518 Dan-Hanâs Confession
The crying and hugging continued for quite some time, and when they were finally settled â Dan-Hanâs aunt clingingly holding onto the child like sheâd never let go â he beckoned on their attention and they all turned to him.
âNow that we have that settled, Iâd like to make one more announcement.â He said and everyoneâs countenance suddenly became serious as they stared at him.
Dan-Han had once again reaffirmed to them that he never he had an announcement to make there was always a huge reveal to be made.
He shifted his eyes to his uncle and Aunt, who were impatiently waiting to have say what he wanted so they could focus on their grandchild.
âUncle, aunty, I owe you an apology, because these past few weeks I have caused you pain and made you have a hard time. Iâm sorry.â He apologized and bowed, much to everyoneâs astonishment.
His aunt looked at him with surprise. âDan-Han, what are you saying? You didnât do anything wrong.â Or did he? She mused.
Dan-Han silently looked at her for a while and encouraged himself to go on with the truth.
âThe truth is, Ji-Tae isnât really sick of cancer as you were all led to believe. As a matter of fact, Ji-Tae isnât sick at all, and heâs only reacting to the drugs Iâve been secretly feeding him for a while now. Thatâs has been the reason for his condition.â He confessed.
Everyone looked at him with shock surprise and confusion, except for Jae-Hyun, Tae-Ho and Eun-Sun, who he had told the truth
.....
Ji-Tae wasnât sick? And he has been drugging him? Were the questions running through everyoneâs mind.
âJae-Hyun is this true?â Father Lee turned to Jae-Hyun and asked as he was certain he would be aware of it if this was true.
âYes, sir.â Jae-Hyun simply replied, and father Lee turned towards his son with a look of shock.
âYou really are something, arenât you Lee Dan-Han?â He dryly chuckled, before looking over to his brother, who was staring at Dan-Han as if trying to process what he had just heard.
âAre you saying, heâs not going to die?â Dan-Hanâs uncle finally asked after sometime.
âYes,â Dan-Han nodded.
âAnd heâs perfectly fine.â His aunt asked with a tone of shock and disbelief.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âYes.â
âAnd you did this because?â
âI thought bringing him to deathâs door would make him realize how stupid he has been, and probably make him see things differently. I wanted to teach him a lesson.â Dan-Han answered her.
A short wave of silence blew across the room.
âAnd didnât you think that lesson was too much, especially for your uncle and his wife?â Father Lee questioned and Dan-Han glanced at him.
Of course, he knew that, but Ji-Tae left him no other choice.
âJi-Tae has done much worse, and we know it. Same way we also know nothing else can bring that boy to his senses.â He sharply answered. And they need not forget, he was also to blame for what happened to Eun-Sun and their child.
Another short moment of silence elapsed.
Dan-Han took a short breath and sighed. âIâm sorry I made everyone go through this, but it was either this or I threw him into jail or had him killed.â He told them flatly.
âBut you could have kicked him out.â His father presented him with another option which he seemed to have missed, not liking the fact that Dan-Han had tortured everyone in the family these past weeks when he knew it was all a ruse. Ji-Tae was an unnecessary pain to everyone in the family, but he was still family, and death was no way to threaten a member of the family.
Dan-Han almost scoffed at his fatherâs display of annoyance, and he was almost tempted to remind him of all his atrocities towards him and Eun-Sun these past months, but he stopped himself as the man has slowly being warming up to Eun-Sun these past weeks.
âAnd havenât we sent him away before?â Dan-Han cocked a brow and asked.
âKicking Ji-Tae out and cutting him off, means giving him more room to continue with his mischief. Who knows how far heâll go when heâs out of the family.â Maybe much more than theyâd ever expect.
Dan-Han didnât want to fully admit it, but he knew Ji-Tae was a lost cause, and so did everyone at the table.
Another moment of silence followed before his uncle spoke up.
âSo do you think itâll work?â He inquire from Dan-Han. âDo you think heâd want to change?â Because he was slowly beginning to doubt he would, seeing how he had treated his own child and the woman he had bore a child for him.
Dan-Han shrugged as he lowered himself to his seat. âI donât know, and thatâs why I decided to inform all of you. I donât know what to do with him, and if this plan is working. But if you want me to tell him the truthââ
âDonât.â His uncle suddenly interjected, and his brother looked at him in surprise.
âWhat are youââ
âNo, Ji-Sun. The boy has caused us so much pain and damage. He canât continue living the way heâs been living, if he does what will become of him when he gets to our age? What would we tell this little girl here as she grows. Having the taint of a failed family member is something we shouldnât impose on her. She would be mocked for having a monster for a father even though it wasnât her choice.â He said.
âLetâs save her that future embarrassment and do all we can. If Dan-Han thinks this might help him, then he should do it, not just for him, but for all of us, for our peace. If having a child canât help him, maybe dying will.â He firmly said.
Everyone silently pondered on his words till Ji-Taeâs mother spoke up. âI agree with my husband. Keep him there for as long as you can. Itâs better knowing heâs there than anxiously thinking what other mischief heâs up to. And maybe heâd be tortured enough to pay for the trouble he has caused this child.â Her arms tightened around the little girl, who was still seated on her lap.