26.2

“I want a divorce.”

Seonkyung calmly spoke to the honorary chairman.

“Why talk of divorce when you knew all along?”

For all his years of life, the Honorary Chairman faced Seonkyung without emotion.

“I would like to make a deal, Father.”

“A deal?” 

The Honorary Chairman narrowed his eyes at Seonkyung. He knew what she was about to say wasn’t going to be easy.

“I will not claim a divorce settlement if you seat me as Chairman.”

“What?”

Even the honorary chairman could not help but be startled by this proposal.

“You know as well that for the sake of the group, Seonho needs to be the successor. I will take care of him and the group until then.”

“Haha, do you have any idea what you’re talking about?”

The honorary chairman laughed hollowly.

“Why do you think I came to you instead of him?”

The honorary chairman just stared at Seonkyung quietly.

He suddenly remembered the time long ago when Seonkyung had come to him. She had asked him to take her as his daughter-in-law and prove herself worthy.

“I took you as my daughter-in-law because I liked your boldness.”

“As promised, I have proven myself.”

Seonkyung presented a stack of documents in front of him, reports containing her achievements.

“This is not out of spite. This upheaval was necessary for the group at some point, I’ve just accelerated it. SC Group needs to be inherited by Seonho.”

Seonkyung emphasized her point with conviction in her voice.

“So to achieve that, his father and brother need to be removed?”

“It’s a pity for you, Father, and me, too, but we cherish the group more than our children.”

-Seonkyung gave a bitter smile.

Despite never having thought of her actions as wrong, verbalizing them now made them seem twisted.

“So, you mean this is not for you or Seonho, but for the sake of the group.”

Seonkyung’s statements were all correct, but he was conflicted about how much to trust her words.

To place her son on the throne, or to wield the throne using her son as a shield, was quite a classical tactic.

“Thank you for welcoming me into the family. I’ve always been grateful to you for giving me a job, for recognizing my abilities, and I’m happy to be able to do it, and I’m happy to see the group grow.”

Seonkyung’s eyes filled with emotion as she looked at her father-in-law.

Her gratitude toward him was genuine. Her own family was conservative, not favoring the employment of women. She could not choose the family she would be born into, but she could choose the family she would marry.

She didn’t marry her husband; she married SC Group. So she didn’t care if her husband cheated on her or not. Nor did she care about raising children.

For her father-in-law, who took her as a daughter-in-law, and for her own ambitions, she kept running, leaving her only with SC Group. That’s why she stayed married to his husband until now.

She wondered if her father-in-law would acknowledge that.

“I gave them—my husband and Minhu—plenty of chances. Having a professional manager isn’t a bad idea. But that should be the last resort. If left to those two, they won’t even reach the stage of hiring a professional manager and the group will dissolve.”

At Seonkyung’s words, the honorary chairman clenched his fist. His knuckles turned white. Seonkyung had just said what he feared most.

He knew it. His children did not have the talent for management as he did. That’s why he’s always thought about how great it would have been if Seonkyung had been his daughter. Even if she were a woman, he would have handed over the position to her.

“What if I rejected your deal?”

The honorary chairman looked at Seonkyung with a piercing gaze.

“I will file for divorce. I will claim a division of assets and sell off the company.”

“Do you think that will be easy?”

The honorary chairman’s voice carried a hint of anger, aware that such an outcome was indeed possible, and that infuriated him.

“It won’t be easy, but you know it’s possible. Additionally, the longer the lawsuit drags on, the more the reputation of SC Group will suffer, unimaginably more than now. And the worst part is that the future of SC Group without me does not look bright.”

Seonkyung’s words were undeniably true. It was his daughter-in-law, not his son, who had expanded the company he had founded. Therefore, if Seonkyung set her mind to it, she could indeed dismantle SC Group.

“Do you really want to tear it apart so vainly?”

“I came to see you to avoid that. If you use this situation as an excuse to dismiss him, everything would be resolved neatly.”

Catching the hint from Seonkyung, the honorary chairman’s mind raced to find the least harmful way for the group.

He understood why Seonkyung had come now. Now was the optimal time for all these actions. Such a complex issue could be resolved in one go. This made him despise his son’s foolishness even more.

“You’re threatening me.”

“You might say I’m raising the stakes. And I’ve already made you the best offer.”

“Is it normal to dismiss a son and appoint the daughter-in-law?”

“The story can be as beautiful as a fairy tale if you frame it right. I can compromise that much. And while you may seem like a harsh father, you will be seen as a trustworthy leader.”

Seonkyung’s lips twisted slightly.

Feeling a stiffness in his neck, the honorary chairman leaned back on the sofa, running his hand over his forehead.

“Think long and hard about it, though I don’t expect it to take long.”

It indeed wasn’t a matter that required much deliberation. It was a simple decision between his group and his child.

“Alright, I will contact you.”

Seonkyung bowed and left the study, followed by Secretary Jang.

“What should we do?”

“Proceed with the next step.”

Seonkyung spoke in a cold tone. Stepping back, the secretary made a phone call and said, “Proceed.”

As Seonkyung and her secretary walked out of the mansion, Seonho, who had been waiting in the car, came down and opened the door for her. At that moment, Chairman Yoon’s car pulled up behind Seonkyung’s car.

“I thought I asked to see you.”

Chairman Yoon got out of the car and stood in front of Seonkyung like an angry boar.

“I have nothing to talk about with you. Have a good talk with your father.”

Seonkyung spoke with an expressionless face before getting into the car. Seonho followed her in.

“Something interesting just came up.”

Seonho handed Seonkyung a tablet PC.

A gossip-focused YouTuber was excitedly broadcasting a video that allegedly showed Chairman Yoon spending time with his mistress and daughter.

“The world is truly frightening. It used to take days for something like this to go viral.”

Handing the tablet back to Seonho, Seonkyung spoke unenthusiastically.

“Do you think Grandpa would approve? It’s so out of the ordinary.”

Dismissing a son and appointing a daughter-in-law as chairman was indeed unimaginable for anyone.

“Exactly. Such creativity is quite exceptional.”

Seonkyung chuckled, amused. She herself had never even imagined it.

“The Chairman of SC Group, how can she think of such a delightful idea?”

“Who?”

Seonkyung hadn’t told Seonho that it was Chaeyoon’s plan yet. It was a gift that Chaeyoon had given to her. Whether to accept that gift was entirely up to her, and thus, there seemed no need to inform Seonho.

“What is Chaeyoon up to?”

“She’s at the hospital. Joo-eun just gave birth to a baby boy.”

Seonho opened his phone and sent her a picture of a squishy baby.

“Quite an ugly little thing. You looked like a doll with your perky nose right after you were born. Do I have any pictures of you then? I’ll have to look for them.”

Seonkyung tilted her head.

“You seem too relaxed for the situation.”

“Whatever I get, I get, so why don’t you go see Chaeyoon?”

“You’re talking a lot about Chaeyoon today.”

Seonho gave her a puzzled look.

“Right. I’ve been thinking a lot about her today.”

How could she not? It was Chaeyoon who had orchestrated this whole affair.

“But I’m the one who’s in a relationship with her.”

A hint of defensiveness crept into Seonho’s voice, which Seonkyung found amusing and teased him.

“You know what they say, a daughter-in-law loves her mother-in-law.”

“Now you’re making up sayings.”

“Sayings are made when needed.”

At that moment, Seonho saw himself in Seonkyung. 

This must be what Chaeyoon had been talking about.

It looks a bit obnoxious.

Seonho believed he would never be like that. However, this wasn’t the main issue. The word ‘mother-in-law’ was more pressing.

“Are you approving of my marriage with Chaeyoon? What about Grandfather’s approval?”

“You worry too much. If Chaeyoon catches my eye, why wouldn’t she catch your Grandfather’s?”

Seonkyung snorted dismissively.