Prey - Chapter 44
-I said it was my mistake. It’s not Seol Suhyeon’s fault.
Confusion washed over her face.
Do Jeonghan was apologizing…?
She had never expected the reason for his sudden call to be an apology for that day. She certainly hadn’t thought he was the kind of person who would apologize for anything.
Flustered, with her lips trembling, Suhyeon finally managed to speak.
“Why…?”
Suhyeon gripped her cell phone tightly.
Her mind was in a tangled mess, and she still didn’t know what to say.
-I called to say that. It’s my mistake, so don’t take it to heart.
As if not expecting a response, the call ended abruptly.
“What the…?”
With heat rising to her cheeks, Suhyeon looked down at her cellphone.
* * * * *
Do Jeonghan was at the columbarium with the company elders.
This place, consisting of a columbarium and memorial hall dedicated to Cheongpyeong, was overwhelming in size, having been carved out of an entire mountain.
The memorial hall, lavishly decorated after the relocation, was for Do Pil-yong’s only daughter, Do Miran.
Next to it was the memorial for her husband, Lee Cheol-eum. Everyone in attendance knew that it was Do Jeonghan’s wish for the memorial to be created as well.
After everyone had paid their respects and stepped back, Do Jeonghan stood quietly in front of his parents’ photos.
The pictures of Do Miran and Lee Cheol-eum, both smiling brightly.
The name of his mother, different from what he had known in his childhood, still felt unfamiliar to him.
Born as the daughter of Cheongpyeong, Do Miran fell in love with an ordinary man. Lee Cheol-eum was a low-ranking research staff member working at a laboratory under Cheonkyung’s umbrella. Because of this, he was woefully inadequate to obtain Do Pil-yong’s permission.
Do Pil-yong had strongly opposed their marriage in anger.
Nevertheless, unable to give up on love, Do Miran ultimately ran away with Lee Cheol-eum.
This fact only enraged Chairman Do further.
He had expected that, with time, his daughter would come to her senses and return, begging for forgiveness, but she disposed of all her assets and even changed her name. Upon learning this, Chairman Do treated Miran as if she were a nonexistent child.
At that time, Chairman Do did not know.
That she would never return until her death.
He eventually met her again only after she died, leaving behind a son who bore her blood. A handful of ashes.
“……”
In the photo, Do Miran was a beautiful woman with a similar aura to Do Jeonghan. It was clear to anyone that they shared the same blood.
Especially her delicate yet deep eyes.
The difference was that Do Miran’s gaze was somewhat more feminine and gentle, while Do Jeonghan’s exuded a cool, masculine sharpness.
His face, while looking at the photo, appeared as cold as usual, but his eyes were deeply sunk.
For a moment, Do Jeonghan’s eyes, fixed on the photo, turned red.
Uncontrollable emotions swirled in his deep gaze.
Do Jeonghan tightly shut his eyes.
His closed eyes were stained completely red. All kinds of emotions and guilt painfully pierced his heart.
Do Jeonghan was familiar with that pain. It was a burden he had to fully endure.
…Hah.
After briefly gathering the restlessness that no one in this place could detect with a shallow breath, Do jeonghan opened his eyes.
He turned around and walked back to where the elders were.
Then, Kim Jeong-cheol, the advisor who was closest to Chairman Do Pil-yong, spoke up.
“Since you’re here, let’s go see the chairman as well.”
“Yes.”
Do Jeonghan replied and lowered his head.
He moved with the elders to Chairman Do Pil-yong’s memorial hall.
* * * * *
The Korean restaurant, Lyeori, located in the DERA hotel chain, was on the 22nd floor.
Suhyeon and Hyunwoo walked toward the entrance, which exuded a luxurious atmosphere with a black and gold concept.
“Oh… I heard that even if you have a lot of money, you can’t come here without a reservation. It’s surprising to see it all.”
Hyunwoo whispered quietly so only Suhyeon could hear.
“Is that so?”
Suhyeon looked at Hyunwoo and asked again. Though she was smiling, there was a certain stiffness to her expression.
Today, she had suddenly heard from Hyunwoo that a dinner was arranged with Do Jeonghan.
They had called for just the two of them.
