Overheard Whispers
Kang In-hyuk ended up hearing all sorts of things.
The launch party for KQ Group Chairman Kang Chun-gyu’s autobiography proceeded smoothly amid the guests’ enthusiastic support. In-hyuk abandoned his argument with Tae Ju-ha and wandered off alone to a quiet corner.
After Tae Seok-ho took the chairman’s seat, Baek Si-hwan stayed by his side as his closest aide and fed me information. When the time came, he even delivered the fatal blow to Tae Shin Group.
Baek Si-hwan had never truly been Tae Seok-ho’s man from the beginning. He had approached In-hyuk claiming he wanted to help, and he had played that role exceptionally well. Of course, In-hyuk had suffered countless betrayals while absorbing organizations in the Philippines and China alongside Tae Seok-ho, so he never trusted anyone easily. He had thoroughly investigated Baek Si-hwan before accepting him.
Even so, Baek Si-hwan had never shown the slightest suspicious trace.
If he hadn’t switched sides midway, it means he had been working for someone else from the very start.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they had all been dancing in the palm of that hidden hand. If so, he needed to approach the matter with even greater caution. Especially approaching them first on the surface would be dangerous. Therefore, he had to rise to a position where they would come to him instead.
To draw their attention, I have to survive first…
Vrrr— Vrrr—
Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
So they did tamper with Tae Ju-ha’s car after all.
The screen displayed a live feed from the car’s black box. A man had climbed inside and was doing something. The moment he got in, he reached for the black box and removed the SD card.
In-hyuk’s brow furrowed slightly. However, the black box currently installed was one he had purchased and set up himself, so even if the SD card was removed, the footage continued to stream directly to his phone in real time.
Meanwhile, the man plugged something into the car’s USB port and began working.
This man… he’s the KQ Group guard who was standing near the entrance.
In-hyuk recalled seeing him earlier while passing by. After everything that had happened, he had assumed Tae Ju-ha’s death was Tae Seok-ho’s doing. Yet the person actually moving was someone from KQ Group. It didn’t make sense.
Did Tae Ju-ha have any reason to clash with KQ Group? It’s awkward to claim Tae Seok-ho ordered it when KQ Group’s position is also ambiguous… Is there some hidden relationship that hasn’t surfaced?
He still lacked sufficient information about her.
Inside the venue, the atmosphere was growing increasingly lively. In-hyuk turned his gaze toward the entrance. The man he had seen on his phone was walking back inside. In-hyuk kept his eyes on him without letting the guard notice.
The man quietly positioned himself near Kang Do-young, the only son of KQ Group Chairman Kang Chun-gyu, who was standing near the stage.
So he’s Kang Do-young’s personal bodyguard.
Another possibility had been confirmed. Then Tae Ju-ha stepped away briefly, and Kang Do-young followed after her.
.
.
.
Tae Ju-ha had been greeting CEOs and executives from other companies invited to the event when she slipped away to the back garden for a moment of quiet, a secluded spot with few people around.
“It’s been a while, Ju-ha.”
Her brow twitched when she saw Kang Do-young approaching from behind.
“…Indeed it has, Executive Director Kang Do-young.”
“Isn’t that title a bit too stiff between us?”
The two were alumni of Korea University and had been senior and junior in the business administration department.
“I couldn’t think of any other way to address you.”
“Calling me ‘senior’ like back in university would be fine.”
“I’m not a university student anymore. Besides, I’m rather busy, so if you’ll excuse me.”
When she tried to leave, Kang Do-young quickly grabbed her wrist.
“What’s the rush? You came here to rest, didn’t you? You have time for a short conversation.”
“I don’t believe we have anything to discuss.”
At Tae Ju-ha’s cold reply, Kang Do-young’s lips curled upward.
“It’s been a year since we last met. Are you really going to be like this?”
“More importantly, would you please let go of my wrist?”
“Ah! Seeing you after so long, I got too excited and forgot to let go.”
“…”
A short sigh escaped Tae Ju-ha’s lips. Kang Do-young responded with an even deeper smile.
“I was going to ask about your marriage, but you left for New York right after the wedding, so it felt awkward.”
“That’s hardly something you need to concern yourself with, Executive Director Kang.”
“How about becoming single again? If you need my help, I can support you in any way.”
Ever since university, Kang Do-young had been known as the heir to KQ Group. With the wealth he possessed, there was almost nothing he couldn’t obtain—whether women or anything else in life. Yet the one thing Kang Do-young had never been able to bend to his will was Tae Ju-ha. Whether out of pride or something else, she was the illegitimate daughter of Tae Shin Group’s eldest son, yet she had never once bowed her head among the second and third-generation chaebol heirs. That fact had fueled Kang Do-young’s competitive spirit for over a decade.
“I’ll handle my own affairs. So I don’t particularly need your help, Executive Director Kang.”
“Do you regret the marriage? Honestly, you were forced into it because of your stepmother. Wouldn’t it be better to come to my side instead?”
A year ago, when it was announced that Tae Ju-ha would marry Kang In-hyuk, she had received a similar proposal. But what Kang Do-young wanted was the trophy of having conquered Tae Ju-ha. Of course, Tae Ju-ha knew this well and had firmly rejected him back then.
“Given the setting, wouldn’t it be better to choose your words more carefully?”
“Why? Are you worried rumors might spread about us having an improper relationship?”
“Of course. It would be inappropriate from a business standpoint.”
“You went to New York because you didn’t want the marriage either. Though getting what you wanted was part of it too.”
He was referring to the deal she had made with her father, Tae Seok-hyun. Thanks to that, after one year, Tae Ju-ha had risen to the position of Representative Director at Tae Shin Asset Management.
“You must have planted someone inside Tae Shin.”
“Is there any need for that? The context alone makes it obvious. More importantly, what’s your answer to my proposal?”
“I have no intention of becoming single anytime soon, nor of joining KQ. So if you’ll excuse me.”
Letting out another sigh, Tae Ju-ha tried to walk away. The distance between them widened slightly. At that moment, Kang Do-young, who had been smiling faintly, hardened his expression and reached for her shoulder.
Thud—
But his hand never reached Tae Ju-ha’s shoulder. Someone had appeared from the side and blocked him.
“Ah, my apologies.”
It was In-hyuk. Kang Do-young, who had been holding his hand out awkwardly, frowned.
“Did you come to keep your wife in check?”
It was clearly a sarcastic remark, fully aware of the relationship between In-hyuk and Tae Ju-ha.
“I was just passing by and got lost.”
Perhaps because of the shameless reply, Kang Do-young’s face twisted further.
“You can exit over there. And since we still have things to discuss, would you mind stepping aside?”
“It seems I’ve rudely interrupted your conversation.”
“No, we’ve finished talking. Let’s go back together.”
Clearly fed up with Kang Do-young’s persistence, Tae Ju-ha grabbed In-hyuk’s arm and pulled him along.
“Ju-ha.”
As Kang Do-young called out and tried to reach for her, In-hyuk once again stepped in front of him. Kang Do-young shot In-hyuk a cold glare.
“Isn’t it rather rude to keep behaving this way toward a married woman?”
Kang Do-young’s tone grew curt, irritation clear in his voice.
“Just because you’re Tae Shin Group’s son-in-law, do you think you’ve become someone important?”
“Hardly. Besides, I don’t believe we’re close enough to speak so casually.”
“…What?”
When In-hyuk also switched to informal speech, the atmosphere grew even more hostile. Of course, In-hyuk wasn’t the type to be intimidated by that.
“Considering your position as the sole heir to KQ Group, Executive Director Kang Do-young, shouldn’t you at least maintain basic courtesy?”
“What the hell are you spouting—!”
“I know it well. Moreover, this situation is also disrespectful to the person you were just discussing marriage with.”
Kang Do-young’s face stiffened. The matter had only been discussed within the families and had never been publicly announced. Naturally, it was information that a powerless son-in-law from the Tae Shin Group family shouldn’t have known.
“How did you…”
“My ears have been quite open lately, so I end up hearing this and that. So unless you want to cause a big scene, shall we call it a day?”
For a moment, it seemed voices would rise, but Kang Do-young stopped himself, remembering the ongoing event nearby.
“…”
In-hyuk lightly pushed Tae Ju-ha’s shoulder and led her away. Once they were at a distance, Tae Ju-ha turned to look at him.
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know who Executive Director Kang Do-young is! Why did you do that?”
He was the heir to KQ Group, after all. No matter how much In-hyuk was under the Tae Shin name rather than KQ, pressure could still be applied in any number of ways.
“Don’t you need to stay in the Representative Director position at Tae Shin Asset Management by staying in the chairman’s good graces for the remaining year? In that case, it wouldn’t be good to create unnecessary trouble at an event like this, would it?”
“That’s…”
“And if I hadn’t stepped in just now, would Executive Director Kang Do-young have backed down?”
Tae Ju-ha knew all too well how persistent Kang Do-young could be. In a way, his presence had been one of the reasons she had chosen to go to New York right after the wedding.
“…More importantly, what was that story you mentioned earlier?”
“What are you referring to?”
“That Executive Director Kang Do-young has someone he’s supposed to marry.”
When a family belonged to a major conglomerate, one inevitably heard all sorts of rumors, whether they wanted to or not. Especially the marriage issues of chaebol heirs were among the biggest topics of discussion. Of course, any movements were kept as secret as possible due to economic repercussions, but because these were influential people, perfection was impossible.
Yet Tae Ju-ha had never heard anything about Kang Do-young’s marriage.
“It must be true, since he couldn’t even refute it.”
She could recall Kang Do-young’s reaction from earlier.
“Who is he supposed to marry?”
“As far as I know, it’s Baek Hae-na, the second daughter of WISE&WIRE.”
“That Baek Hae-na who’s famous for abusing her power among the chaebol heirs?”
She was a well-known figure even among the second and third-generation chaebols.
“That would be correct.”
WISE&WIRE was a prominent media group that had grown from the newspaper company Hyun Sun Ilbo. It had since changed its name to W&W Days, absorbed the broadcasting station MBS, and now possessed multiple subsidiaries in entertainment, studios, logistics, and asset management.
“Really? Where did you hear that?”
“I have my own information network.”
“Did you hire some broker who used to work for an intelligence agency?”
At that question, In-hyuk gave a slight smile.
“They’re quite capable.”
“So what are you going to do if Kang Do-young tries something?”
She seemed worried again now that the moment had passed.
“He’ll have to consider the eyes around him, so he won’t take action right away.”
“How can you say that so confidently? You’ve experienced his personality, so that’s not something you can say lightly.”
Tae Ju-ha found him so distasteful that she didn’t even want to face him.
“Because his marriage to the WISE&WIRE Group is at stake. Especially if Baek Hae-na finds out about today’s incident, she won’t stay quiet.”
“Ah…”
Ultimately, from Kang Do-young’s perspective, he needed the power of the WISE&WIRE Group. Then In-hyuk changed the subject.
“How long do you plan to stay here?”
The event was nearing its end, and quite a few guests had already left. Tae Ju-ha looked around. Even the other Tae Shin Group family members, aside from the two of them, had left after brief conversations.
“Shall we head back as well?”
In-hyuk walked with her toward the car. At the same time, his gaze shifted to the KQ Group bodyguard he had seen on the black box footage earlier. The man brought his left sleeve to his mouth, as if reporting to someone.
Once outside, In-hyuk approached the driver’s seat. Tae Ju-ha tilted her head in confusion.
“You’re driving on the way back too?”
“That’s the plan. Is there a problem?”
“You really didn’t have a single drink inside?”
“It didn’t seem like the right atmosphere for drinking.”
After confirming that Tae Ju-ha had gotten into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt, In-hyuk started the engine. At that moment, a loud roar erupted from the car as the RPM shot up dramatically.
Vroooooom—
His foot wasn’t even on the accelerator. Yet the car suddenly lurched forward.