POV: Male Lead (Ahn Min-jae)
Min-jae stormed into the Ahn family mansion, the documents clutched tightly in his fist. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions—anger, betrayal, confusion. Was his entire life a lie?
His father, Ahn Dae-hyun, was sitting in his study, sipping whiskey as if nothing in the world could touch him. The moment Min-jae stepped in, Dae-hyun raised an eyebrow.
"Min-jae," he greeted, his voice calm. "What brings you here in such a rush?"
Min-jae threw the envelope onto the desk. The papers spilled out, revealing the evidence—illegal transactions, framed lawsuits, and most importantly, the woman in the photograph.
"Explain this," Min-jae demanded, his voice cold.
Dae-hyun's eyes flickered to the documents, but his expression remained unreadable. He set down his glass. "Where did you get this?"
"Chairman Seo." Min-jae took a step closer, his fists clenched. "I want the truth, Dad. Who is this woman? Is she… my real mother?"
For the first time, Ahn Dae-hyun's expression cracked. A flicker of something—guilt? Pain?—crossed his features before he masked it with indifference.
"Why does it matter?" he said flatly.
Min-jae slammed his hands on the desk. "Because it's my life! Did you lie to me all these years? Was my mother just a cover-up?"
Dae-hyun sighed, leaning back in his chair. "She was never meant to be part of this world," he admitted. "Your mother… was a mistake."
Min-jae felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. A mistake?
"She was the only woman I ever truly loved," Dae-hyun continued, his voice softer now. "But she wasn't from a powerful family. She wasn't part of the plan. My father forced me to marry your stepmother—someone 'worthy' of the Ahn family name."
Min-jae's nails dug into his palms. "So you abandoned her?"
"I had no choice," Dae-hyun said bitterly. "When she became pregnant with you, my father threatened to destroy her. To keep her safe, I had to cut ties. But I made sure she was taken care of."
Min-jae's breath came in sharp gasps. "Where is she now?"
Dae-hyun hesitated. Then, with a heavy sigh, he answered, "She's alive. But she's been hidden… for your safety."
Min-jae's world tilted. His real mother was alive.
Before he could respond, Dae-hyun added, "If you really want to know her, I won't stop you. But once you uncover the past, there's no turning back."
Min-jae didn't hesitate. "Tell me where she is."
Dae-hyun met his eyes. "She's in Busan."
Min-jae's heart pounded. He was going to find his real mother.
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