Chapter 1
***
Footprints and carrier tire tracks were stamped side by side on the white snow. The broad strides were straight and unbroken. The long winter wind ruffled the hem of his coat.
Do-geon looked at the building at the end of the street. The main building, a harmonious combination of hanok and western-style houses, stood tall in the center.
The main house hadn't changed in two years. There were no high fences, a site that was unnecessarily large and felt almost desolate, perfectly maintained trees, and a quiet and cool atmosphere unique to this place.
Taehwajae (泰和齋).
This was the name of Daejin Group's residence in Hannam-dong. Named for Daejin's patriarch, Han Yong-seop, the Han clan built single-family homes within this enclosure.
Do-geon was Han Yong-seop's favorite youngest grandson, and the only member of his immediate family not living in Taehwajae.
He had settled in the United States, and now there was no reason for him to come back to Korea unless it was a big deal. Like a call from his grandfather.
"Mr. Chairman is in critical condition. The doctor says to prepare yourself. You should come over as soon as possible. He's dying."
Well, not yet.
Do-geon let out a long breath. His breath dispersed like mist in the air.
Reaching the front of the mansion, he removed his leather gloves and rang the doorbell. It wasn't that he didn't know the code, but he now felt like an outsider.
It didn't take long for the door to open. A familiar face peeked through the crack.
"Ah, Master."
"Ma’am, it's been a long time."
Do-geon greeted the woman with a wide smile. The round face of Anpyeong-daek greeted him.
"How are you? It's cold out there."
"Yes, it's cold in Korea, sorry for the late night."
"Oh, no, no, no, come on in. I'll put your suitcase up for you."
"Oh, that's okay. I'm just stopping by to pick up my keys, and I'll be right over to the outbuilding."
Do-geon gently dissuaded Anpyeong-daek from taking the luggage with a wave of his hand. The woman hurriedly pulled the outbuilding key out of her apron pocket and handed it to him.
"Ah, yes, yes, of course, I took it out in case the master was coming."
"Thank you, it's late, so I'll see my grandfather tomorrow, and is there anything in particular I should know? It's been a long time since I've been home."
"Oh, the chairman's room is on the first floor, right next to your old room, so you can go there... and the other one is................"
Anpyeong-daek’s voice dropped slightly. Do-geon waited impatiently.
"Well, a year and a half ago, the chairman's new caregiver came in."
"Oh, the caregiver."
Do-geon was a little puzzled. Whether a caregiver came in or out was none of his business.
"Well, I mean, it's a caregiver in name only, but the chairman didn't say anything about it...... actually the caregiver."
Anpyeong-daek’s wrinkled eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were sharing a secret.
"It's Mr. Chairman's mistress."
"..................Really?"
"Yes. I thought it would be good for you to know."
"I see, thank you."
A quizzical look crossed Do-geon’s face, but only for a moment, and he took the keys with a polite smile.
"I'll see you tomorrow, then."
***
Do-geon walked away, a bored look on his face. The suitcase droned and rolled by his long legs. Pale lamp posts along the ragged iron fence illuminated the road.
The main house and outbuildings stood at attention. In front, a walkway led back to the main house, and in back, a pathway skirted the pond.
A floor led directly from the main house to the outbuildings.
Do-geon drew in a slow breath. The winter breeze that wafted through the manor's sprawling grounds smelled sharp.
It was peaceful as always, and just as boring.
He turned toward the back door of the outbuilding. At that moment, a figure popped out from the other side.
"Whoa."
The other man raised his hands in an exaggerated gesture. Do-geon took a step back without changing his expression. It was Han Do-seok, Chairman Han's second grandson and Do-geon’s cousin.
"Look who it is."
Han Do-seok crinkled one eye and the bridge of his nose.
"It's our handsome youngest."
"..................It's been a long time."
"You're really here? You acted like you'd never set foot in .................. again."
The words were slow and slurred. Do-geon scrutinized Han Do-seok's pale face before answering.
"I just came to visit."
"Visiting. You didn't care about .................., uh, you're so famous. You're expensive."
Han Do-seok spoke sarcastically, his thin, hard face twitching irregularly with each syllable. It was as if a muscle had snapped somewhere.
Do-geon replied nonchalantly.
"I didn't. I was just busy."
"I’m the only one here...... Fuck pretending to be busy. What.................. you got a girl in the States?"
"Not like that."
Do-geon smirked.
"You said you were getting married. When is it, spring?"
"Why, does it bother you? Yes, it is. My fiancée is the daughter of, you know, the deputy director of the Financial Supervisory Service. If you don't want to get robbed.................., you should take care of yourself."
"Well, congratulations, and if you're the son-in-law of the Deputy Director of the Financial Supervisory Service, you should stop doing such embarrassing things to your cousin.”
"..................what?"
Do-geon was sarcastically referring to the time Han Do-seok had asked him for funds. Han Do-seok's face quickly turned red.
"What the fuck do you mean.................."
"Let's just be quiet. Is that all you want from me?"
Do-geon coldly interrupted Han Do-seok.
"I'm going."
He heard some muttering behind him, but ignored it. As soon as Do-geon disappeared down the street, Han Do-seok fell silent.
The sound of the carrier wheels rolling over the dry grass was the only sound.
"Hmm."
Do-geon’s eyes narrowed slightly as he walked toward the outbuilding. His outstretched index finger tapped his thigh a few times and he concluded nonchalantly.
"Weak.”
***
After a quick unpacking and shower in the outbuilding, the clock struck one, but the jet lag wouldn't let him sleep.
Do-geon grabbed his coat and headed downstairs. The porch sensor on the back door of the outbuilding flickered on. He took a walk around the backyard to get some fresh air.
'It's been 20 years already..................'
The day his parents died was also in the middle of winter. It was snowing and the roads were slippery. It was also a day that no one remembered anymore.
His grandmother Lee Seong-shin, who passed away 16 years ago, wanted to build a tomb for her youngest son and his wife in Taehwajae, but her children were reluctant, so she only put up a headstone.
The tombstone was placed in the backyard of the mansion where Han Dong-jae and his wife lived. Do-geon would habitually stop by whenever he came to the main house.
The deaths of his parents didn't bring up any new thoughts. It had been nearly 20 years, and it was too long ago now.
'Yeah, it's been too long....................'
His breath drifted white into the cold air. With his hands in his coat pockets, Do-geon stepped onto the stone path that led to the backyard.
The place was as deserted as ever. Only his mother's favorite goldenwood trees were left, their lush foliage blooming under the formal tending of a gardener.
".................. ah................"
For a moment, Dogan's pace halted.
"Is ......good.......?"
"......is......."
The voices of a man and a woman carried faintly on the breeze. One of Do-geon’s eyebrows rose.
A man and a woman, at this hour.
Do-geon silenced his footsteps and closed the distance a little. At the far end of the backyard, the two people sat on a wooden swing.
‘Han Do-seok?’
Wherever he went at night, this must be where he was. Do-geon wasn't too curious about who they were with or what they were doing.
Just as he was about to turn around to leave, a soft voice flowed into his ear.
"..................For now, focus on preparing for Do-seok's wedding, but it won't be too late to meet after it's over."
The voice sounded familiar.
One of Do-geon’s eyebrows rose. He looked at the woman who had turned fully away from him, her back to him, but it was clear.
It was her.
‘Her name is ............... Jeong Jae-yeon.’
He'd vaguely recognized her from when he'd heard her name as his grandfather's mistress. It was the same woman he met two years ago.
"Do you expect me to sit here and watch you get stuck with that old man..................?"
"Shh, lower your voice."
Jeong Jae-yeon gently stroked Han Do Seok's cheek and said soothingly.
"With Mr. Chairman, it's not long now, you know that, and I don't want to hurt him in any way and..................."
“That’s because he doesn’t die fast enough. With Park Ae-yeon, you know that it’s just an arranged marriage, right? Even if I get married, it’s only you in my heart.”
"I know, why don't you?"
Do-geon let out a silent mockery as he watched.
‘You're so dramatic.’
She was truly a very diverse woman. Not only was she the lover of an old man over ninety, but she's also his grandson who's about to be married.
It was true that she was beautiful, but he couldn't believe she could do that just because she was beautiful.
***
To donate for extra chapters for my series or to tip me visit my personal kofi page
Write a comment
Ima (Monday, 01 July 2024 12:50)
Oh New novel, I'm so excited
Thank you dora ❤❤