After they finished with lunch, Assistant Lee took out a stack of books from the living room cabinet and placed them on the table.

He said, “These are the books you’ll need to study to get your GED.”

Eun-ho raised his face and looked at Assistant Lee with a flat expression. “I never said I would take the test.”

Already expecting this, Assistant Lee crossed his arms on his chest and looked back at Eun-ho. “Then what do you want to do with your freedom?”

Eun-ho shrugged nonchalantly. “I haven’t figured it out.”

Speechless, Assistant Lee finally nodded in understanding. He grabbed his coat and headed to the door. “In that case, you can think about it and let me know what you want.”

He halted his steps when he heard Eun-ho say to him, “I want to meet your CEO.”

Assistant Lee turned around and gazed at Eun-ho with knitted brows. “Why do you want to see him? He is… a very busy man.”

“You asked me what I want to do with my freedom.” Eun-ho stared back at Assistant Lee, his gaze looking resolute. “I want to meet the man who took an interest in my case and went the extra mile to set me free. I want to ask him… why.”

Why?

Why bother doing so much for a stranger?

Nobody cared about Joo Eun-ho before. Even his family hurt him and threw him to the wolves when he was just a child. He had to kill them to escape the abuse. Once he was convicted and sentenced for his crimes, he was tossed away and forgotten.

So why now, suddenly, he mattered? Why did they choose him in the first place, out of hundreds or thousands of other inmates who deserved to be free?

Assistant Lee cleared his throat and replied patiently, “I already told you that our CEO is a philanthropist, and he did it out of the kindness of his heart. So there’s no need for you to come see him in person and ask that question. I can give you the answer myself.”

Eun-ho squinted his eyes, hearing the response. He didn’t buy it—not one bit. However, he didn’t want to argue. So, instead, he said, “Well then, I want to see him to say thank you. Wouldn’t he want to see me express my gratitude?”

Assistant Lee shook his head. ”No, he doesn’t want anything from you. All he asks is for you to live a good life from now on.” He chuckled. “However, if you really want to see him in person, you can do so if you get accepted to work in one of his companies.”

Seeing Eun-ho’s confusion, Assistant Lee elaborated his point. “You cannot apply for work at any of our companies without a high school diploma.”

Eun-ho: ….

Assistant Lee was happy to bring up the matter again. He patted Eun-ho’s shoulder before he went to the door to leave, for real this time. “I’ll gladly help you to apply for the job if you get your GED. It’s your call.”

Eun-ho looked at the door closing and Assistant Lee’s back disappearing from view and muttered, “You just want me to study and get that damned GED.”

He looked at the stack of books on the table and reached to take one. It had been a really long time. His eyes scanned the content of the math book he was holding as his fingers turned the pages one by one.

I don’t remember anything about school. What grade was the last one I was in, where I went to school, and if I had any friends…

I got into a lot of fights when I was new in prison. Some creeps thought just because I was young and frail-looking, they could bully me into submission. I knew that if I showed weakness even just once, I would become a constant target.

For me, it was better to fight to the death than become anyone’s sex slave.

Not after what I went through to escape hell.

Joo Eun-ho turned his gaze outside the window. Snow had started falling from the sky in a slow and gentle manner. For a short while, Eun-ho thought the world felt peaceful and dreamy. He remembered that while in prison, he didn’t always see the snow in winter because he was locked up in solitary confinement for fights.

He put down the book and decided to go out and experience the free world on his own. Joo Eun-ho took out a padded coat and a pair of boots and went out. He wanted to see what was outside. Maybe grab some food and find a part-time job while he was at it.

His apartment building was located in a very strategic residential area. It was close to shops, cafes, and several schools. Since it was the weekend around Christmas, many people were strolling on the streets and shopping for last-minute gifts and snacks.

Eun-ho walked aimlessly with his hands inside his coat pockets. After a while, his body started to feel cold. He decided to enter a small cafe and ordered coffee inside so he could warm up. He stood in line to order while rummaging through his coat pocket to take out the money he had brought with him.

His brows knitted in confusion when he didn’t find it. Where was his money? He remembered he had brought some money when he left the apartment. Assistant Lee had given him some cash and even a bank card in case of emergency. Eun-ho clearly remembered that he put them in his coat’s right pocket. Since it wasn’t there, maybe it was in one of his other pockets? Eun-ho patted his coat and pants and checked every single pocket on his clothes.

His money was gone. Eun-ho’s mood became dark. For someone who lived around hardened criminals for many years, he was too careless.

He should have been more vigilant when he was out in public, especially in crowded areas. Pickpockets were everywhere. Now he had lost the money and the card and couldn’t even pay for a cheap cup of coffee.

He stepped back and walked out just when the cashier turned to him and asked about his order.

Oh, well.

Being outside like this felt strange. He needed time to get used to this freedom. Maybe he'd better go home and watch TV or sit in his room and do nothing. For many years, that’s how he spent his time.

Sit in his cell and do nothing.

Once, some volunteers from a church came and distributed Bibles. Out of boredom, he read the Bible from front to back. That was his only entertainment. Only after he was transferred to Daewon Correctional Facility did he manage to expand his reading material because that prison had a small library. However, they hadn’t updated the books for many years, and soon he had finished reading everything available there.

I must get a job and make money, Eun-ho thought to himself. I can’t keep staying in that apartment. It must be really expensive. There’s no way they will let me stay for a long time.

As he walked back toward the apartment building, his eyes caught sight of a small convenience store across the street. On the window, there was an announcement for HELP WANTED.

Eun-ho’s lips curved up faintly when he saw it. Convenience store staff surely didn’t need a diploma, right? All they did was carry boxes, manage inventory, work at the cashier, and greet customers. He could easily do all those.

His steps were light when he crossed the street and headed toward the convenience store.