The drive to Seoul was long, with Jaehoon navigating the familiar, crowded streets, his mind drifting between the bustling traffic and the uncertainty gnawing at him. Jiwoo sat beside him, her face a mixture of worry and determination, her fingers tapping rhythmically against her knee. The letter, which had started this whirlwind of confusion and possibility, now felt like a heavy weight in his pocket, its contents seeming more unreal with each passing mile.
As they neared the city, the towering buildings and flashing billboards of Seoul seemed to mock his quiet life in the outskirts. It was as though the city was reminding him that this was the life he had always wanted but could never quite reach—a life where wealth, power, and influence were within arm's reach. And yet, now that he was so close to it, he felt the cold sting of doubt.
"We're almost there," Jaehoon murmured, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter as he approached the city center.
Jiwoo nodded, her eyes still fixed on the passing cityscape. "I just hope we're making the right choice."
Jaehoon glanced at her, catching the unease in her eyes. He knew she was just as nervous as he was. After all, they had no idea what to expect. The Lee family, a name synonymous with wealth and power, had seemed so distant and foreign before this moment. Now, it felt as though they were about to step into a world neither of them truly understood.
When they finally arrived at the address provided by Lee Minwoo, Jaehoon felt a sudden surge of anxiety. The building before them was nothing short of impressive—a sleek, modern high-rise that stood in stark contrast to the modest apartment they had left behind. As he parked the car and they stepped out, the weight of the situation grew heavier with every step. This was no longer just an ordinary day. This was the beginning of something new, something that could change everything.
The receptionist in the lobby greeted them with a practiced smile, her voice polite but distant as she led them to the elevator. Jaehoon couldn’t help but notice the sterile, impersonal atmosphere of the place—everything about it felt meticulously designed, as if to convey an image of power and prestige. There was no warmth here, only the cold, efficient professionalism of a world they were about to enter.
When the elevator doors opened on the top floor, Jaehoon’s heart raced. The office was expansive, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city below. But it was the people inside that caught his attention. Lee Minwoo stood by the large mahogany desk, his tall frame silhouetted against the window, looking every bit the part of a man accustomed to authority.
"Mr. Jaehoon, Mrs. Jiwoo," he greeted them with a curt nod. His voice was smooth, almost too smooth, as if he had rehearsed this meeting a thousand times. "Please, have a seat."
Jaehoon felt a chill run down his spine as he sat down, Jiwoo beside him. Lee Minwoo remained standing, his sharp gaze never leaving them. He had an air of quiet confidence that made Jaehoon uneasy. This wasn’t the kind of man who welcomed visitors with open arms. This was someone who expected obedience, who viewed everything through the lens of control.
“I trust you found the letter to your satisfaction?” Lee Minwoo asked, his tone devoid of any warmth.
Jaehoon cleared his throat, struggling to find the right words. "Yes, but… it's hard to believe. I still don’t understand how this could be real."
Lee Minwoo’s lips curled into a thin smile, his eyes flickering with something that might have been amusement. "I understand your skepticism. It’s not every day that someone discovers they are the heir to one of Korea’s most prominent families. But rest assured, Mr. Jaehoon, the evidence is irrefutable."
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He turned, reaching for a leather-bound folder on the desk and sliding it across to Jaehoon. “Here are the details of your lineage, carefully researched over the years. Our genealogists have traced your bloodline back to a disinherited relative of the Lee family—someone who was adopted into the family centuries ago.”
Jaehoon hesitated before picking up the folder. The weight of it felt symbolic, as if the answers he had been seeking for so long were contained within. He opened it slowly, scanning the documents inside. There were birth certificates, family trees, and legal documents—everything meticulously organized, everything pointing to him as the rightful heir. His name was there, alongside his father’s, connecting him to a past he had never known.
“I don’t understand,” Jaehoon said, his voice trembling slightly. “How is this possible? My father was just a man who worked hard his whole life, no connections to anyone important.”
Lee Minwoo’s expression softened, but only just. "That may have been true for your father, but your lineage stretches far beyond what you’ve known. The Lee family has always kept a close watch on its heritage, and in your case, your family’s connection was hidden for reasons that I cannot go into now."
Jaehoon felt a swirl of emotions—anger, confusion, disbelief. How could this be? How could he, an ordinary man, be part of a family so powerful, so entrenched in history? His mind raced back to his father, to the years spent toiling away in the factories, the long hours spent delivering packages in Seoul’s streets. There had been no mention of any wealthy relatives, no hint of an inheritance waiting to be claimed.
"Why me?" Jaehoon’s voice was barely above a whisper. "Why was I chosen?"
Lee Minwoo’s gaze shifted, and for a brief moment, Jaehoon saw something flicker in his eyes—something unreadable. “The question isn’t why you, Mr. Jaehoon. It’s why now. The Lee family has had its share of… complications, and it’s time for a new generation to take the reins. You are the rightful heir, and it’s your responsibility to accept your place in the family. But be warned—there are those who will not welcome this. There are those who will do everything in their power to challenge your inheritance.”
Jaehoon’s heart pounded in his chest. He had suspected as much. The secrecy, the urgency, the cold professionalism—it was all coming together now. This inheritance was not a simple gift. It was a claim to power, to influence, and to danger. The Lee family had enemies, factions that would stop at nothing to maintain their hold over the fortune Jaehoon had just inherited.
“You mean there are people who will try to take this from me?” Jaehoon asked, his voice tight with anxiety.
Lee Minwoo nodded, his expression serious. “Yes. The Lee family is not without its own share of strife. Some will question your legitimacy, others will see you as an intruder. But the documentation is clear. The evidence is irrefutable.”
Jaehoon absorbed this in silence, his mind racing. What had he gotten himself into? The inheritance was his by right, but it came with strings attached—strings that could unravel everything he had known. As if sensing his uncertainty, Lee Minwoo continued.
"However," Lee Minwoo said, his voice softening slightly, "if you accept the inheritance, you will have access to a life most people could only dream of. Wealth, power, influence—it will all be at your fingertips. But with that comes great responsibility. You will have to learn quickly, Mr. Jaehoon. There are things you need to understand, and people you need to trust."
Jaehoon’s head was spinning. He had come to this meeting hoping for answers, but all he had found was more uncertainty. The life he had known, the one he had worked so hard to build, was slipping away, replaced by a world that felt both tantalizing and terrifying.
He looked at Jiwoo, her hand resting gently on his arm. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes conveyed everything he needed to know. She was just as unsure as he was, just as overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation.
Jaehoon turned back to Lee Minwoo. "What happens now?"
Lee Minwoo’s lips curved into a thin smile, his eyes sharp and calculating. "Now, Mr. Jaehoon, you must decide. Do you accept your inheritance and all that comes with it, or do you walk away from the life that awaits you?"
Jaehoon looked down at the documents in front of him—the proof of his lineage, the evidence of a life he never knew existed. And as he sat there, the weight of the decision pressing down on him, he realized one thing: there was no turning back now.