POV: Male Lead (Ahn Min-jae)
The road to Busan stretched endlessly before Min-jae as he drove in silence. Ha-neul sat beside him, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on the window, deep in thought.
"You haven't said a word since we left," she finally spoke, her voice gentle.
Min-jae tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "I don't know what to expect, Ha-neul. What if she doesn't want to see me? What if she's been living a life without me and I just… barge in?"
Ha-neul reached over, taking his free hand. "You deserve to know the truth. No matter what happens, I'll be right here."
Min-jae's heart warmed at her words. She had always been his anchor, keeping him grounded when everything around him spun out of control.
After hours of driving, they arrived at a quiet coastal town in Busan. The address his father had given him led them to a small, modest house near the sea. His pulse quickened. She was here.
He stepped out of the car, his legs feeling heavy as he approached the door. Before he could knock, the door opened.
A woman stood there—elegant yet simple, her features soft but strikingly familiar. His mother.
Her eyes widened in shock, her hands trembling as she whispered, "Min-jae…?"
Min-jae's throat tightened. He had rehearsed this moment a thousand times in his mind, but now that he was here, words failed him.
"Are you… my mother?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Tears welled in her eyes as she took a shaky step forward. "I… I never thought I'd see you again."
Before he could react, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him as if she was afraid he would disappear.
Min-jae stood frozen for a moment before slowly, cautiously, hugging her back.
"I've waited so long for this," she whispered against his shoulder. "So long…"
Ha-neul watched the emotional reunion from a distance, her own eyes glassy with unshed tears.
After what felt like an eternity, his mother pulled away, cupping his face. "You look so much like your father… but your eyes… those are mine."
Min-jae swallowed the lump in his throat. "Why did he hide you from me? Why did he let me believe you were gone?"
A shadow crossed her face. "Because the truth about your birth… it's not simple, Min-jae."
His heart pounded. "What do you mean?"
She took a deep breath. "You weren't just hidden to protect me. You were hidden… because you are the true heir to something much bigger."
Min-jae's mind reeled. What did she mean?
Before she could explain further, a loud crash echoed from behind them.
Ha-neul turned in alarm. A group of masked men stood at the entrance to the yard, their presence menacing.
Min-jae's instincts kicked in. He pulled his mother behind him, his eyes narrowing.
"Who sent you?" he demanded.
One of the men stepped forward. "Your father wants you to come back. He says you've learned enough."
Min-jae clenched his jaw. His father wasn't going to let him uncover the full truth that easily.
But Min-jae was no longer the scared boy who followed orders.
If his father wanted a fight, he was ready.
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