Chapter 124: Retribution Project
Chapter 124: Retribution Project
"Let's get married."
It was a horrific nightmare.
Thanks to Han Chae-won's book being published, I dreamed of my past self kneeling before her, holding out a bouquet as I proposed.
'No. Don't do it.'
'This isn't right.'
'You want to ruin your life?'
No matter how desperately I shouted, there I was in the dream, smiling brightly as I proposed to Han Chae-won.
"Marry me, Chae-won. I'll make you happy!"
My face was full of dreams and hope.
At that time, I'd been put through the wringer by Han Chae-won, but being my first relationship, I was too naive to even realize it.
From a third-person view, I looked like a fool mixed with a total pushover.
'Hey, you crazy bastard! Stop!'
'Toss the bouquet.'
'It's not too late. Run into traffic. You won't die.'
How much agony made me scream out like that?
I woke up drenched in sweat.
Seeing that I was in a New York hotel room, I let out a sigh of relief.
A spacious, comfy king bed, a terrace with a city night view, a bar stocked with premium liquors—royal suite living.
"Ah... this hangover's brutal."
I cracked open a beer from the fridge and took a swig.
Memories usually get romanticized over time.
Reading Han Chae-won's manuscript had brought the past back into sharp focus for no good reason.
Living freely now, I was reminded just how hellish those days had been.
* * *
I took advantage of the stock surge to unload a massive block of shares and proceeded with acquiring the New York Mets.
Purchase price: $2.6 billion.
Over 3 trillion won—enough to buy out a mid-sized company outright.
"Bro, you're really giving me full negotiating authority?"
"Yeah."
"This is a Major League team."
"You need the experience."
When I brought Lee Jong-yeop over from Korea as my secretary, I didn't have high expectations.
I figured we'd get along since he was a subordinate from our Arcor days.
Even if he lacked skills or struggled to adapt, I'd back him out of loyalty.
But Lee Jong-yeop exceeded his salary by miles.
'It's not like I'd handle a Major League acquisition better myself.'
I delegate what I'm not good at.
Lee Jong-yeop went toe-to-toe with the Boston Consulting Group and the Wilpon family.
In the end, price and terms were the sticking points, but they compromised to close the deal at $2.53 billion.
"Looking forward to working with you."
"Yes. I'll make it a great team."
I attended the Mets acquisition ceremony in person, and over 300 reporters swarmed the place.
It wasn't just the sports team buyout—Han Chae-won's book was generating a whirlwind.
[NY Times Predicts 2020 Second-Half Bestseller]
[The Truth Behind That Picture-Perfect Marriage]
[How Kim Shin Became the World's 4th Richest Man Post-Divorce]
Articles were nonstop.
We had to switch to a bigger press room and limit each outlet to two reporters.
"What's the Mets' future plan?"
A sports reporter, clearly a baseball nut, asked with keen interest.
"I'm committed to steady investment in the Mets. I want to build a team that develops great players and wins fans' love."
It was a canned response I'd memorized.
Truth be told, I'm not big into baseball, so even if we tanked, I wouldn't fire the GM or manager or meddle in signings.
I knew overbearing owners wreck teams, but mainly, baseball just doesn't grab me.
Still, I wanted to turn the Mets into a powerhouse.
Oh Myeong-woo had envied me for getting to play real-life team management sims.
"Over here!"
"Fox News here. I have a question."
As I called for the next question, hands shot up everywhere.
I could guess what was coming but pointed to one reporter anyway.
"Yes, you there."
"I'm Tom Kaylan from ABC. A book about your past marriage has come out. Are the claims in it your ex-wife's one-sided assertions, or based on facts?"
"Whew."
I figured networks worldwide would replay this moment. Still, I had to answer.
"I haven't read the whole book. There are probably incidents from our marriage I've forgotten. But from what I know, most of what's in it is true."
Flashbulbs exploded.
For the next question, I picked a Wall Street Journal reporter.
"I'm Matthew Barclay from the Wall Street Journal. Sorry, but the book mentions you saying the happiest time was doing dishes and that you wanted a divorce."
"Yes, I remember that."
Impossible to forget.
I'd bawled my eyes out recounting the misery.
"In Korea, they call it 'Mr. Bubbles' for guys who love dishes— is it true that was your happiest time in the marriage?"
"......"
Han Chae-won's book had this much impact? Dodging would only fuel more buzz.
Besides, in moments like this, honesty felt right.
"Do you know how fun dishwashing is?"
"Pardon?"
"Cooking a great meal, then scrubbing the dishes clean— that simple joy."
Anything beat Han Chae-won's nagging; even two hours of housewife's dermatitis was more fun.
It was even satisfying.
Rubbing detergent on greasy plates, scrubbing till they squeaked.
A little healing moment in married life.
Now that I'd escaped, it was just a memory.
The Shawshank Redemption is a masterpiece because the hero succeeds in breaking out.
"Everyone faces tough times. Our marriage just didn't fit. Today, I've acquired a storied Major League team. From now on, sports questions only, please."
I drew the line, and luckily, Mets talk dominated after.
* * *
―Earth Channel's live-streaming the Mets acquisition lololol
―Heard that response? Total class act.
―Bro dreamed of being Mr. Bubbles.
―How modest his life was before the money.
―Can't stop tearing up.
Lee Jong-yeop watched Kim Shin's interview while checking community reactions.
'As expected, the public loves him.'
Kim Shin didn't seem to hate Han Chae-won.
More like he'd been burned so bad he never wanted near her again.
'But I can't just sit back. Han Chae-won is unforgivable.'
Lee Jong-yeop never forgot how Kim Shin had reached out and given him a shot.
Acquiring the Mets was building his experience.
High pay was nice, but growth came from tackling big tasks.
Han Chae-won was famous now, under media spotlight—illegal revenge was risky.
But legal revenge? That destroyed people.
―Lee Jong-yeop: Royalties to Han Chae-won coming through fine?
―Rel: Yes, of course. Settling precisely as instructed.
He had someone tailing Han Chae-won with regular reports.
She'd been shopping luxury at department stores and signed a Gangnam apartment lease.
'Big money changes people differently.'
Dirt-poor Kim Shin, even with billions, still feared spending.
He'd hunt event freebies for canned coffee.
These days he spent boldly when needed, but always thoughtfully.
Most folks? They blow windfalls to make up for lost time.
Lottery winners going bankrupt wasn't rare.
'Han Chae-won spends without restraint.'
Plenty of legal ways to get revenge then.
―Lee Jong-yeop: Contract her next book too.
―Rel: Next book?
―Lee Jong-yeop: She's got enough marriage dirt for sequels, milking it dry.
No way she'd quit now that she tasted cash.
―Lee Jong-yeop: Lock it before other publishers swoop.
―Rel: She's greedy—demands big advances.
―Lee Jong-yeop: Of course. Give her plenty.
Han Chae-won's cruelty to Kim Shin stemmed from one thing.
Money.
Married a broke guy, so she looked down and tormented him endlessly.
Lee Jong-yeop loved retribution tales in fairy tales.
'Time to bankrupt her with money.'
* * *
Jo Soo-ah hated and envied no one like Han Chae-won.
She'd blamed her own cowardice since they started dating.
Still, at their wedding, she'd wished them happiness wholeheartedly.
"Take care of yourself."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Seeing Kim Shin's beaming smile at the reception, she'd quietly teared up.
Arcor was hard to face, but she couldn't let go of her feelings.
'No more liking him. Can't let myself.'
Then their divorce.
Sad for his misfortune, but it let her grow closer bit by bit.
A few days ago, she heard Han Chae-won published a book about their marriage.
"Han Chae-won. We knew she was nasty, but this evil?"
"Huh?"
"You haven't heard, Soo-ah? Rumors about her personality are everywhere among the female staff."
Lee Min-young from the secretarial pool.
Counted among Arcor's beauties, she spilled it to Jo Soo-ah on the rooftop.
"Han Chae-won quit and published with a U.S. house."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Huge hit in the States, Korea too."
"Oh?"
Jo Soo-ah heard but didn't read it.
It'd hurt too much, make her jealous of their time together.
"Han Chae-won. Unreal."
"Hated working with her."
"My mom asked if I hung out with her. Told her hell no."
"Being an Arcor employee kills my dating prospects."
Talk spread wildly among the women.
Jo Soo-ah stood quietly with her iced Americano.
"You didn't read it, Soo-ah?"
"No."
"I did. Want it?"
Lee Min-young handed over her copy.
The cover showed Han Chae-won in a hand-on-hip model pose.
"Sure, I'll check it out."
Back at her desk, heart pounding, she cracked it open.
She had planned to skim it and return it.
Page 1, 2, 3...
She couldn't put it down.
'Han Chae-won was this bad?'
Pitied Kim Shin's deeper loneliness in marriage.
If only she'd had courage.
―Jo Soo-ah: Take good care of oppa.
―Lee Jong-yeop: Doing that. Bro's good.
KakaoTalk with Lee Jong-yeop in the U.S.
She checked on Kim Shin through him occasionally.
―Jo Soo-ah: Not hurting from Han Chae-won's book?
―Lee Jong-yeop: Bummed about missing a burger spot in NY, but emotionally? Pretty much over it.
―Jo Soo-ah: Really?
―Lee Jong-yeop: Ex-wife or not, she's too vicious for lingering feelings. lol Now's paradise.
―Jo Soo-ah: Glad to hear.
Jo Soo-ah hesitated, then typed.
―Jo Soo-ah: Can I come to the U.S.? Just to see his face.
Careful message—reply came fast.
―Lee Jong-yeop: To see bro? He'd love it, be thrilled.
―Jo Soo-ah: For real?
Jo Soo-ah felt her heart race reading it.