Unveiling Destiny: Love Among the Mogans

Chapter 3: Homecoming turmoil 1

A few weeks ago…

**Lucas’ POV**

The chaotic scene at the airport was a familiar sight to me. People were running to their terminals, praying they won’t miss their flights, while some others who had just landed were dragging their luggage, looking either with curiosity or in irritation as they tried to avoid the horde of screeching reporters and their flashing cameras that were hungry for a glimpse of my face.

It was a scene I had grown accustomed to avoiding. Shielded by the vigilant bodyguards provided by my stepmother, I maintained my silence as I navigated my way through the clamor and slipped into the waiting car.

It had been years since I last set foot in my homeland, and despite the anticipation and nostalgia of returning, a sense of unease still remained within me. My father’s sudden brief message ordering me to return and get involved in the family business troubled me deeply because it wasn’t a part of my plan for the foreseeable future, which irked me somewhat. I hate it when my plans are interrupted.

I kept trying to deduce what his intentions in summoning me back were, especially since my stepsister already held the reins as the company’s director. That sly fox has always been a bit difficult to predict, but there was no point in worrying myself over it now. I would eventually find out anyway.

The lingering tension within my father’s household, which stemmed from his legal wife and her daughter, raised apprehension about my return. The contrast between my desire to reconnect with my roots and the unease surrounding my familial obligations weighed heavily on my mind as the car made its way through the bustling streets of Seoul before finally turning into a more serene area.

*********

Gentle light rays streamed through the windows of a modest apartment in the bustling city of Seoul, casting a warm glow on the cramped, but well-organized space. In the humble abode, Rose lay under her blanket in deep slumber, while her mother bustled about in the kitchen trying to prepare the meager morning meal.

**Rose’s POV**

A soft knock disrupted my peaceful sleep, followed by my mother’s gentle voice filtering through the door.

“Rose, darling, it’s morning,” she called out, a hint of worry lacing her voice as she wondered why I was still in bed. I was a lot of things, but I was almost always never late.

I groggily sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes, fumbling to grasp the reality of the morning. I looked around in confusion, wondering what the time was and why she had suddenly interrupted my sleep. After looking around druggily for a while, my eyes fell on my alarm clock as it lay silent on my table, its battery depleted. I quickly glanced at my phone and felt my heart drop after it revealed that I was already running late for work.

“Oh, no, work!” I yelled, as I threw the covers off and rushed to the bathroom in a hurried frenzy. I couldn’t afford to be late again.

I quickly took a shower, hastily put on my work uniform, and dashed out of my room. As I hurriedly approached the kitchen, I could smell the aroma of bacon and pork ribs; my favorite. Mum has always been a good cook. As I walked in to the dining area, I noticed that she had already set the table,

“Come and eat, sweetheart,” she urged; a hint of concern etched in her voice. Although I knew I could get into trouble for being late, I just couldn’t bring myself to let all her hard work go to waste.

“Alright, but a quick one,” I said. My response seemed to satisfy her, and that was enough for me. As I sat beside her, I peered at her with concern while eating.

“Aren’t you going to the canteen today? Is everything alright?”

I asked, noticing her unusual absence from her usual work routine.

“I’ll be heading there soon. I’m just waiting for some goods to arrive from my suppliers,” she replied gently, trying to reassure me.

My mother was my pillar of strength, as she had single-handedly raised me through times of adversity. My father was a sensitive topic, as it always brought a shadow of melancholy to her eyes whenever he was brought up, so even though I was curious about him, I tried not to ask about him as much as possible.

Despite our financial struggles, I was determined to make something of myself. I worked as a cleaner at one of the city’s esteemed companies, and although it wasn’t much, I saw it as my stepping stone towards making my mother proud.

I finished my breakfast in a rush and abruptly dropped my spoon with a bang. I quickly stood up and grabbed my bag, ready to depart.

“Mum, I have to go. It’s getting late,” I announced, as I darted out in a hurry, my thoughts consumed by the pressing need to get to work on time.

I finally arrived at work and rushed to commence my daily duties of cleaning. I diligently worked through the various offices, as I strived to maintain the company’s pristine standards.

I had almost finished cleaning all the offices; however, just as I was about to enter the director’s office, she unexpectedly entered the room.

“Oh no.” I said under my breath, as I braced myself for the storm that was about to unfold.

“Good morning, miss director,” I greeted, as I bowed with all the respect I could muster, hoping for a positive reaction.

Her response, however, was far from welcoming. She paused and looked at me as if I was a cockroach that had just crawled out from under her sink. I could feel the tension in the atmosphere rising sharply. After staring at me for what felt like ages, she finally responded.

“And what is so good about this morning?” she retorted sharply, her tone cutting through the air like a knife.

Before I could explain myself, she unleashed her frustration on me, her words stinging like a lash.

“Why are you just cleaning my office? You’re so lazy! If you can’t work up to the company’s standards, why haven’t you resigned yet?” Her harsh accusations struck me like a blow.

“I’m so sorry,” I managed to utter as I bowed again as deeply as I could, attempting to diffuse the tense situation. However, for some reason, this seemed to infuriate her even more.

“Get out!” She bellowed, her voice echoing through the office as she dismissed me without a second thought. My hands trembled and my vision became blurry as I quickly made my way out of the room. As I left her office, I looked round and was thankful that there was nobody to witness my humiliation, as it seemed like it was just the two of us in the office.

After the horrible encounter with the director, I tried my best to tread cautiously because I was determined not to make any other mistake throughout the day; however, it seemed as though she had a magnifying glass zoomed in on me that was scrutinizing my every move. Her constant, unending calls and dissecting gaze from time to time made me feel like I was on an endless series of trials, and every misstep I took further amplified the feeling of dread in my stomach.

I placed a hand on my chest and breathed a sigh of relief once the grueling workday was over and I could finally leave. I quickly changed out of my work uniform and embarked on my hidden second job; one that no one at the office knew about. In the shadows, away from the polished, corporate façade, I quietly transformed into a cab driver.

I knew it wasn’t the typical job that most women go for, but it was a clandestine means of supplementing my meager income to rise finances to support my mother. I always felt guilty about her debts, because I knew the only reason she had them was because she had to raise me alone, so being a cab driver was my way of quietly solving her financial burdens to ensure that her struggles were reduced, no matter how little.

With each fare, I masked the weariness from my day job and focused on being the beacon of service for my passengers while silently carrying the load of my familial responsibilities.

I drove for about two hours without getting any passengers, so I decided to call it a day, when suddenly, the car door was opened from behind.