When Linda opened the door and saw Ji Hoon standing there, her breath caught.
"Ji Hoon?" she said. "What are you doing here? How did you even get my address?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, that familiar, unreadable smile curved at the corner of his lips as he stepped past her into the apartment like he belonged there.
"Why weren't you in school today?" he asked lightly.
Linda shut the door, as she quickly followed him into the house , totally confused, why he came to her house.
"What are you doing here?" she asked again.
Ji Hoon moved to the nearest chair and sat, his eyes already on her, slow and assessing.
"You look different," he said. "Like someone who didn't just have a normal day. Did you get into a fight or something?"
"No," Linda replied quickly.
He rose from the chair and took a few steps toward her.
"Then why weren't you at school?"
She hesitated. "How do you even know I wasn't there?"
His gaze didn't waver. "I pay attention, you're kinda hard to miss."
Her brows drew together. "Are you watching me?"
A small, dangerous smile touched his lips. "Something like that."
"Really?" she said, irritation slipping into her voice.
That only amused him.
"I want you to have lunch with me."
She exhaled softly. "I don't have the strength to go out. I feel exhausted."
Ji Hoon closed the distance between them, his presence warm__too close, and his eyes scanning her face with quiet intensity.
"What have you been doing?" he asked.
The closeness unsettled her, why was he behaving like this? She stepped back.
"It's nothing. I didn't sleep well."
Before he could press her, she added quickly,
"Give me a minute. I'll get ready."
She disappeared into her room.
When she returned a few minutes later, calmer and composed, Ji Hoon's eyes followed her without disguise. For a moment, he said nothing.
Then, softly, "Let's go.".
___
Weeks had passed since Williams was discharged from the hospital, and the change in him did not go unnoticed.
He arrived at the office every morning with his father and returned home with him in the evenings. Sometimes he didn't even bother taking his own car, choosing instead to ride with Mr. Adam in silence. The reckless ease that once defined him had faded into something quieter.
Mr. Adam watched this transformation with careful hope. It wasn't the first time Williams had promised to change. There had been other mornings, other resolutions, other brief stretches of effort that had collapsed back into old habits within days. But this time, the change lingered. A week passed and then another. And Williams remained steady __attentive during meetings, respectful with staff, and present in ways he had never been before.
That afternoon, the office was calm. Mr. Adam sat behind his desk, focused on his laptop, while Williams worked across from him with another computer, reviewing reports in silence. The door opened after a light knock.
"Come in."
Secretary Kim entered, bowing slightly.
"Sir… the meetings with Germany and Italy have both been scheduled for the same day."
He turned his tablet so Mr. Adam could see the calendar.
"I… I'm not confident enough in English, and I don't speak the other languages well. I'm not sure how to manage both."
Mr. Adam's brow tightened. He rubbed his temple.
"How am I supposed to be in two countries at once?" he muttered. Then, more sharply, he said.
"Why wasn't this caught earlier?"
"I'm very sorry, sir. Germany changed their date unexpectedly."
Silence settled between them.
Mr. Adam leaned back slightly, the weight of it pressing on him.
"What do we do now…"
Williams finally lifted his eyes from his screen.
"I can handle Germany," he said calmly.
Both men turned toward him.
"I studied there," Williams continued. "I know the place. I still have contacts there. I can take the meeting."
Mr. Adam studied his son carefully. This was not the boy who used to sleep through board meetings. Not the boy who mocked responsibility.
Williams held his gaze, steady and composed.
After a moment, Mr. Adam nodded.
"Alright," he said. "You'll go to Germany."
A quiet confidence settled into Williams' expression as he said "I won't let you down father."
And for the first time in a long while, Mr. Adam believed him as he gave a nod of approval. Maybe this time, he was really changed.
Days later, the early morning air was still cool when Mr. Adam's car pulled up at the private terminal.
Williams sat in the back seat beside Secretary Kim, watching the wide glass doors of the airport come into view. Although Mr. Adam had finally agreed to let him handle the Germany meeting, he had insisted that Secretary Kim accompany him.
"Experience matters," Mr. Adam had said. "Even if he doesn't speak much English, he understands the world of business better than you think."
Williams hadn't argued. In truth, he welcomed the presence of someone steady beside him.
Inside the terminal, the quiet hum of travelers and rolling suitcases filled the air. Staff members greeted Mr. Adam with practiced respect as they were guided toward the boarding gate. The plane waiting for them gleamed beneath the morning sun, its polished body reflecting the growing light.
At the gate, Mr. Adam stopped.
He looked at Williams as if trying to memorize the man his son was becoming.
"Call me when you land," he said.
"I will," Williams answered.
Secretary Kim bowed slightly. "I'll take good care of him, sir."
Mr. Adam nodded, then stepped back, watching as the two of them walked toward the aircraft.
Williams climbed the steps first. This was no party trip, this was responsibility.
Inside, the cabin was quiet and refined. As they took their seats and fastened their belts, the doors closed, sealing them off from everything familiar. Through the window, Williams saw his father standing below, hands clasped behind his back, gaze fixed on the plane.
And then, the engines roared to life.
After watching the plan take off, Mr Adam sighed and turned. He took a few steps and stopped again glancing back at the empty sky.
"Sir, are you worried about the young master?" His personal security asked.
"Well, I'm just.... I just hope he could be like this forever." Mr Adam said in a hopeful tone.
"Don't worry, sir. I'm sure he'll be fine."
Mr Adam nodded and left with his bodyguards tailing along with his luggages.
When he got to his private jet which rested in a special side of the airport where he was well known, the flight managers quickly rushed to attend to him.
"Sir, we have prepared the flight. The pilot is ready and you can take of any moment from now." The head of the managers said as he bowed slightly in respect.
"Good." Mr Adam said.
"You can wait in the plane, sir. The flight attendant will handle the luggages."
"No need. My bodyguards can do that." Mr Adam said and his personal security led the others as they carried the luggages inside the plane.
After they all settled, the plane took off. Mr Adam looked down the window, his mind thinking about his son.
I trust you, Williams. Don't fail me. He thought.