“That should’ve been dealt with ages ago. What were you doing until it got to this point? What exactly does Team Leader Han even do? Why is he handling things like this?”
Mihyang slammed her hand on the table, unable to contain her anger. Chief Kim, standing nearby with a file in hand, lowered his head. A chilling atmosphere settled over the living room.
“There’s not much time left until the next shareholders’ meeting. Who warned you that we needed to increase our shares by then? How’s Director Lee Seongcheol’s health holding up? ...Even if we let it slide this time, he needs to be forced to resign at the next meeting. Only then can we place Seungwoon in that seat.”
Noticing Mihyang massaging her temples, Chief Kim quickly walked to the kitchen. From the display cabinet, he retrieved a bottle of Polish vodka, along with water, a glass, and an empty container, before returning. It was her habit to drink vodka and rinse her mouth whenever she was deeply troubled.
“Resolve the funding issue as soon as possible. And don’t go running to the banks, spilling information here and there. Find a discreet way to handle it. That’s the one reason we pay Team Leader Han a salary.”
She spat out her instructions coldly and put down her phone. Chief Kim silently handed her a glass of vodka.
“Why is everyone so incompetent? What’s the status of the building sale?”
“The properties bought under borrowed names were handled without any issues.”
“Good. Use the funds to purchase shares immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Mihyang downed the vodka in one gulp. Inhaling the strong aroma deeply, she rinsed her mouth with water, her expression finally softening a little.
Her husband, Hong Inseob, still hadn’t been ousted as president. On top of that, a project he had spearheaded last year had recorded a disastrous deficit, putting his position at risk.
It seemed like Hong Inseob intended to use this opportunity to replace the vice president with someone loyal to him. This was evident from his recent announcement to split a wholly-owned subsidiary to escape regulations under the Fair Trade Act’s anti-proprietary dealing restrictions.
If they had known about this sooner, they might have acted more quickly. But since the project had been carried out exclusively within Inseob’s inner circle, neither Na Hyunsik nor Mihyang had learned of it until it was too late.
If mishandled, their shares could be diluted to the point where she’d end up as the majority shareholder of a company with no influence. That’s why she was working to increase her stake in the company’s core sectors.
Of course, this all had to be done under her brother Inseob’s radar, which made the process slower and more complicated. And Team Leader Han’s inefficiency wasn’t helping matters.
Shaking her head, Mihyang poured herself another glass of vodka.
“What’s the response from Myungin Daily? Are they still saying they want to wait until Seungwoon is officially appointed as a director before giving a definite answer?”
“Yes. While the daughter seems to like the idea, CEO Jang appears to be holding out for that confirmation.”
“He’s the type who won’t take even a sliver of a loss. What he needs is boldness to make an investment at the right time.”
Clicking her tongue, Mihyang drank the vodka in a single shot. Chief Kim quickly refilled her water glass. She let out a long sigh, leaning back slowly into her chair.
The spacious living room, bathed in cozy lighting, was unsettlingly quiet. As she gazed out into the darkness beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, her brows furrowed. A car was pulling into the parking lot.
“What time is it?”
“A little past midnight.”
“Looks like Seungwoon’s just getting back. He must’ve had a lot on his plate.”
Still holding her vodka glass, Mihyang murmured softly as her narrowed eyes followed the movement outside.
“We need to pressure Sera a bit more. If Jang’s daughter becomes infatuated, his stance might change.”
“Should we invite them to the opening event of the new exhibition at the gallery next week?”
“Good idea.”
Nodding, Mihyang forced a smile to ease the tension on her face. She adjusted her expression into something more approachable, just in time to hear the sound of the front door opening and footsteps entering.
But the unsteady steps weren’t like Seungwoon’s usual composed demeanor. Sharing a quick glance with Chief Kim, Mihyang rose from her seat.
Slowly entering the living room, tugging at his tie, Seungwoon raised his head.
“You’ve been drinking? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you drink this much.”
Seungwoon rarely drank to excess. His position afforded him protection from being pressured into drinking more than he wanted. For him to be this intoxicated—barely able to walk straight—was a rare occurrence.
“Weren’t you asleep?”
His words, slurred and half-formed, were followed by a long, heavy sigh as he made his way toward her. Smiling faintly at her son even in his drunken state, Mihyang’s expression stiffened as she watched him snatch the vodka bottle from the table.
She frowned as he raised it to his lips and took several gulps. Chief Kim lowered his head in silence.
“I’ll prepare honey water,” he said quietly.
"Did something upset you? Is work not going well?"
Wiping the vodka trickling from his lips with the back of his hand, Seungwoon stared vacantly at the floor. His breath, erratic and shallow, betrayed his intoxication. Mihyang, observing the unfamiliar profile of her son, handed him a glass of water and spoke softly.
"Sera seems to like you quite a bit. Why don’t you take her to the beach this weekend? A bit of fresh air might do you both some good."
Seungwoon blinked slowly, his expression unreadable. Mihyang moved closer, patting his slackened hand gently.
"Seungwoon, you need to think practically. You’re a part of Hangeong. Just as you reap its benefits, you also bear its obligations. Do you think I’d choose anyone for you without careful thought? If you scratch the surface of other eligible families, you’d see it’s not pretty."
"..."
"Sera has plenty of admirers. Sure, she’s a bit lighthearted, but that also makes her pure and untainted. She’s good-looking, charmingly naive, and perfect for building a bond like friendship in a marriage. Since your marriage is inevitable, there’s no point dragging it out—"
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Before she could finish, the sharp motion of his hand cut her off. Mihyang’s eyes widened as the vodka bottle flew through the air and crashed against the display cabinet, shattering with a loud clatter.
Standing abruptly, Seungwoon’s breaths came heavy and rough. Even Chief Kim, who had been calmly transferring honey water into a cup in the kitchen, froze in place.
"I’m..."
It was Seungwoon’s voice that broke the oppressive silence. Fixing his gaze on the broken shards on the floor, he spoke slowly.
"I’m thinking about moving out."
Mihyang, staring at him with a shocked expression, opened her mouth as if to speak but couldn’t form any words. She quickly gestured to Chief Kim, who stepped forward to intervene.
"I’ll look into it," he offered.
"I’ll handle it."
Seungwoon’s sharp glare turned to his mother. His narrowed eyes carried a chilling intensity that startled even Chief Kim, who swallowed nervously. Grinding his words out, Seungwoon repeated.
"I said I’ll handle it."
Without waiting for a response, he staggered toward his room, leaving the room in tense silence. The sound of his door slamming shut echoed through the house. Only then did Chief Kim dare to glance at Mihyang, who sat stiffly in her seat.
"Where is she?"
"Do you mean Deputy Yoon Junyoung?"
"Find out. Figure out what’s going on. This sudden rebellious streak has to be tied to something. And let him look for his own place. But ensure that the real estate agents he consults offer only properties we control, so we can keep an eye on him."
"Understood."
Chief Kim nodded and stepped out with his phone, leaving Mihyang alone in the eerily quiet room. She exhaled a long sigh, her heart pounding in her chest.
Seungwoon had always been a good son. He wasn’t without his stubborn streak, but he was rational enough to understand what was in his best interest. Over the years, she had guided him without major conflicts, and he had come to accept and follow her direction.
Now, there was only one unresolved issue between them.
Yoon Junyoung.
Mihyang had kept Junyoung close to Seungwoon for a straightforward reason: Junyoung was cunning, and her son was enamored with her. She had assumed his infatuation would fade quickly, but it had persisted, smoldering like a hidden ember, for years.
Junyoung, if she harbored any ulterior motives, was capable of anything. The most troublesome scenario would be her disappearing for years only to return with a child in tow. Someone as shrewd as Junyoung could easily pick the most strategically damaging moment to make such a move.
If Seungwoon demanded that the child be acknowledged, her brother, Hong Inseob, would seize the opportunity. He would use the scandal to completely sever her, Na Hyunsik, and Seungwoon from the company.
In that scenario, Seungwoon wouldn’t ascend to any position of influence. He would simply end up as an ordinary employee. Mihyang couldn’t bear to see her son reduced to that.
Hangeong was a company her grandfather had built. By rights, she should have inherited an equal share alongside her brother.
That’s why she had decided to keep Junyoung within view. It was the safer option.
Junyoung understood her position well enough. Instead of betting on an uncertain future, she had chosen the stability and security of the present. She was clever, capable, and resourceful—an asset to Mihyang’s plans.
Despite her satisfaction with the current arrangement, it was clear that Seungwoon was beginning to stray off course. Measures would have to be taken.
Rubbing her temples to ease her headache, Mihyang let out another heavy sigh. As long as Junyoung remained steadfast in her role as a "friend," her son would have no choice but to stay the course.
But if, in the end, Seungwoon refused to accept reality and insisted on not marrying...
"...Should I lock her away in some back room?"
The thought was both absurd and unsettling. Junyoung was far too shrewd to allow herself to be cornered like that. The real problem was the uncertainty she brought—the inability to predict what kind of variable she might become.
If only she weren’t so smart for her own good.
Clicking her tongue, Mihyang sipped her water. The tangled web of thoughts burned in her chest, filling her with unease.