87 The Man Explains His Absence (1/2)

”I am your father.”

His words rang loudly in Yeo Ri's ears.

”W-what?”

Yeo Ri could only stare at him with a flabbergasted expression. She even wondered if the man was drunk. What kind of nonsense was he talking about...?

”My... father?” Yeo Ri spat the word out with difficulty. Lately, she had been overly sensitive over the word. After all, the 'father' that had raised her could even do something so terrible. It was no surprise that she felt a little traumatic at the word.

”Yes... I'm sorry, for keeping it a secret for so long.” Heo Woo Seung looked at her sadly. He felt immensely guilty. So many years had passed, yet it was only now that he decided to tell her. It was only after she had grown up so much that he decided to face her. ”I'm sorry, for not—” The man stifled his sentence. He couldn't bear to finish it. 'I'm sorry for not being responsible and giving you a better life,' he wanted to say.

Yeo Ri's head was lowered, her expression covered by her bangs. Heo Woo Seung had no idea what kind of expression she had on currently.

”...”

”Y-Yeo Ri-ah?” Heo Woo Seung wiped away the tears that was forming at the corner of his eyes. He had no rights to cry, he told himself. It was Yeo Ri who was wronged. If there was anyone who deserved to cry, it was Yeo Ri. She had to endure so many years of suffering, living with that horrible family that she had no connection to.

”...Father?” Yeo Ri's voice trembled. She raised her head, facing the man with an empty gaze. Slowly, she placed the photo back onto the table. ”Sorry, but you must be mistaken, Uncle.”

”—Huh?” Heo Woo Seung couldn't help but be startled.

”I don't have a father,” Yeo Ri says frostily. ”Not him, not you, and not anyone else.”

”Yeo Ri-ah, you must believe me! I—” Heo Woo Seung almost stood up from his impulsiveness, but he managed to rein himself. ”If you don't believe it, we can get a DNA test. Please believe me, okay? I—”