Hyun-Ki and the Chairman

Chapter Forty-Eight

Even though I was hurting, I gave him and myself a chance because he was my dad, and I forgave him.

On that evening, Hyun-Ki and Rielle were talking about his dad. They were watching teevee, and Rielle was leaning her head on Hyun-Ki's shoulder when she talked about her observation of Hyun-Ki's attitude toward his dad. She was curious and would want to know why Hyun-Ki felt resentment and hidden anger even if he did not outwardly express it.

"Why did you say that, Rielle? I resent my dad?" asked Hyun-Ki.

"Isn't it obvious? The way you talk to and look at him, there is always this look of sarcasm and exasperation, and no matter how you hide it, it shows on your face and through your words. It is like you always wanted to challenge him or irritate him." It was Rielle's observation. Hyun-Ki was quiet for a while, staring at the teevee, but his thoughts traveled around his past.

"Knock, knock, penny for your thoughts?" Rielle said mischievously. Hyun-Ki looked at Rielle, his left arm hanging on the sofa's headrest and his other hand holding Rielle's hand, stared through her eyes, grappling for the right words to begin, and having like a lump in his throat, he began to narrate what happened to him in the past.

"Cecil and I fell in love during college, and we became too involved and serious in our relationship. We started to build our dreams together, to marry, start a family, and wish to have two or four kids. After graduation, my dad trained me to manage our business. However, I had a course in Engineering, and he said that it had relevance to his business because my dad was in the manufacturing business related to communication equipment and the like. Dad was amazed at how I handled the business and promised to run and manage it since he intended to expand the business in Korea. I put my blood, sweat, and expertise into our business, Rielle and God knows how I did my best because it grew bigger, and our financial growth became outstanding. That was the time that Cecil and I decided to settle down. I told my mom and dad the news, and I was expecting that dad would be happier if I had my own family. He took my marriage plan very lightly, but I thought it was natural for a father to feel that way. Cecil and I were already preparing for our wedding, sent out invitations, had her bridal shower, and her family came from Singapore to be on our wedding day." Hyun-Ki paused for a while and started sniffling with small tears falling.

"Cecil did not show up on our wedding day, not even her family. I felt disgraced and miserable, and at that moment, all I could see was unbearable pain and failure that I felt numb all over. I didn't even know how I got home. Benny was there comforting me and kept guard of me because he feared I would do something hideous. And he was right because I almost committed suicide.

"And because failure was not in my vocabulary, I became a drunkard, an alcoholic. I sometimes went to work drunk, and when I sobered up, I became mean, impolite, and bossy. I lost respect for women. I became a womanizer; I liked playing them and never gave a damn to a woman's feelings. I hired attractive secretaries, seduced them, and played them. It was like I was avenging myself for what Cecil did to me. At the same time, I almost neglected the business.

"Then, one day, Benny opened up and told me a secret about Cecil because he can no longer help seeing me broken and angry at myself and everyone. Benny told me why Cecil did not show up on our wedding day.

"My dad came to see her and told her to stop our wedding because I, his son, cannot marry someone like her who was not equally wealthy. That I should be married to a woman who has the same status in life as I had. But if she continues this marriage, my dad will not stop destroying us until I would give up on her to divorce her finally." Hyun-Ki was sniffling his tears, so Rielle took him close to her in sympathy and hugged him to comfort him while she was also in tears, having felt that pain Hyun-Ki had suffered all those years.

"After learning what dad did to Cecil and me, I helped myself to heal and tried to regain my self-esteem. I went to my dad's and argued with him. To make him feel the pain he inflicted on me, I stripped myself of the wealth he was very proud of, of becoming an heir-apparent to his business, and to defy him more, I left the country. I flew to Singapore, hoping Cecil and I could have another chance at life. But it was too late; she was married and was already four months pregnant.

"It was excruciating and frustrating to meet my supposed-to-be wife only to be married to someone else, and the way she looked at me was like her hatred for my family and me was as high as the heavens, and I felt shame and defeat. But I stood firm in defying dad. I looked for a job in Singapore and was fortunate to work as a Chief Engineer for an Australian company and firmly decided not to return. I was already used to living in Singapore when Hwan Chul told me that he and his girlfriend, and that was you, sweetheart, as Mari was eloping and thought of settling down for good there In Singapore. But when I learned that Hwan Chul and you, his girlfriend then, met in a fatal accident, I came home to see him because my mom told me that Hwan Chul might not make it. My return home to Korea came as an advantage to my dad. My father and I had a heart-to-heart talk and begged for my forgiveness. He implored me to return to our business, and I would replace a relative as CEO so he could focus solely on his growing business in Korea. Even though I was hurting, I gave him and myself a chance because he was my dad, and I forgave him.

"And here I was, back at KOR H&H as CEO. And that was my story, my dear Rielle, and now you understand how I felt about my dad?" giving back his hugs to Rielle.

"But your womanizing did not end in Australia. You almost hit me as your victim." Rielle was challenging him for an argument.

Hyun-Ki embraced her, still teary-eyed, and said, "You changed me, Rielle, and thank you for coming into my life."