Chapter 2 (Part 2)

Holding his father’s hand, a sense of urgency began to well up.

Even if he disobeyed Eung-soo’s order to marry and was cast out of the group, he planned to establish himself outside with his abilities to protect his father.

However, an unexpected twist threatened to disrupt everything.

He intended to break off the engagement, but because of a girl living in that household, he couldn’t break it and ended up clashing even more with Eung-soo.

Besides protecting his father’s well-being, there was one more thing Do-jin found himself wanting.

After telling Jae-jun he would visit again, Do-jin left the hospital building and called Seok-young.

“Secretary Yoo. Contact Lee Hwa-woong’s house. Tell them I’d like to host dinner at the hotel this evening.”

• Yes, understood. Should I invite only Mr. Lee Hwa-woong?

“No. Invite everyone except for Seo-hye.”

After instructing Secretary Yoo to reserve a private section at the hotel’s restaurant, Do-jin headed straight to Seonghan’s headquarters building.

As soon as he set foot in the Chairman’s office on the upper floor, the eyes of the secretariat staff all focused on Do-jin.

Without giving them a glance, he walked steadily and firmly toward the office, causing everyone to hold their breath and whisper.

Who is that?

Is he the big grandson who came from the U.S. branch to the hotel headquarters?

Oh my, did Seonghan have such a figure?

And just then, the secretary-general emerging from the Chairman’s office abruptly ended their chatter.

“You’ve arrived, young master.”

“The Chairman is inside, right?”

The chief secretary stepped back, opening the door wider.

Do-jin strode confidently inside.

Eung-soo, who was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper with a magnifying glass, lowered the magnifying glass slightly and looked at him with narrowed eyes.

“You’re late.”

“I had some errands to run.”

Do-jin answered dryly and sat on the long sofa at an angle to Eung-soo.

Just as Eung-soo was about to open his thin lips to start the conversation.

“Do you have another purpose?”

Do-jin seized control of the conversation. Eung-soo’s eyes twisted into a grim expression.

“What? What’s with this sudden talk of purpose?”

“The reason for bringing Painter Lee Hwa-woong to Seonghan.”.”

“……”

“It seems too weak a reason to insist on a marriage proposal just to expand the art business.”

“You’re making it sound as if I’m bringing in Painter Lee to stash away money.”

“That seems the most plausible.”

“You insolent brat, you speak whatever comes to mind!”

Eung-soo was excessively offended by Do-jin’s suspicion that he was hosting Painter Lee for the illegal accumulation of slush funds.

However, Do-jin did not withdraw his suspicion. It was not uncommon for greedy old men in this field to purchase artworks for money laundering.

In such a situation, if they could tie down the most valuable artist in South Korea, Lee Hwa-woong, and have him paint by their side, what could be easier?

“Anyway, I will get married. However, as I mentioned last time, it will be with the younger sister.”

“If that’s the case, forget it all.”

Do-jin laughed coldly.

“That’s strange. If you only need Painter Lee Hwa-woong, it shouldn’t matter who the partner is, yet you insist on the older sister. Did you make some implicit deal with Painter Lee?”

Eung-soo glared at Do-jin with piercing eyes.

“There must be a reason it has to be the older sister for Painter Lee.”

“Isn’t it natural to want to marry off the legitimate daughter? Would a family with such deep traditions want to marry off an illegitimate child who is a disgrace just by existing? It would tarnish Painter Lee’s name. Even such a trivial matter can cause his reputation to plummet.”

“It’s not something I need to understand.”

At his cold voice, the muscles under Eung-soo’s eyes quivered as he stared at his grandson.

“Try persuading me. In any case, I’m the one getting married. I won’t compromise on anyone other than the second granddaughter.”

Eung-soo massaged his temples as if he had a headache and leaned back.

Yes, it would indeed be quite troublesome.

His grandfather wants Lee Hwa-woong. And Lee Hwa-woong must have set a condition that it has to be the first granddaughter.

From Eung-soo’s perspective, there was no reason not to agree.

To keep Lee Hwa-woong by his side and make him a channel through which large sums of money could flow, he had to meet Lee Hwa-woong’s conditions to easily and safely manipulate him as a useful tool.

Granting such demands would have been an easy task for Eung-soo.

Until Do-jin insisted on the second granddaughter.

However, he also couldn’t tell Eung-soo that, in reality, the second granddaughter of that family seemed to be painting on behalf of Lee Hwa-woong.

Eung-soo was a ridiculous old man who would not hesitate to bring down the family, including Painter Lee, who deceived him, to the ends of the earth.

He didn’t want to include Seo-hye in that absurd wreckage.

That night, she had the same scars of abuse on her back as he did, and damn it, he kept worrying about her.

Do-jin stood up, looking at Eung-soo, who had closed his eyes as if he no longer wanted to continue the conversation.

***

Hae-mi was running around the second floor like a madwoman, screaming.

“Kyaa!! What should I wear? Is the tweed set better? Or should I wear a dress? Ah, they all seem tacky! Mom, do we have time to stop by the department store?”

She babbled excitedly like a child, holding up this outfit and that one for Chae-seon to inspect.

Listening to Hae-mi’s commotion from inside her room, Seo-hye felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest and looked out the window.

A few minutes earlier, Hae-mi had burst into the room and shouted.

“Hey, it seems your dirty blood couldn’t even cover your face? Do-jin’s secretary contacted us. He said he’s only inviting Grandpa, me, and Mom for dinner. It means you, a lowly girl, can’t escape your lowly life. Got it?”

Do-jin had contacted them to say he would host a meal for the family, excluding Seo-hye.

If he had changed his mind like that, it was truly fortunate.

Because if he buried the events of that night as if they never happened and married her sister, everything would be neatly resolved.

Hae-mi wouldn’t torment her anymore, and Hwa-woong would happily continue to cover her mother’s hospital bills.

Yet, there was a stinging pain, as if a hole had been torn in her chest, leaving it ragged.

Seo-hye felt that emptiness making her feel miserable, so she quickly went to stand in front of the mirror.

She tidied her disheveled hair and unnecessarily groomed herself.

Knock knock—

There was a knock at the door. Without waiting for a response, the door opened.

It was Hwa-woong, ready to go out.

“Mr. Kim will be at home, so don’t even think about doing anything foolish.”

“Yes.”

“You’re good at answering.”

When Seo-hye didn’t reply, he immediately closed the door.

And after a few minutes, there was a commotion in the yard.

Seo-hye looked out the window.

Hae-mi was clinging to Hwa-woong’s arm, descending the stairs with an excited face.