No Choice
Jeon Hae-in, the matriarch of KQ Group, grew increasingly agitated as she read the morning headlines. The director of Hanseung Orphanage, Park Mi-jung, whom she had used as bait, had been taken down in one swift stroke.
Of course, since the request had gone through Daemyeong Detective Agency, there would be no traceable evidence. Still, the fact that this had happened right after the job failed left an unpleasant aftertaste she could not shake.
To calm her troubled mind, Jeon Hae-in visited a nearby gallery. The space featured stark white walls and floors lined with abstract paintings and sculptures whose meanings were difficult to grasp.
At that moment, a middle-aged woman approached her.
“Hello, Representative Jeon Hae-in. It has been a while.”
It was Lee Seon-hye, wife of Tae Seok-hyun, the eldest son of Tae Shin Group, and director of Seoran Gallery, the very place Jeon Hae-in was visiting. The formal address reflected Jeon Hae-in’s position as both matriarch of KQ Group and president of KQ Department Store.
“Indeed it has. I trust you have been well, Director Lee?”
“My life stays much the same. What brings you here today?”
They smiled at each other, yet the atmosphere remained opaque, each concealing her true thoughts.
Jeon Hae-in’s gaze drifted to the colorful painting in front of her.
“I heard a promising piece had arrived.”
“Do you have a preferred genre or artist in mind? If not, I can recommend something suited to your purpose.”
The suggestion was not born of pure artistic appreciation. On the surface it was framed as an investment; behind the scenes, such purchases often served as vehicles for tax evasion or bribes.
“More importantly, I heard your youngest son-in-law was appointed head of the newly established division at Tae Shin Asset Management. You must be pleased.”
Lee Seon-hye’s brow twitched before smoothing over. She knew the remark had not been offered in good faith.
“It is thanks to Father recognizing Kang’s abilities. Naturally, his expectations are equally high.”
“My sincere congratulations.”
Jeon Hae-in was well aware that Tae Ju-ha was not Lee Seon-hye’s biological daughter, and that the woman held no fondness for Tae Ju-ha’s husband, Kang In-hyuk.
“Thank you. Still, looking back, it is a shame about Executive Director Kang Do-young. He was always quite taken with our Ju-ha.”
This time it was Lee Seon-hye’s turn to strike. A faint, bitter smile crossed Jeon Hae-in’s lips.
Neither woman had ever entertained the idea of becoming in-laws, past or present. Jeon Hae-in disliked the illegitimate Tae Ju-ha, while Lee Seon-hye had no desire to lend the power of KQ Group to her.
“Do-young’s taste has always been rather peculiar. We worried about it a great deal ourselves… but we never expected Tae Shin to marry her off to another man so quickly.”
The comment carried the weight of knowing exactly why Tae Ju-ha had been paired with Kang In-hyuk.
Thus the two women continued their quiet, smiling exchange of barbs.
“When two people share feelings, there is little that can be done….”
Lee Seon-hye’s words trailed off as she noticed a man approaching from behind Jeon Hae-in. Jeon Hae-in turned as well, her expression hardening.
Kang In-hyuk was walking straight toward them.
“Ah, Mother-in-law is here as well. Of course, it makes sense, given that you are the director of this gallery.”
The greeting was smooth, almost too casual, carrying an undercurrent that made Lee Seon-hye tilt her head.
“Kang… son-in-law, what brings you here?”
“I have business with Representative Jeon Hae-in.”
Her eyes shifted sideways. Jeon Hae-in, too, was startled. So was her bodyguard, Lee Jeong-tae, who had been watching the situation from a short distance.
“…Me? More importantly, how did you know I would be here?”
She had come to Seoran Gallery without informing anyone at the company of her destination.
“I would prefer to speak somewhere private. It seems you may have something to say to me as well, Representative.”
Jeon Hae-in’s face grew serious as she considered his words for a moment.
“…Understood. Let us move. Director Lee, may we borrow a room?”
Soon In-hyuk and Jeon Hae-in were seated across from each other in the gallery’s VIP lounge. Warm coffee, prepared at Lee Seon-hye’s instruction, sat before them. Silence lingered until In-hyuk spoke first.
“I would rather discuss this with just the two of us.”
His gaze moved to Lee Jeong-tae standing behind her.
“He is my personal bodyguard. Is that a problem?”
“It is a rather important matter.”
Jeon Hae-in signaled for Lee Jeong-tae to step outside.
“Tell me exactly what business you have with me. And how you knew I would be here.”
Only days earlier she had ordered his assassination. Now he had come to her directly, and her thoughts grew tangled.
“I had someone follow you, just as you did with me.”
Her expression stiffened once more.
“…I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“You have been tailing me recently, have you not? It was rather obvious. Even when I went to Andong.”
Jeon Hae-in bit her lip at his reply.
Watching her reaction, In-hyuk continued.
“At this point, your surveillance matters less than my origins. Or would you prefer I call you stepmother to make things clearer?”
Jeon Hae-in lifted the coffee cup with a faintly trembling hand, trying to mask her greater agitation.
“What on earth are you saying….”
In-hyuk had been pondering how to neutralize her. Now that she knew of his existence, leaving her alone would only invite further threats to his life.
There was only one way forward: confront her head-on.
“Yoo Ji-young.”
It was the name of Kang In-hyuk’s biological mother.
He had not learned it through wiretapping. When he traced the movements of Daemyeong Detective Agency, most of their destinations pointed to orphanages. There, the name Yoo Ji-young had surfaced in connection with his own existence.
“…How did you find out? No—did you know who your biological father was from the beginning?”
She had not spoken the name aloud, yet the implication was obvious.
In-hyuk let out a quiet laugh, realizing she had fallen into the very scenario he had anticipated.
“The timing is less important than why I am telling you this now, here.”
Even if he had married the illegitimate daughter of Tae Shin Group’s eldest son, Chairman Tae Geon-seung still stood above them all. Recently, In-hyuk’s abilities had been recognized, earning him the position of head of a newly established division at a subsidiary.
If he revealed his connection to KQ Group under these circumstances, it would inevitably affect the succession structure.
“What do you want? Surely you do not intend to announce yourself as that man’s son?”
In-hyuk’s smile did not waver; he understood the intent behind her words.
“If I planned to make this public, I would have gone directly to Chairman Kang Chun-gyu, not to you, ma’am.”
The statement was true, deepening Jeon Hae-in’s unease.
“Then why did you come to me?”
“I have no intention of using my bloodline to insert myself into KQ Group’s sordid succession battle. Naturally, I will not mention this to Chairman Kang Chun-gyu either.”
“…How can I believe that?”
Her face was filled with suspicion.
“For Executive Director Kang Do-young’s sake, you will have to believe me, ma’am. And….”
In-hyuk let his words trail off as he played an audio file on his phone.
[…You should have dealt with him by any means necessary!]
[…If he learns about our relationship with you as well… it could become dangerous, could it not?]
[…What do you suggest we do now?]
Jeon Hae-in’s expression darkened instantly. The voices belonged to her and Lee Dae-myung.
“How did you get that….”
In truth, meetings with Lee Dae-myung had been handled exclusively by her bodyguard, Lee Jeong-tae. Yet after the failure in Andong, Jeon Hae-in had gone to see him herself in her anxiety.
That very anxiety had left a trail.
“I only learned of it after hearing this. So the incident in Andong was also orchestrated by you, ma’am. I would prefer that nothing of the sort happens again.”
At In-hyuk’s firm tone, Jeon Hae-in clenched her small fists.
Staring at her, he continued in a grave voice.
“For your information, this recording and the records of your recent activities will be sent to various media outlets should anything happen to me. Including Chairman Kang Chun-gyu. I trust you understand that you have no choice in the matter.”
“…You mean for me to stay out of it?”
“I would rather not encounter you again, whether in public or private settings.”
Silence returned.
Of course, business dealings between their companies would inevitably bring them face to face at times. In-hyuk knew this, yet the words served as a warning.
He took a sip of the cooling coffee and rose first.
“I will trust that you have understood. If you will excuse me. Ah, the tailing ends today, so there is no point in looking for them.”
In-hyuk left the lounge, passing the bodyguards on his way out.
Meanwhile, Lee Jeong-tae approached Jeon Hae-in, who remained alone.
“Representative, are you all right?”
Her mood and expression were far too grim.
“Kang In-hyuk knows everything.”
“…Knows what, exactly?”
“That he is Chairman Kang’s blood relative. He even recorded my conversation with Lee Dae-myung the day before yesterday, along with the Andong operation I ordered!”
Lee Jeong-tae’s face hardened, turning cold.
“How did he….”
“He has been following us all this time, so of course he knows! How could you handle things so poorly…!”
Lee Jeong-tae immediately bowed his head.
“I am sorry. I will take measures immediately….”
“What measures? How? Are you planning to chase after him right now and kill him to clean this up?”
Jeon Hae-in quickly reined in the harsh words that threatened to spill out.
“Is there a problem?”
The sharpness in her voice and expression made the gravity of the situation clear.
After a moment of silence, Jeon Hae-in relayed In-hyuk’s threats in full.
Lee Jeong-tae’s expression grew as serious as hers.
“What do you think, Representative? Do you believe Kang In-hyuk will truly stay out of it?”
“He holds all the cards now. What can I possibly do, regardless of what judgment he makes?”
“…I am sorry.”
In the end, it was Daemyeong’s failure to handle the job properly that had led to this.
Yet there was no way to undo it now, leaving only a sense of helplessness.
“Have you found out why Chairman Kang met with Attorney Kim? It was not some suspicious approach, was it?”
She was referring to Attorney Kim Hyun-wook, who had handled the will, visiting Kang Chun-gyu recently.
If suspicion arose, the story could reach Kang Chun-gyu. That, above all, required the utmost caution, and Jeon Hae-in was worried.
“Daemyeong already has someone who has been recruited scheduled to meet Attorney Kim tomorrow.”
“There will be no issues, correct?”
“Would he be on guard when speaking with an acquaintance?”
“Given the current situation, be careful. And withdraw all the tails you placed on Kang In-hyuk.”
“You are not going to eliminate him because of the threat?”
The question was asked with both her and Kang Do-young, KQ Group’s sole heir, in mind.
“Is there a way?”
“If we continue to monitor him….”
“Kang In-hyuk already knew about the tail Daemyeong placed on him. He even assigned someone after realizing I was behind it. If we are discovered again and he decides to act, what then?”
Lee Jeong-tae could find no suitable reply and fell silent once more.
Jeon Hae-in looked up at him and let out a deep sigh before continuing.
“We will stay quiet for a while. Once the matter with Attorney Kim and the other tasks are resolved, we can reconsider and decide then.”
“…Understood.”
The two finished their conversation and left Seoran Gallery with the other bodyguards.