Pay With Your Heart

Chapter 452: A Sign.

‘Never answer the Lee name?’

A-Yeong couldn’t believe that this was the condition at which she would be forgiven. Was her grandfather being serious?

A-Yeong glimpsed at his face, and from the solemn look etched on his face, she knew he meant what he had said. He was claiming Hee-Young to the Su family.

To be honest, A-Yeong didn’t have a problem with that. She didn’t mind having her child to herself as Ji-Tae had lost every right he had over her child.

He had taken his own child hostage and had used her as a tool – a bargaining chip. He had threatened her with a child they had made together, maybe not out of love, but their child nonetheless. So, of course, she’d be more than happy to have Hee-Young bear the Su name and not answer the Lee name so she would never be identified as Ji-Tae’s child.

But despite wanting all this, A-Yeong knew she couldn’t act selfishly, as this was more about Hee-Young, who was only seven years old and not her.

The world wasn’t a fair place. There was constant discrimination between people of different social statuses and even those of the same social standing. Double standards sometimes make society a difficult place to live and raise a child.

.....

Hee-Young was only a child, and she had a long way to go. She’d go to school, where she would encounter people that might say things to her – things that would hurt her, like her being born out of wedlock. Because despite how advanced the world seemed, some archaic mentalities and ideologies still lingered in the mind of small-minded and nosy people.

And being teased about being born out of wedlock was going to sound subtle when some lunatics find it funny to call her child a bastard because that’s what they would say when she bears the Su family name, and she’s known as her mother.

Of course, she could ignore all that and defend her child. After all, the Su family wasn’t mediocre in society that anyone could easily mess with. But A-Yeong didn’t want to do that to her child, and she also doubted the other members of the Lee family would agree to any of this, not to mention the fact that it was the help and effort of Lee Dan-Han that made it possible for the girl to return home.

Grandfather’s brows narrowed when he observed her hesitation. “Are you thinking about it?” He sternly asked, and A-Yeong’s lips quivered.

“Don’t tell me you have feelings for that animal!” He growled.

“No!” A-Yeong hastily denied it. “Of course not!” She didn’t have any feelings for Ji-Tae. Whatever she might have felt for him was long gone when he left her to face the responsibility of her pregnancy alone. And after all she had been through because of him, all she felt was sheer hatred – hatred for everything that he was and represented.

Grandfather Su narrowed his eyes at her. “Then why are you hesitating? Do you agree to my condition?” He demanded.

A-Yeong’s lips quivered as she tried to speak. “Grandfather, it’s not that I don’t want that, but we should think about Hee-Young. Whatever decision we take will reflect on her. People might tease her for not knowing who her father is if she were to bear our family name. We know how things work in this society. Ji-Tae is a horrible person, but the Lees are still her family.”

“Still her family?” The old man scoffed. His gaze hardened on her. “Now you’re sounding like a hypocrite.”

“I didn’t-”

“You should have thought about all this before dropping her at an orphanage.” He said in a low drawl. “If you had just returned home with her, that bastard who I’m so going to deal with wouldn’t have had the opportunity of laying hold of her and keeping her away from all her families in the first place. This is much fault of yours as it is his.”

“I-”

“The girl takes our name, and if anyone mad enough in country C tries to make a mockery of her, then they’ll have me to contend with. And if the Lees are shameless enough to want to stake a claim on her, then I’d like to see them try.” He drawled.

A-Yeong silently peered at him as she knew nothing was left to say. He was the head of the family, and whatever he said went. Her grandfather has never been a lenient person. His word was law in the household, and despite his age, he still held the same power as he did when he was younger.

A-Yeong acquiesced with a nod. There would be no further argument about it. All she hoped for was there not to be any problems about this – not from Ji-Tae, of course, because she ready had no space in her to consider what he thought or wanted, but more from the other members of the Lee family.

If she knew anything about them, it was that they were just as stubborn as her grandfather.

They all watched as the old man stood up with the support of his cane before holding Hee-Young’s hand in his, and they walked towards his study.

Hei-Ran approached A-Yeong and helped her to her feet. She had been kneeling for a very long time, so she held her even when she staggered.

The others stood up and hugged her as she apologized to everyone, especially Hei-Ran’s parents. She had offended them when she framed Hei-Ran for her selfish purpose.

“Uncle, Aunty, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s okay, A-Yeong. You’ve apologized enough, and we all understand. You’ve suffered enough, my dear. So stop apologizing.” Hei-Ran’s mother held her chin and wiped her tears.

A-Yeong looked at Hei-Ran’s father, who patted her on the shoulder. Seul-Bi, who had despised her for the longest time for what she did to her sister, smiled and hugged her too.

“Stop crying, sister A-Yeong. Everything is fine now.” She encouraged her.

Hei-Ran sighed when it seemed all had been resolved. “I guess all we have to do now is clear up the mess at the company.” She said, and everyone’s countenance changed the moment they heard that. A majority of them worked in different departments of the Su corp; those that didn’t hold a position there, like Hei-Ran’s father, were shareholders.

“How bad is it?” Her father asked.

Hei-Ran shrugged. “Not that bad, as far as Ji-Tae doesn’t fall into the authorities’ radar, because if he is, it’ll all be traced back to us, and that wouldn’t be good,” Hei-Ran explained. Their company has been used to carry illegal goods, which would give them a lot of trouble if they were found. Not only will A-Yeong suffer if an elaborate investigation is done, but the whole company will suffer.

“So what are you going to do now?” Her mother asked with concern.

Hei-Ran sighed. “I guess we have to let go of shipping and ensure to keep our records clean. If anything arises, we wouldn’t be badly affected.”

“But that’s your part of the company. Grandfather gave that to you.” Seul-Bi mentioned with a sad frown while Hei-Ran smiled.

“Well, it isn’t that productive either, so we can let it go and move the funds for it to other areas of the company.”

“It’s going to be a tough one for you. I’m sorry I put you under all this stress.” A-Yeong apologized once again.

“Nonsense. I enjoy doing all this again.” Hei-Ran mockingly chided.

“So you enjoy working here than in your boyfriend’s company?” Seul-Bi asked with interest.

“I didn’t say that.” Hei-Ran sharply replied.

“Well, you just insinuated it. I could swear brother Jin-Hai thinks differently.” She shrugged. “So, I guess after everything has been resolved in the company, you wouldn’t be returning to your job, right?” She asked, and everyone’s attention turned to Hei-Ran as they anticipated her answer.

They all knew the grounds at which Hei-Ran was handed back her job. She had given herself an ultimatum before the shareholders, and she had proven herself. The quarter was looking promising, and also she had been able to bring to light A-Yeong’s secret, thereby solving a family problem.

“So?” Seul-Bi pressed, her arms folded across her chest as she peered at Hei-Ran.

Hei-Ran darted her eyes around as she looked at all the faces staring at her. It was obvious they were hopeful that she would remain in the company, but she honestly hadn’t thought about that.

The purpose for her return had been fulfilled, and she could say she was ready to head back to her old job, to Jin-Hai – God knows how much he keeps reminding her about it. But right now, at this moment, she wasn’t sure of anything.

“I don’t know.” She honestly replied, and murmurs echoed at the corners of the room.

“You’re still considering leaving?” Her mother asked with mild surprise.

Hei-Ran shrugged non-committally. “I’m undecided about it, mom. But even if I do, A-Yeong is back, and with the change of things, grandfather can give her back the job. I’m just not certain of anything yet.” She told her mother.

“But you love being back at the company.” Her mother wasn’t asking as she was almost certain of it.

Hei-Ran shrugged again. “I think so.”

“Then you should do what you like. If this is about Jin-Hai, I’m sure he’ll understand and support your decision. It has always been your dream to take over the company from your grandfather, and if this is your opportunity at it, then I think you should consider it. You can work with A-Yeong when your grandfather approves her return to the company. But if Jin-Hai doesn’t support it, then I guess you should see it as a sign.”

“A sign to what?” Hei-Ran confusedly asked.

“That it might not work with him.”