chapter 23

Chapter 23.

Mr. Lee's funeral took place in a grand and classical place, he took his last breath while everyone was around. The whole Lee family stood by his side on the last day, he said that this life for him was so satisfying.

Siyeon, after crying until her eyes turned red, is now standing in front of his photo and looking at each person who comes to visit. There was one thing about her father that she would never forget, he said to her before he closed his eyes:

“I hope you and SuA will get back together, it's a pity that I couldn't meet her before I left. The two already have a child together, Gahyeon is a priceless gift from God. I know you have been through a lot of pain in this relationship, but I always wish all the best for your little family.”

Siyeon cried more when hearing every word Mr. Lee said, what he wanted was also what she always wanted.

But she was exhausted, there was no way she could make it happen. She felt guilty for failed to fulfill his wish.

Siyeon and Gahyeon stayed in Daegu for a week straight, because her mental state was unstable, so Mrs. Lee and sister Hyeri supported her to take care of Gahyeon.

These days, next to her, there is another person named Solar. Not the person she wanted, but Solar is actually a very kind and nice person.

Solar is a manager, she's also very busy at work, but she's willing to give up to be with Siyeon all these days. Solar rented a hotel room near Siyeon's house to stay, she stayed by Siyeon’s side all day and then went back hotel to sleep at night.

While Siyeon felt the weakest and needed a place to lean on, SuA was not here, but Solar, she felt grateful for that.

- Siyeon, I'm sorry about what happened - Wendy put her hand on Siyeon's shoulder to comfort her, after hearing that Wendy had arranged to go to Daegu to visit Mr. Lee.

Siyeon nodded slightly.

- Where is SuA, is she not here? - Wendy looked around.

- She didn't come back because of a business trip to Singapore.

- Does she choose work? – Wendy sighed, she already knows all the problems between SuA and Siyeon, she feels this is terrible.

- …………………….

- Do your best, just rest, when you feel comfortable, go back to work - Wendy said softly.

- Thank you, Wendy.

After the funeral ceremonies, everyone left gradually, Siyeon and Gahyeon will return to Seoul tomorrow to continue their lives.

After finishing work, Siyeon climbed the mountain near her house alone, she sat idly looking at the magnificent scenery in front of her. It's late afternoon, sunset is coming.

- Siyeon!!

Siyeon turned to see Solar.

- How do you know I'm here?

- I've been following you for a while now - Solar sat down next to Siyeon.

The two silently watched the scene change from blue to pink.

- The scene here is so beautiful - Solar admired.

- Yes, in the old days when I was in school, I used to climb up here to enjoy the view.

- Siyeon, I have something to tell you.

- What?

- You should move in with me.

- Huh? - Siyeon was motionless, what did the other person say...

- Do you find that the more you come into contact with Kim SuA, the more you suffer?

- ……………………..

- Until now, you still think that SuA considers you family? She could have returned to Korea earlier than planned, but she chose the job. She is a CEO, who decides all activities in the corporation, she can adjust the time as she wants.

- ……………………

- Even Kim SuA herself is too rich and doesn't have to work so hard for business contracts, but she still chooses the job. She has more than enough ability to take care of her family, she doesn't even spend much, because the house is bought by you, everything is bought by you, you took care of her and Gahyeon from a to z, there's no reason for Kim SuA to be a workaholic.

- ……………………

- If you stay with her, you will one day die of depression, why do you live in a house where you don't feel happy?

- ……………………..

- My house is very large, only two streets away from your house, not far away. You can still meet and take care of Gahyeon whenever you want.

- ……………………

- I have some work so I have to go back to Seoul now, think about what I just said - Solar put a hand on Siyeon's shoulder and left.

Siyeon thought about everything with mixed emotions, inside her like a ticking time bomb, she felt extremely tired.

Solar is right, she is about to die of depression, the more she thinks about SuA, the more depressed she will become.

Siyeon picked up the phone and called SuA.

"Hello"

- Are you done yet? - Siyeon asked expressionlessly.

"Done, tomorrow morning I will fly back to Korea"

- Solar suggested that I move in with her.

“…………………….”

- Solar's house is not far from our house, I can still take care of and meet Gahyeon at any time - Siyeon presented, her tone was even devoid of any emotion.

“Singnie, Solar is a very good and kind person, having someone like that by your side will make you feel better”

- What?

“I am sorry for what I did to you. I'm not good at seeing through other people's feelings. I am toxic because I tend to be negative when there are problems in my life.”

- …………………….

“From the very beginning when we first met, I was afraid my toxic personalities would not be suitable for you, and now I am seeing my fears to be true.”

- …………………….

"I hope you're happy"

Siyeon burst into tears in silence, Kim SuA still has not understood that what makes her happy is not like that.

What makes her happy is not a good and kind person by her side.

But what makes Siyeon happy is Kim SuA, must be Kim SuA, must be her.

- I get it, I'm hanging up - Siyeon pressed the end button, a feeling of utter disappointment and despair welling up inside her.

---

Singapore.

SuA dropped down on the couch, now she is lying in the hotel's swimming pool. Because it was late at night, there was no one around here, only her with this large deserted space, the starry sky in front of her, the cool and windy air was very pleasant.

She looked calm, but there were some emotions inside her that she couldn't name. She didn't know how she was feeling anymore.

Sometimes she feels good when Siyeon has Solar by the side. Because SuA is in the same working environment with Solar, she really likes Solar, she has no negative feelings towards Solar. Solar is one of the employees that she respects very much.

But after learning that Solar has approached Siyeon more, the two of them have grown closer over time, SuA sometimes feels annoyed. This feeling makes no sense, Siyeon is not her property so she has no right to interfere in that healthy relationship, she feels her relationship with Siyeon is toxic and Siyeon and Solar are not, they look so healthy. During the call with Siyeon, every word she said was true, she really felt good if Siyeon had someone by the side and cared. SuA will quickly put aside that inexplicable feeling and will only focus on making Siyeon's life better.

Siyeon needs Solar more, she'll be happier with someone mentally stable like Solar.

Suddenly, the sound of falling into the water startled SuA. The person who just jumped into the pool was not a stranger, it was her employee, DCC's communications director, Kim Taehyung.

- CEO Kim, did you go to the swimming pool without jumping into the water? – Taehyun wiggled below while talking up to SuA.

- I'm not very interested - SuA waved her hand, she came here to lie down because this place is beautiful and it's deserted, that's all.

- I saw that your morale went down drastically after Solar returned to Korea, what's wrong, Miss Kim?

- It's nothing - SuA dodged, laid back down, eyes looking up at the sky.

Taehyung swam around the pool for a few laps and then came ashore, sat down on the couch next to SuA, busy wiping his hair with a towel.

- Taehyung! – SuA suddenly called, eyes still fixed on a point in the pitch black sky.

- I'm listening CEO Kim.

- Why is forgiveness so hard for me to do?

- Forgiveness is a luxury, not everyone can do it - Taehyung replied.

- …………………….

- My father had an affair 20 years ago and violently beat my mother for about 5 years, my mother hated him so much that she didn't want to see him anymore. About 5 years later, she finally let go of this resentment and forgave him.

- It's so bad, I'm so sorry - SuA said softly sympathetically.

- My mother said that forgiving others is also a way of forgiving ourself.

- What does that mean?

- Forgive ourself from the torment, the resentment has made my mother exhausted, so she needs to forgive to make herself better.

- Sometimes I feel exhausted too.

- With Miss Kim's workload and having to take care of a baby child, exhaustion is understandable - Taehyung sympathizes.

- No, I'm exhausted from my own irrational resentments.

- ……………………

- I really hate my father, then I also hate the person I love, I feel exhausted about it, maybe it's time for me to forgive myself.

- Yeah, so, only then can we move on - Taehyung nodded.

- ………… - SuA is still contemplating the starry sky.

- There are rumors in the company that Solar and Siyeon are dating, CEO Kim's ex-girlfriend, is it true?

- I don't know, it looks like they're really dating - SuA replied emotionlessly.

- If you still love her, then stand up and take her back.

- Huh? - SuA was surprised, lifted her head and turned to look at Taehyung.

- Your mouth just said you still love her.

- When did I say?

- You said you hate the person you love and you will start to forgive, it's Lee Siyeon.

SuA sighed, lowered her head and continued to look at the sky.

- The two of them are happily together, I won't interrupt.

- Is the powerful CEO Kim I know? You’re so weak now, hahahaah - Taehyung dropped the last sentence and left the pool.

Leaving SuA lying there with wild thoughts.

---

The next day, SuA took a flight back to Korea at 2 pm, then she got into the company's car that was already waiting and asked the driver to drive her to Daegu immediately.

After 3 hours, the car carrying SuA arrived at the gate of Siyeon's parents' house, when she came out, she met Mrs. Lee standing at the door.

- SuA!!! – Mrs. Lee was emotional when she saw SuA unexpectedly.

- I salute you - SuA smiled, hugging Mrs. Lee lightly.

SuA was led by Mrs. Lee to the cemetery about 5km from the house, where Mr. Lee lay down, the company's driver parked the car and waited outside. SuA put down a bouquet of white chrysanthemums she had bought earlier, lit an existing candle with a lighter, and knelt down to bow.

The sun is receding back to give way to darkness.

After bowing, SuA stood up, still looking thoughtfully at Mr. Lee's grave and gently talking to the person next to her.

- I'm sorry for being late.

- It's okay, I know your work is very busy - Mrs. Lee sympathized, turning an affectionate glance at the blonde.

- No, actually, I could still go home earlier if arranged, but I didn't choose that way. I see that Siyeon already has someone by her side, so I choose to stay in Singapore to continue working.

- You mean Solar? That girl was just Siyeon's usual friend, Siyeon told me.

- Solar is my senior staff, she is very kind.

- Siyeon's spirit is so broken that she can't take care of Gahyeon, she really needs you by her side, I hope you two get back together.

- …………………….

- That is Mr. Lee's last wish and also mine. Kim SuA, I know you're always busy, but please take some time for Siyeon.

- I'll try, don't worry - SuA hugged Mrs. Lee lightly when she saw that the middle-aged woman was shaking. This woman, although old, has a very young and sweet voice, and especially has the same voice as Siyeon. If you only hear the voice but don't see the face, it's easy to mistake it for Siyeon's voice.

Both Mrs. Lee and Siyeon have a voice that brings comfort to the listener.

SuA suddenly realized that what she did not only hurt Siyeon but also hurt Siyeon’s parents.

Siyeon is the youngest child in the family, she is always pampered and loved by her parents more than others.

SuA used to be envious when she saw someone being loved endlessly by the parents like that, which was something she didn't have.

Was she the one who got hurt in her big family, so she went to hurt someone else's family?

She knew that she was toxic herself, she needed to fix it gradually.

Mrs. Lee asked SuA to stay for dinner, but because she was busy, she had to refuse, promising Mrs.Lee  that she would arrange to come back as soon as possible to talk with Mrs.Lee longer.

Mr. Lee has gone and only Mrs. Lee is alone at home with four walls, she is very lonely, because both of her daughters are already in another place.

Mrs. Lee is the only middle-aged woman in this world who cares about SuA and treats her like family. Because she lost her biological mother at a young age, she respects Mrs. Lee very much, she considers Mrs.Lee as her second mother.

And she felt a heavy heart when she saw Mrs. Lee grieving, and the cause of this grief was hers.

SuA got in the car and returned to Seoul, spent another 3 hours sitting in the car across a long distance, she arrived at the gate at 10pm, she skipped dinner, skipped dinner, now she's tired and exhausted. .

SuA said goodbye to the company's driver and then pulled her suitcase into the house. The house is now very empty, she goes to check the rooms, Gahyeon is not here, Siyeon is not here.

She opened Siyeon's wardrobe, half of the clothes were gone.

Does that mean Siyeon has moved in with Solar like in the previous call?

SuA picked up the phone and called Siyeon

"I'm listening, are you home?"

- Where's Gahyeon?

"Because I don't know when you'll come home, I brought Gahyeon with me, I'm at Solar's, I'll take Gahyeon home tomorrow"

SuA mused, not knowing how to deal with this terrible situation.

End chapter 23.