Hospital - Jimmy's Room
The machines beeped softly.
Aara sat beside her brother, holding his cold hand. Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Oppa..." she whispered. "I'm going to face big fights without your help. How can I achieve my goals? Please wake up... and see me soon."
Footsteps. Leo came in and saw her crying. He touched her shoulder gently.
"Let's talk outside," he said.
Hospital Corridor
Aara wiped her tears, her eyes turning fierce. "We have to find who is behind everything, no matter what."
"Don't worry, we'll find them soon," Leo said. "Because I'm already suspicious about so many things."
"What is that?"
"First I thought it's Jay and his mother," Leo lowered his voice. "But they are not the only people..."
"What do you mean?"
"I suspect the X Group itself."
Aara stared at him. "What?"
"We have to know what kind of work is going on there," Leo said. "And about the directors of X Group too."
"So you're telling me all this happened for the company?"
"Yes," Leo nodded. "Because before your father's death, he called my father and asked to transfer all the properties to your name. Including X Group."
"How do you know this?" Aara asked. "Did Mr. Tang tell you?"
"No," Leo shook his head. "My father is still silent about everything. But I found out he was the only person who met your father that night. My father told me only one thing... 'save you.'"
Aara froze. "What?"
Leo looked at her softly. "Aara, if you don't feel comfortable in your house, you can come to my home anytime, okay?"
Aara gave a small smile. "Okay."
Just then, Daniel called. "Miss Aara, where are you?"
Minutes later, Daniel and his security team arrived and took her to X Group.
X GROUP Headquarters
The car stopped.
Aara looked up at the huge board: X GROUP.
She stared at it for a long time.
"What are the faces behind this company? How cruel are you, X Group?" she thought.
She walked inside. All the staff and employees bowed and welcomed the Director of X Group.
Then she entered the board meeting.
Chaos. Directors were quarreling with each other for the chairman's seat.
Then Mr. Tang walked in.
Silence. Because Mr. Tang was not just a director — he was the prosecutor and advisor of X Group.
One director stood up. "Mr. Tang, we need an election for the chairman seat."
Mr. Tang's voice was calm but firm. "There is no need for that."
Another director frowned. "What does that mean?"
Mr. Tang looked at the door. "She is the one who is going to be our next chairman."
Everyone: "What? How is it possible?"
Mr. Tang turned. "Chairman Aara, come and sit in this seat. Because this seat is yours."
Aara walked forward and sat in the chairman's seat. The whole room went silent.
"Now X Group is yours," Mr. Tang said. "And we are all waiting for you."
One old director scoffed. "How is this possible? She is very young... and a woman. How can we follow her orders?"
Aara's eyes flashed. "How long are you going to follow the old tradition, Mr...? And I'm a woman — any problem with this? If anyone has a problem with this, get out."
Everyone became silent and listened.
Aara noticed two empty seats. She knew they belonged to Jay and Jimmy.
"Where is Mr. Jay?" she asked.
One director answered nervously. "Mr. Jay told us he has some personal things, so he can't attend the meeting."
Aara's voice was ice. "Then inform him this too — if he fails to attend next time, there's no need for him to be a director of X Group. I don't care how your relationship was with my dad, or how long you've worked for this company. But I'm the chairman now. If anyone is disrespectful, I'm not going to just stand and watch. Is that clear?"
Everyone bowed their heads. "Okay, Miss Chairman."
After the Meeting
Mr. Tang smiled at her. "Your father was right. If he were here, he'd definitely be proud."
"Thank you, Mr. Tang," Aara said.
"Take care of yourself, Aara," he said softly. "You are not alone. Let's fight together."
He left.
Aara went up to the roof alone, watching the city below, wind in her hair.
She whispered to herself:
"I don't know how cruel this world is... but I'm never gonna give up."