"But you were building a life. A career. Happiness. And I thought—" His voice cracked. "I thought telling you would destroy all of that. That you'd spiral into depression. Blame yourself. Quit."
"So you waited."
"I waited. And I'm sorry. I should have told you years ago. Should have given you the choice to know." Ethan met his eyes. "But I was trying to protect you. Just like my grandfather tried to protect the company. And maybe that makes me just as guilty."
Haejin stared at him.
Then broke.
Completely.
Silent tears turning into sobs.
His father hadn't been a predator.
He'd been a victim.
Raped. Blackmailed. Murdered.
And Haejin had spent days hating himself for being his son.
For crying at his grave.
For loving someone he thought was a monster.
But his father wasn't a monster.
He was just a man who'd been trapped.
Manager Park moved closer. Put a hand on Haejin's shoulder.
Ethan sat in silence. Letting him process.
For ten minutes, Haejin cried.
