25. Aunt and Mom's Explosive Chemistry 【Cha Hwa-ryeon】

With Cha Hwa-ryeon surrendering right in front of him, her status window finally came into view. He'd finally claimed his first target—his second oldest sister. It was touching proof that he'd taken his first step toward his plan of devouring his whole family.

'Her stats are... sorely lacking compared to her looks.'

Even setting aside her low abilities, she had a deadly trio of negative traits: {Impulsive}, {Hot-Tempered}, {Jealous}. If left unchecked, she'd be the perfect storm for turning the company into collateral for a slot machine binge. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Her reckless short-selling and pushing projects without funds were no doubt largely due to this hasty personality, regardless of her skills.

But that was fine. As long as he managed her well, it wouldn't be an issue. With consistent meetings and counseling to boost her self-esteem, she wouldn't go off the rails like before. If he played his cards right with this newfound internal alliance, she could even become the key to toppling his remaining sisters. His other two rivals wouldn't show easy openings or mistakes, so he'd need every tool at his disposal.

"—Nghcha! ...Well, whatever. I'll think about the complicated stuff later."

He stretched his arms and neck, casually shoving aside his long-term worries. For now, wrapping up the construction deal and infiltrating Hwaryeong Construction's shares took priority. Pulling Cha Hwa-ryeon away from the Hwaryeong Group would get a reaction from at least one of the other two.

Thus, today's task was—

'Ah, here she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠comes.'

A white luxury sedan pulled smoothly to a stop in front of the hotel. To secure her cooperation for today's meeting, he'd provided "dignity maintenance funds," and she'd immediately hired a driver. It doubled as a bodyguard, since she felt uneasy going out without someone whose background was thoroughly vetted. Still suffering from lingering panic attacks, she appreciated the extra service of him walking over to open the door for her.

As the surroundings dimmed toward their appointment time, he treated her courteously, savoring the fresh outdoor air for once.

"Aunt Chae-won, you've arrived?"

"……."

Jeong Chae-won stepped out of the car in a neat dress. The younger sister of his mother, Jeong Su-ran—and his aunt by blood. No long explanation needed; she was the one he'd visited before. A few months ago, she'd become the means to conquer his mother.

Aunt Chae-won had carried on an illicit affair with her brother-in-law, the massive conglomerate chairman and his sister's husband, Cha Seong-taek. But that dangerous, sordid relationship hadn't lasted. When the media caught wind and scandal threatened to erupt, Cha Seong-taek ruthlessly cast her aside. Worried it might reach his wife Jeong Su-ran's ears, he'd confined and surveilled his mistress, stripping away her freedom. Despite initiating the adultery with his wife's sister himself, he refused to take responsibility or give her a dime until his death, all to avoid losing his family.

It was stark proof of just how ruthless Cha Seong-taek had been at the peak of his fame.

"Coming all the way here means you've accepted my proposal, right?"

"……."

She answered only with her slender, piercing gaze. Thanks to that ruthlessness, Jeong Chae-won—who'd been holed up in her room—had finally mustered the courage to step out. To vent her rage with nowhere else to go after Cha Seong-taek's death.

"I just came to check on how you've been."

"Playing hard to get? Then at least drop the look. You already seem ready to devour someone from the start."

"...Hmph."

She snorted but took the arm he'd offered as her nephew. They walked side by side into the familiar hotel. Into the gleaming halls where her oblivious older sister lived, none the wiser to this filthy truth.

"Come on in, Chae-won!"

The moment they entered the secret room reserved for family only, Mom greeted them barefoot with a beaming smile. As always when family visited, the table was laden with food, waiting for them.

"……Unnie."

"I was wondering why you'd suddenly called, but it's been ages! You did so well coming here!"

It was the kind of reaction you'd expect from high school classmates reuniting. Not knowing how else to show her joy, she clapped her sister on the shoulders with a loud voice.

"Sit down first!"

Before her pale-faced aunt could respond, Mom dragged her to the table by the arm. She unleashed a barrage of words in her unwavering cheer.

"It's been four years already... or five? Anyway, what on earth have you been up to? Dad was so worried—what happened?"

"……."

The first question was brutally harsh. She had no idea about the tragic history tied to her own husband.

But,

"Yeah, I've just been busy with this and that."

"Busy?"

"Well, after graduating college, I took too much time off, so I've been prepping for stuff lately."

Aunt played her role flawlessly. She forced a bright smile, dimples and all, responding to Mom like a kid from a harmonious home.

"Your face looks much healthier—I'm relieved. I heard you stayed cooped up at home forever... You got your diploma, right? So did you secretly get a job?"

"More like starting a business. I couldn't become a professor like Mom and Dad wanted, but with help from some connections, I set up a decent little company and got to work."

"When did that even...! You should've told me, Unnie! I could've helped with anything."

"No need. Good news like this, I have to share once things are really rolling. Besides, if I took your help, it wouldn't really be my achievement."

It flowed like water. Despite her trauma keeping her shut in, she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spun a seamless tale on the spot. It was like they'd returned to their old sisterly days before that monster Cha Seong-taek got involved—she played the dutiful, sweet little sister to perfection.

"Anyway, I'm just so glad it worked out!"

The false harmony spread across the table...

"How'd you run into Do-yeon?"

"Beats me, he just showed up out of nowhere..."

"Ah! You're still living in that house with the garden, right?"

Sensing her once-distant sister had returned to her old self, Mom dove into chatter mode. She unloaded all her pent-up questions on the spot. Like most women's idle talk, it was all surface-level, turning five minutes into ten, thirty into an hour.

Mostly Mom chattering excitedly away,

"……And— Ah! Wait, I forgot to introduce you to Do-yeon."

"Pardon?"

I'd been ignoring their nostalgic catch-up, handling work on my phone. My name snapped me out of it.

"Do-yeon, ...I think I need to clear up the misunderstandings from before and properly greet you."

"What about?"

"Well—"

She opened her mouth to spill her heart, then faltered. As if on cue, she dabbed at the tears sparkling in her eyes. Overwhelmed by family togetherness after so long with three or more at the table, she cried and smiled at once.

"Hwa-ryeon contacted me recently. She said she's sorry for being so harsh all this time."

"Ah...."

Last time they parted, he'd advised his second sister that reconciling with Mom was best. All to use her in his plans, of course.

"I don't know the details, but they seem closer than before. Looks like you've been working behind the scenes."

"……."

"Even calling Chae-won, who's been stuck at home, and setting this up... It feels like you're the one pulling our fractured family back together."

She wiped her tears again, sniffled to stop crying, then,

"I'm sorry for misunderstanding you all this time. I said such awful things and couldn't do anything, but you're the only one who really cares about our family... Thank you."

"That's...... Khk!"

He held it in. Even the sincere notification chime made him bite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his lip. To stifle a burst of laughter, he bowed his head like he was overcome with emotion.

'Fuck, my sides hurt...!'

Jeong Su-ran seemed oblivious to his true intentions. For a son planning to fuck his mom, sisters, everyone, she was thanking him. Like an animal with a blank slate for a brain. Maybe it was the joy of reuniting with her sister after so long, but today's sentimental Mom was utterly naive. It was cutely endearing in a way different from his mother-in-law So I-seol, enough to make his mouth water—but how did it look in Aunt Chae-won's eyes?

"……."

Having held back during the chatter, Aunt was now beyond annoyed, verging on fury. Unable to take more, she covered her mouth and abruptly stood.

"Unnie, I need the bathroom..."

"Bathroom all of a sudden? Did the food not sit right?"

Without waiting for a reply, she fled covering her face.

"Ah, I'll go wash my hands too, Mom."

"Huh? ...O-okay, go ahead."

He followed her, knowing exactly what she'd be doing in the bathroom.

*

"Urghkeeeh!"

Sure enough, the moment she entered the pristine bathroom, she clung to a toilet, regurgitating the expensive meal. He considered rubbing her back but backed off when she swatted his hand away.

"Looks like your grudge against Mom is confirmed."

"Yeah.... That happy face rolling in flowers, totally clueless— urk!"

Vomit sounds. He waited for her to calm, then continued.

"Can't be helped. Before Cha Seong-taek died, she didn't know much about you, and after, you pushed her away hard."

"Bullshit! If she really cared that much, she'd have investigated or pushed in!"

Gurgle! Whoosh—

The toilet flushed satisfyingly. Covering her mouth, she staggered to the sink and rinsed with cold water. Staring at the running stream, she muttered.

"Unnie's just a coward. Even if she suspects something, she turns away from the truth! She knows deep down about Cha Seong-taek's dark side but pretends not to. She yaps about family unity every day, but only her blood kids matter—the real family!"

"……."

"She never bothered to truly know me, had no clue about the hell that bastard put me through, and now 'so glad to see you,' 'happy to reunite'—it's disgusting, I can't stand it!"

She was properly unhinged now. She'd planned to gauge from her sister's face, but the fire had caught. Even fresh out of isolation like a fledgling bird, she dropped this bombshell.

"This hotel really needs to be mine to satisfy me!"

A massive ambition. Nothing to her name, yet coveting her sister's hotel. He didn't laugh in her face.

"Yeah?"

He smirked. Just thrilled at how entertainingly things were unfolding.