Lee-Soo's father had been Jung-Sik's business partner for over 15 years now until Lee-Soo took over when he died, and also got to continue that partnership.
Jung-Sik had grown to love Lee-Soo and even treated him like a son. He told Lee-Soo most of the things that he was going through. The night he found out that Kiera was his true daughter, and his family had plotted the whole thing, he called Lee-Soo crying.
"I don't have any friend or a reliable partner, so I'll just say this to you to clear up my mind. I discovered that the three year old girl I had denied, was my real daughter and it hurts so so much because the family that I trusted, my father that I trusted betrayed me. He had planned the whole thing. My ex-wife must have agreed to the whole thing probably because of his threats. What do I do?!!". Jung-Sik cried bitterly that night on the phone that Lee-Soo had to drive to his home that night.
Lee-Soo was 23 years old when this happened. He felt so bad for Jung-Sik and had asked him to go and see his daughter but Jung-Sik never told him how it went.
Lee-Soo at this point felt bad for Kiera being estranged and growing up without a father. It must have been very hard. "Are you okay?". He asked Kiera.
Kiera who was amazed by the shocking transformation after a little whisper from Eun-Sang laughed and said. "What happened. Did you discover that I was the president's daughter?". She asked sarcastically.
Lee-Soo realized that his change was rapid and bizarre. He sighed, rested his back on his seat and closed his eyes.
Kiera couldn't understand what just happened. This same guy that picked on her all because of her snore was being friendly and caring. She then snapped her fingers at Eun-Sang who's little words were literally the reason for Lee-Soo sudden change and asked "Hey, what happened to him. Does he have like a split personality?".
Eun-Sang chuckled and said. "No he doesn't. Nice to meet you madam, I am Eun-Sang". Kiera looked at him and thought to herself. "At least there is one reasonable person on this plane".
" Same here. I am Kiera. You are from Korea right?". She asked Sang.
"Yeah but I don't really base there. What about you. You are from Korea right, you look mixed". Eun-Sang asked planning to confirm his thoughts about her.
"Well, you got it wrong I am an American. I live in America with my parents. I'm here to see a friend". She said with shaky breath. Eun-Sang noticed something was off but decided not to pry any further.
"Okay then if you would.....". Eun-Sang got interrupted by Lee-Soo.
"Can you keep quiet? I am trying to sleep". Lee-Soo who was getting annoyed with how easily they got along spoke out.
They both laughed and went back to minding their businesses. The air-hostess brought the food Kiera had requested for and she ate in silence but kept glancing at Lee-Soo from time to time.
*******************************************
"Kiera! We've arrived at Seoul". Eun-Sang said to sleepy Kiera while gently tapping her.
"She didn't snore this time, well that's a miracle". Lee-Soo said and chuckled. Kiera wasn't paying attention to either of them. Instead, she was nervous and at the same time angry. She was about to face the one man that abandoned his family and made her mum cry for years.
"Nice meeting you Eun-Sang, you to Lee-Soo. I guess this is where we say our goodbyes". Kiera said and got of the plane with her backpack and travel bag.
They were both confused by her sudden moodiness and Lee-Soo felt he had gone too far.
Normally, he wouldn't care but this time he had a strong feeling that she was here to see Jung-Sik and had probably developed cold-feet.
With all these running through his mind, he gave his stuffs to Eun-Sang and followed her. "Kiera!". He yelled from afar.
Kiera who was deep in thought kept moving towards the exit of the airport. "Kiera!" He kept calling out her name.
Kiera was so deep in thought that she couldn't hear him or notice the incoming luggage's that were rolling towards her.
"Sug-nyeo! gil-yeul bikyeola [lady! Move out of the way!]". The man pushing the luggage yelled but Kiera kept walking until a hand pulled her out of the way.
"Joesonghabnida [sorry]". Lee-Soo apologized to the man. The man shook his head and kept moving.
"What were you thinking! Do you want to hurt yourself!". Lee-Soo yelled at her.
"Hey! You have no right to yell at me that way". Kiera said in a low and dangerous tone.
"I just saved you and this is the first thing you thought to say?". Lee-Soo told her with anger.
"I didn't ask you to save me". Kiera replied and walked out leaving him speechless.
Kiera had entered into the country, her father had denied her. There was nothing good about this place.
"Ah Kiera! Kiera!". Kyung waved and yelled.
"Aunty!! I missed you". Kiera said with a bright face. She had been down a little but seeing Kyung she felt uplifted again.
"Let's go to my hotel okay?". Kyung told Kiera and she nodded in affirmative.
In the hotel, Kiera was admiring the aesthetics in Kyung's room, room 300. "This the Emerald hotel is a really impressive one. You spent a lot here you could have just bought a house". Kiera said while touching aesthetics in the wall.
Kyung cleared her throat and said. "It was free".
Kiera turned to her and smiled. "Woah Aunty Kyung don't tell me you have a rich boyfriend now, who's the lucky guy?".
"It's your father". Kyung replied. Kiera dropped the cup she had just taken from the table.
"You are dating my father!!!!!". She yelled with so much anger. Kyung was confused she hadn't replied to the last question Kiera asked.
"No why would I be dating your father. He's older than me with about 10 years, I meant that your father allowed me to stay in this hotel for free because this is the Jung's hotel". Kyung explained.
Kiera took a deep breath. She had overreacted but hearing she was at her father's hotel, didn't make her feel any better either.
"Sorry aunt. I was being unreasonable. When do I get to see him, I am tired of this place already". Kiera told her.
"No Kiera, Seoul, South-Korea as a whole is an amazing place to be. You must be tired from that long flight. Why don't you wash up, I'll order food and then after eating you take a nap. We'll go out in the evening to see some wonderful views in Seoul. What do you think?". Kyung asked in excitement but the truth was that to Kiera, no matter the kind of view she was showed, it will never be good to her because of the view her dad and his family showed to her and her mum.
"Okay". Kiera said to Kyung and started undressing then she remembered something and asked Kyung. "What did they say happened to him?".
"He was involved in a car accident. Someone had intentionally according to the CCTV footages hit him but they couldn't find the person. After the search, they only found the truck on a deserted road with no-one in it. Your father's liver, olfactory lobes and many other places were damaged". Kyung said with tears streaming down from her eyes.
Jung-Sik had always been nice to her even when the rest of the family were being rude.
She just didn't understand why he would deny his daughter and not make any effort to save his relationship. There was one more thing Kyung had to tell Kiera but she decided to tell her later after she had settled down.
Kiera after hearing Kyung's words about her father's state, all she could say was. "He'll be fine. I need to take a shower. Remember to order the food".
Kyung smiled and walked to the bed side, picked up the landline and called the restaurant.
"Joh-eun ohueyo mues-eul jumunhasigess-eoyo [Good evening, what would you like to order]". The lady on the phone asked Kyung.
"Dul geuleus ui ramyeon [two bowls of ramen]". Kyung answered and hung up.
She moved over to Kiera's travel bag and started arranging her stuffs.
Ring!Ring!Ring! Kyung's phone rang. It was Carolyn. "Hey did Kiera arrive safely". She asked in a panicking tone.
"Yes she did. She's taking shower now". Kyung replied her.
Carolyn breath out a breath of relief and said. "Okay when she's settled let us know".
"Yeah let us know!!". That was Jack's voice. Kyung smiled and hung up. She didn't want to listen to their little bickering on the phone.
"Was that Jack?". Kiera said while towelling her hair because it was dripping wet all over the place.
"Yes, sit let me dry your hair". Kyung ordered her.
"You know, you've always had wonderful hair. I use to brush your hair everyday when you were little. It was so soft!!". Kyung said while drying Kiera's hair with her blow dryer.
"Yeah. I know you were the best. Don't tell my mum I said that though". Kiera told them and they both laughed.
"Kiera I am so happy that you came. Listen I know how difficult it is growing up without a father. My father abandoned and denied me to. You see my mother use to date your grandfather and he loved her so much but after some years they broke up and my mum met my dad. They had me and my dad loved me and adored me. Your grandmother still felt threatened by my mum and decided to take revenge. I have no idea what she told my father but I came back one day from school and I saw I and my mum things outside. My dad was yelling at my mum and then he pushed her out and shut the door. He didn't even glance at me. I was five, when this happened and my memory about this was a bit vague. Later on my mum explained the whole thing which amplified the picture more. It hurt so much and I never wanted to see him again until.... untill....". Kyung paused trying to fight back tears and then she continued.
"See I haven't told your mum yet that I um.. um I lost my dad last week and I never got a chance to see him. At least I wish I saw him and asked him why he left us because as I became older, I realized that no parent would leave their child like that. So open your mind, feel this place and see your father uh?". Kyung said still suppressing her tears.
Kiera took her hand and said "Kyung you can cry. It's fine but I won't lose my father. You are right I have a lot of things to ask him. I'll be okay. So cry okay. Let it out". Kyung burst out uncontrollable tears and Kiera kept tapping her back while reflecting on Kyung's story with her father she said to herself .
"God please save my dad. I need to talk to him at least please. Thank you". Then she shed a tear ad wiped it off immediately.
After their emotional scene, they received the food they ordered and ate to their satisfaction.
Kiera looked at Kyung and said "Ah! I'm so full. Aunt why don't we look around now. I slept a lot on the plane".
"Uhhh! You are feeling energetic. I'm so happy. Okay we'll go to....". Kyung paused, she recalled the scene she saw at the airport and asked. "Kiera at the airport a guy pulled you into his arms. He looked familiar do you know his name?".
Kiera kept a confuse look and said. "I don't understand you. Who pulled me into his arms. Oh! He was saving me from getting hit. His name is Lee-Soo".
"Huh! Lee-Soo the CEO of The Apex company. What!!! He's a big shot. I think he owns a share in your father's company. You know your father runs two companies right. He's the founder of Cloud Nine company and the CEO of The Emerald Group. That's why his brother envy him a lot". Kyung told Kiera in a whisper.
"Kyung calm down, Lee-Soo might be a big shot but he's mannerless and doesn't care about people's feelings. Secondly about my so called dad, I don't care about whatever he owns. I am not interested in that". Kiera said with a hint of frustration and annoyance.
Later that evening, Kyung took Kiera to the Namsan Seoul tower. She wanted Kiera to see South Korea, beyond what she had felt and tagged it to be.
They visited the observatory. The third floor observatory where Kiera saw a clear and beautiful view of the city and saw a little display of Korean history on an LCD screen.
"Woah!! Kyung this is awesome". Kiera said and laughed.
They got to a part of the building where they could throw coins into a pond while making a wish. Kyung picked up a coin and said to Kiera."I know you think this sounds foolish but wishes do come true. So here toss this coin into the pond and make a wish".