Kum Sobong Inc. was a massive company, but every person in it knew the sound when its CEO and co-founder, Mr. Jaehyun Kum, came calling. They also knew the steady "Tap-thump" of his cane would be followed by a cold glance, likely harsh words, and sheer brilliance that was almost nauseatingly self-aware. The older employees sometimes resented his oversight, while the younger ones merely objected to his arrogance. A few, particularly among the women, cast admiring glances his way while simultaneously wagging their tongues against him to their colleagues. But Mr. Kum could not have cared less what anyone thought, said, or did, as long as the productivity of the company was not affected. 

Kum Sobong Inc. had thrived under his leadership so far. But now, the company was readying its entrance from Korea into the international market, and there were new factors to be considered. So today was the day the board would have a meeting to decide whether Mr. Kum, or another candidate would be the future of the company. 

As Mr. Kum sat outside the boardroom with a stony face to await their decision, the others gossiped about him and his evident disdain for the whole process. "Clearly, he doesn't respect the board. I heard he threw an absolute fit when his father mentioned he would need their approval to continue as CEO." 

"He's so rude. Of course they will choose someone who can actually handle people." 

It didn't help that the other candidate, Minjun Jang, was incredibly gracious, respectful, and known to the employees for his good temperament. It seemed like everyone thought Kum didn't have a chance. 

Except Minjun, apparently. He sat next to his supposed competitor and said cheerfully, "Don't worry, Jaehyun; I already told them I'd rather not take the position." 

"Why'd you do a foolish thing like that?" Jaehyun's tone was as hard and steely as his gray eyes. "I told you. I can take care of myself without any help from you, Min." 

Minjun patted his shoulder. "You know, it wouldn't hurt you to show that you care. If you'd given a little more effort to winning them over, your position would be even more secure." 

"What makes you think I want to win them over?" Jaehyun batted his hand away with a scornful look. "Watch out for yourself, will you?" 

Before Minjun could reply, Jaehyun's father emerged from the board room. His face was expressionless, and his eyes were half-hidden behind his thick glasses. Ignoring Jaehyun, he walked to Minjun and said pleasantly, "Congratulations." He held out his hand as the employees stared. 

Jaehyun said nothing as Minjun turned red. "But sir," he began, "Jaehyun was-"

"Jaehyun will have a position within the company. Please know that he highly recommended you," the elder Mr. Kum said.

Minjun glanced helplessly at Jaehyun. Jaehyun smirked and said, "You have no choice but to accept. Congratulations, Min." 

The younger man's eyes were suspiciously misty as he gripped Kum Sr.'s hand in gratitude. The employees offered subdued congratulations, still too intimidated by the presence of Jaehyun to do anything more. But one of them who glanced in his direction saw his fist clench at his side even as his face was perfectly calm. 

Then Kum Sr. turned to Jaehyun and said, "Come to my office. We need to talk." 

Jaehyun followed him as Minjun watched anxiously. But a moment later he was surrounded by the other board members congratulating him and lost sight of his friend. 

Kum Sr.'s office was austere by any standards. A heavy oak desk dominated the room, sitting there as unyielding and hard as the older man often seemed to others at Reinart Incorporated. Oak bookshelves contained more papers and files than actual books, and the harsh lighting overhead cast a sharp glare as Jaehyun took his seat in the uncomfortable chair in front of the desk. 

Kum Sr. seemed to be searching for words for several minutes as he looked at his son with that expressionless face. At last Jaehyun broke the silence. "I am fine, Father."

"Are you? When is the last time you took your medication?"

"That is my own business." 

"It is mine as well. I'm not going to let you destroy everything we've built." 

Jaehyun scoffed and lounged back in the chair with a contemptuous look. "I think I built most of it." 

"All the more reason you should be careful. Especially now." For some reason, Kum Sr. looked like he regretted the last two words. He avoided Jaehyun's eyes as the younger man leaned forward to stare into his face. 

"What do you mean?" Jaehyun's tone was sharp. 

"There may be some unfortunate chatter in the media soon. I want you to ignore it." Kum shifted the papers on the left side of his desk with a nervous hand as he spoke.

"Chatter about what? I said I would step down; there won't be that much of an issue." 

"It isn't about that. Something else happened today." 

Jaehyun glanced at his hand and noticed it was trembling. He dropped the snarky, combative tone and asked quietly, "What happened?" 

There was a moment of silence that stretched out long enough to be deafening before Kum Sr. said, "That woman is back." 

Jaehyun's eyes widened. His breath came out in a harsh gasp. Then he turned his head away sharply, saying in a curt voice, "So what?" 

"She is asking for money." 

Jaehyun started violently as he stared at the floor with vacant eyes. His fists clenched and his nails dug into the palms of his hands. "Why?" He had gone pure white, and his breathing was shallow and uneven. "Why?! Why now?" 

"She claims...Jaehyun. Look at me." Kum Sr.'s voice had softened and he reached out a hand towards his son before hastily pulling it back. 

Jaehyun stood up sharply, toppling the chair, which fell with a crash. "I'm not listening to any  more of this. I am not giving her a penny," he hissed before turning on his heel to limp out. 

"She claims she has been caring for your child." 

The words froze Jaehyun mid-step. He didn't move for several seconds. Then he looked over his shoulder with a face that was distorted with anguish. "What are you talking about?" 

"She says it's a boy. He was raised in America. He is ten years old." 

Jaehyun didn't say a word. He just stood there, trembling violently. At last he said, "No." 

"Jaehyun..."

"No. I will not see him. I will not see her! It's a lie. It has to be." 

"Think of how this will look. If you abandon your responsibility-"

"Abandon my responsibility?" Jaehyun's voice shook as his eyes lit up with rage. "That woman abandoned me. That woman is the reason for this!" He gestured to his leg. "I never want to see that child. Do not say another word about this to me. Not now. Not ever." 

With that, he snatched at the door handle and limped painfully out of the room. 

The employees who were standing in the hallway and in the offices nearby had heard the shouting at the end. They hastily turned away and pretended not to see Jaehyun's furious, pain-twisted face as he reached the elevator. He pressed the button to go down to the parking garage, but the elevator didn't move fast enough and he slammed his fist against it. 

"Jae, wait!" Minjun's voice carried down the hall, but Jaehyun ignored him. As the elevators closed behind the former CEO, he saw MInjun's concerned face. 

Jaehyun staggered a little as he limped out of the elevator in the parking garage. He could barely breathe and he felt hot. He loosened his tie and made his way to the VIP parking. He waved away the parking attendant who hurried to open the car door for him and fell heavily into the driver's seat, slamming the door, turning the key, and slamming the gas simultaneously. He sped out of the garage. 

His phone rang, and Jaehyun couldn't hear it. All he could hear was the roaring in his ears. And he didn't even know where he was driving or what he planned to do. When his mind started to work again, he had no idea where he was. 

He pulled into a grocery store parking lot, put his car in park, and leaned against the steering wheel, still panting desperately for breath. It felt like the car was closing in on him. He fumbled for the door handle, pushed the door open, and staggered to lean against the low wall surrounding the grocery store. 

Several people glanced in his direction with expressions of concern as he stood there, gasping for air and putting his hand over his eyes as he clutched his chest in agony. Jaehyun stayed that way until a child's voice broke into his fog. "Wait, don't go!" 

As he glanced up, he saw two children on the other side of the wall. One of them was running towards the street, yelling over his shoulder, "I don't wanna be friends anymore!" 

And the small boy running after him was only about six or seven and looked distressed. Jaehyun couldn't say later why the voice gained his attention or why, when he saw the car speeding down the road towards the children, he lept over the fence and raced towards them without even feeling the pain. 

Jaehyun gave the second child a hard shove, sending him sprawling out of the way of the car as the driver desperately slammed the brakes too late. 

He felt the impact; heard shouting, and then the next thing he knew he was lying on his back in the road while sirens wailed and lights flashed around him. "Not again," he mumbled between bloody lips. Then the world went black.