Chapter 31 (1) - The Mysterious Art Museum


    W Tree Ambassador Hannam, 38th floor Italian restaurant.


    Holding a half-filled wine ss, Minyoung looked at Monica, who kept sipping her wine, with concern.


    "Monica, that''s Amarone. You might end up being carried out of the hotel if you keep drinking it like that."


    Monica smiled broadly, lifting her ss.


    "I know, it''s my beloved country Italy''s wine. Thanks, Anna. Ah! I should call you Minyoung here in Korea, right?"


    "Whatever you prefer, call me by anyfortable name. But put the ss down now."


    Minyoung''s nagging made Monica put her ss down on the table. She admired the beautiful color of the wine and said,


    "Amarone, produced in the Verona region of Vo, where the city of water, Venice, is located. Originally, this area was known for producing sweet wines from dried grapes. But ''Amarone'' is a full-bodied wine with a distinctive bitter taste."


    Minyoung chimed in.


    "The name means ''bitter,'' right?"


    "Giusto! Correct. Oh, did you know? This wine was created by ident."


    Min-young nodded with a faint smile.


    "I heard that in the early 1900s, a winery''s head of fermentation missed the timing to stop fermentation because he was spending time with his girlfriend. As a result, a wine with no sweetness and a high alcohol content was created, and that was the beginning of Amarone."


    Monica pped her hands lightly and added,


    "Exactly, Min-young. Although there were concerns that a dry wine wouldn''t sell well in a region known for sweet wines, experts who tasted this Amarone praised its heavy body, bitterness, and unique vor."


    Min-young raised her ss for a toast,


    "History is sometimes made by someone''s small mistake."


    The fine wine sses clinked together, making a clear sound.


    After a moment of savoring the taste of the wine, Monica, with a slightly somber voice, asked,


    "How''s your mother doing?"


    Min-young put down her ss, her face clouded with mncholy, and nodded,


    "Yes, she is."


    "How old were you again?"


    "Seven years old."


    "Sigh, it''s been over 20 years. It''s a long enough time to forget, but some wounds are unforgettable. Especially such deep ones."


    Monica remembered the time when Min-young had talked about her mother, Kang Yoo-jung, during her study abroad days.


    Many people think that the W Tree Ambassador Hotel Group has grown into what it is now solely because of Chairman Yoo Chang-hyun''s business strategies. However, the origin of the hotel group, the Jongno Hotel, was actually owned by Kang Yoo-jung''s family.


    Chairman Yoo Chang-hyun''s family was a family of schrs with no business connections, and the Kang family, a family of merchants, handed over the hotel, the foundation of their family business, to wee a well-educated son-inw into their family.


    Monica took another sip of her wine and asked,


    "Did your mother step away from the business right after that ident?"


    "Yes."


    "Because of the aftereffects of the ident?"


    "If you can call it aftereffects, then yes."


    Min-young did not borate, but Monica could guess the situation.


    Even she meets countless people every day to start and flourish a business. What would it be like if all those people frowned upon seeing the disability in her hand? Perhaps, she too would want to step back from the front lines if there was an alternative.


    Min-young''s mother had a smart and knowledgeable husband, an alternative that allowed her to hand over everything and step back.


    Monica looked at Min-young and asked,


    "What kind of person was your mother originally?"


    Min-young thought for a moment before speaking.


    "She was born to be a businesswoman. Even though my father is at the forefront of the business, he still relies on my mother for business decisions when hees home. My father makes business decisions as my mother advises."


    After a moment of silence, Monica said,


    "It must be frustrating for her to step back and stay behind."


    "Yes."


    Observing Min-young''s slightly gloomy face, Monica spoke,


    "Min-young."


    "Yes?"


    "Do you still think it''s your fault that your mom got hurt?"


    Min-young''s expression turned sorrowful. As she looked at her friend who had closed her mouth, Monica said,


    "It''s not your fault, Min-young. It was just an ident."


    Hesitantly, Min-young gulped down her wine and sighed.


    "Sigh, I know. It was a car ident, and it was beyond anyone''s control."


    "That''s right, you shouldn''t feel guilty about it."


    Min-young closed her mouth for a moment and looked intently into her friend''s eyes.


    "But, Monica."


    Min-young continued, hesitantly,


    "If I hadn''t been next to mom at the time of the ident, what would have happened?"


    Monica remained silent.


    "What if, during the ident that took the life of the driver, mom had been alone in the back seat? What then?"


    Again, silence filled the air.


    "Mom would have protected herself. She wouldn''t have sacrificed her hands to block the shards of ssing towards me. She would have ducked down and protected herself."


    "Ah, Min-young."


    Min-young picked up her ss and stood up to go to the window.


    Hugging her arms and rubbing her forearms, she returned with a slightly brighter face.


    "Dont worry too much. It''s been 20 years. Both the wounded heart and the debt of the heart have now faded."


    "But you still feel guilty, don''t you?"


    "Yes, but dont worry. I''m just living my life, repaying mom in whatever ways I can. The guilt isn''t ruining my life."


    Monica shook her head, but she knew Min-young''s words were not wrong. Min-young always did what she had to do, decisively.


    "Okay, I won''t say anymore."


    Min-young returned to her seat with a smile and said,


    "Painting a portrait is one of the few things I can do for mom. I hope someday a painting will emerge that can soothe her heart."


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