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Jiyu, who was sitting at the dining table finishing her winter break homework while sipping hot chocolate, giggled at the sight. It looked like she was searching for her phone.
Jiyu handed the phone, which had been resting on the kitchen island, to Ae-jeong. Seeing Ae-jeong's hand trembling as she reached for it, Jiyu tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
'What's wrong with Mom?'
Now that she looked closer, Ae-jeong's face was deathly pale. Having never seen the usually bold and fearless Ae-jeong so flustered, Jiyu felt a sudden chill of anxiety as she watched her mother dial a number with shaking fingers.
However, it seemed the other party wasn't answering. Ae-jeong called, and called again. Only then did Jiyu take off her noise-canceling headphones.
The serious voice of a news anchor flowed into her ears. Jiyu walked slowly toward the living room, and Ae-jeong followed behind her.
"Federal authorities have sent a shockwave through the New Year by revealing that Malone & Strauss Capital Partners carried out a massive Ponzi scheme totaling 35 billion dollars over approximately five years. The primary culprits are reported to be James Malone, a former chairman of the stock exchange, and Charles Strauss, the general CFO of Bluestone Capital. Thousands of individual investors, banks, charities, and institutions have suffered immense losses, and the exact scale of the damage is..."
It was the first scoop of the New Year. Breaking news tickers scrolled continuously across the bottom of the screen.
'CEO James Malone and CFO Charles Strauss expected to be arrested.'
'SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and FBI collaborating to investigate those involved.'
'Amount of damages continues to rise.'
'Victim who attempted suicide being transported to hospital.'
Jiyu pointed at the TV screen.
"Mom, isn't that... Dad's company?"
"...It's late. Go back to your room and sleep."
Ae-jeong chased her toward her room, her voice tight and strained.
Forced to lie in bed, Jiyu read a book for a while before turning off the light, but anxiety kept her awake. She drifted in and out of sleep, waiting for Alan to come home, until she finally woke up and checked the time.
3:20 AM.
Yellow light leaked through the gap in the door, suggesting the living room lights were still on. She could faintly hear the voices of Ae-jeong and Alan.
Quietly slipping out of bed, Jiyu stealthily opened the door. Bright light suddenly flooded her pupils, which had grown accustomed to the dark. Squinting, she stood still until her eyes adjusted, listening to the conversation coming from the living room.
[I'm cooperating fully with the investigation. A mere accounting department manager like me won't face severe legal penalties.]
Following Alan's soothing voice came Ae-jeong's voice, laced with tears.
[What do you mean they won't be severe? Are you saying you'll be punished regardless? You didn't commit any crime, so why on earth!]
As Alan didn't respond, a heavy silence fell over the living room.
Jiyu froze, shocked by what she had just heard. Her hands and feet turned cold, and her limbs trembled slightly.
[Dad...]
The two people sitting side-by-side on the sofa started and looked up.
Her mother, whose eyes were red and swollen, quickly wiped away her tears. Alan gave a faint smile and reached out to her.
[Libby-derby, why are you out of bed?]
Jiyu walked toward the sofa with soft, barefoot steps. She sat down next to Alan and curled into his arms. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, kissed the top of her head, and further ruffled her already messy hair.
Ae-jeong turned her face away so Jiyu couldn't see, pulling out a tissue and blowing her nose loudly. Alan placed his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. Ae-jeong leaned her head on Alan's shoulder, letting out a sobbing breath.
Jiyu looked up at Alan.
[I came out because I was worried. Are you okay, Dad?]
[Dad will be okay. As you saw on the news, this was something the company executives did. I'm just one of the managers in the accounting department, so I'm not directly involved.]
Feeling slightly relieved, Jiyu double-checked.
[Then it's true that you didn't do anything wrong, right?]
Alan let out a deep sigh and paused for a moment, as if hesitating over whether to tell her or not. Then, he spoke cautiously.
[Being without fault and being without responsibility are slightly different things. I did feel that the data being handed down from above was a bit strange. It sounds like an excuse, but I wasn't in a position to judge or raise objections. It was also suspicious that a mere accounting manager was being given such large bonuses. But because of that, we bought this house, and since I have to pay off the mortgage, the thought that I shouldn't lose a high-paying job by causing trouble was stronger. So, I issued the reports as told, and investors decided to invest based on those.]
Jiyu focused with all her might, determined not to miss a single word of his story.
[The amount of damage is so large that the ringleaders won't escape criminal punishment. The criminal lawsuits will likely end with the higher-ups, but since the situation has escalated so much... even if I prove there was no intent, there's a high possibility that those at the manager level will face civil lawsuits. At best, a suspension of qualifications and a fine; in the worst case, maybe two or three years...]
Deducing the final words Alan had omitted, Jiyu burst into tears.
Her father was a man who could live without the law, the kindest and gentlest person in the world.
To think that such a man could go to prison like a heinous criminal.
[Huu, what are we going to do...]
[It's okay. You shouldn't cry already. I'll try my best to make sure it doesn't go that far. However...]
Taking a deep breath, Alan lowered his head.
He opened and closed his mouth a few times, as if the words were difficult to utter.
[It's unfortunate, but I think we'll have to move back to a smaller house like before. We just got our own home, and for things to turn out like this for you two—]
Alan swallowed hard. His voice wavered.
[I'm truly sorry.]
Jiyu shook her head, sobbing.
[Don't say that, Dad!]
Ae-jeong choked back her tears, trying not to cry in front of Jiyu. Alan could only sigh and pat her shoulder.
That dawn.
Alan packed his things into a travel duffel bag. He had heard that reporters, somehow finding out, were asking the concierge for information and lingering in front of the apartment.
Since it was an apartment where the titans of Manhattan's upper class resided, the concierge manager was acting sensitive, fearing an invasion of privacy.
Therefore, Alan decided to stay at a motel in the suburbs for about a week and attend investigations until things quieted down. He planned to leave through the small employees' entrance at the back of the apartment to avoid the main gate.
In the dim light of dawn, Ae-jeong and Jiyu went down to the employees' entrance to see him off. He hugged Ae-jeong, kissed Jiyu's forehead, and carefully opened the iron door. Fortunately, there was no one outside.
[Dad!]
Jiyu called out to him as he stepped through the door. She wanted to make sure she said these words today. She felt that she had to.
Halfway out the door, he turned his head to look at her.
[I love you.]
At that, he shifted his gaze to Ae-jeong and playfully winked, cupping his hand to his ear as if waiting.
"Goodness. You want me to say all sorts of things in front of the child. Oh, alright! Me too! Me too!"
Ae-jeong shouted brusquely to hide her embarrassment, avoiding his gaze.
Jiyu, who had been struggling not to cry with glistening eyes, let out a small laugh at the sight of her mother. Alan also beamed with a wide smile, his eyes still red.
[I love you too. Don't worry too much, both of you. I'll be back.]
✾ ✾ ✾
Three days later, the Ponzi scheme news was still a hot topic at school after the start of the term. Although people were keeping it quiet, rumors circulated that there were victims even at Aster School.
During the first assembly after the start of school, the principal briefly explained the contents of the Ponzi scheme news and held a session for the students to share their views and discuss it.
It was not uncommon to address news that had become a major social issue during assemblies or class time. However, Jiyu felt a stinging sensation in her stomach throughout the session, as if she were the one who had committed a crime.
She was just glad that no one knew Alan worked at 'Malone & Strauss Capital Partners.'
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