Chapter 202: The Human-Faced Beast – Accidents Always Happen Unexpectedly
Jeong Dong-gyun, the secretary chief on his way home, met his end in a hit-and-run. As if fate were playing a cruel joke, the perpetrator was none other than Choi Jong-hoon's own father, Choi Jae-o.
The minor media outlets, desperate for any scoop on Min-ho, were already on high alert. This was the perfect story for them. If word got out through the press, it would stir up a storm for quite some time. The incident had already happened. Swift action was essential.
Chairman Kang quickly summoned Min-ho.
In the car heading to Seongbuk-dong, Min-ho calmly assessed the situation.
"Have you contacted Jeong Chief's family?"
"We've confirmed the body identification."
"The problem is Choi Attorney... This has gotten really complicated."
"Considering the mental shock, we've sent a car and staff. He should be arriving at Gangnam Police Station by now."
"I'll head over right after talking with Grandfather."
"Understood."
This tangled, vine-like web of bad blood couldn't be severed easily. The incompetent father, Choi Jae-o, was clinging to his son's ankle to the bitter end.
The car hit a red light, and Mun the butler cautiously broached the subject.
"Regrettably, we'll have to put Jeong Chief's death on hold for now. But there's one suspicious point."
"Suspicious... Where was his last destination?"
"He was at a high-end bar in Apgujeong-dong. Reports say he met JD Morgan's president there."
"A foreign securities firm... Why would Jeong Chief meet someone he had no reason to see?"
Mun the butler carefully shared his own conclusion.
"It looks like moves to acquire shares."
"Grandfather doesn't know yet, right?"
"No, I haven't reported it."
Min-ho stared out the window, speaking in a detached tone as if it were someone else's business.
"It's Father's plan. Securing a white knight through a foreign securities firm and getting funding from Shilla Breweries' Han Seok-ju."
The information had come from grilling his secretariat staff, but Min-ho already knew everything. Mun was stunned only briefly—Min-ho had even foreseen the next moves.
"How... do you know this?"
"More importantly, a white knight and Shilla Breweries' funds alone won't be enough to win."
"You think there's another card?"
"Yes. The shortfall will come from the mutual savings bank funds."
He had Du-seong's moves pegged exactly. It was truly unbelievable.
The flustered butler asked cautiously.
"That's blatant embezzlement of public funds. Where did you get this intel?"
"Don't you know I own that media company? Protecting sources is a must."
Mun quickly racked his brains, guessing at possibilities. Only one name came to mind.
"Did President Gu Eun-chae tell you?"
"Let's just say I'm prepared. Of course, I didn't expect today's accident."
No matter how sharp Mun was, he couldn't know Eun-chae was feeding him precisely.
"This isn't a small matter. If Young Master knows, we should tell the Chairman..."
"It hasn't happened yet. We need Father to make his moves before we get any justification. Worried?"
"Everything else is fine, but the foreign securities firm bothers me a bit."
"No need to worry. They're just mercenaries who follow the money anyway."
They arrived in Seongbuk-dong mid-conversation. The living room lights blazed brightly.
"Grandfather's waiting, so I should hurry in."
"I'll escort you inside."
***
Gangnam Police Station.
Choi Jae-o was in emergency custody but utterly oblivious to the gravity of the situation. Handcuffed during interrogation, he wasn't cooperating—instead, he was blustering.
"Aren't you gonna uncuff me? Do you even know who I am?"
The cop across from him barely suppressed his rage.
"Hey, don't you know why you're here?"
"I told you, I don't remember! How many times do I have to say it?"
"This guy's unbelievable!"
"We'll talk later. I keep telling you—do you know who my son is? He's a lawyer with JK Group! Korea University grad!"
He was telling the truth, but no one was buying it.
"Mr. Choi Jae-o, you killed someone driving drunk. You destroyed a family."
"I don't know about that—the guy jaywalked!"
"He might've lived if you'd gotten him to the hospital fast. You hit-and-run and now say that?"
"You punks! If you don't let me go, you'll regret it later!"
He was the picture of arrogance. Finally, the cop slammed his palm on the desk and shouted.
"Mr. Choi Jae-o! Quiet down!"
He seemed to calm a bit. But then Choi Attorney opened the door and walked in.
Seeing his son, the father crowed triumphantly.
"See that sharp-dressed guy coming in? That's my son!"
Still convinced his son would bail him out, Choi Jae-o beamed with expectant eyes.
"Aigoo, my boy's here."
Jong-hoon stared silently at his father. The nightmare scenario was repeating itself. This toxic, unbreakable curse. The incompetent father was dragging his son into the swamp to the end.
Until now, he'd handled it for his mother's sake, but this time—DUI, hit-and-run, death. Even Choi Attorney was powerless.
Drunk and clueless, the father yelled even louder at the cops, all excited.
"What'd I tell you? Korea University lawyer—my son!"
The cops couldn't fathom how such a normal son came from this father and asked cautiously.
"Are you Mr. Choi Jae-o's guardian?"
A long, heavy silence followed.
He resolved once more to cut this beastly tie this time. Rage boiled up, uncontainable. But he knew emotions solved nothing. Clenching his fists, he replied as calmly as possible.
"Legally family, but soon to be strangers. I am not Mr. Choi Jae-o's guardian."
The father, assuming his son had come to help, was shocked sober in an instant.
"I am Choi Jong-hoon, attorney for JK Group's legal team and Athena, here as the legal representative for the deceased, Jeong Dong-gyun."
Unable to accept the harsh reality, the father shot up, hands trembling.
"You... Jong-hoon, you bastard... What? You wanna screw over your own dad?"
Choi Attorney responded coolly.
"Keep cursing, and you'll face additional charges for insult."
"You... When your dad's in trouble... That's coming out of your mouth?"
"DUI, hit-and-run, victim death—and the victim was JK Group's secretary chief. I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life in prison."
He laid it out to the father, worse than a beast.
"Mr. Choi Jae-o has a history of ongoing domestic violence, gambling, and habitual drunk driving."
"You... ungrateful brat..."
"And we'll hold you legally accountable for that 100 million you took recently too."
For Choi Jae-o, it was like a bolt from the blue. Already in deep, now accusations piled on with curses.
"I busted my ass raising you, and this? We're not family? The ancestors are weeping in their graves."
"Family? When were we ever family?"
"What? You punk, mouthing off in front of people!"
Choi Attorney didn't reply. He slowly unstrapped the watch on his left wrist. The scar inside was one even Min-ho didn't know about. Ignoring the cops' stares, he set it on the table.
The wound may have healed with time, but the deep gash in his heart never had. Showing the vivid scar on his wrist, he spoke in a voice thick with pent-up fury.
"The father-son bond broke the moment this scar happened. Don't call me son again."
"Jo... Jong-hoon-ah..."
"A public defender will be assigned. Though it won't help..."
Suppressing his emotions, Choi Attorney finished his duty as a lawyer. He left the station, got in his car, and drove off somewhere.
***
In Seongbuk-dong, Chairman Kang was just as distraught by the worst accident imaginable.
"How could this happen..."
Unable to sleep, he puffed on his pipe.
Just then, Min-ho opened the door.
"Grandfather, I'm here."
Relief washed over him as he sighed.
"My heart's been heavy... But seeing my grandson makes it better."
"Why not get some rest?"
"Sleep? I was staring at distant mountains, mind all jumbled."
"We're handling it. Contacted Jeong Chief's family, sent Choi Attorney to the station."
Grandfather worried about his grandson awake or asleep.
"Those leech-like reporters gunning for your stories... This is prime bait. That's what worries this old man."
"I'll wrap it up clean. Don't worry too much."
"How could such a thing... Tsk tsk."
Too early to wake Kim Cheon, Mun quietly fetched fruit and tea from the kitchen.
"Chairman, here's some tea."
Chairman Kang sipped heavily and spoke gravely.
"Jong-hoon's so upright—I never dreamed he'd face such hardship. Should've checked his background sooner. My fault."
"No, Grandfather. He never mentioned family to me either. He's so diligent, I never suspected."
"What's done is done; now to handle it..."
As Chairman Kang raised the topic, the bell filled the living room. It was 5 a.m. local time. No one should be coming.
Mun stood quickly to check outside.
"I'll go see."
Moments later, the front door opened. Entering with Mun was none other than Attorney Choi Jong-hoon.
Bowing 90 degrees to Chairman Kang.
"I know it's rude at this hour, but I have urgent business for you and Young Master. My apologies for the intrusion."
Chairman Kang could see Jong-hoon's heart was charred beyond salvage.
"Come in. Since you're here, stay for breakfast."
"Yes, Chairman."
With a resolute expression, he stepped forward. Instead of the expected incident report, he pulled a white envelope from his bag and placed it politely before Chairman Kang.
Rather than sitting, he knelt and bowed his head.
"All responsibility for this lies with me. Whatever punishment you decree, I'll accept. I sincerely apologize. I'm sorry."
Chairman Kang sighed deeply and spoke heavily.
"Apologize... We can't end it like this..."
Staring at Choi Attorney's face, Chairman Kang suddenly raised his right hand high.