Lee Yeon-Sil took out the envelope, and inside was a single sheet of letter. So this was what Choi Eun-Tae had meant when he said he had something prepared—he had slipped a letter between the lunch boxes. Lee Yeon-Sil pulled out the letter and began reading silently. Curious about the contents, I waited until she finished reading. Even my mom and Lee Soo-Chan, who had been peeling tangerines beside us, stopped what they were doing and waited. Moments later, tears welled up in Lee Yeon-Sil's eyes. She looked at me with a trembling gaze. "Yoon-Ho oppa... did Mr. Chairman... no... did father-in-law send this?" I nodded. "Yes. I received it directly from him and brought it. But... why?" Lee Yeon-Sil stretched out her hand and handed me the letter. "Here..." On the sheet she handed me were brush strokes written in firm, old-style calligraphy. My dear daughter-in-law, I had hoped to speak with you face to face when you came to Seoul, but since I have not yet been forgiven by Eun-Gi, I couldn't meet you and instead write this letter. I've been hearing about you through others, and I'm constantly worried. Carrying two children is no easy task. My desire to care for you is as great as a mountain and my wish to look after you is deeper than the sea, but my inability to do so torments me. Are you lonely? I worry that you feel alone without Eun-Gi by your side. Perhaps heaven is punishing the harsh and indifferent man I was in my youth. I know it must be difficult, but try to stay positive and prioritize your health above all. If ever, by any chance, you need help, reach out to the person who stays near the orphanage. Whatever the problem, no matter how difficult, I will take care of it. With the delivery fast approaching, I pray for your health and a safe birth. I don't doubt you'll give birth to beautiful children who resemble you. So please put your mind at ease. Though I know I have no right to call you my daughter-in-law, just this once, in this letter, I wanted to. From a foolish old man of Myeongdong. In the letter, Choi Eun-Tae couldn't dare to call himself her father-in-law. He simply called himself a foolish old man of Myeongdong. The writing seemed calm, but the emotions packed into it were anything but ordinary. It was filled with lingering regret over not being forgiven by his son, Kang Eun-Gi, and deep concern and care for Lee Yeon-Sil. After reading it, I said to Lee Yeon-Sil, "Mr. Chairman was really worried about you." Lee Yeon-Sil nodded. "Yeah... I know." "Just like he said, you'll get through this birth just fine. So don't worry." I gently folded the letter and handed it back to her. Then Lee Yeon-Sil passed it to my mom. "Mom. You read it too." Lee Yeon-Sil clearly wanted her to know what kind of person Choi Eun-Tae was, and what was on his mind. After reading it slowly, the corners of my mom's lips lifted ever so slightly. She knew well that Choi Eun-Tae hadn't even known he had a son, so she didn't hold a deep grudge against him. Still, because she had borne the pain in young Kang Eun-Gi's place, she didn't look at him warmly either. But Choi Eun-Tae's letter was so full of warmth that it even softened Mom's heart. "This old man really cares about our Yeon-Sil." It seemed Mom was starting to see Choi Eun-Tae in a slightly different light. Then suddenly, Lee Yeon-Sil, who had been wiping her tears, opened another envelope. "This one... it's for Mom?" Mom, having just put down the other letter, tilted her head. "A letter for me? Why?" "I don't know either." "Let me see it." Follow current novᴇls on NoveI(F)ire.net When Lee Yeon-Sil handed her the envelope, Mom carefully unfolded the letter. However, she finished reading it almost immediately. Mom chuckled and showed the letter to both Lee Yeon-Sil and me. Dear Eun-Gi's mother, From the Old man of Myeongdong. It was a short and simple message. "This old man's more shy than he looks, huh?" The last time they met, Choi Eun-Tae had promised Mom that he would try to be forgiven by Kang Eun-Gi by cutting down on his wrongdoings and doing more good. He also said that while he couldn't leave Myeongdong or it would cause chaos, he would manage the loan and money markets there in a more stable way. So he promised he wouldn't be the best man, but he would strive to be the best possible good man. Realizing this note was his way of showing he was keeping that promise, Mom smiled softly. Lee Yeon-Sil tilted her head. "Mom, why are you smiling?" "Pfft. He called me Eun-Gi's mother. I think he's feeling jealous. Look, his handwriting is all crooked." She said it seemed like Choi Eun-Tae felt a twinge of jealousy because he couldn't even call his own son "my son," but Mom was referred to as Eun-Gi's mother. That was probably why he wrote it like that. Just then, a deeper smile formed around Mom's eyes. "Well, since he gave us such a gift... I guess I should say something nice about the old man when I visit Eun-Gi tomorrow, huh?" Considering Choi Eun-Tae's wealth and power, it was truly impressive that he could humble himself . It wasn't easy for a man who had never known what it feels like to desire something to act so restrained. But because of that, we could also see how much he truly cared for Kang Eun-Gi. "Yes, please do, Mom." We all shared a soft laugh over Choi Eun-Tae's letter. At that moment, a line from earlier suddenly came to mind. Carrying two children is no easy task. That was in the letter Choi Eun-Tae had written to Lee Yeon-Sil. My eyes shifted to her belly. She had a delicate body, yet a belly as big as a mountain. 'It seems quite large for her frame, but if it was two babies... surely not...' I immediately turned to Lee Yeon-Sil and asked, "Yeon-Sil. Are you having twins?" Lee Yeon-Sil made the same mischievous face she used to make when she was little. "Hehe. I was gonna surprise you later... but yeah, I am!" Mom giggled beside her. "That's right. They're twins." When Lee Yeon-Sil had called me before, she had referred to them as 'the little blessings' in plural. So it wasn't just one niece or nephew—I was getting two. Unexpectedly, joy doubled in an instant. Just as I was about to say congratulations, Lee Yeon-Sil suddenly grabbed her belly and winced. "Ow!" At that moment, I completely forgot the celebration and shot to my feet. "What's wrong, Yeon-Sil? Are you in pain? Should I get the doctor? Want me to call someone? Just say the word!" Lee Soo-Chan also dropped his peeled tangerine and stood up. "Hyung-nim. I'll go get the doctor!" "No, I'll go. I'm faster than you." Lee Soo-Chan and I immediately turned and ran toward the room entrance. But then Lee Yeon-Sil called out, "No, oppas. Stop! Stop! One of them just kicked, that's all." We stopped right at the door, frozen mid-stride. "O-Oh, really?" Lee Yeon-Sil waved at us. "I think the babies are reacting to your voice, Yoon-Ho oppa. Come here. Say hi to the twins." Mom chuckled. "Don't be shy. Just like Yeon-Sil said, go greet your nieces or nephews." As if in a trance, I returned to Lee Yeon-Sil and knelt in front of her. When I was hesitating because I'm unsure what to do, Lee Yeon-Sil gently took my hands and placed them on her belly. "There's two of them, so use both hands. They're always squabbling in there, just like you and Eun-Gi oppa were when you were little." My palms rested on the thin fabric of Lee Yeon-Sil's maternity dress. I felt tiny jolts under both hands. And then, my heart started beating in rhythm with the kicks. The kicks were strong and filled with life. A chill ran through me. These were my nieces or nephews. Children I never got to meet before the regression were now greeting me for the first time. It felt as if they were telling me "Nice to meet you." Overcome with emotion, I replied in a trembling voice. "Hi...twins..." As if responding to my words, they kicked again. My chest swelled,with emotions and I couldn't speak. Then Lee Yeon-Sil, eyes glistening, asked, "Oppa... why are you crying?" Lee Yeon-Sil reached out and touched my cheek. Only then did I feel the cold tears on my skin. Maybe it was because I had the chance to meet the children I missed because of my past mistakes, I felt overwhelmed. "I guess... because I'm happy. I'm just so happy." Lee Yeon-Sil and Mom smiled warmly, their own eyes a little misty. After I wiped away my tears, Lee Yeon-Sil turned to Lee Soo-Chan. "Soo-Chan oppa, you try too." Lee Soo-Chan placed his hands on her belly just like I had, but nothing happened. Lee Soo-Chan tilted his head in confusion, and Lee Yeon-Sil giggled. "They're playing favorites, huh?" As Lee Soo-Chan pouted, Mom and Lee Yeon-Sil burst into laughter again. A doctor came to Lee Yeon-Sil's VIP suite to review her checkup results. She was carrying twins, showed no signs of preeclampsia, and both babies were healthy. However, because it was a twin pregnancy, she would need weekly hospital visits from now on. The doctor recommended she be hospitalized starting from week 38. They also asked her to stay one more day to complete the remaining tests. Fortunately, everything looked good and we were all relieved. Then the results of Mom's stomach surgery tests came back. Those too looked promising. While we waited, members from Reverse Entertainment began visiting one by one. So I left things in Lee Soo-Chan's hands and stepped outside the hospital with Mom. Because I had to transfer shares of the drama production company Mirinae to Mom's side, I only brought her along and headed straight to the JU Entertainment building near Hoop Entertainment. It was where Mirinae had settled after completing its rehabilitation process. After a thirty minute drive, I arrived at the entrance parking lot of JU Entertainment, owned by Ju Yung-In. As I got out of the car, President Han Yoo-Sik, already informed, came running over with Chief Production Manager Hyun Jong-Yeon. Hyun Jong-Yeon was the closest aide to Han Yoo-Sik and the first person reinstated after Mirinae's rehabilitation. Soon after, Bank President Choi Yung-Ho arrived with his legal team's attorney. And lastly, Kim Chan-Sung, private lawyer for Lee Ji-Yeon and legal representative for Mom's side, showed up. Since everyone arrived around the same time, we exchanged greetings in the parking lot and moved toward the entrance. The automatic door opened. To our surprise, Ju Yung-In was the one greeting us at the entrance of JU Entertainment. However, she looked completely different from usual. 'Ju Yung-In. What's with you today?' Mirinae, the drama production company, was located on the third floor of the JU Entertainment building, a one-person agency owned by Ju Yung-In. Since she would star in Mirinae's first drama Haze and there was extra space upstairs, the company moved in there. Yet given how busy she was with commercials and broadcast appearances, I never imagined she would be here waiting for us. Especially not dressed so formally instead of her usual flashy style, she was dressed in a formal black suit with her long hair tied back. "Yung-In, why are you here?" Ju Yung-In smiled brightly. "We're welcoming our first outside guests. Of course I should be here to greet you properly." Then, looking at Mom beside me, she bowed her head politely. "Hello. I'm Ju Yung-In. I've heard so much about you from Yoon-Ho oppa." That was a lie. I had never told Ju Yung-In anything about Mom. But unaware, Mom simply smiled warmly. "I've only seen you on TV. It's an honor to meet you, Miss Yung-In." "I'm the one honored. I owe who I am now to Yoon-Ho oppa. But... um... how do I look in person?" "You're even prettier than I expected." Ju Yung-In replied with a bright eye smile. "You too, ma'am. Hahaha." Mom smiled and said, "I'm surprised. I didn't expect someone so glamorous to be this sweet." Ju Yung-In smiled back. "Aw, it's all just an image. At home, I just lounge around in sweatpants." It was getting a bit much, but there was no point in calling her out. "Shall we head inside then? This way, please." Ju Yung-In, currently regarded as Korea's top actress, led us to the elevator herself. Then, Mom leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Ju Yung-In's more cunning than I thought. Watch out, or you'll get swept away." Contrary to my thoughts, Mom had seen right through her. I grinned and whispered back, "I prefer bears over foxes." Mom nodded with a knowing smile. After signing the 50% share transfer contract, we all had dinner together. We could have gone home, but Mom said she couldn't leave Lee Yeon-Sil alone and returned to the hospital. Besides, Yoo-Jin and Miso were away filming in the provinces. The next morning, Lee Yeon-Sil was safely discharged after confirming that her abdominal tightness was nothing serious. Then I, along with Mom, Lee Yeon-Sil, and Lee Soo-Chan, headed to Seoul Southern Correctional Facility to visit Kang Eun-Gi. Since he was transferred from the detention center, Lee Soo-Chan had visited several times. However, I had only visited once, and neither Mom nor Lee Yeon-Sil had visited at all. That was because Kang Eun-Gi refused to let them see him in a prison uniform. He especially didn't want to show a disgraceful image to Lee Yeon-Sil. However, Lee Yeon-Sil's persistent persuasion finally worked. She told Kang Eun-Gi she wanted the children to know their father was someone capable of reflecting on his past. Eventually, he agreed to a visit. "ID check has been completed. Please proceed down the left hallway." After passing the metal detector, we moved to the visitation registration area. Leaving Mom and Lee Yeon-Sil on the sofa behind us, Lee Soo-Chan and I headed to the counter. But the clerk tilted their head and replied, "Prisoner number 1174. Visitation is not allowed." 'What? How could a visitation be denied when we have a reservation and Kang Eun-Gi had told us to come?' I asked, wondering if Kang Eun-Gi had changed his mind, "Did he refuse the visit?" "No, it's not that..." Then, the clerk began to explain something completely unexpected.