Beyond the Mansion's Gates || TAENNIE

chapter 49

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Reasons to forgive, but never forget.

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𝙹𝚎𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚎'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

"On the 24th floor, room 14," I nodded my head at the nurse, lowering my sunglasses as I strutted towards the elevator, holding on my pouch bag tight.

It's been a day since we came back from Japan, Mr. Kim was sent on hospital arrest in Seoul.

Taehyung kept checking if I have any injuries, and kept muttering things under his breath. The rest were still in Japan since they wanted to explore for a while before coming back.

I pressed on the button and the doors opened, I stepped inside and pressed level number 24. My lips let out a smile when I saw it lit up.

It brings back memories, a nostalgic feeling.

Today, it's just myself going to meet the man who dictated to me all my life. I will be brave and stand in front of him with a brave face.

I've changed these past few months, ut was for the better. I cried, I failed, but I'm still reaching out towards my goal, a step at a time.

The elevator bell ringed, letting out a deep breath. I raised my chin, strutting towards my greatest fear.

A fear that shut and locked me down for decades. My father.

I opened the door, my eyes caught sight of the pale-looking man on the bed with monitors beside him. I walked further into the room as he slowly lifted his head, catching my gaze.

"Jennie..." the old man let out a whisper, he raised his hand but I took a step back, creating more distance.

I didn't smile, I couldn't bear smiling in front of him. It would have been too fake, a clear representation to pretend, but I'm not scared anymore.

I'm will never be afraid to show him how I feel and what I want. This is my life, not his.

Only me, myself, and I can change my fate, nothing is can change that.

"I'm only here to check if you're okay. You might have done something evil, but you're still human," I broke the silence, sighing. Glancing at the monitor.

"You should be careful, you're body might be in a critical state," I told him as he tried to sit up, but he continued.

What a hard-headed old man.

"I just wanted to see my daughter clearly..." he spoke up, lowering his gaze into his lap. I couldn't help myself, but let out a laugh.

Am I still his daughter after the way that he's been treated like trash after all these years?

He just acknowledges me because he knows that his body might not make it?

My face scrunched in distance, letting out a pissed 'tsk'. "Mr. Kim, you must be mistaken. I was never your daughter, I was just used to be an object, a chest piece for your selfish plans. I was never your daughter," I firmly stated in anger, I took a deep breath in and turned around to calm myself from blowing up.

"Jennie...I could explain—"

"Explain what, exactly? Don't...don't make excuses if they already had a past. Things that happened already did happen and you can't change the past. You can't take back your words and expect everything will be alright...that's just unfair," I broke out, holding back the tears from spilling from my eyes.

"You were never there, I was nothing to you. I did everything you asked for yet, do you even think of me, even for a bit?" my voice cracked, my hands fisted as I controlled my breathing.

He was silent, unable to speak. I let out a scoff, pushing my hair back in irritation.

"Look, Mr. Kim, I still respect you as you raised me under your roof, but it doesn't mean that I'll forget everything that you've done towards mother, my friends, and to myself..." I said sighing, looking down at the man.

He looked up at me with teary eyes, his lips quivering. "I'm sorry..." his voice cracked, tears streaming down his wrinkled face, but I didn't falter.

I've pitied him way too many times, it's time for me to pity myself too.

After all, this is my life.

"As much as I would love to disregard that sorry, I couldn't bring myself to be chained once again. I want to be free, for once and for all. A step towards that freedom is letting go of this anger that I had towards you. I want to set myself free from this hatred."

The man wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand, his body shaking. "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry..." he cried, I only looked away.

"Forgiven, but it doesn't mean that I'll forget," I answered, giving him a small bow.

"Thank you for raising me, Mr. Kim. I shall leave, I hope for your fast recovery. You won't see me again, ever," I gave him a curt smile before turning my back and walked to the door, holding on to the knob and froze when he said the words that I've been waiting for years.

"I love you, my daughter."

It's too late.

I didn't answer, turning the knob, and exited the room. My back was against the wall, my eyes widen as tears streamed down my face, my back sliding down the door as I covered my face.

I've finally done it.

I felt free, and the chains that have been pinning me down were torn and rusted. Letting me go running towards the abyss.

A step towards freedom that I've always dreamed of, a freedom that I've worked hard on.

Freedom lets me become Jennie Kim, a simple girl that's learning about a different world.

I'm not afraid, I wiped the tears off my face and clenched my fist.

I'm finally changing, for real. For the better.

The past does not define the future that I hold. They shaped you to be the man you wanted to be, the real you.

I'm heading towards my goal, the freedom that I've always yearned for.

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This is the last chapter before the finale. Thank you for being with me in this journey in the world of BEYOND THE MANSION'S GATES.

See you in the Epilogue!

Freedom wall (feel free to express your feelings here)

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Planet_A