𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞

Episode 48

A sense of unease hung heavy in the air of the Johnson mansion as Joong and Pond arrived, each carrying a gift bag for Bright's upcoming wedding. As soon as they entered, they noticed a strained atmosphere. Their mothers, Maya and Susan, usually radiating warmth, were etched with worry lines, their eyes reflecting a shared anxiety.

Joong, ever the social butterfly, was the first to pick up on the tension. He noticed his father, Mark, pacing the living room, his face thunderous. "What's going on?" Joong asked, his voice laced with concern.

Pond, too, felt the shift in energy. The usually lively atmosphere of the mansion felt dampened by a heavy silence. He exchanged a worried glance with his brother.

Susan, her voice filled with trepidation, explained, "Your father… he's been acting very differently. Terribly angry about something."

"Angry?" Pond echoed, skepticism coloring his voice. "Could it be work-related? You know how Dad gets sometimes, completely absorbed in his business ventures."

Before Joong could add his own thoughts, Maya interjected, her voice firm. "Mark, I know you better than that. I've seen him for years, and I've never seen him so… tense, so consumed by anger."

Joong, sensing his mother's rising anxiety, offered a gentle reassurance. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll talk to Dad and see what's bothering him."

Susan and Maya exchanged a sigh, a flicker of hope battling the worry etched on their faces. They knew their sons wouldn't rest until they unraveled the mystery behind Mark's sudden anger.

The weight of unspoken secrets hung heavy in the air. While Joong and Pond were focused on Bright's wedding and their upcoming visit to South Korea, a different storm was brewing within their own family. Mark's anger, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor, hinted at a problem that ran deeper than mere business concerns. Perhaps, as Joong approached his father for a conversation, a truth would be revealed, a truth that could change the very fabric of their lives.
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Mark slammed the phone down on his desk, the harsh clatter echoing through the otherwise sterile office. Frustration and a simmering rage contorted his features as he inhaled deeply from his cigar, the acrid smoke curling towards the high ceiling.

"Useless!" he growled, his voice laced with venom. "Joss, you call yourself a spy? They were spotted in Korea, how can you lose them after that?"

He didn't wait for a response, his words hanging heavy in the air. He knew Joss wouldn't dare interrupt his tirade. Mark paced the plush carpet, his every step a manifestation of his fury.

Ten days. He'd given Joss ten days to find them. Ten days to unearth information that had eluded him for years. They were the missing pieces of a puzzle he'd been desperately trying to solve, a puzzle that held the key to a past he couldn't escape.

The frustration gnawed at him. He'd built an empire, a business that spanned continents, yet here he was, helpless against a ghost from his past. The people he sought, whoever they were, remained frustratingly out of reach.

Mark sank back into his armchair, the leather sighing beneath his weight. He closed his eyes, the image of a younger, carefree version of himself flashing before his mind. A web of memories, some joyous, some laced with a bitter sorrow, threatened to consume him.
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This wasn't just about business. This was personal. A debt he needed to settle, a wrong he desperately needed to right.

But without those people, without the information they held, his quest for redemption remained a solitary path leading nowhere.

He took another drag from his cigar, the glowing ember mirroring the fiery determination burning in his eyes.

He wouldn't give up. He couldn't give up. Not until he found them, not until he finally faced the ghosts of his past. The approaching sounds of footsteps jolted him out of his reverie. His secretary, her face etched with concern, stood at the doorway.

"Mr. Johnson," she began hesitantly, "your sons are here. They say it's urgent."

Mark's brow furrowed. Urgent? A flicker of surprise crossed his features. His sons, Joong and Pond, rarely visited him at this office, especially at this hour and with such urgency.

Perhaps, amidst the chaos of his own turmoil, a different storm was brewing, one that would force him to confront not just his past but also the present, the relationships with his sons that he'd neglected for far too long.

With a sigh, he stubbed out his cigar, the embers fading into a dull glow. "Send them in," he instructed, his voice devoid of his earlier anger, replaced by a weary acceptance. The secrets of the past were about to collide with the present, and Mark knew his life, and the lives of those around him, were about to change irrevocably.
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Joong and Pond pushed open the office door, their faces etched with concern. Mark, caught off guard by their unexpected visit, quickly schooled his expression. The anger was gone, replaced by a tired smile.

"Dad?" Joong started, his voice hesitant. "Mom was worried. She said you've been acting… different."

Pond, ever the pragmatist, chimed in, "Yeah, is there anything bothering you? Work maybe?"

Mark knew they wouldn't let it go that easily. He couldn't reveal the truth – not yet. The situation surrounding the missing people was too complex, too intertwined with his past for him to share it with his sons. He needed time, time to formulate a plan, time to understand the full scope of what he was facing.

With a heavy sigh, he decided on a white lie. "Nothing to worry about, sons," he said, his voice warm but firm. "Just some work-related stress playing tricks on your moms. You know how she is, worries about everything."

There was a hint of falseness in his tone, a flicker of something hidden that didn't escape Joong's sharp eyes. His father, a man built on stoicism and an unwavering control, was exhibiting an uncharacteristic vulnerability.

"But Dad…" Joong started, his voice laced with concern.

Mark, anticipating further probing, cut him off. "Look," he said, his gaze flickering between his sons, "I appreciate you looking out for me, but honestly, it's nothing a good night's sleep can't fix. How about we grab dinner together tonight? We haven't done that in a while."

The suggestion hung in the air. It was a clear attempt at deflection, a way to change the subject. Joong and Pond exchanged a hesitant glance. They knew their father was hiding something, but pushing him wouldn't yield any results. Perhaps, a change of scenery, a chance to reconnect as a family, was the best approach for now.

"Dinner sounds good, Dad," Pond finally said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "We can catch up on everything."

Joong, though still harboring doubts, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, dinner sounds great."

Mark, relieved by their response, forced a smile. Maybe, just maybe, a night with his sons would give him the clarity he needed. Maybe, amidst the warmth of family, he could find the courage to confront the secrets of his past and pave the way for a future filled with honesty and reconciliation. The path wouldn't be easy, but with his sons by his side, he wouldn't have to face it alone.