Courting The Champion

19 - We Rise

The chair screeches lowly as Daehyun sits in front of his father with no trace of emotion on his face. Smith smirks, his eldest son is different from him in every possible way.

“How has Seoul been treating you son? You don't look all that impressed to see me in orange,” Smith says with a chuckle.

Daehyun scoffs and looks to the side. He looks back at his dad. He wonders how a man could still be this cheerful, even when everything he's known has been teared down to ashes on the ground. Daehyun sighs  and runs his fingers through his dark and silky hair that he inherited from his mother, Min Suk Smith.

“I'm very disappointed ahgussi. Remember two years ago when I told you that it was time for you to retire and let Tae Suh, Elizabeth and I take over?” he questions and pauses, looking at his fist clenched on the desk. He continues..

“I was right. Money laundering, really ahgussi?” he  exclaims and Smith sighs, leaning back in his chair.

“Look son. Not everything is what it seem. I ain't planned for all this to go down how it did. I had no clue 'til it was too late that Trevor's investment offer was like dat,” he says leaning over to try to get through to his son. Daehyun clenches his jaw, holding his father's gaze.

“Son you gotta believe me. I let my guard down and believed in the wrong person. I know you prolly hate me and everything son but this is your chance. Prove to me that you can do a much better job than I did. And save our family legacy—”

“—I never wanted to be part of it. Not the kidnapping or the money laundering. I had no choice, he forced me, and threatened to kill me if I went against his orders.”

Daehyun sighs once again and shifts in his chair before looking at his dad once again.

“And what about that guy?” he questions his dad and Smith furrows his eyebrows in confusion. “What guy?” Smith asks.

“That boxer. In his statement he said you asked him to join you and just when he went to Trevor to tell him what you offered him, you got him jumped... Did Trevor force you to do that as well?” he fires harshly at his dad who sighs.

“I ain't do any of that except try to lure him in, under instruction. It was all Trevor... but you don't believe me son. All I'm saying is, you ain't gotta worry 'bout me. I know I'm innocent. Once the truth come out, I'm outta this place. Tell your mother, Hudson and Beth to come see me soon,” he says and places his hands on the desk.

Daehyun looks up at his dad who's now getting up. Daehyun gets up too and nods at his father's request. He gives Smith a bow and watches as an officer ushers him out of the room.  With a determined heart, he leaves for his new American home.

Sarah finishes carrying boxes of her belongings into her small sized high end house, that her mother helped her purchase. She thanks the delivery guys who own the moving truck for their help.

A slick black BMW parks on the driveway of the luxury mansion next to hers. A tall and handsome Asian man dressed in a black suit steps out of the driver's seat.

He grabs his suitcase from the back seat and shuts the door. He is yet to notice the curious, tall and slender new neighbor peering at him.

He takes out a huge phone out of his pocket to check the time. To Sarah however, that act makes her dislike him. What a poser she thinks. Just then he looks up and notices her. He gives her a small smile and nod before nonchalantly going back  about his way, not sending another glance her way.

That's just how Daehyun is. You might be good looking or friendly looking but if he doesn't know you or need you, then he has no business with you.

That's why Sarah enters her house fuming and slams the door shut. 'What a cold bastard,' she thinks to herself.