My Family's Secret Website

When Sohen arrived, Minju was already waiting for him at a private table by the window.

A cup of coffee sat in front of her, and she looked calm, though a hint of tension was visible in her eyes.

When she saw her son, she smiled warmly and stood up to greet him.

Sohen sat down across from her, ordered a coffee, and they began to talk.

He briefly recounted what had happened to him over the past few hours — about Runo’s urgent help at Injustice Center, the problem with the website, and how he’d tried to fix everything.

Minju listened attentively, nodding occasionally, and then began to talk about her day.

- (Minju). "It’s really nice to have a lot of good friends, isn’t it?"

She explained why they had met here and pointed toward the real estate agency across the street.

- (Minju). "I didn’t show you that real estate agency for no reason... My partner has a close friend who is the president of that firm. We spent quite a long time there looking for a suitable house for me."

- (Me). "So, did you find one?"

- (Minju). "We found it. A lot with a house on it, but I didn’t like the layout. So I decided... to tear it down completely and build a new one, my way, ha-ha."

- (Me). "..."

(She says it so casually, as if it were just a minor, easily solved little problem...)

Sohen was silent for a few seconds, processing what she had said.

He knew his mother wasn’t poor, but this level of wealth... it was something new.

(We just had some renovations done when our whole family wanted a change, but here they’re starting from scratch... It’ll take a lot of time and money, though it doesn’t seem to be a problem for her.)

The conversation smoothly shifted to their families.

Sohen learned that Minju had met her current partner about two years ago.

It turned out that this person had been a good friend of hers in the past, and it was this very person who had once introduced Minju to Sohen’s father.

Her current partner had even attended their wedding.

(One man introduces another man to a woman, and then man number two marries her... Reader, doesn’t this remind you of anything? Of course, there are friendships between men and women, but... these are rare cases, especially when the woman is Minju... a beauty with an incredible body.)

Then Minju suffered amnesia, and they lost contact.

They met again only a few years ago at a major event celebrating the 50th anniversary of Yohenbe Bank, which now belongs to her lover.

- (Me). "Yohenbe Bank..."

Sohen listened attentively, but as soon as the bank’s name was mentioned, a memory flashed through his mind.

(I remember one story involving that bank...)

When he was about eight years old, he was sitting at home with his father for the first time in several months.

His father was drunk, lying on the couch and watching the news.

As soon as a report about the Yohenbe Bank appeared on the screen, his father suddenly sobered up and started yelling at the TV, cursing the bank’s owner.

He looked as if he knew this person personally and hated him with all his heart.

After watching for a few minutes, he finally got fed up with it, so he just changed the channel and fell asleep.

(I still remember that moment even now... It’s strange, of course, although... I didn’t see my father much when I started to understand things, so I guess my memories of him are special, for various reasons...)

Sohen hadn’t forgotten that episode, and now, upon hearing that Minju’s partner was the owner of that bank, he felt a strange, unsettling sensation.

(What on earth happened in the past between my father and Minju’s current partner...)

Minju continued talking, but Sohen felt that whenever the conversation turned to her partner, she somehow avoided looking him in the eye and acted a little strangely, as if she were hiding something.

Sohen said he would like to meet her partner.

Minju was happy, but Sohen noticed that she was a little nervous.

(What kind of reaction is that?)

Then the conversation turned to Sohen’s family.

He spoke cautiously, sharing only what he considered appropriate.

He said that Karin, Runo, and Phoebe were wonderful people who had saved him and given him the motivation to keep living.

Minju was grateful that they had supported Sohen, but when she mentioned their names, the young man sensed a barely perceptible hostility in her voice.

They talked for a long time, until evening began to fall.

- (Me). "I think it’s time to wrap things up."

- (Minju). "Yeah..."

Minju and Sohen agreed to meet again soon.

Sohen thanked her for the conversation, called his taxi driver friend, and headed home.

Minju stayed at the café a little longer, then headed over to her partner’s friend — the president to finalize the paperwork for the house purchase, which included Sohen’s biological mother’s signature.

(What can I say... I expected to feel the same way I did three days ago during our first conversation, but it all turned out... well, I guess it’s fair to say it went well and was pleasant. This young man is quite satisfied.)

...

Sohen returned home just as dusk was falling.

(Damn traffic jams! Why only today? I’d have gotten home faster on foot!... Well, maybe not faster, but... Hah... Damn!!)

He opened the door and immediately smelled the familiar, warm scent of home — a mix of food, Karin’s perfume, and the light fragrance of the flowers Runo loved to put in vases.

He took off his shoes and went to the kitchen.

They were already waiting for him there.

Phoebe, Runo, and Karin were sitting at the table.

When Sohen walked in, a look of concern first appeared on their faces... the girls were clearly worried about where he’d disappeared to for so long, but as soon as they saw him, their faces instantly broke into happy, relieved smiles.

- (Phoebe). "Finally!..."

The younger sister was the first to jump up and hug him.

- (Phoebe). "We were starting to worry."

Runo and Karin came over too.

Karin gently stroked his cheek, and Runo hugged him tightly, holding him a little longer than necessary.

- (Runo). "How are you? Everything okay?"

- (Me). "I’m fine... Sorry it took so long. Let’s have dinner, and I’ll tell you everything."

The atmosphere at the table was warm but tense.

They ate while Sohen recounted his meeting with Minju in detail.

He talked about how they had walked through the park, about their long conversation at the café by the lake, about how she had told him about her life and her father, and about how she wanted to be by his side.

He spoke calmly, trying not to hide anything, but decided not to mention the ten-billion-dollar inheritance just yet.

It was too serious.

He wanted to sort out the legal side of things himself first, check all the documents, and only then, when he was one hundred percent sure, give the family a big surprise.

(We all know what bureaucracy is... Sometimes very crazy system.)

Sohen also decided on a few things to do in the coming days.

(I need to go to church and light candles for Grandma and Grandpa. They left me... so much. I won’t forget this and will try to live my life with dignity... I promise.)

After Sohen finished, silence fell over the table.

Each of the women had her own questions, her own emotions, and her own point of view.

Phoebe was the most skeptical, Runo was cautious, and Karin was openly wary.

They discussed the meeting for nearly two hours.

Each voiced her concerns: the suddenness of Minju’s appearance, her motive, the fact that she had revealed so little about her life.

- (Karin). "Your grandmother, your sister, and I will support whatever decision you make, but be very careful. Minju... isn’t who she seems to be. We can sense it."

Runo and Phoebe nodded.

Sohen thanked them and promised he would take their advice to heart and use his head instead of his emotions.

When the conversation ended, the women finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Dinner took place in a more relaxed atmosphere.

They chatted about trivial matters, laughed, and tried to restore the usual warmth to the house.

After dinner, everyone went to their rooms.

Sohen felt extremely tired — both physically and emotionally.

He took a shower, got into bed, and almost immediately fell into a deep, heavy sleep.

(Kind of a hardcore day... Good thing Valkyrie wasn’t here, because I’m sure... I’m sure... (~snoring sounds)... (~snoring sounds)...)