sip of her now watery iced tea.
“What did you say?”
“I said you’re shameless.”
“Why… Why are you saying that? What did I do?”
“What did you do? You caused a disaster. You killed your mother.”
A cold chill swept through Hyun-soo’s body. Had she heard correctly?
“In a way, my business collapsed after that fire too.”
“…”
“I won’t say more. Just figure out a way to squeeze funding out of him. Thanks to his generosity in taking in strays like us, he’ll surely pay us back handsomely.”
Haha… The absurdity of it all made Hyun-soo burst into laughter. After a moment, she composed herself and stared at the two of them.
“As I said, I can’t. Even if he offers, I won’t accept. Give up.”
“What did you say, you brat?”
“How excited I was to meet you after all these years. How relieved I was to know you were okay. How could you do this to me?”
Her eyes burned, and her throat tightened. Though she didn’t want to cry, she could feel tears welling up, ready to spill over.
Watching Hyun-soo, Eun-seo lazily flicked her nails and opened her eyes.
“But what can you do, Kim Hyun-soo? Unlike you, I’d happily take his money. Overflowingly so.”
“…”
“In fact, I already did.”
“What?”
Was she referring to the support received from the HK Group? If so, her expression seemed oddly smug. Realizing Hyun-soo had caught on, Eun-seo grinned and lifted the bag she’d set beside her—a white leather handbag with a famous brand logo.
“Thanks to him, I splurged on this.”
“…Don’t joke around.”
“Does this look like a joke?”
“Explain yourself.”
“First, ask Dad how we got here today.”
It was a random question, but Hyun-soo knew from experience that whenever Eun-seo smiled so sweetly, bad luck was sure to follow.
“We came in Dad’s car. He bought a sedan since he didn’t want to look shabby while starting his business. Impressive, right?”
A sense of foreboding washed over Hyun-soo. She turned to Hyun-sung.
“Where did you suddenly get a car? You said you didn’t have business funds.”
“Ahem.”
“Where did that money come from?!”
“I told you—I know where to tap for money tied to you!”
Without realizing it, Hyun-soo clenched her fists. Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
“You mean Yoon Guk? Did you take money from him?”
“Yes.”
“So you’ve already met him?”
“…”
“How dare you, Dad. How could you approach him after everything? How dare you meet Yoon Guk like nothing happened?”
“What? You think I’m shameless?”
“How could you face him? Have you lost your mind?”
Hyun-sung’s face flushed red as he raised his voice.
“Lost my mind? Are you calling your own father crazy? This disrespectful child…!”
“How dare you go to him after what you’ve done? How could you show your face to him?”
“You insolent brat! Have you lost your senses? Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“No, Dad, you’re the one who needs to wake up! You blamed me for Mom’s death, but what about you? Because of you, Mrs. Ahn passed away! Have you ever felt an ounce of remorse? No, you haven’t. You never could. That’s why you went to beg for money from her son, shamelessly groveling…!”
Splash! Unable to bear it any longer, Hyun-sung threw water in Hyun-soo’s face.
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