The next morning, Chaeyoung felt a mix of excitement and anxiety as she and Mina prepared to visit her mother. It would be the first time she saw her mom since regaining her memories, and the thought of finally hugging her again filled Chaeyoung with both anticipation and nervousness.
They arrived at the modest house where Mrs. Son lived. Chaeyoung’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood at the front door, Mina’s reassuring hand gently squeezing her own. She took a deep breath and knocked.
The door opened slowly, and Mrs. Son stood there, her eyes widening in shock as she saw her daughter standing before her. For a moment, she seemed too stunned to speak, her hands trembling.
"Mom..." Chaeyoung’s voice was soft, filled with emotion.
Mrs. Son’s eyes filled with tears, and she pulled Chaeyoung into a tight embrace. "Chaeyoung, my baby. I thought I lost you forever." Her voice broke as she repeated, "I'm so sorry, my dear. I'm so, so sorry."
Chaeyoung hugged her mother tightly, tears streaming down her own face. "I missed you, Mom. I missed you so much."
"I love you, baby," Mrs. Son whispered, her voice choked with emotion. They held each other, crying and whispering words of love and apology, the years of pain and separation melting away in their embrace.
After a while, they moved inside and sat down together, their hands still clasped tightly. Mina sat beside them, quietly offering her support.
Chaeyoung took a deep breath, knowing she needed to share the difficult news. "Mom, there's something I need to tell you. Dad... he's gone. He passed away. And my stepdad, he's in prison now."
Mrs. Son's face fell, a mix of sadness and relief crossing her features. "I see," she said softly. "I'm so sorry, Chaeyoung. I wish things had been different."
Chaeyoung nodded, her own emotions swirling. "It's okay, Mom. We can't change the past, but we can move forward. I'm just glad to have you back in my life."
Chaeyoung took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she needed to say next. "Mom, there's something else I need to tell you. It's about Ari, my friend. I mean about Ari's girlfriend. She was the one who died in the accident, not me. Ari believes I killed her, and she wants me to go to the police and confess."
Mrs. Son's eyes widened in shock, her grip tightening on Chaeyoung's hand. "Oh, Chaeyoung... that's terrible. But I understand. You need to do the right thing and go to the police. We'll support you through this."
Chaeyoung nodded, grateful for her mother's understanding. "Thank you, Mom. And there's something else... about Mina and me."
Mrs. Son's expression softened as she looked at Mina. "Go on, dear."
Chaeyoung smiled, her heart swelling with love. "Mina and I are together."
A radiant smile spread across Mrs. Son's face. "I'm so happy for you both! Mina, thank you for standing by Chaeyoung's side all these years."
Mina blushed, her eyes shining with affection. "Thank you, Mrs. Son. Chaeyoung means everything to me."
Mrs. Son nodded approvingly. "Have you told your parents, Mina?"
Mina shook her head. "Not yet, but I plan to tell them tomorrow. I was hoping to bring Chaeyoung with me to Japan to meet them."
Mrs. Son's eyes sparkled with approval. "Of course, Mina. Chaeyoung is old enough to go wherever she wants. I'm glad she has you."
Turning to her daughter, Mrs. Son asked, "What about your career, Chaeyoung? What do you plan to do?"
Chaeyoung took a deep breath, her resolve firm. "I'll continue managing the company with Yeonjun. I'll keep using the name Katarina Son. I don't want to cause any stir in the public eye. I'll continue to be known as Chaeyoung's twin sister."
