Chapter 14: Blood That Cannot Be Denied
The night sky over Seoul hung heavy, as if it too carried the secret that would soon be unveiled. In the vast, traditional-meets-modern Yi residence, the atmosphere felt quieter than usual.
Gevran sat in the main living room, facing two people who had always felt distant in his life—Yi Jido, the cold and visionary man, and Yi-Ana, a humble yet strong-voiced woman, known in the media as the Chairwoman of the Korean Women Farmers' Organization, Seoul branch.
But tonight, they weren't here as public figures.
They had come as… his real parents.
Yi Jido spoke first. His voice was calm, but heavy with history.
"You're not a child we took in, Gevran. You are our own flesh and blood."
Yi-Ana sat beside him, wearing a simple dark green hanbok. Her face reflected both firmness and the kind of love Gevran had only faintly felt before.
"We kept your identity hidden for political and safety reasons," she said gently.
"Not everyone in the Yi family accepted our decision. I'm not from a chaebol background, and your father's choice to marry me caused many internal conflicts."
"So... I was hidden?" Gevran asked quietly.
"No. You were protected," Yi-Ana replied firmly.
"We placed you outside the larger family circle so you could grow up free—free from political pressure, from inheritance expectations—so you could choose your own path."
Yi Jido added, "But fate brought you back. And now, it's time the world knows who you truly are."
Gevran fell silent. His gaze drifted to the window, where the lights of Seoul glimmered like distant stars.
"I don't want an inheritance," he said softly.
"I just want my voice to be heard. Not as an heir, but as someone trying to stop the violence and bullying that once killed me."
Yi-Ana looked deeply into her son's eyes.
"That's why we're proud. Not because you carry the Yi name, but because of your courage."
---
The Next Day – Daehan International School
An extraordinary student forum was held. A small stage had been set up in the inner courtyard. All students, teachers, and even some alumni—now public figures—were in attendance.
Gevran stepped up to the podium. News cameras stood in the distance, but his focus was only on his friends.
> "My name is Gevran Yi. The biological son of Yi Jido, CEO of Korindro Group, and Yi-Ana, an activist who fights for the voices of rural women farmers on the outskirts of Seoul."
> "Today, I'm not standing here to defend wealth or family name. I stand for all of you—who have ever felt unworthy just because you were born in the 'wrong' place."
> "I once died because of bullying. But I was reborn to make sure no one else has to suffer the same. I will not stay silent."
Silence was replaced by a wave of applause that cut through the autumn wind. No more sneers—only teary eyes and respectful bows.
---
That Night – Yi Family Balcony
Yi-Ana brought a cup of tea and sat beside Gevran.
"Back then, people said I didn't belong in the Yi family because I was just a village woman fighting for farmers' rights," she said with a soft smile.
"But tonight... my son spoke to the entire nation."
Gevran looked up at the sky, now clearing of clouds.
"I spoke… because you and Dad never stopped believing in me, even when I nearly gave up."
Yi-Ana gently touched his shoulder.
"Keep speaking, my son. The world is listening."
---
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