SEDUCTIVE EMBER'S || HEESUN 𝟏𝟖+ ||

Venerable - Chapter 29

Warning - Mature content ahead 🔞

The soft glow of the evening light filtered through the tall windows of the mansion's drawing room, casting a warm muted radiance over the space. Heeseung, his father, and his mother sat around the polished mahogany coffee table, each lost in their own thoughts.

The silence felt weighty yet gentle, like a hesitant breath waiting to be released. Heeseung's father looked over at his son, an unreadable expression flickering across his face. It was clear that he had something he wanted to say but uncertainty lingered in his eyes and he pressed his fingers together in a thoughtful, almost nervous gesture before finally speaking.

"Heeseung," his father began, voice subdued, "you did very well... taking care of the company, especially in removing those shares with Kang's before things could have escalated further." There was a slight tremor in his tone, as if each word carried the burden of his regrets and pride. He looked down, a sigh escaping him.

"I was a fool to trust them. In the name of friendship, they deceived us." His eyes turned remorseful, softened by an unmistakable sadness, and he shook his head slowly. "I won't interfere in your matters anymore. From now on, the company is entirely in your hands." Heeseung's father tried to maintain his composure, though the weight of his words betrayed his guilt over having doubted his son's instincts.

Heeseung listened in quiet attentiveness, his fingers idly tapping against his phone. After a moment, he looked up offering his father a small, calm smile. "It's okay, Dad. I understand, and I'll do my best to make things right." His voice was steady but filled with a quiet confidence that spoke of his commitment to their family's legacy.

He wanted to reassure his father, to let him know that he bore no resentment. There was something resilient and unwavering in Heeseung's gaze that made his father's shoulders relax, even if just a little.

"I... I need to apologize to Mr. Kim, for what happened," his father continued, his voice almost whispering as he searched for the right words, "I had... started to feel distrustful of him as well." he sighed, clearly burdened by the weight of fractured trust. "I'll arrange a meeting with him to mend things. Perhaps you could bring their son around... It could help, yes?"

Heeseung nodded absently, "Yeah, that sounds fine." he murmured but his focus had drifted to the screen of his phone, where a message from Sunoo had appeared. As he read it, his face softened, a gentle smile gracing his lips, unknowingly brightening his features. His mother noticed immediately and a quiet smile of her own formed as she watched him.

She knew exactly who was on the other side of that message, and it warmed her heart to see the happiness Sunoo brought to her son. Noticing her husband's lingering tension, she placed a reassuring hand on his arm.

"I'll handle it." she said softly, glancing meaningfully at her son. "Let him go, he has other matters to tend to, right, Heeseung?" Her gaze met Heeseung's, silently giving him permission to leave the conversation without guilt. Heeseung looked up, slightly surprised, then nodded quickly, stumbling to his feet with a quiet, "Thank you, Mom. I'll be going now."

As he made his way to the front door, his mother followed him out. She touched his shoulder gently, pulling him into a warm embrace that instantly reminded him of the comfort of his childhood.

"Son." she whispered, her voice a blend of love and tenderness, "I would love to meet Sunoo one day... to thank him for making you so happy." She paused, her hand coming up to cup his face, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You've been through so much and there were times when I worried I'd lost my son... but he's brought that light back to you. The laughter, the joy you had as a boy."