─── chapter eleven.
❛ THE MEETING ❜

Eun-Ji arrived at Jae-Jun's inherited golf club for a conversation neither was looking forward to. Despite her strong dislike for the man, she had to make an effort to co-parent for the sake of their daughter, Joo-Won.

After parking her car, Eun-Ji texted Jae-Jun to let him know she was there. She stepped out, closing the door behind her, and noticed one of Jae-Jun's employees waiting at the entrance. He held the door open as she approached.

"Let me take you to him, Miss Seong," the suited man said politely. Eun-Ji offered a small smile. "Thank you."

They walked through the club's grand halls until they reached Jae-Jun, who stood casually, flashing his signature smile.

"Eun-Ji, what brings you here?" he asked, though he probably already knew the answer.

She didn't waste any time. "Jae-Jun, you need to spend more time with Joo-Won."

He rolled his eyes, dismissing the issue. "I do spend time with her."

"You do," she admitted, "but it's not enough. She misses you. She doesn't want to bother you because of your work."

Jae-Jun sighed, rubbing his eyes as they walked out onto the club's outdoor terrace, overlooking the golfers below. "No child should ever feel like a burden, Jae-Jun."

"I'll try to work less," he muttered, clearly frustrated by the conversation.

At that moment, Jae-Jun's assistant interrupted. "Mr. Jeon, someone by the name of Do-Yeong is here."

Jae-Jun's attention shifted. "Who did you say?"

"Do-Yeong," the assistant repeated, gesturing toward the figure approaching them.

Eun-Ji glanced at Do-Yeong before turning to Jae-Jun. "Alright, I'm going to head out. Have a good one, Jae-Jun. Nice seeing you, Do-Yeong."

Do-Yeong gave her a polite nod, though it was clear his business was with Jae-Jun. With that, Eun-Ji walked away, heading back to her car.

Later that evening, Eun-Ji sat at home on the couch, watching cartoons with Joo-Won, who had the captions turned on. She smiled down at her daughter, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Her phone buzzed beside her.

It was Dong-Eun. 'Hey, how did it go today with the person you asked to be your executor?' Eun-Ji typed quickly.

'I'll explain later. Can I come over?'

'Of course,' Eun-Ji replied.

After putting Joo-Won to bed, Eun-Ji waited quietly on the couch. A soft knock echoed from the front door. She opened it to find Dong-Eun standing there, looking distressed. Without warning, Dong-Eun rushed forward and hugged her tightly. Eun-Ji, taken aback, slowly returned the embrace.

"What happened?" Eun-Ji asked gently after they pulled apart.

Dong-Eun looked down, her voice quiet. "I showed him my scars... I had a flashback... of them burning me when I went to fix my car."

Eun-Ji's heart sank. She could hear the pain in her friend's voice. "It's good you showed him. At least he understands why you're seeking revenge."

Dong-Eun nodded slightly, and Eun-Ji continued, "And for the flashback, it's okay. You can call me anytime you need help. I'm here for you."

"I can't let you get involved," Dong-Eun protested softly. "You have Joo-Won to worry about."

"Let me help with the small things—gathering information, things like that," Eun-Ji insisted, squeezing her friend's hand gently.

Reluctantly, Dong-Eun nodded. The two women separated, and Eun-Ji stepped aside. "Come in," she said, gesturing for her friend to enter.

They sat down on the couch, and after a moment, Dong-Eun spoke again. "What if I told you I had information that could help you get full custody of Joo-Won?"

Eun-Ji frowned. "I'd take it, but I don't want her to hate me. Even though her father's a jerk, I want her to figure it out on her own."

Dong-Eun's expression softened. "What about showing her the bruises? The ones he gave you?"

Eun-Ji blinked, taken aback. "How do you—"

"I remember you texting me about it a long time ago. And I bet your parents took photos, didn't they?"

FLASHBACK
Eun-Ji stood quietly in her sports bra and shorts as her parents documented the bruises covering her body. A swollen lip, a knot on her forehead—evidence of Jae-Jun's abuse.

Her mother's voice was calm but firm. "Turn to the side, Eun-Ji." She complied, feeling a wave of shame as the camera clicked again.

END FLASHBACK
"What if you let Joo-Won find those photos? Let her discover the truth for herself," Dong-Eun suggested softly.

Eun-Ji sighed, her voice trembling. "I'll think about it. She needs her father, even if I hate him."

Seeing her friend's vulnerability, Dong-Eun awkwardly pulled her into a hug, offering whatever comfort she could. The two women held onto each other in the quiet of the living room, both carrying the weight of their painful pasts.

© 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗭𝗡 // 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯