Chapter 54
After hearing about the artist’s life story, I disliked it even more.
Because I could faintly feel what the artist had been trying to express.
The hateful childhood, the self-loathing that made him want to die every day, the deep-seated sense of deprivation from feeling that everyone else lived happily while only he suffered—
All of that was tangled together, and the canvas seemed to be screaming with its entire being.
Sarah felt nauseous, as if the emotions she had tightly buried were suddenly spilling out.
Seung-tae, who was beside her, quickly noticed her condition.
“You don’t look so good. Want to take a break?”
“Yeah.”
Instead of saying she was fine, Sarah simply nodded.
The two moved to a terrace where they could sit.
“What are you thinking about?”
Seung-tae brought her a cup of hot tea from above and handed it to her.
Sarah sipped it slowly while gazing at the scenery around them.
“Thinking about what?”
“The painting. You looked lost in thought.”
“Just… some bad memories came back.”
“Yeah? Then I guess we shouldn’t buy that one.”
He said it playfully, trying to lighten the mood.
Normally, Sarah would’ve laughed and joked back, but her head was too full—she couldn’t say anything.
Because she suddenly remembered the business card she had received from Director Park not long ago.
“You’re not feeling good?”
“……”
“Want to just go home today?”
“……My father came to see me.”
Sarah blurted it out almost impulsively, without any thought.
She regretted it immediately—but at the same time, she felt relieved.
“Your father?”
Maybe because she said it so meaningfully, the word father sounded unusually heavy.
Seung-tae waited patiently for her to continue.
“Well, not exactly. He went to Director Park, left his business card, and left.”
“So, you and your father aren’t on good terms.”
“My father…”
Even saying that word felt awkward to her.
Her tongue moved clumsily, as if she were speaking in some foreign language.
“He left home when I was eleven. Mom said he ran off with another woman.”
But whether that was true, no one could say for sure.
Her father had always said that Sarah and her mother had ruined his life.
So when he finally left, it wasn’t even that surprising—
It just felt like complete abandonment.
“I see… But why now?”
“I don’t know either. Why now? He must’ve known I was acting by now.”
It had already been over ten years since her debut.
She had appeared in plenty of major movies and dramas; if he lived in Korea, there was no way he didn’t know who she was.
“So I started thinking… maybe he needs money? Maybe that’s why he wants to see me?”
“Hmm. Could be. Usually, when someone looks for a child they abandoned sixteen years ago, it’s not for a noble reason.”
Seung-tae nodded lightly, agreeing with her.
“Do you want to see him?”
“I don’t know.”
It might sound strange, but even Sarah herself couldn’t fully understand her own heart.
The resentment toward her father was still there, but over the years, it had faded.
And what replaced that faint resentment was… a kind of longing.
“Then let me rephrase the question. Do you have anything you want to say to him? Or ask him?”
“Ask him?”
“Like—why he left you and your mom, why he wants to see you now, how he’s been living. Things like that.”
“……”
She had never thought about it before.
Why did he leave us? Was it really because of another woman?
Her mother would always grow angry and violent whenever her father was mentioned, so Sarah had never been able to ask.
“If you’re curious, you should meet him and ask. Who knows—this might be your last chance.”
Last chance. The words struck deep.
Maybe it was finally time—or maybe she had found a sliver of courage—to take out that word she’d buried deep inside her, father, and look at it honestly.
Sarah lifted her gaze from her teacup and looked straight at Seung-tae.
“Thank you.”
“Hmm? For what?”
“For listening. I haven’t told anyone this before.”
“Guess I’m a useful boyfriend after all.”
“I guess so.”
Sarah smiled at him, free of pretense or polish.
She had come here to sign a contract, but it had turned into a surprisingly meaningful date.
Feeling a bit lighter, Sarah and Seung-tae finished viewing the paintings and adjusted the contract details.
Nothing was complicated or difficult, so the process ended quickly.
“The term is three months, right?”
“Yes. Three months is enough.”
“Lucky you—burning through billions in just three months.”
“Burning? No, it’s an investment—for a good project. And, well, a good connection with you, too.”
“Right, right. I’m ever so grateful, dear investor. Thank you for trusting me.”
Sarah clasped her hands together and mimicked a coy, sweet voice, making Seung-tae laugh.
“Shall we get going?”
“Sure. But you should tell me now.”
“Tell you what?”
“The real reason for this contract. You said before that there’s someone who’d hate to see us dating—so you wanted to spite them. Who is it?”
“Ah.”
He blinked several times, as if only just remembering, then said casually—
“My mother. She really hates you.”
Before leaving the house, Sarah checked her bag once more.
The thick stack of 50,000-won bills was right there on top.
If Mirae found out, she would probably explode—screaming, “Are you crazy? It’s not enough that you give money to your mom, and now you’re handing it to your dad too?”
That was part of the reason she hadn’t told Mirae she was going to meet her father.
Sarah got into the taxi she had booked in advance and headed to the meeting place.
Her heart was pounding so violently that she wondered if it was arrhythmia.
Fortunately, the taxi driver didn’t seem to recognize her—
He only gave her a suspicious look, probably because she was wearing a hat, mask, and sunglasses despite the approaching summer heat.
The meeting place was an upscale Japanese restaurant.
When she gave her father’s name to a staff member, she was guided to a private room deep inside.
“This is the room.”
“Wait—let me open the door.”
“Huh? Ah, sure. Please enjoy your meal.”
Sarah stopped the staff from opening the door for her and pressed a hand to her chest.
Her heart was beating too fast.
Was she really ready for this? Should she just turn around and leave?
What if she didn’t even recognize his face?
A flood of thoughts overwhelmed her.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.”
She whispered to herself like a mantra.
She wasn’t here for some tearful father–daughter reunion.
She was just curious—she wanted to know why he had sought her out.
After taking a deep breath, Sarah opened the door.
And the moment she saw the older man sitting across the table, she understood what Director Park had meant.
He looked astonishingly like her.
Anyone would instantly recognize the blood connection.
“…Hello.”
“Sit.”
He gestured with his chin to the seat in front of him.
If one wanted to be generous, he seemed calm; if not, cold—perhaps even detached.
There was no trace of joy at meeting his daughter after sixteen years.
“Have you eaten?”
“No.”
“I ordered something simple. Eat that.”
“…Okay.”
Sarah hid her trembling hands under the table, forcing herself to stay calm.
She had planned to say, ‘Why did you want to see me? Is it because of money?’ and throw the cash at him coolly.
But her mind had gone completely blank.
Until the waiter came in to set the food, neither of them said a word.
Though she didn’t speak, Sarah kept repeating in her head—
Why did you want to see me?
Over and over again, waiting until she could say it naturally—
or, to be precise, until she had enough courage to actually say it.
