Chapter 108: The Diary That Changed Everything

Doyoon’s eyes widened. “You know our hyung?”

“I don’t. My late father did.”

The odd answer creased Doyoon’s brow. “What does that mean?”

“First—how close are you with your hyung?”

“…Overly personal question.”

“Okay.”

Hong Ye-ji nodded as if that sufficed. She motioned to move elsewhere. After a beat, Doyoon reluctantly followed. In years of America, no one had openly mentioned Seunghyun to him. Ex-girlfriend?

Minutes later, in a quiet café, she launched into her childhood.

“I grew up without a dad. Mom struggled raising me alone, then sent me to study in the States. Tuition’s insane.”

“…True.”

“It was possible because Dad was a doctor at Seonjeong Hospital.”

“Seonjeong?”

The hospital under Shin Mi-sun—Doyoon’s “official” mother—was part of the Seonjeong Foundation she chaired. Same difference.

“But not because of salary…”

Ye-ji smiled bitterly. “Dad died in a hit-and-run. Rushing to the hospital on his day off. I was three.”

“Ah…”

Tragic, but—what did it have to do with Seunghyun? Ye-ji continued, reading his confusion.

“The chairman gave our family a billion won in condolence—twenty-three years ago. That was huge.”

Doyoon frowned. “Really?”

“Yeah. Mom couldn’t find the driver. Left me with grandparents, plastered flyers everywhere. The chairman visited—said chasing a criminal neglects the child, the dead don’t return, Dad served the hospital long so she wanted to offer modest sympathy, and they’d find the driver. Grandma said an angel came.”

Doyoon fell silent. His mother doing that? For one random doctor among hundreds? The woman in the story felt alien.

“I barely remember—too young. One day I found Dad’s diary hidden deep in Mom’s drawer. It mentioned your family.”

“…?”

Her voice dropped to a whisper near his ear. “It said the Haewon son isn’t the chairman’s child.”

Time froze. Heart, maybe.

“…What?”

“The madam had an affair.”

Doyoon stood, voice ice. “If you’re gonna spout nonsense, I’m leaving. Cheap portals wouldn’t buy that. Real tip? Watch your back.”

Ye-ji didn’t flinch. “The real father’s the chairman’s secretary. Dad wrote it days before he died.”

“…”

“Mom probably never knew. Took the billion—couldn’t ask.”

Doyoon blinked.

He stared down at the tiny student, half his height.

The world’s full of crazies. But he couldn’t dismiss her. Her face was too earnest for lies.

“But that son can’t be you. You joined the family later.”

“…”

“Right?”

Doyoon’s eyes blinked slowly. He was seated again, piecing the impossible.

“You’re saying… our mother did something to your father? Because he knew what he shouldn’t?”

“Yes.”

His heart burned. Dream? Prank?

“Why tell me?”

“Watched you years—you seem decent. Repaying kindness.”

Doyoon’s mind reeled, like a slap at full speed. He steadied his breath, cold.

“Can’t believe it. Even if true, I can’t avenge your dad.”

Ye-ji frowned slightly. “Didn’t ask that. I just want the truth.”

“Proof?”

“Dad’s diary.”

“What if he was wrong?”

“Then he died tragically. But if it was why… I…”

Heavy silence. Then she smiled faintly.

“What can I do? Study hard, become someone great with Dad’s life’s worth.”

She glanced at him. “Or hope a university senior helps.”

Long, heavy silence. Finally, Doyoon:

“You’re probably wrong.”

“Would be nice.”

She stood, hesitated. “…If not, tell me. I want Mom to live without guilt.”

“…”

“I know I sound insane. Won’t see you after graduation anyway. Took me three years to decide to say this.”

She bit her lip, left. Doyoon sat alone, earthquake from heart to head.

What if it’s true? What if it’s not?

Cold sweat trickled.

If hyung and I aren’t brothers…

He bolted home, locked himself in, scoured the internet like a madman.

Hong Ye-ji’s wrong.

Chaebol families breed conspiracies. He didn’t believe her. But he needed to know how DNA tests worked.

How to do it without anyone knowing?

After a day of torment, he called Hyung-ju—the only one he trusted with this.

On the other side of the globe, Yoo Hyung-ju freaked.

<Are you insane?! How do I pluck hyung’s hair?>

“Emergency.”

<You psycho, that’s not normal. Suddenly want a fistful of his hair?>

“Say you’re pulling gray hairs while drinking.”

<Creep. Liking hyung is one thing, but keeping his hair is—>

“Hyung and I might not be brothers.”

Silence. Doyoon pleaded.

“Please. Only you. I’ll overnight mine. Send them separately to the lab.”

<…You’re mentally ill.>

“I know. Help.”

Hyung-ju sighed deeply. Didn’t matter—he’d known his own insanity forever. One more crazy act wouldn’t change much.

Ten days later, Hyung-ju called, voice shaking.

<Dude… the results… why?>

The emailed report: Choi Seunghyun and Choi Doyoon are 99.9% NOT biologically related.

Strangers.

Doyoon read it over, over, over.

Real.

Vision swam. Breath stopped. Tears exploded.

He knelt before the laptop, whispering:

“I can love him… I’m allowed…”

He thanked a God he’d never believed in. All the pain—rewarded. Loving him wasn’t sin.

The world shifted instantly. Seunghyun had no strong bias against men dating. Liked Doyoon’s face, called him cute. The rest? Effort from now. Tears streaming, he repeated:

“I can stay by hyung…”

Then Hyung-ju, silent till now:

<Dude… you forgot hyung’s engaged.>