Jaehoon sat at the small kitchen table in their modest apartment, the letter from the Lee family still lying before him, untouched for what felt like hours. The room was eerily quiet, the hum of the refrigerator the only sound that punctuated the heavy silence. His mind raced, and yet it felt as though time itself had slowed to a crawl. He hadn’t been able to eat, barely even drink. The weight of the decision before him had stripped him of any appetite.
Jiwoo, sitting across from him, watched him closely, concern written all over her face. She had been trying to give him space, but she could no longer bear the stillness in the air. “Jaehoon,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “We need to talk about this. You can’t just keep staring at that letter. It’s not going to disappear.”
Jaehoon looked up at her, his face pale, his eyes tired. The letter had come from the Lee family’s legal representative, confirming his status as the rightful heir to a vast fortune—a fortune he hadn’t known existed until now. The contents of the letter were clear and concise, offering him the opportunity to inherit a massive estate, businesses, and billions in assets. Yet, despite its clarity, the offer felt like a trap, and Jaehoon couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong.
“I know,” he said, his voice rough. “But how do we even begin to process this? A few days ago, I was just an ordinary man. Now... now I’m being told I’m the heir to one of the most powerful families in the country.”
Jiwoo reached across the table, placing her hand over his. “It’s a dream come true, Jaehoon. Think of what this could mean for Minseok and Haeun. They’ll never have to worry about anything again.”
Jaehoon nodded, but the thought of his children, their future, only made his dilemma worse. His desire to give them a better life, to protect them from the struggles he had faced growing up, clashed with the reality of what this inheritance might cost them. The Lee family’s wealth came with its own set of problems, and Jaehoon was all too aware that power often came at a high price.
“I’m not just thinking about us,” Jiwoo continued, her voice steady. “I know you want to do this for the kids. I do too. But there’s something about this whole situation that feels... off. It’s too easy. Too perfect. Powerful families like the Lees don’t just give away their wealth for nothing. There has to be a catch.”
Jaehoon met her gaze, his thoughts mirroring her own. Jiwoo had always been practical, grounded in reality, and while his heart longed to believe this was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up, his instincts told him that the offer might not be as simple as it seemed.
“I know,” he murmured, his grip tightening on the letter. “Lee Minwoo seemed genuine. He told me I’m the heir. But then there’s all the history... My grandfather was disowned by the family. They erased his name from the records, and now I’m supposed to just accept this? That’s too much to swallow.”
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Jiwoo’s face softened with sympathy. “Maybe they see something in you, Jaehoon. Maybe they think you’re different, that you can lead them to something better. But it’s also possible that they have their own motives. Maybe they’re looking for someone to clean up their mess, someone with no ties to the family who won’t question their authority.”
Her words hung in the air, and Jaehoon felt the weight of them settle into his chest. He had been so focused on the dream of wealth, on what it could mean for his family, that he had barely considered the darker side of the equation. The Lees were powerful, and power often bred secrets.
“Why now?” Jaehoon muttered to himself, more to the empty kitchen than to Jiwoo. “Why would they reach out after all these years? Why would they want me, of all people, to take over?”
Jiwoo leaned back in her chair, her eyes thoughtful. “Maybe they don’t want you. Maybe they need you. Think about it—if your grandfather was disowned, maybe there’s someone in the family who doesn’t want you to take your place. Maybe they’ve been trying to cover something up for generations.”
Jaehoon ran a hand through his hair, the confusion and frustration mounting. It all seemed like too much. The wealth, the power, the legacy—it was everything he had ever dreamed of, and yet it felt like a burden he wasn’t ready to bear. He glanced over at Jiwoo, her face filled with concern, and knew that she was right. He couldn’t make this decision lightly. The stakes were too high, and the consequences—whatever they might be—were too significant.
“Are we ready for this, Jiwoo?” he asked, his voice barely audible. “Can we really step into this world and expect to survive? I’ve spent my whole life trying to provide for you and the kids, but this... this is different. It’s not just about us anymore.”
Jiwoo stood up, walking over to where he sat, and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We don’t have to decide everything right now. We’ll take it one step at a time. Whatever happens, we’re in this together. And we’ll figure out what the Lee family wants, what they’re hiding, and what this inheritance really means. But you’re not alone, Jaehoon. You’ve never been alone.”
The words comforted him, but deep down, Jaehoon knew that this was a decision that would affect not just his life, but the lives of everyone he loved. He could feel the pull of the opportunity, the desire to provide for his family, but he also felt the heavy weight of the unknown. What would the Lee family demand of him? What price would he have to pay for their legacy?
After a long silence, Jaehoon took a deep breath and stood up, his decision finally crystallizing in his mind. “I’ll contact Lee Minwoo. I’ll go to the estate and hear what they have to say. But I need to know everything. All of it. No more secrets.”
Jiwoo nodded, her expression resolute. “I’ll be with you every step of the way, Jaehoon. We’ll face this together.”
Jaehoon grabbed his phone, his fingers hovering over the screen as he prepared to dial the number that would change their lives forever. The future, with all its uncertainty and promise, awaited him. But with it came a heavy responsibility—one he wasn’t sure he was ready for.
As he pressed the call button, a sense of finality washed over him. There was no turning back now.
The decision had been made.