It felt like discovering a world I didn’t know. From then on, I wanted to draw better pictures and learned to draw from my father’s side, even though no one asked me to.

That painting was none other than . The painting that was sold returned to my hands after 17 years. I had completely forgotten about that painting.

How could I forget about this painting…?

It was a lovely painting full of memories with my father, who taught me to hold a brush for the first time.

Treasuring the canvas, Autumn quickly embraced it and headed to the studio.
As I passed through the garden and arrived in front of the main building, I encountered Mi-jeong. She widened her eyes in surprise and then spoke.

“Oh, my, what a surprise. Gaeul, where are you rushing off to?”

“Ah, I’m sorry, Madam. Did I startle you?”

Gaeul smiled as if she wanted to show it to her mother. The sudden thought of showing her mother made her rush, surprising Mi-jeong.

Although Gaeul was itching to quickly pass by her and show the painting to her mother, she exchanged greetings first.

“It’s okay. More importantly, are you running so fast that you might fall?”

“I’m sorry, I’ll be careful. By the way, Madam, where are you going?”

“Just heard that some newly bought flowers arrived, so I’m going to arrange the garden a bit.”

Glancing at the newly planted flowers in the garden, Gaeul replied, “They’re pretty.” Although she didn’t catch a good glimpse, she quickly lowered her head and was about to turn away, but Gaeul stopped her steps.

“Come to think of it, who left this painting here?”

Since it was a painting sold 17 years ago, it was natural that it had an owner. Although she didn’t know how such a painting ended up in her studio, it was certain that someone other than her left it there.

Thinking of Kitaey, Gaeul subtly asked Mi-jeong.

“Madam, did you by any chance… visit Chairman Kitaey’s house yesterday?”

“No. He came because Kitaey said he was coming.”

Then who?

While Gaeul was puzzled, Mi-jeong added a word.

“Kitaey said he went to the event instead of Kijung yesterday, and it was already dawn when he went home. I wonder if he’s working while sleeping.”

Ah, I see… Naturally, she thought it was him who left it. Gaeul responded with a smile.

Even the person who didn’t have time to come and see her mother, the one who couldn’t afford to visit, could bring her a painting, so she thought.

Recalling the reconciliation and the growing closeness, she felt strangely proud.

Then… was it a gift from the chairman?

Thinking of the chairman, she was slightly puzzled as to why he would give her a painting suddenly. Memories of a recent somewhat awkward request from him came to mind.

“Don’t show closeness with the CEO while considering Cha Hyesu’s feelings. Why would he suddenly give me a painting…”

However, if it was a gift from the chairman, she thought she should express her gratitude regardless of the past incident.

Regardless of the day’s events, whatever happened, the fact that he gave her such a precious painting remained unchanged.

????????????

“Mom! Mom!”

“Oh, Gaeul.”

Gaeul entered the main building and called her mother quietly. When Hee-sun noticed her and approached, Gaeul hid the painting behind her back.

On the other hand, Hee-sun, who either came running or was excited, showed a smile, her cheeks flushed with a rosy glow, and quickly approached Gaeul.

“What’s going on at this hour, all the way to the main building?”

“Hehe…”

“Hmm, what is our daughter hiding behind her back?”
I came running with the intention of showing it to Mom, but I got a bit nervous.

Would she be as surprised and delighted as I am, or could it be that she’s shocked…?

With good intentions, I brought it, but as I was about to show it, I started to worry. I’ve been holding back my emotions all this time, and now that I want to show the painting, I’m afraid it might bring back memories of Dad, making Mom deeply sad.

As Gaeul hesitated, Heesun playfully touched Gaeul’s cheek, urging her on.

“You didn’t come to show it to Mom, did you? It’s a canvas. Are you showing Mom a painting?”

A painting show-off.

She laughed, thinking her daughter had come to show her a painting after a long time. Even though she had grown up, she was still a cute baby in her eyes. It was incredibly cute that she came to the main building holding a canvas.

“No, it’s not that. Mom, do you know what I brought?”

“A painting, right? Since it’s a canvas. Isn’t it a painting by Gaeul?”

“Yeah, it’s a painting, but it’s not my painting.”

Heesun looked puzzled at Gaeul’s words.

Why would she come to show a painting that wasn’t her own? Heesun didn’t have much interest in paintings, unlike Daeho and Gaeul. She simply liked them because the two of them liked them.

Gaeul, who had been hesitating for a moment, pulled out the canvas hidden behind her.

“Mom, do you remember this painting? It’s .”

“Oh my!”

Heesun’s eyes, which had been warm at the sight of Gaeul, widened significantly. She remembered the painting before Gaeul could finish speaking.

Although she didn’t know much about paintings, she remembered all the paintings her husband had drawn.

“Oh my… Oh my…”

“Haven’t seen it in a while? Dad’s painting.”

Heesun, too surprised to say more, just kept spitting out words. Her eye rims turned red, and soon, they became moist. Watching Heesun, Gaeul also wiped her own teary nose with the back of her hand.

She had only thought of showing it to her mother, who was so surprised earlier, but now her heart was tingling.

Seeing Dad’s painting after a long time made her so happy, but the complicated feeling of missing Dad, whom she could never see again, made her heart ache.

Gaeul was worried that her mother might collapse with a big shock for no reason. So she tried to create a light atmosphere and deliberately laughed brightly. She added some cheerful words.

“Even now, the tree I drew back then seems so poor. How on earth did that sell?”

“……Sigh.”

Even with Gaeul’s joke, Heesun eventually burst into tears. Her legs seemed to lose strength, and she plopped down in front of the painting.

Seeing Heesun like that, Gaeul, who was surprised, sat down beside her without hesitation.

She was a mother who pretended not to care, but wasn’t it possible that she needed time to let out her emotions every now and then? Wasn’t it possible that she had been holding back too much? And that… was it because of me?
I never thought about telling such a shocking story as Uncle Daejun’s, but this much seemed occasionally acceptable. Avoiding talking about Dad and wondering why we had avoided each other like that…

Well, it was probably because we cared for each other.

Suddenly, Heesun smiled sadly with tear-stained eyes. Memories were resurrected in the heartache of looking at the painting, gradually filling with happiness. Gaeul, leaning her head gently on her mother’s shoulder, also showed a sad smile.

“Dad’s painting. It’s so nice to see it after a long time, right, Mom?”

“Yeah, it’s really nice. I was starting to forget what your dad’s paintings were like…”

A warm aura permeated between the two mother and daughter who shared their sorrows. The first time they talked about Dad since coming to the mansion.

Gaeul smiled gently.

To her, it was an invaluable, irreplaceable gift, something beyond comparison with anything else.