The hands of the clock kept spinning until the time was exactly noon. The time should have shown the scorching heat of the sun, but at the end of this winter in February, the weather was too extreme, so the sun kept hiding behind the clouds as if it was afraid to lose a speck of its light to welcome spring.

All night without sleep and I had been sitting in the corner of the bed restlessly until now.

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After almost a night of being fumed, scolded, yelled at, beaten almost to death, now I ended up being locked up in my room. Refusing to eat and drink like a sulking kid, or I was? But, how could I do that when someone I left wasn't doing well out there?

Five times I tried to escape and five times I failed as if this place was a labyrinth with no way out.

In the silence, suddenly heard the sound of the door being opened from outside. Without thinking, I jumped out of the bed and immediately ran towards the door, pushing a butler who was carrying food, scattering the food on the ground.

In my head only the words: 'I have to go back to him!', nothing else. That's what kept me from giving up!

However, after I almost arrived at the main door, the door immediately opened, showing a powerful man, stern, firm, and full of rules, also walking in and suddenly stopped walking when he saw me trying to run away once again.

I stood frozen, instantly thinking that today my attempt had the same result, failed.

The man had a cold expression on his face. Then he slowly walked towards me. And, once he was right in front of me, I could feel obviously how his aura of leadership oppressed me mentally. He said in a low voice that seemed cold, "Someone told me that you would take him (Chunghee) to France with you."

Being asked such a question suddenly left me in a daze, standing frozen and wondering, what did I just hear?

Kim Myungdae asked, "Why don't you give up on a man? I know you love him, but does he love you too?"

Hearing his words, I was instantly surprised and confused. It sounded like there was something wrong with him, but I didn't dare comment.

He said again, "Parents can sometimes hurt their children to teach them a lesson. But parents can't see their children being hurt by others. I'm your parent. I also have that side. But, why, why do you even want to run away from me?"

I was still stuck in confusion. No wind, no storm, the words sounded like a divine miracle. Even though my father said his words were still in his usual tone, they sounded strange. This was the first time he spoke to me like a real parent.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help but suspect.

Kim Myungdae was manipulative and exploitative. I had been traped once and didn't want to traped into it twice even in a different context.

"Give up on your love affairs, son. Don't make me become a cruel parent all the time."

Finishing his words, I immediately lowered my eyes slightly. I knew what he meant, but I didn't know why he said it.

Finally, having made up my mind, I raised my eyes again, looking at him with certainty, saying, "Let me go today, please. I just want to help him. After that, we will live by ourselves."

Kim Myungdae took a deep breath, then said as if he was tired, "How many times have I given you a chance? How many times have I threatened you?"

After that, he started walking. I turned behind and was about to shout angrily at him for not giving me an answer, but after he stepped about four feet away from me, he said without stopping his steps, "Daehyun, I'm tired. Do as you please."

His voice sounded desperate. It was the first time I had heard it like this.

Does he have a problem?

I felt guilty and worried. Rather than having to hear the words, I'd rather be beaten up by him. The words seem to have an indirect meaning with, 'Go away. You're not my son anymore.'

I was immediately struck by an extreme dilemma.

Even though his words sounded like he was letting me go, for some reason I felt like I was being dumped, like an outcast.

Staring at the door and my father's back one after another, I finally decided to run outside, putting aside all the bad things that could happen if I left and quickly found a car to drive.

Maybe this was the wrong way. But, hadn't I taken the wrong way from the start? Why should I justify myself after I was already on the verge of the abyss of hell?

I had been lost in my own feelings and would continue to be lost. I could only hope for a good day where I could fix everything.

When I got there, the big man I ordered to watch over Chunghee was standing by the door. He greeted me warmly, but I ignored him.

I rang the bell continuously without stopping but got no answer and there was only endless silence behind the door.

At first, I thought that this noon Chunghee was still asleep. However, the worry in my chest kept pushing my other thoughts to think logically. If he fell asleep, the sound of the doorbell ringing loudly would wake anyone up, even his neighbors.

Not getting any response, panic began to stir up unease in my chest, and it started to mess with my mind. Because of the growing concern, I asked the big man to break into the door immediately.

As soon as the door opened, I immediately called out to Chunghee like a frightened person while continuing to walk in a hurry.

The place I went straight to was his bedroom. However, what I saw there truly made me panic.

As if being shocked by an automated external defibrillator, I immediately ran to the bed with my heart almost exploding in my chest.