JUST LIE TO ME

22. The Masters of Deception

"Dad, please. Let Seojin stay here, she's my sister, and what will happen to her if -"

"Seowoon, Seojin doesn't belong in this house. Now that your mother is - is no longer with us, I don't see any point in keeping her with us." the eldest Han rectified.

He just got off the phone with a woman he met in Jeju nine years ago. She was begging him to see her daughter one last time as it seems the woman was suffering a terminal illness and wanted to spend her last few days with her daughter, he hated the idea but who was he to decline - he was at fault in the first place, used his money and power to take the child away from her mother.

"She's your daughter, Dad! How can you say that she doesn't belong here? I don't understand! Seojin is Mom's daughter and -"

"She's not! Seojin is not your mother's daughter Seowoon!" Chairman Han verified loudly.

It was utter silence as if both of them were overwhelmed with too many emotions until Seowoon burst out into a loud cry while Chairman Han was a bit taken aback with what he just said towards his eldest, he just lost a wife three days ago and his mind must be too murky to think straight at the moment that he even come up with this ridiculous idea of possibly losing a daughter too.

"Why are you doing this Dad? How can you do this to Mom, to me, and to - Han Seojin is my sister, she is my sister!" Seowoon yelled eyes still swelled with tears.

"Her real mother wants her, Seowoon. She needs her daughter who is Han Seojin - she needs to go."

"No! No, Dad. Seojin is not going anywhere, we lost Mom and I won't let you take my sister away from me. She is Mom's only daughter, we are siblings and you - you can't just throw her away just like that Dad!" Seowoon rubbed his tears away and settled on a more forward grimace.

"Seowoon, I already told you." the father roared but upon seeing how determined his eldest son is, his heart was breaking for his children having to suffer from his errors.

"Keep my sister here with me or both of us will be gone today, Dad!"

The head of the family was stunned by his son's brazen threat, he is aware of how much the young boy loves his only sister but Seojin is a clear reminder that he once became unfaithful to his wife and returning her to her rightful place was the right thing to do.

The Chairman was reminded of that time eight years ago when he took in her youngest back home, his wife who was a perfect picture of an angel on earth didn't even display hatred against his unruly blunder rather took in the crying baby in her warm arms and sing her to sleep.

Chairman Han was aware that Jinae, his wife was deeply hurt but he never once saw her treat Seojin differently and love the little girl as her own which only makes him more remorseful of what he did and now that his wife is no longer with them - he sees no reason to keep the little girl whom he never regards as his daughter but a beautiful mistake.

"Seowoon, you have to understand."

"I understand, Dad. I will prove to you that my sister deserves to be in this family and this house. I may be a kid to you but I know what's right from wrong, Seojin is all I have and I promised Mom that I will be protecting my sister no matter what so my sister will stay here with us. Seojin belongs here so tell that - that woman, my sister will not go anywhere with her."

Just behind the door stood Seowoon's best friend who came over for their usual weekend playdate, Chanyeol didn't mean to overhear everything as he was just looking for Seowoon earlier until he heard his voice coming from Chairman Han's office - now he wished he never stayed and hear all of those things.