THE BILLIONAIRE DAD

The rain had been falling for nearly two hours. Seoul glittered beneath the storm, its tall buildings disappearing behind a curtain of silver water. Cars rushed through the streets while umbrellas filled the sidewalks. But far away from the noise of the city stood the most heavily guarded mansion in the Han River district. The mansion belonged to Kang Jae-hyun, the youngest billionaire in South Korea. At thirty-two, Jae-hyun was the CEO of Kang International, a company worth billions of dollars. Cold. Handsome. Untouchable. Those were the words people used whenever they talked about him. He had everything money could buy—luxury cars, private jets, expensive watches, and a mansion that looked more like a palace. But there was one thing he didn’t have. A family. At exactly 11:47 p.m., Jae-hyun stepped out of his black Mercedes. His assistant, Mr. Park, hurried behind him with an umbrella. “Sir, the board meeting tomorrow has been moved to nine—” “Cancel it.” Mr. Park stopped. “Cancel it?” “I said cancel it.” Jae-hyun walked toward the mansion without looking back. He had barely reached the gate when the security guard suddenly ran toward him. “Young Master!” Jae-hyun frowned. “What?” “There is a child outside.” Jae-hyun’s footsteps stopped. “A child?” The guard nodded nervously. “We found him near the gate about twenty minutes ago. He’s alone.” Jae-hyun looked toward the entrance. “Where are his parents?” “We don’t know.” Jae-hyun walked toward the gate. Under the dim light stood a little boy. He couldn’t have been more than five years old. His clothes were soaked from the rain. His small hands were wrapped tightly around a faded blue backpack. He was shivering. Jae-hyun stared at him. The boy slowly raised his head. Their eyes met. For some strange reason, Jae-hyun felt something inside his chest tighten. The little boy looked at him for several seconds. Then he whispered, “Dad?” Everyone froze. Mr. Park’s eyes widened. The security guards exchanged shocked glances. Jae-hyun’s expression hardened. “What did you call me?” The boy took a small step forward. “Dad…” Jae-hyun stared at him. “Who told you to call me that?” The boy didn’t answer. Instead, he opened his backpack with trembling hands and pulled out a small photograph. He walked closer and held it toward Jae-hyun. Jae-hyun took the photograph. The moment he looked at it, his entire body went still. It was a picture of him. A much younger version of himself. Standing beside a woman he hadn’t seen in five years. His former girlfriend. Yoon Seo-ah. The woman who had disappeared from his life without explanation. The woman he had spent years trying to forget. Jae-hyun’s fingers tightened around the photograph. “Where did you get this?” The boy pointed at himself. “Mom gave it to me.” Jae-hyun’s heart began beating faster. “Your mother…” He looked down at the child. “What’s your name?” The boy hesitated. Then, in a tiny voice, he answered, “Han Min-jun.” Jae-hyun’s eyes widened. Han. Not Yoon. Not Kang. Han. His family name. The same family name Jae-hyun’s father had given him at birth. Jae-hyun crouched down until he was face-to-face with the boy. “Who is your father?” Min-jun looked at him innocently. “You.” Silence. The rain continued falling. Jae-hyun couldn’t speak. Mr. Park looked at his employer in disbelief. “Sir…” Jae-hyun ignored him. He carefully studied the child’s face. The dark eyes. The small nose. The shape of his lips. There was something painfully familiar about him. Then Min-jun reached into his backpack again. This time, he pulled out a folded piece of paper. “My mom said I should give you this.” Jae-hyun took it. His hands trembled slightly as he unfolded the paper. There were only a few words written on it. Jae-hyun, I never wanted to leave you. And I never wanted you to know about our son this way. But I have no choice anymore. Please take care of Min-jun. —Seo-ah Jae-hyun stared at the final word. His jaw tightened. “Where is your mother?” Min-jun’s eyes immediately filled with tears. “She’s sleeping.” Jae-hyun’s heart sank. “Where?” The boy pointed toward the road. “She told me to come here.” “And then?” “She didn’t wake up.” Jae-hyun stood immediately. “What do you mean she didn’t wake up?” Min-jun began crying. “I called her many times…” Jae-hyun looked toward the gate. “Mr. Park.” “Yes, sir?” “Find her.” “Immediately.” “And call an ambulance.” Mr. Park nodded and rushed away. Jae-hyun looked back at the little boy. Min-jun was still standing in the rain. Without thinking, Jae-hyun removed his expensive black coat and wrapped it around the child. Min-jun looked up at him. “Are you really my dad?” Jae-hyun didn’t answer. He didn’t know what to say. Because for the first time in his life… the billionaire who had never been afraid of anything was terrified. Terrified that the little boy standing in front of him really was his son. And even more terrified of what would happen if he wasn’t. Jae-hyun picked the boy up. “Let’s go inside.” Min-jun rested his head against his chest. “Dad…” Jae-hyun froze again. He looked down at the sleeping child in his arms. Then he whispered, “…We’ll find out.” But neither of them knew that this night was only the beginning. Because hidden inside Min-jun’s little backpack was another secret. A secret that could destroy the entire Kang family.