Fools & Secrets ✔️

Once

The Pandora Box

Chapter 11

"We will be leaving, Sir," Mingyu said, his voice measured, as if every word was carefully weighed.

"I want my granddaughter again next month, young man," the old man replied curtly, barely glancing up from his desk.

"Yes, Sir."

The old man slid a paper across the table without looking at Mingyu. "Here. Make sure to get Eunseo's medical check-up every six months and update me. Even if that's all you can manage for her."

"Yes, Sir."

A smirk curled at the old man's lips as he finally looked Mingyu in the eye. "Pathetic," he muttered, shaking his head. "I always knew you were weak, but I never thought you'd stoop this low. Do you really think that young lady could ever replace my daughter in Eunseo's life? It's laughable."

Mingyu's jaw clenched, but he stayed silent.

"I still don't understand why Somi left the child to you. You're not capable of being a father. You couldn't even save them both. That guilt was eating you alive, wasn't it? So you resigned as a doctor, ran from your failures. What do you do now? Massage therapy? You think that's enough to support my granddaughter?"

Mingyu exhaled slowly, his voice low but steady. "You forget that I'm still a Kim, Sir."

The old man's smirk deepened. "Ah yes, how could I forget? Your mother always knew how to leech off old money."

"If that's all, Sir," Mingyu said, his tone cold now, "I'll take my leave."

He turned on his heels without waiting for a response, his back rigid as he walked away. The old man watched him go, his eyes narrowing as Mingyu's figure disappeared from the room. They both knew—no matter how civil they remained for Eunseo's sake—this was a wound that wouldn't heal.

Lisa tossed and turned in bed, her mind restless with the day's events. The image of Mingyu's demeanor after leaving the old man's office haunted her. Despite his forced smiles and efforts to engage with Eunseo, there was an unmistakable tension in his eyes that betrayed his inner turmoil. He had been distant and silent during the drive back to the apartment, and Lisa couldn't shake the feeling that she had crossed a line by inquiring about Eunseo's mother.

Frustration gnawed at her as she threw the blanket aside and climbed out of bed. She decided a warm glass of milk might soothe her nerves and perhaps a night breeze would clear her mind. As she prepared her milk in the microwave, the weight of the day settled heavily on her shoulders. With her warm cup in hand, she slipped on her robe and stepped out onto the veranda, only to be hit by the pungent smell of nicotine and alcohol.

Mingyu was there, leaning against the railing of his own veranda. He wore a loose white V-neck shirt and grey sweatpants, the Calvin Klein band of his boxers visible as he ran his hand through his hair, the cigarette perched between his lips. The moonlight and the faint glow of the neighboring lights cast a soft, ethereal glow on his tan skin, accentuating the lines of exhaustion etched across his face.

"Couldn't sleep?" Lisa's voice broke the heavy silence, tentative as she tried to bridge the chasm between them.

Mingyu didn't immediately respond. He took a drag from his cigarette, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "It was hereditary," he finally said, his voice carrying a weight that seemed to pull at the night air.

"What?" Lisa asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Their sickness. If I lose Eunseo too, there will be no way out of this rock-bottom, Lisa."