The Price Of Redemption

11.

It was undeniable after her mother's death. On December 6th, 2018, Taehyung made the harsh decision to send Haerin off to Australia to continue her studies. His reasoning? Her worsening behavior towards his second wife, Jisoo. It had escalated to the point where Haerin even tried to choke her. The tension was unbearable, and Taehyung saw this as the only solution. At first, things seemed to go well in Australia while Haerin finished her high school degree. The distance, the fresh environment—it all seemed to help. But everything came crashing down after her graduation. That's when the financial support from her family suddenly and completely stopped.

Haerin's confusion quickly turned into desperation. She tried to call home, again and again, but no one ever picked up her calls. Her messages were left unread. In the beginning, she tried to comfort herself, thinking maybe something had gone wrong with their business back in the U.S. But as she scrolled through the internet, searching for any hint of trouble, she found nothing—nothing at all. The horrifying truth hit her hard: this was their way of telling her they had officially abandoned her.

The word "abandoned" doesn't even begin to describe how Haerin felt. Her condition at that time wasn't just bad—it was the worst. She had no money to pay for her apartment, couldn't afford basic necessities, and was skipping meals just to stretch the little bit of cash she had left. Her academic dreams shattered in front of her. She tried to apply for scholarships, but her academic performance, perhaps weighed down by everything she had been through, wasn't enough to secure financial aid. All of the comforts she had grown up with were now out of reach, and the sudden, harsh reality of her new life began to crush her spirit.

She did everything she could to survive. She worked multiple jobs: waiter, cashier, food delivery—anything that would bring in money. But the stress, anxiety, and depression weighed heavily on her, especially since she had never had to live like this before. She had grown up with comfort, security, money and a family. But now, that same family had turned their back on her, leaving her to fend for herself in a world she wasn't prepared for. Despite the mental toll it took, Haerin didn't let it break her. She fought her way through every up and down, every sleepless night. And it was during one of these hard times that she met Minji, a beacon of light in the darkness of her life.

2024:

"It was for you, Haerin," Taehyung said, his voice calm and steady as he dragged Haerin into his study room. There was no hint of concern or remorse in his voice. Nothing to suggest he felt any guilt for what he had done to his own daughter.

"For me?" Haerin scoffed, her lips twisting into an unamused smile. "Seriously? You should've given yourself more time to come up with a better excuse." Her words dripped with sarcasm, the hurt behind them sharp and undeniable.

Taehyung sat down in his chair, casually, as if the weight of the conversation meant nothing to him. He glanced at Haerin, who stood stiffly by the door, her arms crossed and her heart heavy. He didn't say anything, but the silence between them screamed louder than words. They both knew why things had come to this.

The room was thick with tension, the unspoken words passing between them like arrows. Haerin bit her lower lip, the pain in her chest rising to the surface. "Was it because of her? Because I didn't see her as my mother? Is that why you abandoned me? Because you don't love me anymore?" Her voice trembled, betraying the raw emotion she had tried so hard to bury. She fought to keep her tears in check, her body shaking as her heart bled with unanswered questions. "Sorry," she added bitterly, "I forgot—you never loved me to begin with, did you?"