“Guia, someone wants to see you,” Mom said as she returned to the room after speaking with the nurse. A woman followed quietly behind her. “If you don’t remember her, she’s your Uncle Sungmin’s wife.”
 
“Hi,” the woman greeted gently. Her voice was too familiar. How could I ever forget it? She was the very person who triggered my panic attack the first time I arrived in this country.
 
“Hi,” I replied, unsure of what else to say.
 
“I’m sorry for coming in unannounced. I just wanted to check on you… to see if you’re really okay now. Your dad—I mean, your uncle—told me you finally woke up, so I came right away.”
 
“You don’t have to apologize for visiting her, Johee,” Mom interjected kindly. “You’re family. You’re welcome here anytime. And if you’re still feeling guilty about what happened on her first day, don’t be. We all have our flaws. Yours just happen to be poor word choice and even worse delivery,” she added, blunt as ever.
 
“Mom,” I muttered with a warning tone.
 
“What? I’m just saying,” she shrugged innocently.
 
“I’m sorry,” I said to Aunt Johee, giving her a small smile. “Mom tends to… say things.”
 
When I first met her, I only noticed how elegant and composed she looked. Now that I saw her more clearly, up close and in a different light, I realized that even with her fine lines and wrinkles, she still looked like a beauty queen from an old magazine.
 
“I also want to apologize for my attitude that day,” I added. “I was overwhelmed—scared, honestly. Everything was unfamiliar, and nothing was going the way I planned it in my head.”
 
“It’s okay,” Aunt Johee replied. “I’m sorry too—for threatening you with your work. Your brother told me how hard you worked to get to where you are. He said you’ve always hated being manipulated, especially by people with power and money. Sungmin said you got that from your father. He hated that too.” She smiled faintly and took a seat on the stool next to my bed. “It wasn’t my intention to make you feel unwelcome. I was just afraid. Afraid that if you didn’t stay with your brothers, someone else might find you—and do something worse. We already knew they were looking for Joongmin-oppa’s child. If they found out you were alive... I didn’t know how to tell you everything back then. I’m sorry.”
 
“Uncle Sungmin and Mom explained everything already,” I nodded. “Those people were the ones who killed my father… who tried to kill him—and now me. He told me they’ve all been caught. That justice will be served.”
 
“Yes. And even though Brian’s ex was manipulated too, your brothers still couldn’t just let her go. She still has to face the consequences,” Johee said.
 
“I can’t blame them. I hold a grudge too. She hurt Sian, fed him lies to drive him away from his father. I still can’t forgive her for what she did to my nephew.”
 
Aunt Johee smiled. “And that’s exactly why they all love you so much. Your nephews—especially—they insist on visiting you every chance they get. But we told them you’ll be going home soon.”
 
“How are they doing?” I asked with interest. “How’s school—and their group?”
 
“Well, after their mini fan meeting concert, they announced their disbandment… but only temporarily. They plan to come back stronger, maybe not as a group, but individually. They went back to school, and Chaeyoung promised to continue training them under her agency. She said she’d help them improve more before debuting again—maybe after high school. Jayden returned to his group for their upcoming comeback. Ilwoo’s back in the studio working on music, and Minwoo has started training for his race next month. And Luke—he’s helping Iliana at the restaurant. As the new chef.”
 
“That’s amazing,” Mom commented, clearly listening in as well.
 
“Wait—Minwoo is racing again? I thought he was banned?”
 
“With his brother’s influence, all the racing organizations agreed to ‘cancel’ him as a punishment—but he was never officially banned,” a voice said from the door. Uncle Sungmin entered and gave a nod to Mom before joining Johee, who stood to let him sit.
 
“What about his garage?” I asked. I doubted they didn’t know about that too.
 
“It’s still running. Ford volunteered to manage it. They even invested in building a race track nearby—for aspiring racers and practice runs.”
 
“Kuya Aeden allowed that?”
 
“No, not at first.” Uncle Sungmin replied with a chuckle. “He was the first to oppose it. But when Changmin, Eric, Ford, Heath, King, Jayden, and Luke all agreed—and invested—Aeden had no choice.”
 
“He has too many people backing him up. What a pack you’ve raised,” Mom said, amused.
 
“Actually,” Uncle Sungmin added with a smirk, “Bella said it was because they used the magic word.”
 
“And that is?” Mom raised a brow.
 
“Guia.” He said, turning to me. “They said, ‘If Guia were asked about it, she’d definitely support Minwoo.’ They all knew how much you favor their maknae.”
 
“They agreed it was you who helped him come to his senses. You’re the only one he actually listens to,” Aunt Johee added. “Thank you for that.”
 
“Maybe because you didn’t listen to him first,” I replied quietly. “That’s all he ever needed—to be heard. Did he ever tell you why he raced that night… the night of his accident?”
 
“Min Hanbin told us,” Uncle Sungmin replied. “Right before I allowed him to take over Moonjae’s estate.”
 
“So, you’ve known all along? Why didn’t you tell the others and stop them from punishing him?”
 
“Min Hanbin asked us not to,” aunt Johee explained. “He said Minwoo needed to prove himself. That it would help him build confidence. It was hard… but Sungmin agreed. Said it was the only way for him to learn.”
 
“Anyway, these are the photos you asked for,” Sungmin said, handing me a tablet. “Min Hanbin compiled everything—from Joongmin-hyung’s school years to college. Some we restored from his old camera. There are photos of your parents, too… back when they were still dating, before our mother tore them apart.”
 
“Thank you.”
 
“No—thank you,” he said sincerely. “For staying with my sons. For helping them. For fighting through everything. For coming back to us. You’ve done more than you realize, Guia. And I want you to know… you’ll inherit everything that belonged to your father.”
 
“What do you mean?” Mom interjected quickly.
 
“All of Hyung’s properties and businesses will be transferred to Guia. She’s his only descendant. That includes the largest shares in AH Group and most of our family’s lands—including the village. The one he built from scratch.”
 
“I thought you built that village,” I said, confused.
 
“No. It was Hyung’s project. I just kept it going after he passed. And if you want to, you can be the next CEO too.”
 
“No,” I said firmly. “I never wanted to run a company. I’m not qualified—and I don’t deserve it. Kuya Aeden does. He’s the one who kept things running while you were gone.”
 
“But you have the largest share—” Aunt Johee began.
 
“If I may,” Mom cut in again, “owning the biggest share doesn’t mean she should be CEO. She has no experience. And my daughter may be bossy—but not that kind of boss.”
 
I rolled my eyes at her.
 
“I don’t want the burden of taking something that isn’t meant for me. If I could divide my share so everyone gets a fair portion, I would. Now that things are settled, I’m thinking of returning to the Philippines. I want to pursue the dream my grandfather and I shared—building a manufacturing company focused on natural and recycled materials.”
 
“You can talk to your brothers about that, anak,” Mom said gently. “But I doubt they’ll let you leave. They’re too attached.”
 
“You don’t need to leave the country for that,” Aunt Johee offered. “The place where you crafted the furniture for your exhibit—that was your father’s old hideout. It’s yours now. Maybe… maybe that’s where your dream begins.”
 
Of course. Mr. Min must’ve told them everything.
 
“Besides,” Mom added, “Iliana’s staying here too. She already gave the restaurant to her brother.”
 
How could I forget? Iliana told me all about it. Heath and Minwoo were helping her find a new place—safe community and near public transport. She said she’s staying for good… especially since Heath joined the AH Design Group and also staying in the country.
 
“Well, you still have time to think,” Uncle Sungmin said. “Like your mother said, we doubt your nephews will let you leave now. You’re their favorite aunt. And… good news—Changmin just confirmed. You’re officially discharged tomorrow.”
 
“Really?” I asked, wide-eyed. “I can finally leave this hospital?”
 
“Yes. So, get ready,” Aunt Johee grinned. “You’re going to be bombarded by hugs. They missed you terribly.”
 
When they left with Mom—probably to sign the discharge papers since she was still my legal guardian—I was finally alone. I took the tablet in my hands and began scrolling through the photos.
 
I smiled at every image of the man I never got the chance to meet… yet somehow always longed to know. There were goofy selfies, candid shots, and heartwarming memories with Uncle Sungmin. Then came the photos of him with Mom—how he looked at her, how he smiled beside her… their love captured in still frames I never thought I’d see.
 
And then I remembered that dream—the first one, the only one I truly remembered from the coma. The one where I saw Grandpa… and a stranger.
 
That stranger was him.
 
My father.