Linda woke up to the sound of silence, the morning light streaming through her window. She stretched, feeling the familiar ache in her muscles from the previous day's karate training. The memory of the argument with the rich spoilt brat still lingered, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration. She was so upset that she had to leave her friends behind because she was angry and needed some space.
After a quick shower, Linda made herself a simple breakfast and sat down to eat, scrolling through her phone to catch up on the day's news. After eating, she prepared for her training session and headed towards her training area.
Just as she was about to start her warm-up, the doorbell rang. Linda went to check who it was, and as she opened the door, her eyes widened in surprise. Standing before her were her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee, along with little Emily and Jack. Linda's face lit up with a warm smile as she exclaimed, "Mom! Dad!" She quickly hugged them, and Emily clung to her leg, shouting "Aunty Linda!" in excitement. Jack waved enthusiastically at Linda, and she ruffled his hair affectionately.
Linda welcomed them in, taking their bags and offering them fresh water. As they settled in, the children began to play around the living room, their laughter and chatter filling the space. After a while, Emily and Jack settled down for a snack and soon fell asleep, and Linda and her parents sat down to catch up.
As they sat down to catch up, Mrs. Lee asked Linda about her school life in Seoul. "How's school going, sweetie? Are you finding your classes challenging?"
Linda smiled and began to share about her experiences. "It's going well, Mom. I'm really enjoying my classes, and I'm learning a lot."
Mr. Lee chimed in, "And how's your karate training going? Are you still passionate about it?"
Linda's eyes lit up. "Yes, Dad! I'm loving it even more now. I've been practicing regularly, and I feel like I'm improving my skills."
Mrs. Lee asked, "And what about your friends? Have you been getting along well?"
Linda nodded. "Yeah, everything's good. But I kind of shut them out recently, but we're working through it."
Mrs. Lee's expression was understanding. "Well, studs like that happens_I mean when you just want to be left alone, but it's good that you're communicating and working through your issues."
They chatted for a while longer, discussing everything from school to their home life. After a while, Emily and Jack woke up from their nap, and Linda couldn't help but smile at their adorable faces.
"Hello, sleepyheads!" she said, touching Emily's nose tenderly. Emily giggled, and Jack smiled, rubbing his eyes.
"Are you guys hungry?" Linda asked, and they both nodded enthusiastically.
Linda went to the kitchen to prepare lunch, with her mother joining her in the cooking. They prepared a variety of dishes, including bibimbap, japchae, and kimchi stew. Mr. Lee sat on the couch, busy with his laptop, while the children played around, excited for food.
When they finished cooking, they served the food, and they all sat down to enjoy a big lunch together. The food was delicious, and they all chatted and laughed as they ate.
As they were having lunch, Jack suddenly whispered something to Emily, and she nodded, remembering something. The two of them ran off to where their luggage was kept, and Linda wondered what they were up to.
"Aunty Linda, we brought a gift for you!" they exclaimed, holding out a small box.
Linda's eyes widened as she opened the gift and saw a beautiful silver necklace. "It's beautiful! Thank you, guys."
The two children said in unison, "You're welcome!"
Linda smiled, and they helped her put on the necklace. She touched the silver charm, feeling grateful for her thoughtful siblings.
After lunch, Linda asked her parents how long they planned to stay. "How long are you guys staying with me?"
Mrs. Lee replied, "We plan to stay for three days, and then we'll head back to Busan."
Linda nodded, happy to spend more time with her family. They continued to chat and laugh, enjoying each other's company.
The evening was shrouded in a somber mist, the darkness outside mirroring the turmoil that brewed within the Adams household. Mr. Adam was pacing back and forth in the living room, his brow furrowed with worry. He had been waiting for Williams to come home, and his anxiety was growing by the minute.
Just then, Williams stumbled through the front door, reeking of alcohol, his eyes glassy and unfocused. Mr. Adam's expression turned from worry to disappointment and concern.
"Williams, what's going on with you?" Mr. Adam asked, his voice firm but laced with a hint of sadness. "You're constantly coming home drunk, disrespecting me and our family's reputation. You're attending parties and clubs, and you always come back late. What's driving you to this behavior?"
Williams, despite being intoxicated, was still coherent enough to argue with his father. "You know what, Dad? I'm tired of all the "living up to your expectations" talks. I'm tired of being told that I am the heir to the Adams empire. Can't I just forge my own path?"
The argument escalated, with both men raising their voices. Mr. Adam's face turned red with frustration. "This reckless lifestyle you're living is unsustainable, Williams. You need to take responsibility for your actions, get married and settle down, and live a responsible life."
Williams shot back, "Dad, if you want a wife in this house so much, why don't you get married? After all, Mom is already gone."
Mr. Adam's anger boiled over, and he landed a slap on Williams' face. Williams stumbled back, shocked, as Mr. Adam's eyes blazed with anger.
"Williams, you're pushing me too hard," Mr. Adam said, trying to calm down. "Let's not discuss this further when you're sober. You're better than this. I expect more from you."
Mr. Adam called out to Williams' personal maid, an old woman who had taken care of him since he was a child. "Mrs. Ji-Hyun, please escort Williams to his room."
Mrs. Ji-Hyun appeared, her expression gentle. She helped Williams to his room, where he lay down on the bed, lost in thought. She stared at him with worried eyes for a while and left. Williams watched as she shut the door behind herself and then turned his gaze to the ceiling as he stared at it blankly. Suddenly, his gaze fell on his mother's picture. He picked it up, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Mom, I wish you were here," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I wish you could understand me."
As he drifted off to sleep, the picture remained clutched in his hand, a poignant reminder of his mother's absence and his own struggles.
As Williams woke up the next morning, he found himself still clutching his mother's picture in his hand. He gazed at it for a moment, a mix of emotions swirling within him. A soft smile spread across his face as he brought the picture to his lips, whispering a gentle "Good morning, Mom."
After a moment of quiet contemplation, Williams carefully placed the picture on the bedside table and got out of bed. He stretched his arms, feeling the weariness of the previous night's events still lingering in his body.
He made his way to the bathroom to freshen up, and then got dressed in a sleek black Armani suit, complete with a crisp white shirt and a silver tie. The formal attire was a departure from his usual casual wear, and he felt a sense of purpose wash over him as he adjusted his tie.
As he headed downstairs to the dining room, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and cooked breakfast greeted him. His father had already left for work, but Mrs. Ji-Hyun, was busy preparing his breakfast.
"Good morning, Williams," Mrs. Ji-Hyun said with a warm smile. "How was your night?"
Williams took a seat at the table, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "It was fine, Ji-Hyun. How about you?" he replied, his tone polite.
Mrs. Ji-Hyun's smile broadened. "I'm doing well, thank you for asking. Do you have any plans for today?"
Williams hesitated for a moment before responding. "Actually, I've decided to impress Dad today. I'm going to head to his company and work with him for the day."
Mrs. Ji-Hyun's eyes widened in surprise. "That's wonderful, Williams! I'm sure your father will be proud of you."
After finishing his breakfast, Williams grabbed his bag and headed out to his car, a sleek Lafgeni Genesis 390. As he drove off to work, he felt a sense of determination wash over him. Today, he was going to prove to his father that he was capable of more than just partying and causing trouble.