‘Why is he suddenly acting like this? Did father become fond of Arin?’

The answer was ‘NO’.

There was nothing to like or dislike, as Chairman Ban Ho Jun had shown no interest in Arin throughout their three years of marriage.

‘Saving her life? Arin never did such a thing. What on earth is father talking about?’

Taking advantage of Jae Hyuk’s confusion, Chairman Ban Ho Jun pushed his intentions more firmly.

“I heard. That the situation was so bad that it wouldn’t be strange if I died like this. When I heard that, I had this thought. That my waking up like this is God’s revelation to atone for my sins. How I should face that person when I go.”

As if reminiscing about something, the chairman’s eyes welled up with tears. He tightly grasped his son’s hands and continued speaking.

“You may beg until your knees wear out. Unconditionally, bring Arin back.”

“That’s not possible. That’s an impossible task. Arin is living well now. Don’t disturb someone who is living well.”

“Ban Jae Hyuk! Are you saying your father’s words don’t make sense?”

For a long time, Chairman Ban Ho Jun’s appearance had long lost its past stature from just lying down. However, Chairman Ban Ho Jun’s gaze remained the same. His eyes shone and were sharp like a fierce predator.

“I didn’t want to do this, but…”

When the chairman nodded to Manager Kim, Manager Kim handed Jae Hyuk a single document.

“Now that I’ve woken up, my shares that were transferred to you are not yours, but mine. I can push you out of that position at any time. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Father. What are you saying? You can’t suddenly do this. Who are you saying you’ll entrust the company to now?”

“What’s the use of having professional managers.”

“Father!”

Jae Hyuk was bewildered.

Yes, he had developed tender feelings due to his father’s illness. The child who knew best that his father was more rational and cold-hearted than anyone else was Jae Hyuk himself.

Chairman Ban Ho Jun turned away, ignoring Jae Hyuk’s distorted face.

“I’ll give you a month. If you can’t bring Arin back, as stated in that document, I have no intention of handing over the VAN Group to you. Don’t even dream about my shares. I’ll write a new will as soon as Attorney Choi arrives today. If you ignore my words, don’t even think about taking anything I’ve given you.”

“Father.”

Jae Hyuk fell to his knees at the devastating reality.

He had no right to ask Arin to come. But if he couldn’t bring Arin back, he might lose the group.

As far as Jae Hyuk knew, Chairman Ban Ho Jun was not a man of empty words.

‘I can’t lose the group too!’

For Jae Hyuk, the VAN Group was the only reason for living that remained after Arin left.

If he had nothing to do, Jae Hyuk thought he might have gone mad.

From birth, he had grown up as the heir to the VAN Group. So Ban Jae Hyuk without the VAN Group would also lose meaning.

“Don’t do this. Don’t force it. Father.”

“Bring Arin back politely. You must not bring her by force. Making Arin come with a comfortable mind is your ability, Ban Jae Hyuk.”

Jae Hyuk felt his vision go dark.

‘Has so much time passed that he’s forgotten what mother did to Arin?’

Or is it that he’s forgotten everything that happened between Arin and me because he’s been lying down all this time?

“You may go.”

Chairman Ban Ho Jun’s voice dismissing Jae Hyuk was cold and stern.

Jae Hyuk looked up at Chairman Ban with a dumbfounded expression, but Chairman Ban Ho Jun turned away from his son.

[This is the timeline separator]

Some time later.

The day when Memoria’s main store and Yeonnam branch would merge was approaching. Yu Hyun, Arin, and Madam Seo came up to Seoul together.

Until they found a bigger house, they decided to live together in the apartment where Ji Yun lived for the time being.

“It’s really reassuring to have you here, boss.”

Cheol Yong said, looking at Arin.

Drrrk, drrrrrk.

Construction noise could be heard from the ceiling.

Cheol Yong glanced up at the ceiling and continued speaking.

“Are we really going to use up to the second floor?”

“Yes. That’s what we decided.”

At Ha Yeon’s suggestion, Memoria decided to use both the first and second floors.

Unlike Arin, who had refused due to concerns about rent, Yu Hyun nodded and said okay.

“The second floor is huge, I guess Min Ha Yeon felt sorry.”

Cheol Yong, who always had a smiling face, erased his smile and spoke in a chilling voice.

Surprised, Arin lightly hit his arm to stop him, but Cheol Yong didn’t back down.

“Let her hear. How can she butt in here without any conscience. I understood up to the pop-up store, but. Buying the building?”

Cheol Yong criticized Ha Yeon with sharp words.

Those who had studied together with Yu Hyun in France knew the beginning and end of Yu Hyun and Ha Yeon. They had watched from the side how much Yu Hyun struggled after Ha Yeon left without a word.

Cheol Yong couldn’t see Ha Yeon in a good light.

“Why is hyung understanding her again?”

Cheol Yong glared at Yu Hyun’s back as he was beautifully tying the curtains near the window.

“Even if objectively we’re not at a loss but getting better conditions, we still have to keep being entangled with Min Ha Yeon. I wonder how hyung feels.”

At Cheol Yong’s words, Arin quietly looked at Yu Hyun.

Ha Yeon had proposed an amount not much different from the existing rent under the pretext of ‘feeling sorry’. Arin had left the entire decision to Yu Hyun. Arin thought Yu Hyun’s feelings were more important than money, and was willing to respect it even if Yu Hyun rejected Ha Yeon’s proposal.

But Yu Hyun had accepted Ha Yeon’s proposal.

[It’s a very good opportunity for us. Arin wanted to expand more on the coffee side, right? It felt more like a bakery until now. Now that we’ve wrapped up the main store in Jeju Island, expanding the Yeonnam branch seems good. There’s no burden on our side. They said they’ll cover the interior costs too. We have no reason to refuse.]

Arin recalled Yu Hyun’s face as he spoke with a slight smile.

“Haah.”

Arin let out a short sigh.

‘Even though oppa knows the reason why the managing director is doing this is because of him, I wonder if he’s really not bothered at all.’

Even though Yu Hyun knew that Ha Yeon’s actions for Memoria were actually because of him, he acted as if it didn’t matter.

Cheol Yong’s expression was dark, as if he was thinking the same thing.

“I don’t know. I don’t get it. Boss, I’m going to check the kitchen.”

Cheol Yong messed up his hair roughly.

“Ah, yes. Please do.”

Cheol Yong stood up and went into the kitchen in the back.

“Let’s just work. Work.”

Arin started organizing the counter alone. And not long after, the shop door opened and customers came in.

“Welcome.”

Arin smiled at the incoming customers.

Just then, Arin’s phone on the counter vibrated briefly.

[This is the timeline separator]

VVIP ward.

A middle-aged woman adorned with luxury brands entered the heavily guarded VVIP hospital room.

“It’s been a long time, Chairman.”

The woman who approached Chairman Ban Ho Jun took off her sunglasses. When their eyes met, Chairman Ban Ho Jun’s face turned pale blue.

“Y-You.”

“Do you recognize me?”

The middle-aged woman said, raising the corners of her mouth.

“Heo Eun Ah?”

“You remember my name. Well… you should. You shouldn’t forget my name, right?”

“H-How did you get here?”

Chairman Ban Ho Jun’s voice trembled as he pointed at the woman.

“I thought you were doing well, but you look terrible. Why did you end up like this when you have so much money?”

Heo Eun Ah, she poured out sharp words towards Chairman Ban Ho Jun without any hesitation. She showed no sign of nervousness even in front of the chairman who ranked first in Korea’s business world.

If a stranger had seen, they might have thought it was rather Chairman Ban Ho Jun who was crouching like a mouse in front of a cat.

“I heard you were in America…”

“How could I just stay there after hearing that news? I heard. That Choi guy is also on his last legs, right? I have to see that bastard die. Just like I watched my husband die.”

Eun Ah spoke coldly, grinding her teeth.

“You seem to be at a loss for words. Well, I didn’t come to hear you speak, so I’ll just state my business. I’ve come to collect. My child’s…”

Eun Ah threw the documents she took out of her bag onto the floor.

“What on earth are you doing!”

Manager Kim, who had been watching the situation from behind, couldn’t forgive Eun Ah’s rudeness and shouted angrily.

“Why, are you going to pick it up, Manager Kim?”

Manager Kim’s eyes turned cold at Eun Ah’s sharp words.

“Hey. Ms. Heo Eun Ah. What kind of disrespect is this in front of the chairman?”

As Manager Kim approached Eun Ah with a frightening momentum, Chairman Ban Ho Jun signaled with his eyes not to do so. Reluctantly, Manager Kim bit his lip and stepped back.

“Even though I may be an unworthy mother, you shouldn’t treat my daughter like this, should you? Both you, Chairman, and that Choi Cheol Su bastard. How dare you!”

Eun Ah’s fists trembled with rage.

“You know well that this material is just the tip of the iceberg, don’t you, Chairman? This is a warning. Don’t touch my daughter anymore.”

When Arin was barely two months old, her husband Hyun Jun left Eun Ah’s side.

She had clearly heard it was an accident. So until then, she believed that was the truth.

Moreover, Eun Ah was mentally unstable as it was not long after giving birth. She finally lost her mind due to her husband’s sudden absence.

She couldn’t do anything but cry, and of course, she couldn’t take care of the child.

The young life that had just been born into the world needed care. Eun Ah’s family had her admitted to the hospital due to mental instability and sent Arin to their friend, Mr. Choi.

Eun Ah spent several years in the hospital. After barely regaining her senses, she went to look for her daughter. The child she watched from afar was smiling. Eun Ah couldn’t bring herself to approach her daughter. And that day, she received a call from Mr. Choi.

[Arin doesn’t know she has a birth mother. It’ll be hard, but I think it’s better if you don’t come forward. There’s no need to unnecessarily hurt the child.]

Eun Ah could only nod at Mr. Choi’s words.

In a way, she had abandoned Arin first. Even if it was difficult, she had no excuses if she was blamed for abandoning her child.

[Right. It might be better now than suddenly appearing as her birth mother. Trust me, trust this Choi Cheol Su and live comfortably.]

Eun Ah liquidated all her assets and transferred them to Mr. Choi.

[Please raise Arin well. I’m counting on you.]

After that, Eun Ah left for America following her older sister.

She didn’t know anything until she filed a lawsuit and uncovered the truth, as the insurance company’s attitude was strange.

That her husband Min Hyun Jun’s accident was due to the selfishness of despicable people.

Not knowing that the people she believed to be family had already been bought off by Madam Jung, not knowing that a large sum of death insurance had been taken out in her husband Min Hyun Jun’s name, not even dreaming that the beneficiary just before his death was Arin who was just a lump of flesh, she left for America.

Eun Ah found out that numerous people were involved, including Chairman Ban, Madam Jung, Mr. Choi, Kyung Sook, and others. And she was able to discover that the reason was because Hyun Jun was trying to blow the whistle internally.

“I’ll do the things I couldn’t do from now on. Our Arin… I’ll properly repay and recover all the things that hurt and pained her.”

Even if she’s a terrible mother who has never properly hugged her child.

“Make sure that Jung Hyo Eon woman doesn’t torment my daughter. If you can’t do that, you don’t know what I might say.”