Lead with Her Heart [ Sahyo ]

29 - Past Grudges

—Peaches Inc.— Monday, September 9th, XX35, 8:00 PM, the next day
[Jihyo's POV]

Jihyo takes a deep breath, her heartbeat racing as she stood in front of the office door.

This was it.

She was finally going to confront Momo's father about all the problems he had caused her—the problems he had caused with Sana, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Dahyun, and the distrust that now festered within her company.

Cautiously, Jihyo pushes open the large doors and steps into the room.

"Momo, what is it you need to discuss with me?" Mr. Hirai asks, his attention still focused on his computer screen.

"Actually, I was the one who requested to speak with you."

Mr. Hirai quickly looks up from his screen and glances at Jihyo. "You..." He begins to speak but stops himself after seeing Momo and Dahyun trailing in behind her.

"I've been meaning to speak with you, Mr. Hirai."

He ignores Jihyo and instead directs his attention to Momo. "You planned this? Hah. I see."

"This isn't about Momo right now. I'm here to confront you about how your actions have impacted my company."

"And? What exactly did I do?"

"You had Mina, Chaeyoung, and Dahyun spy on my company from the inside. What exactly is your issue? I understand business can be competitive, but trying to undermine my whole company?"

"So you know it's all business. Why take it so seriously then? At the end of the day, it's nothing personal."

"Don't insult me. So what if we're competitors? Why specifically did you go for my company? I don't understand your motive here."

Mr. Hirai sighs, teetering between revealing the truth and keeping his motive hidden. He glances at Momo, who is silently standing beside the door and decides to come clean.

"You want the real reason?"

"Tell me."

He sighs. "The truth is, it has nothing to with you, Ms. Park. It's your parents."

"Excuse me...? My parents? What does this have to do with them?"

"I didn't do all of this just because we were business competitors, but because once I heard of your family background, I wanted to get back at your mother."

"What?"

"It's an old tale, not worth telling you about it."

"You tried to destroy everything I've been working for. I have a right to know."

"Fine. Your mother and I? We were engaged. The day before our marriage, she had decided she found someone new— someone better. So, she left me. For your father. Seeing your family succeed and watching you grow into what you are now, it tore me up inside. I couldn't stand it."

"You. You did all of this, just because of some... grudge? The spying, the sabotage... it was all because of something that happened before I was even born?"

"It's more complicated than that."

"No, it's not." Jihyo interrupts, her voice hardening. "You've been punishing me for something I had no part in. You've been hurting people—Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, even Momo—for your selfish reasons. This isn't about business or competition. This is about your inability to let go of the past."

Silence fell in the large room. Momo watched uncomfortably, while Dahyun stayed quiet, her gaze intense.

"You can't just use people as if they were disposable, all because you're bitter. Have you never thought that this behaviour of yours was the reason my mother chose my dad over you?"

Mr. Hirai remains silent.

"Childish. That's what you are. Had you not considered what all of this was worth? You're lucky I've decided not to involve the cops in this, but what if I did?"

"...Maybe you're right. Maybe... I've been holding onto the past for too long. I was deeply hurt, you know. Being left by the person you loved with all your heart, doesn't just go away."

"I understand. But still, you took it way too far. You risked your livelihood and your company for something that had nothing to do with me. I need you to repay me for the damage you've caused."

"... Okay. I'll settle something with you, to fix what I've done. I'm sorry, Ms. Park."

"Alright, I accept that. But I'm not the only person you need to apologize to."

Mr. Hirai looks at Jihyo with a confused expression.

"Dad," Momo steps up, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. "You know, I've spent my whole life trying to get your attention. Trying to be seen by you. But you were always too focused on someone else—on Sana, on Jihyo's family, on anything other than me."

Momo's dad listened silently, clearly affected by her words, but said nothing.

"Now I understand why you and mom divorced... but you know? I just wanted you to be proud of me," Momo continued, her voice wavering. "But you never looked at me. It was always about someone else, something else. When Sana's parents died, you focused all your attention on her. No matter what, you treated me like I didn't exist."

Momo's father looks down at his hands, his expression pained. He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it again, clearly struggling with what to say.

"I'm sorry Momo. You're right. I never really loved your mother, at the end of the day. I just couldn't. But every time I looked at you, her features were all I could see. I felt disgusted. But I know, it's not your fault. I just couldn't handle my own emotions."

"Dad..."

"I know I've never expressed it to you, but you should know... I am proud of the woman you've become. You've grown to be so strong, despite my shortcomings. I couldn't wish for a better daughter."

Momo's overcome with tears, sniffling as she listened to her father's words. This was all she needed, after all these years. Just for her father to acknowledge her.

Mr. Hirai stands up and walks over to Momo, hugging her for the first time since childhood. "I'm sorry, Momo. You've worked hard." He pats her on the head.

Jihyo and Dahyun walk out of the room, leaving the two Hirai's to catch up.

"We should probably tell Mom about this," Dahyun says, still trying to process what she heard.

"Yeah... probably."