425 Is It Too Late to Apologize?

Lee Hua stood shakily in the corner of the dimly lit courtyard, the weight of his past bearing down on him like an oppressive fog. Memories of rejection and betrayal swirled in his mind, each one a painful reminder of his own inadequacy in the eyes of his family. 

In his moment of need, shame, and deep vulnerability, they treated him like a stranger, their coldness cutting him to the core.

As he unwillingly replayed the scenes in his mind, he felt the sting of their disdain, the way they kept their distance even as they hurled mountains of insults behind his back. 

It was as if they reveled in tearing him down, blaming him for their own misdeeds and failures. It was like a pastime, one would think they received silver to bad mouth him. After all, silver and recognition was all they needed.

Honor was a distant thought.