EPILOGUE

–        I’ve finished moving and completed setting up the local contact network. I’ll be flying to Seoul on the night flight.

“Thank you for your hard work, Director Gong.”

Taegyeom pressed the end call button and stepped out of the driver’s seat. A chill breeze dug into the collar of his coat. He neatly loosened his tie around his neck, as if finding it irritating. He tossed the royal blue tie roughly into the driver’s seat and slammed the car door close.

In the hospital lobby, an ornate tree stood majestically, large enough to reach the ceiling. Christmas had passed, but it seemed determined to maintain a festive atmosphere to counteract the somewhat bleak hospital ambiance. Taegyeom walked past the tree with an indifferent stare.

As he waited for the private elevator to the top floor of the VIP ward, his phone vibrated inside his coat. He pulled out his phone and checked his texts to find a message from Director Gong.

Director Gong had been on a business trip for a week to help Gyucheol settle in Jeju Island. After a fierce legal battle last year, Gyucheol received a fine for false confession and ultimately being released from prison.

Jingyeom, on the other hand, was indicted for obstruction of justice and charge of hit-and-run resulting in death under the Specific Crimes Aggravation Act. Given the unfavorable public opinion, avoiding a prison sentence seemed unlikely.

After being released from prison and returning to society, Gyucheol wanted to leave Seoul to avoid encountering Leeseo, who still didn’t want to see him. While respecting Leeseo’s desire not to see her father just yet, Taegyeom tried to mediate by helping Gyucheol find a place in the suburbs where he could live comfortably. However, Gyucheol firmly rejected Taegyeom’s kindness, even avoiding regular contact.

But Taegyeom couldn’t turn a blind eye to his father-in-law settling on Jeju Island, where he had no ties. Therefore, sent Director Gong to Jeju Island in his place to help with Gyucheol’s initial adjustment into the island.

As Taegyeom reviewed the emergency contact network and local conditions sent by Director Gong, the elevator door opened. Taegyeom put his phone in his coat pocket and entered the elevator.

The private elevator on the top floor of the VIP ward went all the way up without stopping. The hospital corridors had a distinctive alcoholic odor and a somewhat depressing atmosphere.

The last time he was here was at the end of summer, and the place hadn’t changed much. The guards standing at the entrance to the hospital room spotted Taegyeom and bowed in unison.

The door to the patient room swung open. Taegyeom walked in, and as he entered, one of the guards quietly closed the door behind him. Taegyeom moved forward confidently toward the inner room.

The sliding door separating the patient’s bed from the reception area was wide open. In the quiet hospital room, the only sound was the gentle hum of the air purifier.

As Taegyeom crossed the threshold, he saw a middle-aged man with graying hair sitting closely next to bed, leaning in to listen intently to Chairman Kwon. Spotting Taegyeom entering the room, the man promptly stood up from the chair.

He was the lawyer whom Chairman Kwon had long trusted and relied on. He was the one who had called Taegyeom urgently to tell him that the chairman had regained consciousness.

“Oh, you have arrived.”

“Yes.”

The lawyer moved backward to give Taegyeom space to approach the bed.

“How is he?”

“While he has regained consciousness, it’s difficult to provide an accurate medical assessment. Still, considering he has regained consciousness after several months, his cognitive state is quite clear. However, no one can guarantee when he might lose consciousness again, or whether he will gradually recover.”

Taegyeom lowered his gaze and looked at Chairman Kwon lying in the bed. Each time Kwon Kyungrok exhaled in rhythm with the oxygen respirator, faint specks appeared and disappeared within the transparent respirator, reminiscent of hazy stains.

With hazy eyes wide open, Kwon Kyungrok struggled to focus on Taegyeom. The corners of his mouth curled into a white froth of saliva as he let out an odd groan that sounded like an animal grunting.

Last summer, Kyungrok fell into a state of unconsciousness due to a stress-induced cerebral hemorrhage. The investigation into his personal misconduct had been ongoing for six months, but due to his deteriorating health, opinions within the prosecutor’s office were leaning towards suspending the prosecution.

Amidst this situation, Chairman Kwon had miraculously regained consciousness after several months. Whether the unfolding life was heaven or hell, considering the circumstances, remained uncertain.

“Uh… kuh…”

As Chairman Kwon, frail like a dried corpse, lay on the bed, he groaned and opened his eyes wide, desperately trying to convey a message.

“Why is he doing this?”

“If you bring your ear closer and listen carefully, you can make out what he’s saying. Surprisingly, he can even write to some extent. He wishes to make changes to the existing will.  Please check this first.”

The lawyer took a document from a bundle of papers and handed it to Taegyeom. As Taegyeom opened the document, he saw faded paper with various stamps scattered around.

“This is a prenuptial agreement. It was written before Chairman Kwon married Shin Joo-ah, and what you’re looking at is a copy. The original is stored separately as a notarized document.”

Drawing up a contract for a marriage in a conglomerate family was a common practice, and it had been the same twenty years ago. Especially when it was the marriage of a young, heirless mistress who had ousted the original wife, with only her body and the child conceived within as possessions

“As you can see from this clause, it indicates that the party at fault cannot claim any rights should it be revealed that there is an extramarital child through a genetic test. This contract, though impolite to say, remains valid even after the chairman’s passing.”

The lawyer handed another document to Taegyeom.

“Mr. Kwon Jingyeom’s genetic test results. We conducted a total of five additional tests through different institutions, and all results are the same. This is the genetic test result, verified immediately after Shin Joo-ah gave birth.”

Among the documents presented, there was one noticeably aged document with words stating the establishment of a blood relationship. This manipulated document brought Kyungrok’s and Joo-ah’s marriage but brought death to Taegyeom’s mother, Yeonhee.

“Hwang Incheol, who was the chief of the chairman’s secretariat at the time, confessed to manipulating the results of the genetic tests.

Taegyeom read the wording on the document again and again.

This single piece of paper…

His fingertips tightened.

“With these documents as evidence, Chairman’s divorce will be processed. Shin Joo-ah will only receive a division of the assets she brought in at the time of marriage, adjusted for inflation. However, Chairman’s anger is so intense… He wishes to be rid of her without giving her a single penny.”

The lawyer, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose, glanced at Kyungrok lying on the bed. Taegyeom looked at the two of them with indifferent eyes and replied without much emotion.

“Handle it as you see fit.”

“Yes, understood. Don’t worry, leave it to me. The divorce will be established as soon as possible after Shin Joo-ah’s infidelity is proven. As for Mr. Kwon Jingyeom, proven to be an extramarital child, his status will be sorted out in the family registry. But what’s important now is, please take a look at this document.”

As Taegyeom received a new document, Kyungrok began to groan again with a strange and eerie sound.

“The chairman wishes the succession process to be completed within five years. Since you’re still relatively young, this decision allows for flexibility to address practical issues accompanying the immediate transition of power.”

Kyungrok struggled to nod his head, extending his trembling hand. His fingers, like dry branches, grasped Taegyeom’s wrist by the bedside.

“Until then, we can hire a professional manager, but Chairman wants to leave all the property to you on the condition that you take over and keep the company.”

“T-Taegyeom… my only blood…the compan…, I’ve worked all my life… you must… absolutely, protect it…”

Kyungrok spoke with every ounce of his strength, his lips quivering. After uttering a few stuttering words, he gasped as if he would collapse at any moment, his face turning pale.

Taegyeom looked down at Kyungrok with cold eyes and pulled his wrist away. Kyungrok’s hand fell limply.

“Call the medical team. His out of breath.”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

The lawyer urgently pressed the call button for the medical team. Kyungrok let out a series of dry coughs. It wasn’t long before the medics rushed in, and the room was in an uproar.

Stepping aside and retreating to the back of the bed, Taegyeom watched as the lifeless Kyungrok received an injection. After observing for a while, he turned away. He sent a brief glance to the lawyer before leaving the room.

Passing by the twinkling Christmas tree, Taegyeom briefly checked the time on his watch. His footsteps gradually quickened. He felt he had wasted too much time unnecessarily at the hospital.

Despite Jinwoo’s complaint that it was a waste of time for Taegyeom to bring and pick up Leeseo every day, shuttling between Seoul and Songdo, Taegyeom couldn’t agree. To him, it was nothing more than jealous remarks from someone who didn’t understand love.

The time to go pick up Leeseo was the moment that made him feel alive. Thinking about how much he missed her, what she might have been thinking, and how she waited for him and such reflections made the time to Songdo pass swiftly.

And the joy of finally finding her standing in the center of the school grounds, a dazzling figure waiting for him. It was a pleasure that couldn’t be described in words, a thrilling sensation that made blood rush to his c**k, making it annoyingly difficult to control. Every moment of meeting Leeseo was novel and wondrous in its own way.