WHAT A TWIST!

Chapter 124

**later in the afternoon**

As Soo Young stepped into the restaurant, the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses enveloped her. She scanned the room, her eyes locking onto Ji Hyeon's figure in the corner, a glass of wine cradled in her hand. The dim lighting cast a warm glow on Ji Hyeon's features, highlighting the sharp contours of her face. Soo Young's heels clicked on the polished floor as she made her way over, her confidence and poise commanding attention.

As Soo Young sat down, she dropped her bag on the table and fixed her gaze on Ji Hyeon. "I understand you've been exploring potential business opportunities with me," Soo Young said, her voice laced with sophistication. "I'm intrigued. What specifically drew you to my company?"

Ji Hyeon's eyes narrowed, her gaze lingering on Soo Young's face. "Your reputation precedes you. I've heard you're a shrewd businesswoman with a knack for innovation." She paused, her voice taking on a curious tone. "Though, I must admit, your face seems familiar. Forgive me, but have we met before?"

Soo Young smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I think it's time for introductions, don't you? I'm Soo Young, CEO of SY Enterprises. And you are...?"

Ji Hyeon's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth opening in a small "O" of recognition. "You're...the Soo Young?" she breathed.

Soo Young leaned forward, her voice taking on a knowing tone. "The one and only. And I suspect you have questions about my success, about how I built my empire from scratch." She paused, her eyes glinting with challenge. "Am I right?"

Ji Hyeon's eyes locked onto Soo Young's, her face a canvas of shock and horror. Soo Young, on the other hand, seemed almost serene, her smile a gentle whisper on her lips. "Fate has a way of reshaping destinies," she murmured, her voice like silk.

As she spoke, Soo Young's gaze drifted into the past, her eyes clouding with memories. "years ago," she began, her voice low and husky, "my life was a maelstrom of turmoil. I was a vulnerable, pregnant at 26,cast aside by my own family." Her words dripped with poignant introspection, each syllable laced with the weight of experience. "But you, Ji Hyeon, you extended an offer that seemed like a lifeline. You promised to intercede with your mother, to facilitate a transaction that would change the course of my life forever."

The words hung in the air like a challenge, each one a razor-sharp cut to Ji Hyeon's conscience. Soo Young's laughter was a cold, mirthless sound, a reflection of the desperation that had driven her to such extremes. "You proposed that your family adopt my child, a solution born of necessity and convenience. And I, in my desperation, grasped it like a lifeline."

"I regret everything to this day," Soo Young said, her voice laced with remorse. "I regret the desperation that drove me to make such a choice. And now, I've come to reclaim what's rightfully mine. I want my son back."

Ji Hyeon's expression transformed from shock to indignation as she set her wine glass down. "You can't just waltz in here after all these years and expect to claim him," she said, her voice rising. "He's been ours for decades. He's grown, Soo Young. He's 19 years old, with a mind of his own. Do you think he'll just leave me, the only mother he's ever known, to follow a stranger?"

Soo Young's eyes flashed with determination. "I'm not a stranger," she said. "I'm his biological mother. And I don't care about the money you spent on him. I'll refund it, times ten. Name your price."

Ji Hyeon's laughter was cold and mirthless. "It's not about the money, Soo Young. It's about the life he's built with us. The memories we've shared. The love we've given him. You can't just undo all of that with a check."

The air was electric with tension as Soo Young laughed, the sound a harsh, mocking rebuke that cut through the air like a knife. "As if you've ever truly loved him," she spat, her eyes flashing with a deep-seated anger that seemed to burn within her like a fire. With a swift motion, she stood up, her movements fluid and deliberate, and turned her back on Ji Hyeon, the gesture a clear dismissal.

Ji Hyeon's face contorted with rage as she rose from her seat, her voice echoing through the room like a challenge. "He is my son, in every way that matters," she declared, her words dripping with conviction, her tone unwavering.

**flash back*

The scene shifted, and the past unfolded like a forgotten chapter. In a dingy, abandoned building, an 26-year-old Soo Young lay on a makeshift bed, her newborn baby boy cradled in her arms. The pain of childbirth still lingered, and her eyes were sunken with exhaustion, her skin pale and clammy.

"I have nowhere else to go," Soo Young thought, her mind racing with desperation, her heart heavy with worry. She wrapped her baby tightly in her arms and stood up, her legs trembling beneath her like leaves. As she walked through the deserted streets, her baby wailing in her arms, the sky grew dark and ominous, the clouds gathering like an impending storm. Raindrops began to fall, pattering against the pavement like a mournful dirge, the sound echoing through the empty streets.

She made her way to Ji Hyeon's house, the only person she knew who might offer her help. As she approached her friend Ji Hyeon's house, the cold rain seeped into her bones, and she shivered, her concern for her baby boy's well-being growing with every step. She rang the doorbell several times, her patience wearing thin as the seconds ticked by. Finally, the door creaked open, and Ji Hyeon stood before her, a look of mild annoyance on her face.

"Soo Young," Ji Hyeon said, her voice devoid of warmth. "What brings you here?"

Soo Young smiled weakly, her eyes pleading. "Can I come in? It's freezing out here, and I don't want my baby to catch a cold."

Ji Hyeon stepped aside, allowing Soo Young to enter. As they walked into the cozy living room, Soo Young's gaze fell upon Ji Hyeon's children, playing innocently on the floor. Her firstborn, a boy around five years old, looked up and smiled, his bright eyes sparkling with curiosity.

The rain outside intensified, drumming against the windows and roof. Soo Young felt a sense of desperation wash over her. "Ji Hyeon, I don't think I can go back out in this rain. Can I stay here for the night?"

Ji Hyeon's expression turned stern. "I'm afraid that's not possible. My husband wouldn't approve."

Soo Young's eyes welled up with tears. "Then can you lend me some money? I'm in a tight spot."

Ji Hyeon shook her head. "I'm sorry, Soo Young. I'm broke. I don't have any spare cash to lend."

Soo Young's gaze dropped, and she felt a lump form in her throat. In a moment of desperation, she made a proposal. "I'll give you my baby boy. Just give me some money, and I'll leave. You can take care of him."

Ji Hyeon's eyes widened in shock. "What? No, Soo Young, I don't think that's a good idea. My husband wouldn't want a strange child in our house."

Soo Young fell to her knees, her voice cracking with emotion. "Please, Ji Hyeon. I'm begging you. Just help me this one time. I'll do anything."

Ji Hyeon's resolve seemed to crumble, and she looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let me talk to my husband."

After a few moments, Ji Hyeon returned with a small bag of money. "My husband has agreed," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "But you have to leave now. The rain is getting worse."

Soo Young took the money, her hands shaking as she handed over her baby boy. She felt a pang in her heart as she turned to leave, the rain pounding against her like a relentless drumbeat. She stepped out into the storm, the cold rain soaking through her clothes, and she felt like she was drowning in her own despair.

That same night, fate intervened in the form of Kim Ju Seok, a wealthy businessman who happened to pass by. He found Soo Young, bedraggled and alone, and offered her help, his eyes filled with kindness, his voice warm. From that moment on, her life changed irrevocably. She built a business empire, becoming a renowned fashion designer, sought after by celebrities and wealthy patrons alike.

Years passed, and Soo Young's success grew. But the memory of her child never faded, the pain of their separation a constant ache, a reminder of the sacrifices she had made.