Chapter 485: Parents
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 485: Parents
I won't deny that I’m a failure of a son.
Because it’s the truth.
However, Father has his own share of sins—like deceiving me to break me up with Yun-ji, or trying to force me to inherit the company instead of my eldest brother.
He’s pulled all sorts of schemes, so it’s not like I have absolutely nothing to say in my defense.
We’ve both been awful to each other, and we’ve lived our lives thinking we both had valid grievances.
But today.
I am certain that the scales have tipped completely.
And it’s because of my own fault.
‘Father, I’ll make it up to you.’
My father was kneeling on the floor beside me. Seeing the oldest person in the room—and the one with the highest social status—kneeling might have been uncomfortable for the other parents.
Yet, Father didn't say a word; he simply insisted on maintaining that posture.
“He—he’s my father.”
“I am Woo-jin’s father. I am deeply, deeply sorry that we have to meet under these circumstances.”
“…….”
I found myself staring at him.
I didn't know he was capable of bowing his head to others like this.
The father I had known until now was always the one reigning from above, the one who controlled people. Seeing this side of him was refreshing.
On the other hand, I felt touched that he was going this far for me, but then—
“If you do not grant your permission, we will also withdraw.”
“Father?!”
Father spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
My voice rose instinctively, but Father didn't even spare me a glance as he continued.
“I have three sons.”
Is there anyone here who doesn't know that?
He was, after all, the former chairman of Uju Group.
“I don’t have a single daughter, but I empathize with how you must feel. I’m sure you wouldn't want to marry off your precious daughters to a man who hasn't even got his head on straight. Especially when he’s openly seeing other women.”
“Th-that’s right. It’s difficult.”
“Common sense says it’s impossible.”
I-seo’s father and Ye-rin’s mother nodded in agreement.
As I said before, it wasn't that they hated me as a person.
They just couldn't accept the fact that I had multiple women.
‘Does he have a plan?’
At first, I naturally thought Father would help me.
After all, he had already met the girls, and when he heard they were pregnant, he even gave them a villa and told them to go there and recover well.
However, Father brought the conversation back to a harsh reality, acting as if it were only natural.
“If the situation requires the pregnancies to be terminated, our side will handle all the preparations. Furthermore, if they choose to give birth, we will take full responsibility for everything, from child support onwards.”
“Father—!”
Slam!
Without realizing it, I slammed my hand on the table and stood up.
My fists were clenched tight, and my breath came in ragged gasps.
Not only the other parents, but Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo were startled and came out of the room.
“What did you just say?! Terminate? Are you joking?! Those are my children! My own flesh and blood! How dare you spout such bullshit!”
“Stop acting like a child.”
“I’m not acting like a child, I’m acting like a parent!”
“Think realistically. Even if you act outside the bounds of common sense, you can't expect others to follow suit.”
“How dare you talk about someone else's children so recklessly! Are you really going to be like this until the very end?!”
“It is the best solution.”
It was the first time.
In all my fights with my father, it was the first time I felt my eyes grow hot and my vision blur.
“Still! Even so, I hoped you would be a good grandfather to your grandchildren! I even begged you!”
He wasn't a good father.
But I wanted him to be a good grandfather.
“But is this it? Even after retiring, are you still just ‘The Chairman’?”
My head felt like it was on fire, and in my surge of emotion, a few tears escaped.
“Woo-jin.”
“It’s okay, that’s never going to happen.”
Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo rushed to my side. I was embarrassed to have shed tears, but that was how sincere I was.
Just hearing those words directed at my children made my heart drop with fear.
Though I was a bit young to be a parent, it didn't mean I lacked a sense of responsibility.
“I’m definitely going to have this baby. And I’m going to live with Woo-jin!”
“Me too. I might look young because I’m a college student, but this is a conclusion I reached after a lot of thought.”
The two of them tried to lead me back into the room. While still fuming, I first bowed my head to the other parents to apologize.
I had made a pathetic scene.
I felt terrible, but I knew that if we kept talking now, voices would only get louder and the argument would become purely emotional.
In the end, I went into the room with Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo to try and calm my anger.
*
Click.
The sound of the door closing echoed, and the living room fell into a brief silence.
Just as everyone was reeling from the sudden outburst, Chairman Kim silently turned his head to look at the other parents again.
“Children… they always seem to grow up in the blink of an eye without us noticing.”
“……That’s true.”
“Indeed.”
The parents agreed.
Perhaps they felt it even more keenly because of the current situation.
“Especially that rascal—he changed noticeably in an instant. Originally, he was the one I intended to leave the company to.”
Everyone gasped at that.
Taking over after Chairman Kim meant becoming the chairman of Uju Group.
“Do you know why I gave the company to my eldest son instead of him?”
“…….”
“…….”
“On the day I was originally going to hand it over to Woo-jin, he suddenly came to me and threw a fit. He said… he had become a father.”
Of course, it had been a lie back then.
It was just a mischievous prank by the kids, but seeing that, Chairman Kim had become certain of one thing.
The position of chairman held no interest for Kim Woo-jin.
He had the ability, but he would never use that ability for the sake of the company.
Well, his chaotic and messy private life was a bonus, of course.
“To that boy, being by your daughters' sides was more important than the position of a chairman who influences all of South Korea.”
Since he had already found something more precious.
The chairman’s seat meant nothing to Kim Woo-jin.
“If I may speak from my experience as a parent…”
A small smile played on Chairman Kim’s lips. It was absurd, but it was proof that he, too, was a human being, not a machine.
“In the end, you can never win against your children.”
Chairman Kim had already met Seo Ye-rin, and he spoke with Choi I-seo often.
He knew.
He knew that no matter what happened, they would never give up.
Since they were so captivated by one another, they would cling together stubbornly; trying to force them apart would only result in a pointless tragedy.
“I didn't have children just to give them a chairman’s seat from the start.”
As time passed and roles shifted, his cold, sharp aura had already softened and vanished.
What remained in its place was only the benevolence and responsibility of a parent.
“I didn't have him because I wanted him to become the child I envisioned, nor did I have him because I wanted him to achieve great things.”
As he closed his eyes, he saw the moment he first held Kim Woo-jin.
“I just wanted him to be happy.”
“…….”
“…….”
“I imagine all of you feel the same.”
When we first held our children.
When we first met.
Ah, I want to make you happy.
I want you to live your life with a smile.
Those feelings and resolutions had faded amidst the storms of the world and become distorted by the passage of time.
His words pierced through to the very essence of parenthood.
“They will be happy.”
He also gave them a sense of certainty.
“Did you not just see it? How he wept and raged over children who haven't even been in this world for a month?”
“…….”
“…….”
The parents’ gazes turned toward the room Kim Woo-jin had entered.
Certainly, his display just now couldn't be dismissed as mere responsibility.
Because they were parents themselves, they deeply empathized with Kim Woo-jin’s heart.
“I am sure they will be happy.”
Slowly.
Chairman Kim lowered his head.
Had there ever been a time in his life when he had asked someone for something so politely?
Since Chairman Kim had always been in the superior position in business, this experience was novel.
Yet, surprisingly, there was no discomfort, nor was there any unpleasantness.
Bowing his head for the sake of his rude, foolish son was a small price to pay.
“Let us…”
It was simpler than he had thought.
“Let us make the children happy.”
*
Vroooom.
Buildings whizzed past the window. The smooth ride of a luxury sedan was impressive no matter how many times I experienced it.
“…….”
I felt dazed.
Like I was dreaming?
I got permission.
Amazingly, while I was in the room, Father had secured their permission.
Is this the dignity of the former chairman of Uju Group?
To be honest, rather than feeling good, I simply couldn't believe it.
I was so bewildered that I had pinched my cheeks several times.
The girls decided to talk with their parents a bit more, but since the permission was granted, there shouldn't be any major issues.
I took a few hits from the parents before leaving, but I accepted them gladly.
Still, my heart swelled when I heard them say at the end, “Take good care of them,” and “If you make them cry, you’re dead.”
Because it meant they really had given their blessing.
“Father.”
When I called out to him, he glanced at me from the seat next to mine.
“Is there anything I can do for you?”
Since the man I thought was my enemy until moments ago had suddenly solved everything, even someone like me wanted to do something in return. When I asked, Father leaned his chin on his hand against the window frame and replied indifferently.
“Don't talk to me when my daughters-in-law aren't around.”
“…….”