What It ans to Have No Choice
【Embezzlent of Large Donations at Andong H Orphanage! Director Park ○○ has been found to have misappropriated donations received from businesses and organizations for about 10 years...】
【20 Billion Won Embezzled at △△ Orphanage in Gyeongbuk! The prosecution and National Tax Service are investigating Mr. P of △△ Orphanage for embezzling operating funds... Evidence has also erged of physical and psychological abuse inflicted on the orphans during the process...】
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Jeon Hae-in, the matron of KQ Group, grew anxious after reading the article that caused a stir from the morning.
The director of Hanseung Orphanage, Park Mi-jung, whom she had used as bait, had been taken down in one fell swoop.
Of course, since it had been commissioned through Daemyung Detective Agency, there would be no trace back to her, but since this happened after the commissioned job failed, she couldn't shake off her uneasiness.
To calm her complicated mind, Jeon Hae-in visited a nearby gallery.
The gallery was filled with paintings and sculptures whose anings were hard to decipher, all set against the stark white walls and floors.
At that mont, a middle-aged woman approached her.
"Hello, CEO Jeon Hae-in. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
It was Lee Sun-hye, the wife of Taeshin Group's eldest son, Tae Seok-hyun, and also the director of Seoran Gallery, which Jeon Hae-in was browsing.
Additionally, because Jeon Hae-in was both the lady of KQ Group and the CEO of KQ Departnt Store, she was addressed in that way.
"Indeed, it has. How have you been, director Lee?"
"Oh, things are always about the sa for . What brings you here today?"
They smiled at each other, but the atmosphere was difficult to read, each hiding her true thoughts.
Then, Jeon Hae-in spoke, looking at the colorful paintings placed in front of her.
"I wondered if any good paintings had co in recently."
"Is there a particular genre or artist you want? If not, I could recomnd sothing for your intended use."
This conversation was far from pure art appreciation.
On the surface, it was investnt; behind the scenes, purchases for tax evasion or bribery.
"By the way, I heard your youngest son-in-law was recently appointed as division director of the newly established division at Taeshin Asset Managent. That must make you very pleased."
For a mont, a slight frown appeared on Lee Sun-hye's brow only to quickly disappear, for she understood the intent behind Jeon Hae-in's words was not altogether friendly.
"It's thanks to my father-in-law recognizing Kang's abilities. That ans his expectations are high as well."
"Truly, congratulations."
Jeon Hae-in also well knew that Tae Ju-ha was not Lee Sun-hye's biological daughter.
It was only natural that she didn't think highly of Tae Ju-ha's husband, Kang In-hyuk.
"Thank you. Still, when I think about it now, it does seem a bit of a loss regarding Executive Director Kang Do-young. Executive Director Kang was always so interested in our Ju-ha, wasn't he?"
This ti, it was Lee Sun-hye's turn to strike back. Simultaneously, a faint bitter smile appeared on Jeon Hae-in's lips.
Neither of the two won had ever seriously considered marrying into each other's families in the past or now.
From Jeon Hae-in's perspective, she disliked Tae Ju-ha for being an illegitimate child; Lee Sun-hye, anwhile, didn't want to give KQ Group's power to Tae Ju-ha.
"Do-young did have so unusually high standards. We struggled with that for quite so ti, but... never imagined Taeshin would marry her off to another man so quickly."
She said it knowing well the motive behind marrying Tae Ju-ha to Kang In-hyuk.
Thus, Jeon Hae-in and Lee Sun-hye quietly sniped at each other while keeping their smiles.
"If their feelings are mutual, there's nothing we can do..."
Lee Sun-hye paused as she watched a man approaching from behind Jeon Hae-in.
Seeing this, Jeon Hae-in's expression also stiffened.
In-hyuk was walking toward the two won.
"Oh, my mother-in-law is here as well. Well, it makes sense since you're the director of this place."
It was an exceedingly nonchalant greeting, with an undertone that puzzled Lee Sun-hye.
"Kang... what brings you here, son-in-law?"
"I ca to see CEO Jeon Hae-in."
Her gaze turned sideways.
Jeon Hae-in, too, was taken aback.
The sa went for her security guard, Lee Jung-tae, who had been watching the situation from a short distance away.
"... ? But, how did you know I was here?"
She hadn't inford anyone at the office about her plans to visit Seoran Gallery.
"First, I'd like to speak sowhere private. CEO, I believe you have a few things to tell as well."
With a serious expression, Jeon Hae-in considered for a mont before speaking.
"... Alright. Let's move sowhere else. Director Lee, can I borrow a room?"
Soon, In-hyuk headed to a VIP guest room inside Seoran Gallery with her.
Sitting opposite Jeon Hae-in in the all-white room, In-hyuk waited.
Shortly after, director Lee Sun-hye had soone bring warm coffee for the two.
After a mont of silence, In-hyuk opened the conversation.
"I'd prefer if we spoke alone."
He glanced toward her security guard, Lee Jung-tae, who stood behind her.
"He's my private security guard. Isn't that fine?"
"It's just that the topic is rather important."
At this, Jeon Hae-in gestured to Lee Jung-tae, who stepped out.
"So, what brings you here to see ? And how did you know I was here?"
Ironically, she had ordered In-hyuk's killing only a few days prior.
Now, with In-hyuk coming to her directly, Jeon Hae-in's mind was bound to be tangled.
"Just as you did, I put soone on your trail."
Instantly, her expression hardened.
"... I don't understand."
"Haven't you had soone tailing lately? They were more conspicuous than expected. Even when I went to Andong."
At In-hyuk's reply, Jeon Hae-in bit her lower lip slightly.
Seeing her reaction, In-hyuk spoke again.
"More important than who was following whom is my origin, I think. Oh, if you're going to act ignorant again... would you understand faster if I called you 'Stepmother'?"
To quell her greater agitation than before, Jeon Hae-in took a shaky sip of coffee.
"What are you even talking about...?"
In-hyuk mulled over how to stop Jeon Hae-in.
Now that she was fully aware of his existence, leaving things as they were would only put his life at risk.
A head-on confrontation was the only choice.
"Yoo Ji-young."
That was the real na of Kang In-hyuk's birth mother.
He hadn't learned it through wiretapping.
By tracking Daemyung Detective Agency's movents, he noticed their main destinations were orphanages, and when investigating his own origins, the na Yoo Ji-young kept coming up.
"... How did you find out? Did you know who your real father was from the beginning?"
Though he didn't say the na, it was obvious whom they ant.
In-hyuk saw that she fell into the trap he had set and gave a wry chuckle.
"Rather than when, don't you think why I've co all this way to tell you matters more?"
Even if he married the Taeshin Group heir's illegitimate daughter, at the top was still Chairman Tae Gun-seung.
Lately, In-hyuk had even proven himself enough to win a Division Director position at a new subsidiary.
If In-hyuk exposed his real identity to KQ Group, it was obvious it would disrupt the succession battle in so way.
"What do you want? Are you planning to step forward as his child?"
Jeon Hae-in's intent was clear, and In-hyuk's smile didn't fade.
"If I planned to announce it publicly, I'd go see Chairman Kang Cheon-gyu himself, not you."
There was no arguing with that, and Jeon Hae-in sank into thought.
"So, why have you co to ?"
"I have no intention of using my bloodline to ddle in KQ Group's sordid succession feud. Nor will I tell Chairman Kang Cheon-gyu about this."
"... Why should I believe that?"
Her face was full of suspicion.
"For the sake of Executive Director Kang Do-young, you really should believe . And..."
In-hyuk trailed off as he pressed play on a recording on his phone.
[... You should have taken care of it by any ans!]
[... If he finds out about our relationship with madam... couldn't it be dangerous?]
[... So what now?]
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Jeon Hae-in's face darkened in an instant. The voices in the recording were hers and Lee Daemyung's.
"How did you...?"
Actually, her eting with Lee Daemyung had been coordinated by her security guard Lee Jung-tae.
But after the incident in Andong failed, Jeon Hae-in, in her growing anxiety, had gone to see him herself.
That lapse in caution had returned to haunt her.
"I only figured it out after hearing this, but it was you who orchestrated the incident in Andong. And I hope nothing like that ever happens again."
At In-hyuk's firm voice, Jeon Hae-in clenched her small fist tightly.
Glaring at her, In-hyuk continued with a heavy expression.
"For your information, if anything happens to , this recording and all the surveillance records of your recent activities will be sent to all the major news outlets—and to Chairman Kang Cheon-gyu himself. So you should know well enough that you don't have a choice."
"... So you an I should do nothing?"
"Whether publicly or privately, I hope we never et again."
Silence fell once more.
Of course, business dealings would inevitably bring them face to face at so point, and In-hyuk knew this, but his words were ant as a warning.
After taking a sip of his cooling coffee, In-hyuk stood up first.
"I trust you'll understand sufficiently. I'll take my leave now. Oh, I'll be calling off your tails as of today, so it won't help to look for them."
Leaving the reception room, In-hyuk passed by the security guards and headed outside.
anwhile, his security guard, Lee Jung-tae, walked over to Jeon Hae-in, who was left alone.
"CEO, are you alright?"
Jeon Hae-in's mood and expression were extrely dark.
"Kang In-hyuk knows everything."
"... What do you an?"
"He knows he's Chairman Kang's flesh and blood. On top of that, he says he has a recording of my order for the Andong incident and even my conversation with Lee Daemyung the other day!"
At the sa ti, Lee Jung-tae's face beca grim and cold.
"How did..."
"He's been following us up to now, so of course he'd know! How do you people even handle things...!"
Lee Jung-tae imdiately bowed his head.
"I'm sorry. I'll take action right away..."
"And what action would that be? Are you going to chase after him right now and kill... take care of him?"
Jeon Hae-in stopped herself short just as she was about to utter sothing violent.
"Is there a problem now?"
Her sharply raised voice and stern face suggested the gravity of the situation.
After a short pause, Jeon Hae-in relayed the exact threat In-hyuk had given her.
This made Lee Jung-tae, like her, deeply troubled.
"What do you think, CEO? Do you really think Kang In-hyuk won't make a move?"
"Right now, Kang In-hyuk has the upper hand. No matter what I decide, what could I do now?"
"... I apologize."
Ultimately, this had happened because Daemyung failed to handle things properly.
But it was too late to turn things back, and nothing could be done about it for now.
"Did you find out why Chairman Kang t with Attorney Kim? He didn't approach him suspiciously, did he?"
She was referring to Attorney Kim Hyun-wook, who handled the will, recently eting Kang Cheon-gyu.
If suspicion was aroused, word could reach Kang Cheon-gyu, and she needed to be especially cautious of this.
"Actually, a contact from Daemyung is scheduled to et Attorney Kim tomorrow."
"There won't be any problems?"
"If they're talking under the pretense of friendship, there shouldn't be any need for caution."
"Be careful, since things are bad right now. Also, remove all the tails we have on Kang In-hyuk."
"Are you planning to remove them because of the threat?"
He said this thinking of both her and Kang Do-young, the current sole heir to KQ Group.
"Do you have a plan?"
"For now, if we keep watching..."
"But Kang In-hyuk already found out Daemyung was tailing him. Then he found out I was behind it and even put soone on . If we're caught again and things get ugly, what do we do then?"
Lee Jung-tae had no answer and fell silent once again.
Looking at him, Jeon Hae-in sighed deeply and spoke again.
"Stay quiet for a while. Once Attorney Kim's matter and the rest are handled, we'll think things over again and decide then."
"... Understood."
With that, the two of them left Seoran Gallery together with the other security guards.
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