Dual Persona

Everyone got up, the twins and their brother, Han Chu-wool. Sungjun also told his daughter to go with them. As the remaining daughters also vacated the room swiftly, Sae-ri crossed her arms tightly, glaring at others.

"What the hell are you doing just now?" She looked at her family with a glare, and her voice softened, but there was no mistaking the underlying frustration. "Oppa, you're all acting like children. In front of the kids, no less. What kind of example are we setting?"

Her words took everyone by surprise. Her brothers couldn't retort against their sister who is now all fiery. They knew well enough when not to argue with their little sibling.

"I can't believe this," Sae-ri continued, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. "You've all been acting so close for years, and now… now that the money's on the table, you're turning into different people. Selfish, petty, grasping at whatever you can. This is disgusting."

The room went quiet again. Sae-ri's anger hung heavy in the air, and even Seol Ah, who had been the first to voice her dissatisfaction, seemed momentarily taken aback. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing.

"What do you mean?" Seol Ah retorted in the end, her tone bitter. "Who would be sitting like a duck when it comes to trillions of won? Let's not act like we are some saints, okay?"

Her words were like a slap, but they hit a chord that resonated deeply with everyone in the room.

Seol-ah's eyes then flicked over to Sungjun, her expression hardening. She took a deep breath before speaking again, her words slow and deliberate.

"Look at Sungjun-ssi," she said, her voice rising once more, "He never even bothered to show up for a single-family wedding, a birthday, or anything for the past 15 years. He wasn't there for the funeral either. And suddenly, he is back as a dutiful son. Isn't it because of inheritance?"

Her accusation was like a jolt to the chest. Sungjun had been quiet from the start till the end. He opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out.

The tension in the room became obvious, thick with unsaid words and conflicting emotions.

"Seol-ah-unnie, why bring him into this?" Sae-ri argued back, her voice biting. "He's got the least share, hasn't done a thing, and yet you drag him into this mess!"

The question seemed to linger in the air, but it was Sungjun's voice that finally broke through the heated silence. His tone was serious, steady, and for the first time since he'd walked through the door, his words carried a weight that made everyone pause.

"Because I had siblings here, Hyeong-su-nim," he said, his gaze focused on Sae-ri. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, as though he had been holding back for years, waiting for the right moment to say what had been on his mind.

He took a deep breath before continuing. "All our childhood, our dad cared about one thing, and one thing only. Money. That's why our mom died early, due to depression. That's why Jae-soo-Hyung left, and that's why I never came back—until he died."

Sungjun's words were quiet, but they hit hard. For a moment, the room was still. No one moved. His brothers shifted uncomfortably in their seats, but none dared to interrupt.

"Look at you all," Sungjun said, turning to face them. His eyes flicked from his older brothers to Seol Ah, then back again. "You all left as soon as you could, as soon as you found a way to escape the house and Dad's control. You left me, the youngest, alone."

A long, heavy silence followed. Sungjun's words hung over them like a dark cloud. It was as if he was pouring out all those frustrations he kept in his heart for decades.

No one knew how to respond. The family was caught off guard by his honesty, his rawness, and the bitterness in his voice that they hadn't expected.

"I used to be proud of all of you," Sungjun continued, his eyes now focused on his siblings, a quiet pain behind his gaze. "I used to tell Jiyeon all the time how proud I was of what you accomplished on your own. You didn't rely on Dad's wealth. You built your own lives. I was proud of that." He paused, shaking his head, the weight of years of disillusionment heavy on his shoulders. "But now? I'm just embarrassed."

He turned his attention to Seol Ah, his gaze hardening slightly, but the frustration in his voice was clear. "Heyong-su-nim, you really think I came here for money? Do you really think I came back for property or wealth? I don't care about any of it." He shook his head again, his voice quieter but filled with emotion. "I came here to give my daughter a family. That's all."

The mention of his daughter shifted the atmosphere in the room. Everyone stopped talking, their attention now fully on Sungjun.

"My late wife didn't have a family. Her relatives were all in the US," Sungjun said, his voice growing softer, more personal. "After she passed, it was just me and Jiyeon. We were happy in our own little world, but Jiyeon…" He trailed off for a moment, his gaze distant. "She'd see her friends with their grandparents, their aunts, and uncles, and she would get jealous of how her friends celebrate Christmas, Halloween, and other festivities with their loved ones. She wanted a nice and big family to spend holidays with."

He looked at each of them, his eyes now filled with an almost painful hope. "I thought… I thought that if I brought her here, she'd have everything she dreamed of. I thought she could have loving uncles, aunts, cousins… people to spend holidays with. I thought maybe, just maybe, you all could give her what she'd been missing for years." His voice faltered for a second, a deep ache in his chest. "But look at this. Look at what's happened."

Sungjun stood up, the sudden motion drawing everyone's attention. He looked down at his half-empty glass of soju and finished it in one gulp, the strong liquor burning down his throat. He set the glass down with a quiet finality, his expression resolute.

"I made a mistake," he said, his voice low but steady. "I should've thought twice before resigning from my job and bringing her here. I should've known how much 15 years could change the bonds in a family. Maybe if I had, Jiyeon would've had a better impression of you all. Maybe she'd have a family, instead of this."

His words hit everyone hard, the weight of his disappointment heavy in the room.

He turned to face them one last time, his eyes sweeping over the room. "You can fight for the inheritance, argue over money and shares, but I'm done with it. I'm taking my leave."

Without another word, he walked away from them.

Sungjun's footsteps were heavy as he ascended the staircase, the weight of his emotions pulling him down even further with each step. He was far from being at peace, but when he reached the top of the stairs, he paused.

His eyes fell upon his nieces and nephews, who were gathered around Jiyeon. The atmosphere was surprisingly chill contrary to his expectations. She was speaking animatedly, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she chattered about an idol named SKY of the NEONIX idol group, her admiration evident in the way she spoke about him.

Sungjun froze for a moment, watching the bright smile on Jiyeon's face, the joy radiating off her as she and the others discussed the idol. For a brief moment, everything else faded away from his mind, and he sighed inwardly.

In that room, there was no inheritance, no arguments, just kids talking about the things that made them happy. It was a sight he hadn't seen in years, and it hit him harder than he expected. He couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the days when he and his siblings shared such innocence.

His heart softened at the sight of Jiyeon, so full of life, so unburdened. She had a smile that could light up the room—something he hadn't seen in a while. He suddenly couldn't help but wonder whether he unnecessarily tried to burn down that bridge earlier. Should he go and apologize? The thought came to his head. He turned his head away from the room, almost about to return downstairs.

"Dad, are you okay?" Jiyeon's voice broke through his thoughts, and he turned to see her standing up, concern written all over her face. The others also gazed at their uncle.

Sungjun forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. He nodded, though his heart wasn't in it. "Yeah, everything's fine." His voice was strained, but he tried his best to make it sound casual. "Just needed a moment. Your uncles are boring, I don't quite fit with those middle-aged men," he added, attempting to lighten the mood.

Jiyeon's face lit up, her worry momentarily forgotten. "Come on then, join us! It's so much more fun here!" She grabbed his hand, practically dragging him with her.

The rest of the family greeted him as he reentered the room, but Sungjun waved it off. "Please, let's be casual," he said, offering a weak but genuine smile. It was as if his entire demeanor had shifted from a moment ago.

He sat down, feeling somewhat awkward at first, but he forced himself to relax.

As he spoke with his nieces and nephews, he realized just how much time he had missed out on, how much they had all grown. He asked them about their lives, their studies, and their interests. It felt strange at first, like trying to reconnect with a version of them he never truly knew.

When his conversation with the twins, Minji and Eunji, turned toward Jiyeon's future, he shared the news about her soon-to-be career as a trainee in their family's company. He expected some reaction, but Minji's enthusiastic response caught him off guard.

"Oh, we heard about that! We'll definitely help her out," Minji said, her eyes bright with excitement. "She's naturally so beautiful, and she's got this exotic charm about her. She'll definitely have an advantage."

Sungjun felt a small sense of pride. As a father, he was naturally happy to hear someone praising his daughter. It doesn't matter whether that praise was genuine or just a formality.

But before he could continue the conversation anymore regarding their trainee days, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was his sister, Sae-ri.

"It's your aunt, munchkin. I guess they want me back downstairs." Excusing himself from the conversation, Sungjun stepped away from the group, answering the call as he exited the room.

The laughter from the kids faded as he made his way into the living room, where his siblings were waiting for him, their expressions apologetic. Seol-ah and Eun-ji looked a bit annoyed, though.

"Sungjun-ah," Ji Hyun began, his voice soft but sincere as he walked to him, "We didn't mean to make things uncomfortable."

Tae-jin nodded, adding, "Yeah, forget all that nonsense. Your sister-in-law was always all logical. Don't take her words seriously. We shouldn't let these little arguments tear us apart."

Sungjun shook his head slightly, his emotions still raw. "No, I'm the one who should apologize." He took a deep breath, then continued, his tone more composed but still heavy with regret. "I shouldn't have thrown a fit like that, speaking like that in such a tone. It wasn't mature. I'm sorry, Hyeong-su-nim."

Seol-ah, who had been listening quietly from the side, spoke up as if she was a bigger person here when she was the one who started the whole argument. "It's okay, Sungjun-ssi," she said gently. "Let's not make this awkward between us. It's just a stupid issue, really. We're family."

But before Sungjun could respond, Sae-ri opened her mouth. "Sungjun," She said, her voice softer now, "While you were upstairs, we made a decision. We're going to move into the estate, trying our best to fulfill Dad's wishes. Let's live together again, all of us at home, like we used to when we were kids."