Choi San, a revered and feared mafia boss, reigns over Seoul's underworld with an iron fist, his influence extending seamlessly across both legal and illegal domains. But his empire is shaken to its core when his beloved daughter, Eun-ji, is kidnapp...
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The morning sunlight poured into the room, casting a warm glow over everything as we prepared Eun-ji for her first day of school. San had finally agreed, though I could see the tension in his every move. He paced around her room, adjusting little things, checking and rechecking her backpack as if she were setting off for a battle rather than a classroom. I bit back a smile, knowing how much this meant to him, how hard it was for him to let her go, even just for a few hours.
I knelt down in front of Eun-ji, carefully adjusting the hem of her little dress and smoothing out any wrinkles. Her polished black shoes gleamed, a small reflection of her excitement shining in them. Her hair was tied back in two ponytails with curled ends, each one adorned with a black bow that felt like a tiny nod to San's love for his darker, classic style. She looked every bit his daughter, but with that spark of pure joy that was all her own.
Eun-ji clutched her backpack tightly, glancing up at San, who was trying to keep a calm, reassuring smile on his face. I could see right through it, though—his jaw was tense, and he kept glancing away, probably to hide the nerves dancing in his eyes. But he gave her a soft smile whenever she looked his way, trying his best to keep his anxiety hidden beneath his affection.
"Today is your first day," I said gently, cradling her face in my hands, feeling the energy radiating off her in waves. "It's just to see if you like it, okay? No pressure. You're going to meet lots of new friends, and I think you'll have a great time."
She nodded eagerly, her little hands fidgeting with the straps of her backpack, her excitement barely contained. "I think I'm going to like it, too," she whispered, glancing again at San, who stepped closer, unable to resist.
"We'll both be with you," I assured her, smiling as I brushed a stray curl from her forehead. "Me and Daddy will take you, and we'll be there until you're ready to go in."
San knelt down beside us, finally steadying himself enough to speak. "Remember, you can come home anytime you want, Eun-ji," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "You're not alone."
She looked up at him with a bright smile, her small hand reaching out to touch his cheek. "It's okay, Daddy. I'm brave," she whispered, her tone so sweet and sure that I saw San's eyes soften completely.
A faint smile broke through his tension, and he nodded, taking a steadying breath. "I know you are, my love," he murmured, brushing his hand over her hair. "I'm so proud of you."
Eun-ji beamed, glancing between us, her excitement radiating as she seemed to grow even more confident with each word of reassurance. We walked her downstairs and out to the car, San's hand never leaving hers as he helped her into her seat. Once we were all inside, I watched him glance back at her through the rearview mirror, a mix of pride and protectiveness shining in his eyes.
I watched San as he drove, his gaze fixed on the road, but I could see the tension in his shoulders, the small flickers of worry in his eyes whenever he glanced at the rearview mirror to check on Eun-ji. His grip on the wheel was firm, almost too firm, and I could feel the weight of his nerves in the air around us. Trying to ease the tension, I reached over, intertwining my fingers with his, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.
