AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 232

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019

 

"Whether it is Huh Young-Mi or Jin Sun-Mi, I have no interest in marrying just for the sake of appearances." -- Yoon Hyung-Chul

 

 

RURAL KANGWON-DO...

 

"I'm at the main gate, Sister..."

 

Speaking into his mobile, Min-Cho announces his arrival as he turns off the road into the convent's entrance.

 

"Sister Ann will meet you in a few minutes, Director Atwater," the receptionist nun's soft, maternal voice comes through the car's speakers.

 

"Please, tell her to take her time. Bye," he confirms and hangs up.

 

 

With time to kill, Min-Cho leisurely tools the silver Aston-Martin Vanquish along the curving lane. The 5.9 L V12 motor purrs smoothly as he drives through lush forested greenery of the convent grounds, passing the occasional religious statue, taking the scenic route rather than a direct line to his destination.

 

The small car park is a short walk to the orphanage hospital. Approaching the new wing, he is struck by the incongruity of its modern, brick and glass structure contrasting the venerable, ivy-draped, institutional-style building dating from half a century earlier.

 

At the door of the Cha Mi-Rae Memorial Rehabilitative Therapy Center, Sister Ann is waiting for him as prearranged.

 

"Thank you for coming, Director Atwater," the nun, a slender, spry woman in her fifties, greets him formally.

 

 

Passing down the main corridor, Min-Cho notes each room is furnished with state-of-the-art equipment rivaling the best Seoul rehabilitation treatment centers.

 

"I thought you would like to see our new facilities first," she explains the cursory tour. "Through the combination of prayer and the Lord's gift of creative ingenuity through modern technology, we are able to do what previous eras would consider miracles...

 

 

When they come to a door labeled "Speech Therapy", Sister Ann opens it and leads him inside. A child is sitting at the single desk in the room, wearing the DORIS headset and intently immersed in listening as he watches the swirling colors on the visor.

 

"Since we installed DORIS, besides our own children needing therapy, we have a waiting list of children whose parents heard about it by word-of-mouth," she relates their success. "This station is occupied six days a week, from morning to evening."

 

 

Noting that the room is large enough for several more stations, Min-Cho offers, "Though we're still stymied by the medical bureaucracy holding up MFDS approval, as a research site I can have three more units delivered this week."

 

"Praise the Lord!" she responds, raising her eyes up as if praying to heaven, then turns to Min-Cho gratefully, "Thank you, too, Director, for your generosity toward the children."

 

"It's nothing, " he deflects the praise, "If not for Jin Sun-Mi's suggestion, I wouldn't have considered starting up a test operation here."

 

Sister Ann glances at the wall clock....

 

"Pardon me, but I have some responsibilities to attend to now,” she excuses herself. "You'll find the person you came to see out the doors at the end of the corridor, waiting on the lakeside terrace..."

 

 

 

MEANWHILE ... IN MBS' EXECUTIVE BOARDROOM ...

 

"I'm holding you responsible for this mess. What are you going to do? ..."

 

Director Yoo Seung-Hwan casts a critical eye at Hyung-Chul, seated at the far end of the conference table. Yoon Jong-Ki and Ha Jin-Woo, invited for the impromptu meeting to assure a quorum of the Executive Committee is present in case a decision is needed, mirror his attitude...

 

"By agreeing to recommend you for the position, the reputation of MBS and the Board is at stake, so the Executive Committee felt it prudent to investigate the situation thoroughly."

 

"You're asking if I intend to marry the child's mother?" Hyung-Chul seeks clarification.

 

"Yes."

 

"Young-Mi is presently in training to become a Catholic nun, so that option isn't available... for now," he appraises them of the situation's complexity.

 

"And she won't reconsider?"

 

"She seems solidly dedicated to her vocation," Hyung-Chul relates Young-Mi's attitude.

 

 

"What about Jin Sun-Mi?" Jong-Ki raises the possibility. "It's not general knowledge that she adopted the child. In fact, most people believe that she is the mother."

 

"I won't propagate further lies," Hyung-Chul insists. "Eventually, the truth comes out anyway."

 

"What is your solution, then?" Seung-Hwan presses.

 

"Whether it is Huh Young-Mi or Jin Sun-Mi, I have no interest in marrying just for the sake of appearances," he replies. "Or to assure myself of a position in the Company."

 

"Then what is your plan?" Jin-Woo inquires.

 

"Take the child with me to London," Hyung-Chul states. "The society is more liberal there, and it's the easiest way to avoid a scandal here. A few years from now, when I return, the story will be 'old news' and not worthy of exploiting by the tabloids."

 

 

"Director Yoo, what do you say?" Jong-Ki seeks consensus.

 

"Given the hand we've been dealt, this appears to be our best card to play," Seung-Hwan agrees. "Chairman Ha?"

 

"The vote is unanimous," Jin-Woo approves.

 

"When will you be leaving, Son?" Jong-Ki asks.

 

"Tomorrow would be a day too late," Seung-Hwan gratingly expresses his opinion on the timing.

 

"I have flight reservations for next Monday," Hyung-Chul informs them.

 

"Why the delay? Every day is a chance the situation could blow up in our faces," Seung-Hwan argues.

 

"Lee Soo-Hee and I asked Chairman Yoon to preside over our wedding," Jin-Woo steps in to explain.

 

"And I wouldn't miss that day for the world," Hyung-Chul declares...