Chapter 1: The Birth That Changed Everything
Seoul never truly slept.
Even in the deepest hour of night, the city glowed—glass towers reflecting rain-soaked lights, ambition humming through every street. Inside one of Seoul's most elite private hospitals, destiny took its first breath.A newborn's cry cut sharply through the silence.Han Soo-jin lay exhausted on the hospital bed, her face pale but radiant as she cradled her child. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks as she held him close, as though afraid the world might steal him away the moment she loosened her grip."My son…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Our miracle."Han Min-jae stood beside her, the powerful chairman of the Hanryeong Group reduced to nothing more than a father in awe. His hand shook slightly as he brushed a finger across the baby's tiny forehead."He's perfect," Min-jae said softly. "The future of our family."In one of Seoul's finest hospitals, a boy born to inherit greatness had arrived—the rightful heir of the Han family.Not far away, in the quiet glow of the hospital lobby, another pair of eyes watched with cold calculation.Han Tae-jin leaned against the marble wall, his tailored suit immaculate, his expression unreadable. Beside him stood his wife, Yoon Hye-rin, elegance wrapped around ambition like silk around steel."So it's done," Hye-rin murmured. "The heir is born."Tae-jin's lips curved slightly—not a smile, but something darker."The rightful heir," he corrected silently in his mind. For now.As long as that child exists, everything I've built remains second place.Their eyes met. No words were spoken, yet an unspoken agreement passed between them—sharp, dangerous, irreversible.Rain poured harder as night deepened.In the nursery wing, soft lights glowed above rows of sleeping infants. The air was calm—too calm.Two shadowed figures slipped through the corridor, their footsteps soundless against polished floors. A bundle was lifted from its crib, wrapped carefully in white cloth.The baby stirred, a soft sound escaping his lips.Then—silence.A nurse's scream shattered the night moments later."The baby—!""Stop them!"But the figures were already gone, swallowed by rain and darkness.The Han family would never see their son again.The true heir vanished into the shadows.Chaos tore through the Han family residence before dawn.Phones rang endlessly. Guards rushed in and out. Voices overlapped in panic and disbelief."Search every street," Han Min-jae roared, his voice cracking. "Every hospital. Every alley. Find my son!"Han Soo-jin collapsed into a chair, her hands shaking violently as tears soaked into her sleeves."My baby…" she sobbed. "Please… bring him back."The nursery stood untouched.An empty cradle rested beneath the moonlight—silent, accusing.As dawn broke over Seoul, far from wealth and power, a quieter miracle unfolded.In a modest neighborhood, morning light spilled gently across a small home. A nurse stood at the doorway, carefully placing a newborn into the arms of a middle-aged couple.Kang Dae-hyun stiffened in shock. His wife, Kang Mi-young, gasped softly, instinctively pulling the baby closer."Please," the nurse whispered, her voice urgent yet kind. "Take good care of him."The baby's tiny fingers curled around Mi-young's hand.Her eyes filled instantly."He's so warm…" she murmured.Dae-hyun swallowed hard, his voice low and reverent."He came to us for a reason."Sunlight filtered through thin curtains as the couple sat beside the bed, watching the child sleep peacefully."He needs a name," Mi-young said softly.Dae-hyun nodded, his gaze steady."Kang Seong-jo," he said at last. "One who is born to stand tall… and lead with honor."Mi-young smiled, brushing a kiss against the baby's forehead."Yes. You will grow strong, my son."From an elite hospital to humble hands,his destiny was hidden—but never erased.Years passed quietly.At six years old, Kang Seong-jo sat surrounded by books, dismantled toys, and carefully arranged notes. His eyes moved quickly, fingers solving puzzles meant for children far older.A neighbor paused by the doorway, stunned."That child… he's extraordinary."Mi-young smiled gently, pride soft but unmistakable."He's always been different."At school, Seong-jo sat alone beneath a tree, scribbling numbers and diagrams while laughter echoed around him."Why does he always know everything?" one child whispered."Maybe he doesn't belong here," another replied.Even among peers, he stood apart—brilliant, quiet, unseen.The night a letter arrived, everything changed.Seong-jo read it once. Then again."Accepted… Seoul National University… full scholarship."His heart pounded."This is it," he whispered. "My future."He stood before a mirror later that night—simple clothes, modest room. Yet his eyes burned with something fierce.Ambition.Resolve.Destiny.In a gleaming boardroom across the city, Han Tae-jin leaned toward his son."Remember this," he said calmly to Han Jae-hwan. "Until the past resurfaces, you are the future of Hanryeong."Jae-hwan smiled confidently.Morning sunlight bathed Seoul National University as Kang Seong-jo stepped onto campus, suitcase in hand."I won't remain invisible," he vowed silently.The chessboard was set.And the rightful heir had finally entered the game.