Chapter 52

It could be the other way around. Perhaps the once glorious empire he built was being swallowed up by his son, and the tyrant, who was mad with obsession and self-indulgence, grew weaker because of it.  

Once Taeheon seized control, he ran the company aggressively, fighting as if he had nowhere else to retreat.  

“I have something to protect.”  

— Oh dear.  

Chen let out a sigh.  

— Even a mighty emperor can be brought down by affection.  

His old-fashioned way of speaking grated on Taeheon’s nerves.  

— Submission won’t work. You must know that deep down. Or don’t you?  

“I’m not here to be your avenger.”  

The line went dead silent.  

Then came a chilling burst of laughter, like a broken tape played on loop, unnatural and eerie. The laughter soon cut off.  

— I tried doing things your way too. You should take my advice.  

Chen spoke as if he fully grasped what Taeheon was thinking.  

— I tried to protect her by bowing my head, but my mother still died.  

His tone grew harsh as he spoke of his mother—the one who must have taught him to speak fluent Korean.  

— I hope you learn something from my story.  

Leaving behind that ominous farewell, the call ended.  

Even as he left the office and headed to the reserved restaurant, Taeheon kept replaying the conversation in his mind—a sinister prophecy that lingered.  

A massive sign greeted him first—a wooden board with a blowfish drawn in brushstrokes. It was a specialty fugu restaurant that only accepted reservations.  

Taeheon could guess who picked the place. He closed the car door irritably and walked inside.  

Sliding doors revealed private rooms lined up in a row. Entering the most expensive one, Taeheon saw a group of men spinning bottles of alcohol, all turning their gaze toward him at once.  

“Kwon Director is here.”  

Seonghwan greeted him, spraying saliva as he spoke.  

Taeheon gave a curt nod and sat down. The room had a traditional low table in the center with floor seating, and only Seonghwan’s spot had a thick cushion.  

The way everyone sat so tightly together looked pitiful, and Taeheon was no exception, squeezed in between them.  

The gathering, ostensibly celebrating the chairman’s discharge from the hospital, resembled more of a feast where a king bestowed rewards and punishments on his vassals rather than a simple company party.  

Everyone wore fake smiles, but underneath it all, tension flowed thickly. Whenever Seonghwan opened his mouth, the room fell deathly quiet, ears straining to catch his words.  

“You should come closer and pour your father a drink.”  

“I’ll do it, Chairman!”  

A young employee, who had been rushing around refilling glasses, hurriedly grabbed a bottle of gaoliang liquor, but Seonghwan smacked it out of his hand.  

The ceramic bottle crashed to the floor, shattering with a sound like a gunshot, plunging the room into a cold silence.  

“Who said you could b*tt in?”  

Seonghwan’s roar echoed throughout the restaurant.  

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”  

The young worker scrambled to pick up the shards, but Seonghwan stomped on his hand.  

“Ah!”  

Blood seeped from his hand, cut by a shard he had been clutching.  

“That’s enough.”  

Taeheon intervened—not out of sympathy for the worker but simply because he couldn’t bear to watch.  

Seonghwan glared at Taeheon, his expression as fierce as when he had scolded the young man earlier.  

“Isn’t this supposed to be a joyful occasion?”  

Taeheon moved closer, taking a seat next to his father. Seonghwan pulled back his foot, and the young man hurriedly fled the room, clutching his bleeding hand.  

Watching the farce he had created, Seonghwan suddenly burst into raucous laughter, his throat vibrating with each chuckle.  

“Alright, let’s toast!”  

“To the chairman!”  

Kim, one of Seonghwan’s loyal subordinates, quickly shouted the toast, and everyone followed suit. Taeheon clinked his glass against his father’s.  

Seonghwan opened his mouth wide and downed the drink in one go—a sight that would have made his doctor faint.  

He drank heartily, as if he had returned to his robust prime, and the display left Taeheon in a foul mood.  

Taeheon picked up a slice of fugu sashimi with his chopsticks. He briefly wondered why people insisted on preparing and eating such a poisonous fish—was it a desire to conquer something dangerous?  

Just as Chen Liu had wished, Taeheon knew he had the power to overthrow his father. He could endure the poison’s sting if it meant achieving his goal—at least as long as the damage affected him alone.  

But the thought of what his father might do to Yaein made his stomach turn. Imagining her gentle fingers being bent and broken by that monster made his grip tighten, and his chopsticks creaked under pressure.  

“I thought about it again, and it seems best for you to accompany Jiseok on his trip.”  

Seonghwan spoke abruptly.  

The noise in the room faded. Everyone cautiously glanced around, sensing the tension.  

It was the same proposal he had made to Taeheon earlier about the business trip, but this time he brought it up openly among the executives at the drinking party.  

“I already told you I would consider it and get back to you.”  

“One week would be better.”  

Previously, it was three days. Now it had doubled. Taeheon couldn’t help but find it laughable.  

“Why don’t you go yourself, Father?”  

The atmosphere froze solid. No one would be surprised if Seonghwan flipped the table right then.  

Seonghwan’s brow furrowed, and he slammed his glass on the table hard enough to make a loud sound.  

“Wasn’t it you who pushed for that partnership?”  

He made it sound as if Taeheon had personally profited from the deal. In truth, Taeheon had saved a drowning business that had been bleeding resources thanks to the chairman’s refusal to cut off his useless cronies.  

“Then shouldn’t you take responsibility?”

The idea of “responsibility” disgusted him. Coming from someone who only ever cared about himself, talking about duty and loyalty made Taeheon feel sick.  

“Are you that worried about leaving your wife alone?”  

The fake kind smile made his stomach churn. Ever since he was young, Taeheon could never eat comfortably at the same table as his father.  

It was revolting—like eating in a sewage treatment plant.  

“What’s a few days? Don’t worry. While you’re away, just bring her to our house. Your mother and I will take care of her like an honored guest.”  

“That would be inconvenient. It’s fine.”  

Just as he did when they were alone, Seonghwan used Yaein’s name to pressure him. Seeing that it worked before, he wanted to display it to everyone here as well.  

Seonghwan leaned in close to Taeheon’s ear.  

“I’m your superior. Isn’t that right?”  

He resembled those ancient kings who abused their power as their time to relinquish the throne approached.  

At least those kings eventually handed down their crowns to their sons. Seonghwan, however, was the worst of the worst—a degenerate who would rather burn down the kingdom he built with his own hands than see it taken from him. The things he did to Taeheon’s mother were evidence enough of his nature.  

Taeheon clenched his teeth at the thought that he had almost done the same. If Yaein hadn’t stopped him, he would have destroyed her too.  

He let his gaze fall to the chaotic dining table. The chopsticks he had been gripping nearly snapped before slipping from his hand.  

If he just bowed down and stroked his father’s ego, Seonghwan would be satisfied.  

So just this once. Just a little.  

Hold it in.  

“When should I leave?”  

In front of everyone, Taeheon acknowledged his father’s authority. The employees, who had been holding their breath, hurried to refill Seonghwan’s glass.  

Seonghwan grinned, baring his teeth like a predator.  

***  

Yaein checked the clock. The expected time had passed, but the guest still hadn’t arrived.  

She was waiting for the person Taeheon promised to send. Originally, Taeheon was supposed to come with them, but he ended up staying in Seoul overnight, held up by his father.  

Early in the morning, he promised to send someone instead, and she agreed. Though it was probably unnecessary, Taeheon was worried about her safety, and Yaein wanted to be prepared just in case.  

Should she try calling him?  

She took out the phone Taeheon had given her and started dialing the only saved number when the doorbell rang.  

Checking the intercom, she saw a stranger. Was this the person Taeheon sent? Holding the chain securely, she cautiously opened the door.  

“Hello.”  

She greeted him, and the man wearing a cap lifted the corners of his mouth in a smile.  

His cap was pulled low, hiding his eyes. Why was he wearing a cap? Taeheon’s subordinates usually wore business attire—shirts and ties—but this man looked more like a laborer.  

“Um, are you the person sent by Director Kwon Taeheon?”  

Yaein kept a tight grip on the doorknob, ready to shut it if necessary.  

“Nice to meet you, young madam.”  

The man raised his head and gave a wide smile.  

He looked younger than expected, with gentle, slanted eyes and a round, friendly face.  

“Sorry I’m late. Something came up on the way here.”  

His easy chatter and casual apologies made it clear that he was familiar with Taeheon, speaking as if he knew him well.  

Still wary, Yaein opened the door wider. The man entered with a polite demeanor. Once inside, she noticed his arm.  

“Are you hurt?”  

“Oh, this?”  

The man held his hand up, as if brushing it off.  

“It’s nothing serious. Just a little sprain.”  

It didn’t look like “just a little” to her.

The man’s fingers were splinted and wrapped in bandages. Even the small part that was visible showed how severe the injury was—his fingernail area was blackened and swollen.  

“More importantly, I heard you had plans to go out.”  

“Oh…”  

Yaein hesitated.  

She thought it might be nice to go grocery shopping at the nearby market. After all, she wanted to make something for her husband to help him recover from a night of heavy drinking.  

Since it was a dish for Taeheon, it seemed better for her to pick out the ingredients herself.  

“There’s a local market about twenty minutes away by car. I just need to drop by there.”  

After some contemplation, Yaein grabbed a light coat. A quick trip to the neighborhood market shouldn’t take long.  

“I’ll get the car ready.”  

The man readily agreed, his splinted fingers twitching slightly with enthusiasm near his pocket.  

***

Seated in the back seat of the car, Taeheon let out a long sigh. He felt suffocated.  

Chairman Kwon Seonghwan had dragged his subordinates around, indulging in drinks and antics until dawn. Normally, Taeheon would have left such pointless gatherings early, but this time was different.  

Seonghwan allowed almost no time for rest and immediately began assigning Taeheon various tasks—each more tedious than the last.  

Despite being put to the test and kept from returning to the house where his wife awaited, Taeheon endured it without showing dissatisfaction.  

When he finally reached the end of his grueling schedule, an overwhelming sense of fatigue washed over him.