Dinner
Taking Care of the ChoisThe Choi Mansion is located just outside of Seoul in a sprawling but walled 1-hectare lot owned by the family for at least 5 generations. The previous matriarchs of the family added little bits and pieces to the three-story house, but the current Mrs. Choi, Lee Hana chose to concentrate on the gardens and land around it. There were different trees lining the inside perimeter walls of the compound that included fruit-baring ones and her personal favorite, a pair of cherry blossom trees with a small stone bench in between.
As the car rolls to a stop in front of the house, the massive red front doors are opened by the butler, Lee Soo Man. He bows down as the driver, opens the car door and Lee Hana alights.
"Good afternoon, Madam. How was your visit at the company?"
"It was alright, Soo Man. Can you please bring me some tea? Also, I want an update from Chang Woo on food for tonight's dinner. I will be at the library. Tell Min Gyu to meet me there."
Hana proceeded to the library, took a seat and closed her eyes for a while. She was tired. All the investigating and fruitless leads all these years has drained her. She looked up at the photos displayed on the walls. There were photos of her grandsons growing up, their parents and even the photo of her and Min Soo on their wedding day. No, Hana. You need all the energy to handle your boys later. You need to push through with your plans. Hwaiting!
A soft knock disturbs her thoughts. "Come in."
She looks up to see Min Gyu and Chan Woo enter. Min Gyu, head maid of the Choi Mansion, is first and foremost Hana's closest friend. Min Gyu was newly hired help when Min Soo married a young Hana more than half a century ago. Throughout the years, they have forged a strong friendship, overlooking the differences in their stations in life. Min Gyu was there helping Hana when she was figuring out how to be a new mother to the twins, Jaesuk and Yangsuk. She was also there to give a shoulder to cry on when Hana lost Yangsuk and his wife. And she continues to be a second grandmother to Hana's grandsons. Hana on her part has taken care of Min Gyu and her family. When Min Gyu lost her husband at a young age, Hana and Min Soo made sure that her son, Jin Young finished school. Jin Young is now a successful heart surgeon at Choi General Hospital. Jin Young has stopped asking his mother to move to the new house he bought for her, after she insisted that she would rather live with her friends, the Chois, than live in a big empty house. With the many helps employed by the Chois, Min Gyu just overlooks their work, so she spends most of her time keeping Hana company and visiting Jin Young during the weekends.
Chan Woo, is a young chef, cousin to Jiyong and Yuri. Their parents all work for the Chois in Jeju Island. After they were sent to the best schools, they chose to work for the Chois to show their appreciation of the opportunities given to them, and give back all the love Hana has showered them growing up.
"Halmeoni, here is the menu for tonight. I prepared all your grandsons' favorites.", Chan Woo presents a piece of paper and sits across Hana. Min Gyu serves tea to the three of them before taking a seat beside Chan Woo.
"Ok. This looks good. Your hyungs will appreciate this. Make sure that you have at least one of the dishes that Jin Young recommended for Min Soo to cut back on his cholesterol. Make it extra bland. Hmmph. That old man has been indulging on whiskey with his grandsons when I saw them earlier."
Min Gyu and Chan Woo giggled as they drank their tea. Chan Woo checked his watch and stood up.
"Excuse me, Halmeoni. I need to check on the dishes. I will see you later before dinner. Please enjoy the kiwi tarts I prepared with Min Gyu Imo.", he bows and leaves the room.
Min Gyu raises her brow as she looks at her long time friend. " Hana-yah, what's wrong? You look troubled."
"I've met one of Sora's girls, Ha Eun. We are right with our suspicions. They went to the US, that's why we couldn't find any of them for years. It was only a of luck that Chan Soo recognized Ha Eun when he was double-checking employee records. Gyu-yah, when I found out what that evil Shin Ji-Ae and her daughter did, I had to find the girls. I owe it to Sora."
Min Gyu reached out to hold her friend's hand. "You have found them now. And you can correct the misdoings Ji-Ae has done and somehow make it up to Sora. By the way, how do you plan on
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