# Chapter 3
Seyoung Group.
I was bewildered when I heard the name of the company that Mom had always talked about.
“Seyoung… Group?”
“Yes. If you search the internet, you’ll be able to confirm my face.”
He handed over his business card, and I took it and searched his name on my smartphone.
Among the many people named Yoon Sehoon, I could easily find him.
“You can verify the others as well.”
He then informed us of everyone’s affiliations and titles, and I searched for them too.
It was hard to believe, but everything he said seemed to be true.
“But… what brings Seyoung Group here…?”
“If it’s not too intrusive, I would like to talk inside.”
I looked at Mom.
I wasn’t happy about letting strangers into the house, especially because of Mom, but surprisingly, Mom’s expression was calm.
“Why do you want to come in? Wouldn’t it be better to go somewhere else to talk?”
“I thought it would be more comfortable for you to speak inside. You probably don’t trust us yet, and I thought you might feel burdened to go somewhere with us.”
“…”
Mom seemed to be thinking for a moment, and just then, two police officers came up.
“We received a report. Who made the call?”
As I was about to answer the police officer’s question, Mom spoke up first.
“Those people are gone. These gentlemen came and helped. I think you can go back now.”
I was inwardly surprised to see Mom lying so skillfully.
It was so different from the Mom I knew, but the police believed her words and left.
The people from Seyoung Group, seeing Mom send the police away, seemed to think we trusted them.
I couldn’t tell what Mom was thinking, but she unhesitatingly led them inside.
However, she just let them in without inviting them to sit or offering them drinks, and stood with her arms folded, looking at them.
They didn’t seem to expect good treatment either, as they stood awkwardly.
“We know that you have been through difficult times. I would like to express my deep condolences about that first, Madam.”
The word “Madam” sounded awkward, but I kept looking at Yoon Sehoon, waiting for what he would say next.
“Who sent you? Was it the Chairman?”
When Mom asked, Yoon Sehoon shook his head.
“I think you misunderstand. We were not sent by the Chairman. I would like you to know that we are taking a considerable risk by being here.”
Mom, who had been confident until then, tilted her head at those words.
“What do you mean? I naturally thought the Chairman sent you.”
“No. The one who sent us is the Vice Chairman.”
“The Vice… Chairman? You mean my brother-in-law sent you?”
“That’s correct.”
I tried hard to understand the rapidly exchanged conversation.
I had learned some things about Seyoung Group over time.
Mom always talked about Seyoung Group, and it would have been strange if I hadn’t taken an interest.
Seyoung Group had a high ranking in the business world, and its global influence was particularly significant.
It was a company with higher brand recognition and a better image abroad than domestically.
That’s why I had been at a loss about how to think about Seyoung for a long time.
Whether I should be proud, or think of it as detestable.
And the conclusion I reached was that Seyoung had nothing to do with me.
I thought there was no reason for Seyoung’s owner to know Mom or me.
But now, all of those assumptions were being shaken to the core.
“We only recently learned about Seomin’s existence. And we only belatedly learned that Seomin was kidnapped a long time ago. After that, under the Vice Chairman’s instructions, we secretly investigated the matter and discovered who was behind it.”
The man named Yoon Sehoon explained in detail what we were curious about.
So we had to continue to be shocked without even being able to close our gaping mouths as an unbearable truth poured out.
“The person who instigated the kidnapping was the Chairman.”
“…What did you say?”
Mom looked at him with a blank face and then shook her head as if she didn’t understand.
“That’s impossible. Why would the Chairman do that?”
“The Chairman disliked any disruption to the succession plan. Madam must have seen the recent events and must know how fierce the fights over management rights are in other chaebol families.”
“So… he did that because he was afraid there would be such problems if we appeared? That’s absurd. What did we do? What did we ask for? Even though he never acknowledged our Seomin!”
Mom gradually became angry.
But she seemed to be trying to calm down so as not to worry me.
I had always thought Mom was weak, but I wondered if I really knew anything about her.
I really knew nothing.
“If it’s all right, I’ll continue.”
When Mom nodded, Yoon Sehoon continued speaking.
“The Vice Chairman has only recently learned of Madam and Seomin’s existence.”
He went on to say that the Chairman had instigated my kidnapping, and that he had learned how our mother and son had been living in difficulty without proper care all this time.
That’s why he sent people he trusted to us, he continued.
“The Vice Chairman was deeply distressed after hearing the story. His relationship with the Chairman has deteriorated beyond repair, and because he even considered cutting ties, the Chairman has ultimately taken a step back. If it were the Chairman’s secretariat, they would have probably anticipated our movements to some extent, but the fact that they’re not taking any other measures shows that.”
“…”
Mom listened to the story in silence.
“The Vice Chairman is trying to perfectly restore Seomin’s rights. If Madam and Seomin agree, he is also considering adopting Seomin, and he asked me to convey that to you as well. He wants to meet you both, but he sent us first because he thought it might be difficult for you if the Vice Chairman suddenly visited without any prior explanation.”
The more I listened, the more curious I felt.
Usually, in situations like this, wouldn’t the roles of the grandfather and uncle be reversed?
“My brother-in-law has always been that kind of person. He also told me that if anything happened to him, I should go to his brother, saying his brother would make sure Seomin grew up well.”
“Then why didn’t you go to him, Madam?”
“I did go. I just couldn’t meet him because I was always blocked. I really… shouted until my throat was sore. But no one believed me, and they thoroughly prevented me from meeting my brother-in-law, so what could I do?”
Then Mom laughed.
As if she thought there was no need to talk about such things now.
“Now I understand. When Seomin was kidnapped, I thought it was my brother-in-law’s doing. He believed in his brother, but I thought even his brother had to change in the face of wealth. I never thought the Chairman would have…”
Mom laughed as if she was dumbfounded.
I kept listening to the conversation between them and looking at Mom.
“If Madam and Seomin are okay with it, the Vice Chairman will come here. He’s probably anxiously waiting for our call even now.”
Mom nodded.
“All right. Tell him that. Tell him we’ll see him.”
After that, Mom looked at me.
“Seomin.”
But she couldn’t continue with her words.
* * *
The Vice Chairman of Seyoung Group.
And my uncle.
Sitting across from him, I sincerely regretted not believing what Mom had been saying all along.
I saw my own reflection from the mirror in his face.
People said that overall my face resembled Mom’s, but I realized, looking at his face, that I also had some of my father’s features.
He had a trustworthy face that made you want to rely on him.
I couldn’t tell if others who met him felt the same way.
But seeing the kind demeanor he was showing me, that’s what I thought.
“So it’s you. Kang Seomin.”
That was what he said to me when we first met.
“Let me hug you.”
Though he spoke as if composed and indifferent, he couldn’t hold back his tears as he embraced me.
I pretended not to notice him crying, and he composed himself on his own.
Uncle looked at Mom with reddened eyes and bowed his head.
“You’ve been through a lot. Sister-in-law.”
Mom also bowed her head to him.
“Thank you for coming to find us. He always said, if anything happened to him, his older brother would take care of us.”
“I’m sorry. I’m really so sorry. Not knowing that you and Seomin were struggling…”
“I know you couldn’t help it. Thank you for finding us, even now.”
After exchanging stories they hadn’t been able to tell for a long time, Uncle carefully looked back and forth between me and Mom and said,
“Sister-in-law. Have you discussed that matter with Seomin yet…?”
He couldn’t bring himself to mention adoption directly and spoke indirectly.
