Conglomerate Clan • Seulmin

Prologue - Seulgi

Kang Seulgi looks at the dressing table mirror that reflects back her face. She has simple make up done and she styles her black hair in a prettiest low ponytail. She chooses a pair of rare Tahitian black pearl earrings as the only jewelry she uses for today's event. She wears her mother's favorite black dress that just fits on her perfectly. She smiles a little to her reflection before she slips on her heels and grabs her clutch then leaves her bedroom to the living room where everyone else waits for her.

A smile appears on Seulgi's face when she sees her father on the armchair, talking with his only grandchild, Kang Seola. Seola is her brother's 3 years old daughter and a niece that she loves the most. As she slowly walks closer, she gets a bow from his father's personal assistant who already works for three decades now. She bows back and in the same time her father lifts his face, seeing her and immediately smiling.

"Seulgi-ya, you look beautiful, just like your mother" It still amuses him how his daughter totally resembles his late wife, just like a clone.

Seulgi giggles softly as she takes a seat on the couch beside. She knows she is just a copy of her mother. Everybody around her always talks and reminds her about this. They keep mention, not only her beauty but also her elegance and kindness. Since she was young, her mother already planted a good value to her mind. It was a luck that she was born to billionaire parents, but it was a true blessing that she could give a little more compared to anyone else. She learnt to be as kind and humble as her mother. She kept doing charity and helped a lot of people, because somehow she found happiness through it.

"Seola-ya" Seulgi calls her niece cutely as she holds her tiny hand. She tries to meet Seola's eyes and when she does, she asks for a kiss from her, but today Seola really plays hard to get. She ignores her and it makes her frown. She doesn't stop there. She ruffles Seola's hair which Seola responds with an aggressive disagreement. She knows immediately that she is in trouble and apologizes to her niece. Her father watches it all and just laughs.

"Seola just wants to play with me today. She even avoids your brother" Her father speaks.

"Oh my God this girl---" Seulgi pauses and chuckles before she looks at her father and says "Dad, did you take your medication---" She then stops as she sees his father raises his palm, a gesture to make her stop talking.

"I did, don't worry" Her father nods, reassuring his daughter.

Seulgi becomes more and more protective to her father now. Since her mother passed away exactly a year ago, her father's health got worse. It looked like he given up on his own life for the first three months after his other half left him. He was overly sad and broken. It made the whole family really worry. As a daughter, she tried everything and in one point she was ready to give up, until her brother and sister in law, Bae Joohyun decided to move in and made change. Seola's existence really helped a lot. Seola became his friend and slowly she cured his broken heart with her pure-innocent love. In the end, Seola successfully brought smile to his face and made everything better.

"Everybody, it's time to go, Joohyun leaves first to pick our mother's favorite flowers"

Suddenly her brother, Kang Minjae appears. He is in his black suit and already looks handsome. He walks to his father and about to take Seola away, but the girl cries out and rejects him. He shrugs and reaches out his hand to Seulgi which she takes right away as she stands up.

"Look at you, you gorgeously look like mom" Her brother smiles.

"I know, now let's go, I can't wait to meet mom"

***

Everytime they visit their mother's grave, they all gather and pray together. After that they give their father space to be alone with their mother. They wait inside the car as they keep watching their father from afar. He just sits beside the grave with his eyes close and lips form a smile. Slowly he opens his eyes and talks to his personal assistant who stands not far from him. He asks for his children and daughter in law to come because he needs to talk with them all.

His personal assistant comes to the car and delivers the message. Minjae and Seulgi obey and step outside. Joohyun stays in the car because Seola sleeps and needs a company. The brother-sister walks closer to their father and sits close to him. Minjae explains that Joohyun takes care of Seola and can't join.

"Seola must be tired" Their father speaks. He then holds their hand and smiles.

"Minjae-ya, last week I met our attorneys and asked them to transfer all the shares under my name to yours---" He pauses and witnesses his son's taken aback expression "---it's the right time for me to retire and for you to inherit the corporation, son" He continues and smiles "Your inauguration is early next month, prepare for that" He actually gives no choice to his son. He decides it all alone, considering his health.

"Lately I easily feel tired and each day pass, my body weakened" Their father confesses.

Seulgi just stares at her beloved father as she tries hard to hold her tears back. She honestly realizes that lately her father spends a lot of time on his bed, resting while looking at his old wedding photos. Her father falls sick twice this month and she always knows, it all happens because he misses his wife that much.

"Seulgi-ya, look at my gray hair and these wrinkles, my daughter, I'm getting older---" He pauses because he sees tears fall from his daughter's eyes "---there is not much time left for me and the last thing I really want to see is you getting married---" He speaks softly as he erases her tears.

"---I want to see you in a white dress and veil, I want to walk you down the aisle as I feel your hand around my arm. I need to capture it all with my own eyes so when the time comes, I can tell your mother in detail how beautiful you are as a bride---" He pulls Seulgi to his embrace and continues.

"---Most importantly, I need to make sure there will be someone who stays and protects you when I'm not around anymore"

Seulgi just cries when her father ends it. She is speechless because her father suddenly speaks like this because it sounds a lot like a farewell. She always is a good daughter and she has no doubt to grant his wish. She knows her father already has his choice and it's just a matter of time until she meets her future husband. Yes, it's a life that she needs to live, a story written by her father, and yes, she believes it's a happy ending that waits for her.

***