Chapter 9.4

Without any warning, Shin Jueun shoved a document toward Moonkyeong.  

“Take it.”  

Her tone was as sharp and curt as ever. Moonkyeong, bewildered, picked up the document and asked cautiously,  

“What is this, Director?”  

“What do you think? It’s a test application.”  

“A test application?” 

Shin Jueun intended to force Moonkyeong to donate her kidney to Kim Seouk. Although she had the financial means to procure an organ through other channels, she saw this as an opportunity to gain even more leverage.  

Moonkyeong felt uneasy. This was crossing a line. She firmly refused.  

“I can’t do this. I won’t.”  

“Why not? You promised me you’d take the test.”  

“I never made such a promise.”  

Shin Jueun smirked coldly, metaphorically cornering Moonkyeong with invisible bars.  

“Do you want your father’s political career to end?”  

A chill ran down Moonkyeong’s spine.  

Her adoptive father, Seo Jaewoo, was a man with countless weaknesses. She had witnessed his many wrongdoings during their time living together.  

Faced with Shin Jueun’s threat, Moonkyeong’s lips trembled faintly. However, she managed to respond calmly, pretending not to understand.  

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”  

Shin Jueun’s words often lacked credibility, so Moonkyeong planned to simply let this slide.  

But something felt off. She silently hoped nothing would come of this.  

As Moonkyeong tried to brush past Shin Jueun, the latter pulled out a set of photographs from another envelope she had prepared. Holding them up to Moonkyeong’s face, she laughed loudly.  

“You know what this is, don’t you? How your father spends his time?”  

The photos showed Seo Jaewoo, n*ked, surrounded by young women in a hotel.  

Moonkyeong’s mind went blank.  

If Hyeran hadn’t already handled this, it was clear Shin Jueun had deliberately set a trap for Seo Jaewoo.  

Moonkyeong bit her lip. She hadn’t prepared any words for this moment.  

What could she say? How could she protect her father?  

Despite his flaws, Seo Jaewoo had raised her and provided for her. His care was as significant as Hyeran’s.  

Moonkyeong hesitated before finally speaking.  

“I’ll ask Seojun for help.”  

The words felt like a betrayal, and she regretted them immediately. But she couldn’t think of anything else to say.  

Hearing Seojun’s name, Shin Jueun smirked.  

Leaning back in her chair, she dusted her clothes with her freshly manicured nails, her expression mocking.  

“Are you that naive? What do you think will happen to Seojun if he gets involved in this?”  

“…”  

“The moment he steps in, I’ll report him to the prosecution. A secret deal between National Assembly Member Seo Jaewoo and his son-in-law, Kim Seojun. I’ll make it a headline and blow it up as much as I can.”  

“Director…”  

“Want to know a secret? Do you know what Seojun is really like? He seems polished on the outside, but inside, he’s the most cunning and cold-hearted person you’ll ever meet. When he was in middle school, he was eating dinner with a smile and then suddenly slashed his brother’s face with a razor blade. Right in front of the Chairman. Every time I think of that moment…”  

“…”  

“That’s who he is. Seojun has no heart. If you make one wrong move, he’ll turn into a monster. Right now, he’s being nice to you, and you probably think he loves you. But he doesn’t. I told you, he has no heart. So, before something happens, you should run away.”  

Moonkyeong clenched her fists.  

“Don’t insult him.”  

“Wow, you really don’t get it. I’m telling you, he’s dangerous!”  

“No, he’s not dangerous at all.”  

“What?”  

Moonkyeong raised her tear-streaked face and defended Seojun, feeling a sudden urge to stand against Shin Jueun, who constantly belittled him.  

“Why did you raise him like that?”  

“What did you just say?” 

Shin Jueun’s voice trembled with anger.  

“You said he was in middle school. How would a middle schooler feel to slash his brother’s face with a razor blade? Did you ever think about that?”  

“…”  

“You were supposed to be his mother, weren’t you? A mother shouldn’t do that. Did you ever ask him why he did it? Instead of scolding him, couldn’t you have just hugged him once?”  

Moonkyeong tried not to cry, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.  

Since marrying into the Leehan family, she had learned about Seojun’s upbringing and background.  

The women of Do Hyowon openly gossiped about his birth and ridiculed him at every opportunity.  

The arrogance of this family, living in their bubble of superiority, had always seemed absurd to her.  

Even though she often thought divorce was the only way to escape their toxicity, her resolve wavered every time she faced Seojun.  

Now, as she wrestled with her helplessness, Moonkyeong realized she had to make a choice.  

If she refused, Shin Jueun would undoubtedly turn her threats toward Seojun.  

Moonkyeong lifted her head and looked at Shin Jueun.  

“I’ll take the test.”  

“Oh! Smart girl.”  

For now, she decided to take the test and figure out the rest later. She thought it might be better to discuss this with Hyeran rather than Seojun.  

The entire drive back to the Samseong-dong house, Moonkyeong felt weighed down by gloom.

It felt as though she was precariously balancing on the edge of a cliff with just one foot. Between Nam Leehyun, who constantly pressured her to have a child as soon as possible, and Shin Jueun, who seemed determined to make her life miserable by any means, she was utterly drained.

With Kim Seouk’s health rapidly deteriorating, it was almost a relief that Lee Heejin was confined to the hospital all day. If she had also decided to pick a fight with her today, Moonkyeong might have just collapsed and cried on the spot.

She leaned her head against the car seat, thinking how wonderful it would be if she could go even a single day without seeing that wretched house. While she was lost in thought, Chief Secretary Yoon, who was driving, handed her his phone.

Recently, he had been assigning Chief Secretary Yoon to follow Moonkyeong more frequently.

“It’s the Executive Director.”

“Oh.”

It seemed she hadn’t noticed the call because she had been busy cursing him in her head. Moonkyeong checked the missed call on her own phone and then brought Chief Secretary Yoon’s phone to her ear.

“Yes.”

—Where are you?

His voice was slightly rough, with a tone that made her tense up as if he were angry.

“I’m on my way home.”

—Stop by the office.

“Now?”

The call abruptly ended without a response. Feeling awkward, Moonkyeong returned the phone to Chief Secretary Yoon and said, 

“I think I need to head to his office right now.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Chief Secretary Yoon immediately changed direction toward the HAN Motors headquarters building.

On the way to meet him, Moonkyeong’s mind was filled with thoughts. He had never called her to the office before. Besides, this was the time of day when he was usually the busiest.

When she arrived, Secretary Park, who was in charge of assisting Seojun with his work, stood up upon seeing her. It was the first time the madam, whom he had only met once before the wedding, had come to the office in person, so he instinctively stiffened.

“Madam, what brings you here?”

“Hello. The Executive Director called me.”

“Oh. Let me guide you right away.”

“No, I’ll go in alone.”

Knock, knock. 

After two knocks, Moonkyeong entered his office alone, without Secretary Park.

He was seated, not looking at his monitor but directly at the door, as if he had been expecting her to arrive at that very moment.

As she moved to sit on the sofa, Seojun spoke coldly.

“Seo Moonkyeong.”

“Yes?”

“How long do you plan to live like this?”

“……”

“Is there anything you want to do? Do you even have such a thing? Do you have dreams? Plans? If there’s even one realistic thought in your head, tell me. I’ll listen.”

His sudden barrage of harsh words left her stunned.

She wanted to say, ‘My plan is to stay by your side. That’s how I’ve changed.’ 

But faced with his sharp, piercing gaze, she couldn’t utter a single word.

“Seojun, I—”

He cut her off and turned his gaze toward the window.

“I got a call from the Director.”

“……”

“Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Why are you getting tested?”

Ah. So this was Shin Jueun’s plan. 

It wasn’t about controlling her; it was about using her to threaten Seojun.

The words she had thrown at her were only meant to shake and torment her. Foolishly, she had believed she had a choice.

Gripping her wrist tightly, Moonkyeong finally realized the truth.

“What does the Director want from you?”

“You don’t need to know. I’ll handle Father’s matters myself.”

Moonkyeong shook her head. If he stepped in, Shin Jueun might continue to blackmail him in the future. How could he be so indifferent?

In the end, she would become a weakness that others could use to threaten him. If only he had married Lee Heejin, no one would have dared to touch him by now.

Even though she had nothing, she had foolishly thought it was enough just to stay by his side.

You’re right. Everything I think of is unrealistic. I was wrong. I can’t do anything for you while staying by your side.

Clutching the strap of her bag tightly, Moonkyeong said, 

“I’ll handle Father’s matters. Please don’t get involved. I’m begging you.”

“So? Are you going to offer your kidney or something?”

“No, I won’t do that. I’ll find another way.”

But Moonkyeong couldn’t find a way. Even Hyeran clung to Seojun, pleading with him to take care of Seo Jaewoo’s situation.

In exchange, a portion of Leehan Electronics’ shares was transferred to Kim Seouk. Although rumors about Kim Seouk’s declining health made it unlikely for him to become a candidate for the group’s leadership, this move inadvertently strengthened the factions that opposed Seojun.

In the end, Seojun turned the tables and systematically ousted those who sought to drive him out of Leehan. The scandals involving Nam Leehyun’s two prosecutor sons-in-law were exposed, forcing them to resign, and several of Shin Jueun’s allies were arrested on charges of tax evasion.

It was a chaotic period where everyone was busy stabbing each other in the back, and one by one, the power players in Leehan fell like dominoes.