“I know.” I place a hand over Ellen’s. “You’re not losing me because I’m going to call Wansu Eomoni. I’m still your daughter. I will always be your daughter.”

Ellen sniffles, but she manages to gather her composure. This time when the doors open, I’m the first one out, walking forward with my head high and my eyes focused. We can’t all lose our shit at the same time.

The boardroom is already full, but not everyone has taken their seats. The members range in age, although none look as young as Wansu. No one except Yujun. I avoid his eyes, afraid that I’ll lose my resolve. He looks edible in his three-piece suit and with his dark hair swept off his forehead. His face is set in hard lines and I wish I could be a fraction as comforting to him as he has been to me these past two weeks.

But there are no good options here. We had two weeks together and that’s not enough to form a lifelong love. That’s not reason enough to upend the lives of potentially thousands of people who wouldn’t otherwise have a way to put a roof over their heads or food on their tables. If we gave in to our own selfish feelings, it wouldn’t be Bomi who would suffer but Bomi’s family. It would be the brothers and sisters and sons and daughters of all the families under the IF Group umbrella. It would be one more sacrifice Wansu had to make, and she’s made enough of them in this lifetime.

I have to stop feeling sorry for myself and grow up. Maybe if Yujun and I had known each other longer, maybe if it wasn’t some vacation romance, we could have convinced ourselves that our feelings mattered more than anyone else’s lives. But that isn’t the case and so here I am, facing down the den of hungry, greedy wolves that want to devour Yujun’s future. I can’t be with him, but I can give him this. I force my gaze away from Yujun and survey the room.

It’s surprisingly diverse in terms of sex, with roughly half women and half men. Yujun did say that Wansu had made sweeping changes to the company when she took charge, and I guess that included the board. Too bad it wasn’t enough to weather this scandal.

I bow, a full ninety degrees, and wait for Wansu to introduce me.

“This is Hara Wilson. As you know from the news reports and my internal communications, Ms. Wilson is my biological daughter. Because her adoptive mother and she do not speak Korean, I am requesting that you all speak English for their sake.” Wansu pauses, but when no one objects, she powers on. “Today, this emergency board meeting has been called because some of you are concerned that my role as the head of this company is jeopardizing its future. I know that there are many changes—”

“I am sorry to interrupt, Sajang, but the very mission of this company has been to provide opportunities for girls and women who do not have the good fortune to attend a good university. The mission is in jeopardy due to your actions,” interjects a female board member. Older, with a head of black-and-white hair, she speaks with authority. Others are listening to her.