F O R T Y – T H R E E

Word of the Day – “Whisk”

Miyoung grimaced at the computer screen, unconsciously reviewing the words on her work-related email repeatedly. It was only yesterday when she finally got the chance to talk to her father for the very first time since happened and it hadn’t been the best twenty-four hours of her life to date.

‘What’s gonna happen to SCORCH when I’m gone, Miyoung? I will retire soon and I have nobody to leave the restaurant to. I was wrong, I knew I could trust you; I knew you were capable but I was afraid.’ She recalled her father’s words which, in her ears, sounded more like emotional blackmail rather than a settlement. ‘I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes as a father but you need to understand how hard it was for me to face everything all alone when your mom passed away so suddenly. It wasn’t easy to be truthful, not even to myself.’ A part of her wanted to cave in and just hug him when he started tearing up.

But those tears could also be part of the lies. The act. The deceit. His fake vulnerability to get what he wanted. His way. It was always his way.

No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t see him the same way anymore. He was different. Or better yet, the real him had finally shown when things didn’t go his way, not only regarding his relationship with her but also with Doh Kyungsoo.

Ra Wonsuk was one hell of a two-faced son of a .

And Miyoung doubted if anyone else aside from her, Doh Kyungsoo and some SCORCH employees—including the formers—would ever see the real him.

But ultimately, despite being aware of all these, the man was still able to reclaim his grip on her neck, in the end.

‘Everything that your mother worked hard for to build this restaurant will soon be gone along with me when I die. Because you’re walking away from everything. And now you’re letting a traitor compete against me and you’re helping him? I may not be your biological father but I still raised you as my own and most especially, you can’t just walk away from the fact that the founder of SCORCH is your mother and you’re trying to hurt the only thing she’d left for you. For us.’ Every word stung a part of Miyoung’s chest that she didn’t even know existed until then.

Kyungsoo didn’t know about this. She had no balls to tell him exactly what went down on the talk they had.

Or maybe, she just had no balls to really think it through yet even for herself.

She was walking away from everything … including her mother’s biggest treasure—SCORCH Steakhouse & Bar. That one wasn’t a lie. That was what she had been doing for the past four and half months.

‘I understand that you’re still angry at me and I can never condemn you for that. I deserve it. But please, Miyoung, for the sake of your mother … think about it. SCORCH will need you soon, eventually. And we can’t let it die. Please, think about it. I will be waiting for your decision.’ The words replayed in her head over and over and over again. And she wished she was strong enough to just tell him that enough was enough. But no. She didn’t say anything. Instead, she grabbed all of her stuff in her room and left without ever responding to that last request.

And silence usually meant yes.

Or at least, not a firm no.

A loud hiss escaped when she buried her face on her cold palms. This could not be happening. She was actually … thinking about it? Why did he have to play with her head like this?

And why was it working?

She loved Doh Kyungsoo. She loved every single day of her life since she decided to let go of the past and start anew with him. She was contented. She could not ask for anything more.

But she also loved her mother. She had always loved her even though they’d never met. It didn’t matter, she was willing to do anything for her mother if given the chance. Anything would feel like redemption for accidentally killing her. And as much as she hated to admit it, it was true that SCORCH may not survive any longer … either because of Doh Kyungsoo’s new restaurant or if nobody, after Ra Wonsuk, decided to take over.

Sure enough, somebody else could potentially buy it out but then that would ultimately abolish the true essence of SCORCH that her mother had left and Doh Kyungsoo had previously maintained. The memory of her would all be gone. And maybe, even the name of the restaurant itself would, in theory, be nothing but a history in the hands of someone else..

Miyoung feared her own thoughts. It was the kind of thought where she didn’t win either way. Whatever decision she made regarding the situation; she’d lose something. Or somebody.

Worst-case scenario, she might lose herself once again. The Ra Miyoung that she had just recently started getting to know better … and learning to love. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. Maybe she was bound to be stuck in this loop that her father wrapped around her all her life. And either she actively ignored it—which required her a lot of emotional strength that could potentially drain her out in the long run—or succumb to it.

“Boo.” She felt a heavy but warm weight on top of her head which she belatedly realized was her manager’s hand.

She jerked away from his grip and turned around. “Oh, Mr. Park. Sorry, how long have you been there? I was just finishing an email.” She asked before sitting promptly again, automatically setting her hands above the keyboard—basically acting like the man never saw her literally slacking off in the last few minutes of her shift.

The man casually shrugged before leaning on the edge of her desk. He glanced at his watch before moving his gaze back down at her. “Well, I thought you want to take me to your boyfriend’s new restaurant? I’m free now. I wouldn’t be able to do it tomorrow because I have to attend a funeral.” He looked down at his phone this time, scrolling his fingers against the screen. “You sent me the address the other day, right? I can’t find the message; I might have accidentally deleted it when I was clearing my inbox.” He stretched his lips straight as if he was guilty of something.

Miyoung laughed and waved a hand. “Psh, that’s okay, Mr. Park. I’ll send it to you again. Anyway, I’ll be heading straight there after this. I think Sooyoung is available to come too but she said she’ll be there at around nine.”

“Sounds cool. Want to come together? I’ll drive us there.”

Hesitating, for no apparent reason, Miyoung slowly shook her head. She drove here. Even if she wanted to take his offer out of respect, she couldn’t just leave her car. “Err, I have a car, Mr. Park. Thank you though.” She forced a smile before looking down at her screen again.

“Oh, , yeah that’s true. I didn’t think of that.” He laughed coolly. “Anyway, I’m heading out now, I guess see you there? Just don’t forget to send me the address again, please. Alright,