Jaemin's transformation was more than just physical; it was in the way he approached his work, his demeanor, his focus. When he was given the role of Director at Mirae Group, everyone expected the same careless, indulgent man who had left three years ago. However, what they found was a man who executed his duties with precision, an undeniable competence that shocked even his father, Chairman Kang.
The company had long been a symbol of the Kang family's power—its sprawling holdings, its prestigious status in Korea's economic ecosystem, and the wealth that permeated their every action. Yet, Jaemin's newfound professionalism and quiet excellence spoke volumes in a way that no lavish social event or boardroom speech could. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes, leading teams, making sharp business decisions, and ensuring that every task assigned to him was completed impeccably. His contributions became the silent force that moved the company's projects forward, and his father, the chairman, couldn't ignore the results.
Still, Jaemin kept to the shadows. Despite his successes, he avoided the limelight—never attending social events, company galas, or even public announcements. When his father would ask him to represent the family at these high-profile events, Jaemin would always decline. He preferred the quiet hum of office hours, the solitude of his desk, and the quiet satisfaction of his work. His father, Chairman Kang, couldn't quite understand this; he saw Jaemin's refusal to socialize as a sign of rebellion. But Jaemin didn't care. He wasn't interested in being the face of the Kang family anymore. That man, the one who cared for his reputation above all else, no longer existed.
It wasn't that Jaemin disliked the social aspects of work; it was that he couldn't bear to face Sooah again. Her presence at those events—those same events he used to attend with her by his side—would only remind him of the past. The memories of her cold rejection still stung, the echo of her words that had shattered his self-worth. He couldn't bring himself to sit in the same room as her, to pretend everything was okay when he still felt the hurt of her breaking their engagement.
Instead, he buried himself deeper into his work. His colleagues were in awe of him, the once-disgraced heir who now seemed like a quiet mastermind behind every successful deal, every project. They had all heard the rumors of his partying and carefree life in the States. But none of that was true anymore. They never saw the long hours he spent in the office, the nights spent perfecting his strategy, the self-discipline he had imposed on himself.
His siblings—Ji-Na and Ji-Ho—were equally surprised. Ji-Na, especially, couldn't fathom what had happened to her once-dismissed brother. She had always seen him as the failure, the one who would never amount to anything. When she first found out he had been appointed director, she had almost laughed. But soon, she realized that this was no joke. Jaemin was succeeding in a way she never thought possible.
She tried, of course, to undermine him. It was in her nature to assert her dominance, especially over someone she had always considered inferior. So, during a family meeting, when Jaemin casually dropped an insight into market strategies that left everyone stunned, she attempted to belittle him. She made a snide remark about his "lucky break" in the business world, trying to frame his success as nothing more than happenstance.
But Jaemin didn't flinch. He didn't even respond with the arrogance that he once would have. Instead, he allowed her words to bounce off him, calmly offering another fact or suggestion that exposed just how little she truly understood about the business. She may have once believed herself to be the superior sibling, but in that moment, Jaemin silently proved otherwise.
What Ji-Na didn't know, what none of them knew, was that Jaemin had studied every single facet of business while in the States. His MBA from Harvard—summa cum laude, a detail he never revealed—had given him a solid foundation in market analysis, finance, and strategic management. His experience at Goldman Sachs had made him even more formidable. But these were not things he cared to flaunt. He didn't want their admiration. He didn't want anyone to think he was a success because of his family or his history. He had worked hard to build something that was entirely his own.
Every morning, he rose before dawn, buried himself in his work, and avoided returning home until the last possible moment. He wasn't running away from his family; he was running from his past. The memories, the guilt, the shame—it all still lingered. And he couldn't risk facing it head-on just yet.
His father, Chairman Kang, had noticed Jaemin's growing distance, but in typical fashion, he chose not to confront it. The chairman was a man of few words, and the family's dynamics were centered around achievement and appearances rather than emotional connections. So, Jaemin's silence and withdrawal from the family only deepened the chasm between them.
Yet, no matter how far Jaemin pushed them away, his family's perception of him began to shift. They couldn't deny the changes anymore. They couldn't ignore the results of his work. Jaemin was no longer the careless, indulgent heir they had once ridiculed. He had grown into someone they didn't quite understand, but whom they could no longer disregard.
But for Jaemin, this wasn't a victory. It wasn't about proving anyone wrong—it was about surviving. It was about the quiet, relentless drive to prove to himself that he could be more than the man who had lost everything. And in the shadows, where no one could see him but himself, he found solace in his work.
And so, the prodigal son remained hidden in the shadows, working hard, changing, and growing—still haunted by the memories of a past he could never quite escape.