Chapter 60

“That’s none of your business. While Mom’s not here, I’m your superior, so you’d better remember that.”

“…”

“I’m thirsty after talking to you. Go get me a coffee.”

Serin jerked her chin in command. Yaein calmly observed her sister-in-law’s behavior.

“What? You don’t want to?”

When Yaein didn’t respond, Serin pushed more aggressively. Yaein thought back to what her husband had taught her: *If you want to make someone angry, just don’t give them what they want.* 

Then to disarm them… wouldn’t the opposite work just as well?

“No, sister,” Yaein said, shaking her head.

She didn’t need anything else. 

This job wasn’t about earning approval or recognition. She no longer wanted apologies or sisterhood from Serin either.

All that mattered now was gathering the problems that were stacked up in plain sight.

One benefit of being treated like a ghost was that no one paid attention to her. Even when she was right there, Sojeong and Serin would talk freely, letting crucial details slip without care.

It was the same as when they badmouthed her in front of her in-laws, assuming *What could Lee Yaein possibly do?*

Even after what happened at the dinner with Yaein and Taeheon, Serin still looked down on her like nothing had changed.

From comments meant to be passed along to the chairman to whispers at family gatherings, Yaein had come to understand they were embezzling. 

She had also overheard that her stepmother kept records hidden away, in case Chairman Kwon ever tried to backstab them. Baek Sojeong was csisterng when it came to things like that. 

Yaein could see now why her father hadn’t divorced her, despite claiming to despise her.

“I’ll be back soon,” Yaein said sweetly, still playing the obedient errand girl Serin wanted to see. There was even a flash of relief across Serin’s face, as if reassured.

As Yaein picked up her wallet and headed out, she cast a glance around the chairwoman’s office.

There had to be evidence hidden somewhere.

***

The chopsticks opened and closed. 

A thin slice of raw beef was picked up between them, the red meat dangling in the air. 

“No appetite? Why are you just picking at your food?” 

Seonghwan smacked his lips as he chewed the horse meat. Crushed bits of red flesh stuck between his canines.

“You still like your food raw, huh, Father?” 

“Everything tastes best in its rawest form. That’s how you get the real flavor.” 

“Still, maybe don’t try to force raw fish on your pregnant daughter-in-law.” 

“So you went crying to your husband, did you?” 

Seonghwan emptied his glass like it was water. 

Watching him get drunk in the middle of the workday—no wonder he ended up in the hospital, Taeheon thought with disdain.

“And the bruise you left on her face—who wouldn’t notice? It’s not like I’m blind.” 

“She said she was fragile, but she bruises from something that trivial?” 

Seonghwan let out a lazy grin.

Rage pulsed through Taeheon’s head, but he kept it in. 

Even if he wanted to gouge out the man’s eye on the spot— 

The moment for revenge was coming. 

Taeheon was only dipping the blade in ice water for now.

“Drink.” 

Seonghwan pushed a refilled glass toward him. 

Taeheon stared down at the glass but didn’t reach for it.

“What, think I poisoned it?” 

“Wouldn’t put it past you.” 

If anyone would, it was Seonghwan. 

He laughed hard, throwing his head back wide enough to show his uvula—then suddenly stopped. 

“Quit acting superior and drink it.” 

The anger in his tone betrayed a bruised ego. 

Seonghwan sometimes revealed his inferiority complex toward his own son.

Taeheon finally took the glass, tilted his wrist, and downed it. 

Cold alcohol burned down his throat. 

Seonghwan watched him like he was witnessing something fascinating. Then, a murmur of admiration escaped him.

“You’ve changed a lot. You’re the kind of guy who’d have rather died than do what I said back in the day.” 

Taeheon agreed.

Once, if his father had barked like this, he’d have bitten his own tongue first. 

He would’ve chosen a beating over submission any day.

Back then, he had nothing to lose. 

Getting hurt didn’t matter. That emptiness had been his greatest weapon in navigating the brutal, icy world he lived in.

But now, things were different.

“The schedule’s been set for the China trip.”

He had already guessed the purpose when stepping into the restaurant. Taeheon exhaled deeply, smelling of alcohol.

“Go over there, negotiate well, and figure out the price.”

All his father ever did was shove him out there, yet he acted so high and mighty, like an owner sending a fighting dog into the ring to win prize money.

“If things go smoothly, I might not have so much free time to toy around with my daughter-in-law.”

It was tantamount to a threat, implying he could do the same to Yaein anytime he wanted. Taeheon gripped his glass so tightly it nearly cracked.

“If I come back with the number you want, does that mean you’ll stop bothering my wife?”

“No point in getting a promise you wouldn’t believe anyway.”

He wasn’t even willing to make a promise. He had no intention of giving up his fun dragging Taeheon around by a leash, using Yaein as leverage, until the day he died.

Previously, Taeheon had decided to endure, foolishly thinking Yaein would be safe if he complied.

He’d seen his father sick and feeble for a few years and somehow gotten confused about how rotten he truly was. As long as Seonghwan was alive, he would keep tormenting Yaein whenever he pleased.

Taeheon wouldn’t let that happen.

“Rather than me, once her baby’s born, watch out for that kid.”

Seonghwan let out a long burp, patting his belly.

“Who knows if that brat won’t ruin his mother the same way.”

Taeheon showed no reaction.

His completely expressionless face hid all emotions. Seonghwan clicked his tongue. The pleasant mood had evaporated.

The toy who’d react whenever he mentioned the wife was gone. Now he was back to being the unpleasant son again.

A cell phone resting on the table lit up and vibrated. The caller’s name was visible from where it lay. Yaein was calling.

Taeheon picked up his phone.

“You not gonna answer?”

“I’ll just pay the bill and head out first. Take your time finishing up.”

He didn’t even want to let his voice be heard, it seemed, because he walked out with the phone.

Such a fuss. Left alone, Seonghwan washed down the grease in his mouth with alcohol. Kim, the secretary who had been waiting in the next room all this time, finally walked in.

“You think he’ll keep being so docile?”

Seonghwan licked at his molars and gestured for Kim to pour him a drink. He could still taste the raw flesh of the animal in his mouth.

“So far, he hasn’t said no, and he’s followed all your orders, Chairman. Guess the young master’s made up his mind. Letting you send his right-hand man to China was the clincher, I suppose.”

Kim answered cautiously.

“No. That’s not enough to relax yet.”

Seonghwan shook his head. Though overbearing, he wasn’t a fool blinded by arrogance, unaware of his opponent’s capabilities.

He was a brat who was difficult to tame from the start. Even as a kid, he caused trouble. Now that he’s grown, he toys with other people.

“You never know what he’s plotting inside.”

It had always bothered Seonghwan that Taeheon wouldn’t bend to his will. No matter how he tried—beating him half to death or threatening to bury him alive—Taeheon never flinched.

Now, by holding his wife hostage, Taeheon seemed unexpectedly compliant, but Seonghwan couldn’t let his guard down.

Kwon Taeheon was too competent an opponent to underestimate.

Even when Taeheon was obedient, Seonghwan sometimes felt a chill at the back of his neck. This time was no different.

“The moment that plane takes off for China, we’ll start the operation. In the week that Taeheon’s left in Korea, clear out all those under him. Hack off his arms and legs, and no matter how much he thrashes around, there’s nothing he can do by himself.”

It didn’t matter how capable Taeheon was; doing everything alone had its limits. A shame about the manpower, but the majority of those loyal to Taeheon—down to their bones—were beyond recycling.

Taeheon’s influence had grown too large. As long as he continued working in the business, it would be impossible for Seonghwan to fully control things the way he used to.

There can’t be two suns in the sky.

“And once he comes back…”

Seonghwan clicked his tongue.

“I was thinking maybe I’d send him off somewhere for a ‘cooldown’ period before eventually bringing him back.”

He cracked his knuckles. Sensing he was more cautious than before, Kim the secretary spoke up again:

“Do you mean…?”

“If he spends a few years in prison, maybe he’ll finally realize how precious home is.”

Seonghwan showed no hesitation as he laid out his plan to send his own son to jail. In fact, he looked quite pleased.

“In that case, his wife’s going to have the baby on her own.”

Unable to contain his glee, Seonghwan burst out laughing.

Locked up in prison and unable to move, with a wife who has a child—both at Seonghwan’s mercy. Taeheon would be forced to get on his knees and do whatever he was told.

He was already looking forward to the expression on Taeheon’s face, the man who always reacted so sharply whenever his wife was mentioned.

***

Taeheon wore a pensive look. He’d seemed lost in thought ever since getting into the car, and even now, parking in front of the hospital, it was clear his mind was elsewhere.

Maybe he still felt uneasy about the OB/GYN. Yaein worriedly tried to guess what Taeheon was thinking.

He’d changed a lot, but it couldn’t happen all at once.

“Stay in the car. I’ll go by myself.”

Adopting a gentle tone, Yaein undid her seat belt. Only then did Taeheon snap out of his reverie.

“Let’s go together.”

“If it’s uncomfortable for you to go into the examination room and hear about the baby, I can do it alone. I’d be upset if you came but hated every minute of it. But maybe next time, you can come in with me?”

Yaein explained. Knowing what had happened to him, she felt she could make that adjustment.

“That’s not it—there’s something I need to say.”

Taeheon grabbed her arm.

“I’ll tell you once we’re home. After your appointment.”

Whatever it was, he couldn’t tell her yet. It made her uneasy, but her appointment was about to start. Time flew as she went in for her checkup.

In the examination room, Taeheon was very focused. While most of the doctor’s questions revolved around Yaein’s condition, he asked and listened intently, which could only be described as enthusiastic.

Yaein stole a sideways glance at him. She worried maybe he was forcing himself, but he genuinely seemed absorbed.

It was so different from how he used to be. She told herself not to grow too dependent, but Taeheon just kept fulfilling her hopes.

“You’ve come prepared,” the doctor said, beaming, after a long Q&A session. “You’re making sure she gets a balanced diet, I see?”

“Yes, absolutely,” Yaein replied emphatically. Not only was she trying to eat a well-balanced diet, but their fridge and shelves were stocked with the groceries and supplements Taeheon provided.

“Seems like you’ve had quite a lot of stress lately,” the doctor noted, explaining Yaein’s test results and looking at her pointedly.