Episode 2
“We caught a lot of clams in Yeongseo.”
A thick hand suddenly entered between Youngseo’s waist as she was carrying a heavy net.
“Why are you like that?”
Yeongseo stood far away from Yongcheol, who was laughing and patting his protruding belly.
“It’s cute. Are you being sarcastic?”
Instead of getting angry, Yeongseo lowered her head. It was an unspoken rule on the island not to provoke the village chief’s family.
“Oh, no. I was surprised because it happened so suddenly.”
“Our Yeongseo is surprised. Give it to me.”
Yongcheol, who had swept back the few strands of hair that remained in his bangs, snatched the net while picking his nose.
“thank you.”
“What about gratitude? This is something a husband should do.”
“……Your husband?”
Yeongseo was surprised, but Yongcheol was calm.
“You’re getting married soon.”
Yongcheol wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth and brought his shoulders closer, and Yeongseo gritted her teeth.
“It hasn’t been decided yet…….”
“The adults are done talking. I’ll dress you in a pretty hanbok.”
As I was being dragged by Yongcheol and passed by the harbor, I saw the ship I had seen at dawn just starting its engine.
As all the attention turned to him, Yongcheol walked towards the ship.
“Brother, are you leaving now?”
Yeongseo pretended not to know and stayed close to the boat, looking around inside.
“Oh, Yongcheol. I’ll be back in a week.”
My ears perked up even more, wondering why a middle-aged man in a suit was pretending to know Yongcheol.
“Then it will be decided then?”
“It’s the final inspection, right? Tell your senior to prepare a big feast.”
“Is it just a feast? If you come to the resort, I’ll give you a big share.”
Yongcheol and the middle-aged man laughed heartily, and as the boat moved away, Yongcheol looked at Yeongseo and showed his rotten teeth.
“Did you hear? When the resort is built, you’ll hear your wife’s voice too. Isn’t that great?”
“yes yes.”
Yeongseo forced her lips to lift and smile, but her eyes continued to follow her shrinking belly.
‘One week… If I don’t get on that boat then, I’ll die.’
* * *
“Eunsang!”
Secretary Yoon got out of the black limousine and waved to Eun-sang, who then got into the passenger seat with a backpack on.
“How does it feel to be back in Korea after such a long time?”
“Not much has changed.”
As the car started to depart, Eun-sang absentmindedly looked at the people moving busily in front of the airport.
“Is that so?”
“Are we going straight to the hotel?”
“I have to go to Seongbuk-dong and say hello to the chairman.”
Eunsang’s eyebrows narrowed.
“Eunwoo will be noisy again.”
“What can I do? It was the Chairman’s direct order. What can Eunwoo do?”
From then on, Eunseong’s mouth never opened until they arrived at Seongbuk-dong.
“I know the chairman has remarried. I know he has a new sister at home, too. Her name is Jane.”
I heard the news about my father’s marriage a long time ago. Remarriages between chaebol families were quite a buzz, and my father’s new wife moved to Seongbuk-dong with her grown daughter.
“All right.”
“You can use this car, and the Gangnam Dogang Hotel for accommodation.”
“Thank you.”
After greeting Secretary Yoon and coming out of the garage, a familiar old man bowed politely to Eun-sang.
“Your Majesty, are you here? I couldn’t recognize you because you’re taller.”
“yes.”
Although Butler Hwang was the only one in the house who treated her with respect, Eun-sang only gave him a half-smiling greeting. She had lived in this house for just over a year, and the people who lived there, then and now, she had no interest in them.
“Come this way.”
As I followed Butler Hwang down the narrow path to the main building, goosebumps began to appear on my skin as the horrible memories of my experiences in this house came flooding back to me.
As Eun-sang shook off the memory and pressed her temples, she heard a voice that made her feel dirty.
“Oh my! You’re really here. I was wondering where the moldy smell was coming from, and it was you.”
Eunwoo, who was smaller and much thinner than Eunsang, put his hands in his pockets and looked at Eunsang as if he found it funny.
Eunwoo’s body was just as small as it had been when they last saw him in the American hospital seven years ago, and now Eunsang, who was two spans taller than him, lowered his gaze.
“Long time no see. Do Eun-woo.”
“You won’t lower your knees anymore?”
“Let’s bury that kind of prank in our memories.”
Eunwoo always made Eunsang, who was taller than him, bend his knees whenever he faced her, and Eunsang, who was the weakest in the house, was always cowered by the logic of power.
“Memories? For me, it’s a present tense.”
“What should I do? I don’t have time to play with you anymore.”
He paused for a moment, his learned trembling faltering, but soon Eun-sang brushed Eun-woo’s shoulder. During his time alone in America, he had become stronger, and now he feared no one.
“Is that kid crazy? You’re still stuck in America with just one word from me!”
It seemed like saying he was fine was a lie. Eunsang suppressed the urge to immediately turn around and throw the little boy to the floor, the thick tendons on the back of his hand becoming more apparent.
“Master Eunwoo is still being mischievous.”
Butler Hwang, who had been standing in the corner pretending not to notice, walked forward again.
It’s always been like this. Eunwoo has always been a source of pity to everyone in this house, and he’s always reigned over everyone like a king.
“The chairman will be in the study.”
“yes.”
Leaving Butler Hwang behind, I entered the mansion, where the wallpaper, lighting, and furniture had all changed. It felt unfamiliar to be in this house after so long, but the trembling sensation I’d felt when I first arrived was vivid.
Eun-sang knocked on the thick wooden door on the left side of the living room, recalling old memories.
“Come in.”
“How have you been?”
Eun-sang opened the door, looked Jin-tae in the eye, and greeted him. That was the first step in proving that she was no longer a pushover.
“He’s become a man.”
Unlike the youngest, Eunwoo, Jintae looked upon the mature Eunsang with delight. While the eldest son, Eunjun, already held a significant position at the company, he hadn’t yet given childlike Eunwoo any position.
“Thank you for calling.”
“It’s time to come out.”
Eun-sang sat down with her father for the first time, hiding her mixed emotions of anticipation and worry, not even her long eyelashes fluttered.
My first thought was that their facial features were quite different. The only similarities were their shoulders and height?
“You look a lot like your mom.”
“Rather than that, I’m curious about the real reason you called me.”
She was pregnant with the child of a wealthy family, but when the child failed to be registered with the Dogang Group, she took the child’s money and cruelly abandoned him. I didn’t want to call someone like that my mother.
“I’m sure this isn’t a pleasant story for you. Then shall we talk about something else?”
Jintae threw an A4 package on the desk.
“What is this?”
Jintae picked up one of the papers scattered on the desk and pretended to read it while turning the pages.
“You should know better, right?”
Now that I look at it, my gaze resembles that of Abi. Eun-sang’s expression faltered for a moment as the same sharp gaze, the one that held her in strict self-control in the mirror, fell on my face.
“Did you know…?”
Talking to the people who control the Korean business world could be counterproductive, so Jin-tae chose the straightforward approach and ran his fingers through the papers.
“How could I not know that you are so desperate to join the company?”
Even though my mouth was dry, afraid that my plan would go awry, I refused to back down. This was the edge of a cliff, and I couldn’t return to the United States.
“That’s right. The entire topic of my thesis was the Dogang Hotel.”
Perhaps it was because of today that he held on and didn’t run away from America. A boy with nothing could do nothing. That once weak boy now yearned for strength.
“Well done. A man without ambition is no fun. I hope you’ve inspired Eunwoo a bit. He’s not really interested in business.”
Eunwoo’s story, which was not in the plan, caused his body temperature to drop rapidly, and Eunsang’s face eventually crumpled from the pain that felt like countless needles were stabbing his entire body.
“Are you trying to use me again?”
“Use… that’s an interesting word. Let’s call it an opportunity for you.”
I chewed the flesh inside my mouth, unseen. Anger welled up in me, and I felt the urge to storm out, but I endured everything to remain in Korea. I couldn’t show my father my inferiority just yet.
“Then give me a seat. So I can provoke Eunwoo.”
Jin-tae shook his head at Eun-sang, who was openly showing her greed.
“It’s still too early. Shouldn’t we see what your skills are like?”
“How can I show you?”
“We need fresh eyes for the new resort construction. It’s all rotten and decaying, and I’m not happy with it.”
Eun-sang straightened her back, correcting her slouched posture.
“I will be your eyes.”
“Good. Join the evaluation team and visit the island.”
“All right.”
Eun-sang lowered her head and turned, and a cold voice was heard behind her. It was accompanied by the words that always suffocated her.
“Don’t forget your reason for being, and always take care of yourself.”
Eun-sang barely swallowed back the tears that were about to spill out, closed the door quietly, and placed a trembling hand on her belly button.
The reason for my existence, which followed me around like a scar on my abdomen… I wanted to destroy that reason with my own hands.
“who?”
The woman who opened the front door and came in tilted her head when she encountered Eun-sang.
“You don’t need to know.”
The young woman looked at Eun-sang curiously with her wide eyes, and Eun-sang recognized the woman who smelled of money at a glance.
Dojein, the stepsister brought in by the woman my father remarried.
When Eun-sang, who didn’t feel the need to explain herself, was far away from Jane, she suddenly came in front of Eun-sang.
“Ah! That half-son?”
“That’s rude.”
“Then what? A bachelor?”
Even though Eun-sang put on her shoes, ignoring the giggling Jane, she continued to chatter behind her back.
“Then you’re my brother too. Brother! See you later.”
Eun-sang’s face hardened at the word “oppa” and she quickly came out and picked up the ringing phone in her pocket.
“This is Do Eun-sang.”
The phone call at the same time on a Friday evening felt strange because of the time difference.
-Yes, it’s Seoul.
“Do you have any other news?”
Eun-sang was disappointed again by the man’s cough over the phone.
-There is nothing special.
“Finding people isn’t easy.”
-It’s a common name… … .
I bit my lip at the answer I had heard dozens of times.
“I am also from Korea.”
-Are you finally back home?
“Yes, so now I’ll look for Kim Hyung-sik too.”
