CHAPTER 55

Incheol was lost in thought as he watched Taegyeom’s broad shoulders as he walked a step ahead of him. The image of a young boy, entering the departure gate like he had been chased away, holding his mother’s hand twenty years ago, kept replaying in his mind.

The figure of that immature boy had completely disappeared, leaving only a rigid and indifferent man in front of him, seemingly unaffected by anything, as if a needle wouldn’t pierce him. Yet, why did the old image keep resurfacing?

Incheol wondered if he was feeling some kind of guilt?

Incheol sighed, creating a gust of empty wind as he reflected on his past. He had spent his whole life under Chairman Kwon, scrubbing his dirty feet and doing all sorts of illegal and immoral things for him. If Chairman Kwon was the one who pushed that young boy into the pit of misfortune, then Incheol would have been, at the very least, an accomplice or a collaborator.

Incheol’s job at the time was to deliver weekly reports from the United States to Chairman Kwon about the dark life and miserable death of Go Yeon-hee after she left for the United States, that prevented any contact from her relatives at Shinhae Financial from finding her.

When Incheol traveled to the United States to retrieve Yeon-hee’s body, he met a distraught young Taegyeom, his face streaked with dirt and tears, as if he hadn’t washed in days.

Who would have thought that this beggar-like boy was the eldest son of the head of GK Group, one of Korea’s leading conglomerates.

Without saying a word, as if he had contracted muteness, the boy’s eyes were filled with anger, despair, regret, hatred, and pessimism. The energy and tension emanating from the young man made it impossible to approach him easily.

He looked like a beast on the defensive, with eyes that burned like they were ready to pounce, bite, and choke the life out of anyone who so much as touched him. Taming him wouldn’t be easy. Incheol had such thoughts when he saw him back then.

Now, Incheol lifted his eyes to gaze at Taegyeom’s back. From the sleek appearance that showed no signs of a pitiful past, the telltale signs of money were evident.

A robust physique that grew up without sparing good food, an expensive suit that fit him perfectly, clean shoes untouched by the dirty ground, and a watch that showcased his wealth. The handsome face, looking back at him briefly, seemed to exude an air of arrogance and nonchalance, as if he believed the world revolved around him.

His father, who abandoned his mother like a burden and brought a young woman by his side, might be detestable, but in the face of money, even the fiery anger had no escape. It was all just immersed in the mundane concerns of life.

Incheol quickened his stride, feeling an odd sense of identification, and came up beside Taegyeom.

“Aren’t you tired? Your schedule in Singapore must have been exhausting. I apologize for welcoming you like this as soon as you enter Korea.”

He had picked Taegyeom up directly from the airport after returning from a business trip to Singapore. It’s a bitter pill to swallow at this age, but pride doesn’t pay the bills.

It was clear that Chairman Kwon was unhappy with Incheol’s rise to position while he was away, and so, for the time being, it was necessary to keep a low profile.

“If I say I’m tired, will you just let me go?”

Taegyeom muttered in an annoyed tone without even turning around, and Incheol forced a smile, lifting the stiff corners of his mouth.

What an insolent brat.

Thinking about walking around with this arrogant guy, who had become even more arrogant now that he’d gained momentum with this marriage on his back, made his stomach turn. Chairman Kwon would eventually pass on the position to Jingyeom, the son of his current wife, but until that time, she would use his eldest son, Taegyeom, to roll with the punches and suck the marrow out of him.

It would begin with his arranged marriage to Songwoon, and then it would be a tightrope walk over the succession issue. Chairman Kwon, who treats his own blood like pawns on a chessboard, was cunning and ruthless like a venomous snake, but he is also as smart and decisive as the head of the massive GK Group.

But in the end, to his inner circle, Incheol was just a pitiful fool who had been stuck to him for over twenty years.

Incheol smiled gently, feeling a sense of satisfaction and triumph rise from his stomach. No matter how smug the bastard was, he was insignificant and not worth bothering with for being Chairman Kwon’s son. After all, he would be the one losing even the position of the heir to Jingyeom.

“I would like to send you right away. As you worked even on weekends from the Singapore business trip, I have arranged a few days off for you at the company.”

Incheol spoke soothingly as he opened the main door of the main house. Inside, there was a cheerful atmosphere. Five pairs of eyes turned from the dining room at once.

“Well, enjoy your time.”

Incheol bowed to Taegyeom. Those in the dining room looked at Incheol as if he were invisible, focusing only on Taegyeom.

“Oh, Taegyeom, you’re here. Please come and sit down. He came straight from the airport after a business trip, so he’s a bit late. Please understand.”

“That’s an obvious thing to say.”

Songwoon Group’s Chairman, sitting across from the dining table, clapped his hands. The faces of the Songwoon chairman and his wife brightened as they greeted the prospective son-in-law, while their only daughter, Ji-hee, sat between them, her eyes downcast with grace.

Kyoungrok gestured toward the empty seat beside him, indicating Taegyeom to sit there. Surprisingly, Taegyeom walked over and sat down without resistance. He’d seen this coming on some level, ever since he’d seen Incheol personally pick him up at the airport.

Now that they had established an impenetrable rapport, Incheol bowed deeply and turned away.

* * *

The conversation at the table was a mix of business and moderately personal. As the meal was concluding and they were about to leave, Chairman Kwon instructed a staff m*mber who had been waiting at a distance to bring some makgeolli (rice wine). As the drinks were passed around, Chairman Song’s mouth dropped open and his sharp eyes relaxed.

“The scent of this makgeolli is amazing.”

“It was brewed by the master himself last year. We only open one on special occasions, and this is the last one remaining this year.”

“The fact that the master personally brewed it shows his impressive touch. I was thinking of having it supplied to our hotel. I guess I was just being too ambitious. Haha.”

After letting out a drunken chuckle, Chairman Song suddenly changed his tone and cut to the chase.

“Speaking of hotels, you might have heard the rumors, but we are planning to open a new hotel in Seoul on a large scale this fall. We greatly appreciated your support for a big boost.”

Kyoungrok nodded approvingly at Chairman Song’s words.

“So, I know it’s a bit early, but if it’s okay with GK, how about having the two of them hold their wedding at our new hotel? Chairman, what do you think?”

“Chairman Song, you seem to be in a hurry. Let’s decide on the wedding venue among us adults after confirming the opinions of these two people.”

Kyoungrok mumbled quietly and, holding the glass he had been holding, downing the liquor in one gulp. Chairman Song’s face showed a slight confusion.

Chairman Song had interpreted this gathering as the family reaching an agreement on this marriage. And in the narrow, deep world of their circles, rumors about the meeting between the two families would spread like wildfire, among the tycoons. Even now, it’s probably spreading through someone’s mouth.

The rumor mill would be buzzing, and if they didn’t get a definite answer at this meeting and pull off this marriage, there would be a lot of stigma attached to his family’s name. There was a chance that his household would gain an unfavorable reputation for having some flaw. The sense of urgency rose to determine a clear answer here, but the old man, like a cunning fox, unexpectedly brought up a different topic.

Chairman Song struggled to keep a smile on his face and explained himself.

“Haha, of course, the couple’s opinion is the most important. That’s a reasonable point.”

“And as for your new hotel, our hotel has a long history and its reputation is second to none. Besides, Taegyeom is my eldest son, it’s a significant moment for our family, and I’d like to celebrate it in our house.”

The media’s intense interest was expected to pour onto the union of the two families. Kyoungrok’s declaration was an announcement to Chairman Song that they wouldn’t give away the advertising effect that this marriage would create to Songwoon Group. However, the issue was not the promotion effect, but the location of the wedding.

Chairman Song swept his hand across his chest. For Songwoon, concluding this marriage was a more pressing issue than the promotional effect that would be generated by this wedding. Though desperate, he cautiously chose his words.

“I understand. We also have only one child in our family, so we completely understand that sentiment. But understanding and agreeing are different matters, don’t get me wrong.”

“Rather than the venue, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to first decide on the timing? Personally, I think this fall would be nice. Now that Taegyeom has just started working at the company and will gradually get busier, I hope for him to have a stable home before that.”

Kyungrok’s words brought color to the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Song.

“Besides, I don’t often say this because I feel uncomfortable, but Taegyeom has been growing up alone for so long while he’s been studying in the U.S. It’s a sore spot for me.”

Joo-ah tilted her head to hide her discomfort. She gripped the glass in her hand, and her strength went into it.

Did this old man lose his mind? Why talk about irrelevant matters in front of others?

Biting her bottom lip, Joo-ah swallowed her irritation and glanced at Taegyeom’s reaction as he sat next to her. He was sitting there unimpressed, rolling the wine in his glass leisurely, as if he was listening to someone else’s story that had nothing to do with him. She didn’t know what he was thinking.

Chairman Kwon, with a friendly smile, spoke.

“That’s why I want him to have a warm family as soon as possible.”