The Bonsai Branch Is Pruned (2)
The shocking bombshell left the others speechless. Choi Cheol-min and Park Gyeong-ja threw themselves even flatter against the floor, wailing, "Father, please, just forgive us this once!"
"Father, we were wrong! Please, let go of your anger. Please...!"
But Choi Ki-hyun’s expression showed no signs of softening. Furthermore, Choi Cheol-min’s siblings, watching their father’s wrath, still had no inkling of what grave sin their brother had committed.
[Father might be cold when it comes to management, but he isn't a man who doesn't know love for his children...]
It was a thought shared by all the siblings. Their father was usually as cold as frost, but that was only when it involved management rights, and only when his children showed an interest in those rights. This was why Choi Ki-hyun was so incredibly gentle with Choi Cheol-ho; the eldest son had no greed for management and was the type to diligently do whatever he was told. The reason he was always cold to his second son, Choi Cheol-min? It was the exact opposite of Choi Cheol-ho. He was a prodigal son with no ability but plenty of greed for management.
"I tried to embrace you all as much as I could. Not as Choi Ki-hyun, the Chairman of Samwoo, but as Choi Ki-hyun, the father, and Choi Ki-hyun, the father-in-law."
As the father’s mouth opened again, everyone in the room held their breath, ears pricked in extreme tension.
"However, these people crossed the line. They crossed a line I could never help them with, and they committed the act I despise most."
The sound of nearly twenty people swallowing their dry throats filled the room, heightening the anxiety of the moment.
"Some of you may not know, but those with at least some intelligence in gathering information will already be aware. The fact that Yoon-gi is building a department store in Cheonggyecheon."
Everyone except a few nodded inwardly. They couldn't openly challenge for management rights, but they all had one or two eyes and ears planted within the group.
"Because Yoon-gi agreed to it, I will unavoidably share some facts with you. The department store Yoon-gi is currently building is a department store for the U.S. military."
Everyone except Choi Cheol-gyu and Shin Mi-ra stared at their father in shock. Choi Cheol-min and Park Gyeong-ja, in particular, lifted their heads to look up at Choi Ki-hyun; their eyes were trembling violently, as if they had been tossed into an ice prison.
"And this guy..., this guy..."
Grind! With the sound of Choi Ki-hyun’s teeth grinding, the next words followed.
"This guy hired people to sabotage the construction. He mixed impurities into the concrete and sprayed corrosive agents on the foundation, intending for the department store to collapse later on."
"Gasp!" Choi Cheol-jun, the fourth son, recoiled in horror. He was usually misunderstood by those around him due to his naturally fierce eyes, but now, his expression was so filled with shock that those fierce eyes were nowhere to be seen.
"Cheol-jun."
"Y-yes, Father!"
"Do you know what would have happened if this guy’s goal had been achieved and it hadn't been discovered throughout the construction?"
Choi Cheol-jun answered without a moment's hesitation.
"If the department store had collapsed while the U.S. soldiers were shopping... not only would Samwoo have been ruined, but we would all have been dragged to the KCIA... and we wouldn't have walked out alive..."
The KCIA, the predecessor to the ANSP, was terror itself to the people of that time. Even the most strong-willed individuals, the moment rumors spread that they had been to the KCIA, would often be seen walking around the neighborhood with vacant eyes, drooling.
"Yes, that’s right. Even if we claimed we had nothing to do with it, the higher-ups would need something to apologize to the U.S. military with. And we would become the scapegoats. Not just you, but your children as well!"
Choi Ki-hyun stood up abruptly and kicked Choi Cheol-min in the chest.
"Ugh!"
Choi Cheol-min, who had tumbled backward, threw himself back onto the floor, begging only for his father’s mercy. But the expressions of the other siblings and their spouses watching him were filled with the certainty that there was no hope.
[Father gives affection as a family member as long as you don't have useless greed for management... This is truly hopeless.]
"Even if you had pushed Yoon-gi and Cheol-ho aside and seized Samwoo, it was obvious that Samwoo would have perished the moment that department store collapsed. You committed such a grave act! And yet, you dare to beg for forgiveness?"
Just as Choi Ki-hyun prepared to kick Choi Cheol-min again, Choi Cheol-ho walked forward quietly, grabbed his younger brother by the collar, and hoisted him up.
"B-Brother..."
Choi Cheol-min looked flustered, but Choi Cheol-ho didn't hesitate; he lifted his brother with both hands and threw him directly onto the table.
Crash! Crack!
"Kehek!"
It was fortunate that the wooden table wasn't very thick, so the impact was dispersed as it shattered; otherwise, he might have died from internal organ rupture. However, Choi Cheol-ho’s rage didn't end there.
"Ugh! B-Brother. P-please..."
Even in his pain, Choi Cheol-min begged, but Choi Cheol-ho’s expression had turned demonic, as if he wouldn't hesitate to commit murder if he took one more step.
"Brother-in-law!"
Park Gyeong-ja clung to Choi Cheol-ho, but he was already preparing to throw his brother toward the balcony while holding him aloft.
The balcony was filled with windows and flowerpots. If he were thrown there, he would almost certainly suffer lacerations all over his body.
"Everyone! Stop him!"
Judging that things might go terribly wrong, Choi Cheol-gyu shouted to his siblings and rushed in, and the other siblings and their spouses also began to rush at Choi Cheol-ho to stop him.
"Brother! Please, calm down!"
"Oppa, please, calm down! If he dies like this, it’ll be a disaster!"
"Brother, don't do this, just hit him with your fist! It’s really dangerous over there!"
Even as his children caused a scene right in front of him, Choi Ki-hyun merely watched them blankly, making no attempt to stop them.
"F-Father. P-please, stop him!"
As Park Gyeong-ja wept and grabbed Choi Ki-hyun’s knees to plead, Choi Cheol-ho’s movements paused for a moment, and his head turned toward his father. But Choi Ki-hyun didn't pour water on the fire; he poured oil.
"Cheol-ho."
The words that reached Choi Cheol-ho, who was gritting his teeth and trying to suppress his excitement as much as possible, were beyond common sense.
"Do you know what your sister-in-law did in the past?"
Choi Cheol-ho looked puzzled, not understanding what he meant, while Park Gyeong-ja looked up at her father-in-law with a look of horror, thinking, *'No way.'*
"When Yoon-gi was born, she tried to harm him in the newborn nursery. I don't know if she tried to kill him, hurt him, or swap the baby, but she tried."
The room froze once again.
"F-Father. Y-you, h-how..."
Even Choi Cheol-min, while still held above his brother’s head, let out a horrified sound.
"Y-you. W-what, what are you talking about!"
"Raaagh!"
Choi Cheol-ho went berserk and threw his brother onto the balcony. With a shattering sound, Choi Cheol-min rolled over the flowerpots, and at the same time, some of the pots broke, causing shards of glass and ceramic to scrape and embed themselves into Choi Cheol-min’s skin.
"Raaagh!"
It wasn't just Choi Cheol-min who was screaming. Park Yeon-ji, who had been watching her husband with a nervous expression until now, had gone wild and was pummeling Park Gyeong-ja with her fists.
"Kyaaagh!"
Park Gyeong-ja screamed, shielding her body with her arms, but no helping hand came from anywhere. They only stopped Choi Cheol-ho from approaching his sister-in-law. Because if he hit her, it would be murder.
"Kyaa! Ugh! Kehek!"
Park Gyeong-ja’s desperate screams echoed long and loud, but tonight was exceptionally long.
* * *
Fifteen minutes after Choi Cheol-min and Park Gyeong-ja were beaten to a pulp and kicked out of the house.
"Three years ago, when I gave Yoon-gi the advantage regarding Jeil Textile, I told you all. That you all had the same opportunity."
In reality, after Jeil Textile, which Yoon-gi had suggested buying, yielded huge profits, a few of them had submitted strategies to Choi Ki-hyun again. The result was failure. Except for one who barely broke even, the rest suffered huge losses and would have to pay back that amount from their future inheritance. That was how thoroughly Choi Ki-hyun pursued a meritocracy regarding his children’s participation in management.
"The harm 'that guy' caused Yoon-gi this time is truly beyond words. If you have eyes and ears, you know well. You know how high a price is required to use the power of the military even once."
Choi Ki-hyun’s children had seen their father bow his head to soldiers many times during the era of P’s rule. The sight of their father, usually as cold as frost, having to bow his head so servilely.
"Um..., Father. What does the military have to do with this matter...?"
At the words of his fourth son, Choi Cheol-jun, Choi Ki-hyun nodded.
"Yes, Yoon-gi used the power of the military to resolve this matter. The power of a man named JSD, who is almost certainly going to be JD’s closest aide. Do you understand what this means?"
The children who were less perceptive thought Yoon-gi had used excessively great power, while the more perceptive ones realized that Yoon-gi was impressive enough to have connections with JSD.
"And there are parts of the construction site that need to be rebuilt. Therefore, I intend to return all the property I had intended to bequeath to 'that guy' to Yoon-gi. Does anyone have any complaints?"
A few sounds of swallowing could be heard, but there was no fool who would dare to object in this situation, at least not besides Choi Cheol-min. Besides, when the father openly called his own blood 'that guy', who would dare to defend Choi Cheol-min?
"Since there is no answer, I will assume everyone agrees. You all should also avoid getting close to 'that guy' if possible. If you're unlucky, you might be branded a communist and dragged away."
Everyone in the room shivered, as if they had felt a chilling sensation.
"Then, you may go now. I am... tired."
Seeing their father looking somewhat gaunt, everyone wore worried expressions, but they couldn't bring themselves to speak and left the mansion. Since the housekeeper had been sent home before today’s events took place, the only ones left in the mansion were Choi Ki-hyun, Yoon-gi’s parents, Yoon-gi, and his younger sister.
"Are you alright?"
As Choi Ki-hyun, who had leaned his head back on the sofa, spoke toward the sky, Choi Cheol-ho also replied in a tired voice.
"Yes... I’m sorry, Father. I shouldn't have shown you such a sight..."
"Father, I apologize as well. I was just so excited earlier..."
Choi Ki-hyun, though still leaning back, shook his head, and thanks to the movement of his chin, it was clearly conveyed to Choi Cheol-ho and Park Yeon-ji what he was trying to express.
"No. How can you be called a parent if you don't feel such anger? It is I who was wrong. I tried to drag them along somehow just because they were my children, and I caused this to happen..."
Tears welled up in the corners of Choi Ki-hyun’s eyes, but Yoon-gi, who had moved behind his grandfather’s sofa, wiped his grandfather’s tears with a handkerchief.
"This isn't like you, Grandfather."
At Yoon-gi’s smirk, Choi Ki-hyun shed tears in streams instead. Yoon-gi continued to wipe the tears, and Choi Ki-hyun continued to shed them. After some time had passed, Choi Ki-hyun seemed to have calmed down a bit; he lifted his head back up and settled into the sofa.
"Mother of Yoon-gi, I am truly sorry. I should have told you, but I couldn't bring myself to tell the family..."
Park Yeon-ji hesitated for a moment but soon shook her head, then nodded.
"No, Father. If I were in your position, I would have hidden it too. They say ignorance is bliss, after all. Honey, are you alright too?"
At his wife’s question, Choi Cheol-ho also nodded.
"Yeah... I feel a bit better after throwing him twice earlier."
At Choi Cheol-ho’s simple words, Park Yeon-ji burst into laughter, and Choi Ki-hyun did the same.
"Anyway... I will bequeath the inheritance that was supposed to go to 'that guy' to Yoon-gi as soon as possible. I know that there is a problem with the construction costs recently."
At Choi Ki-hyun’s words, Yoon-gi nodded.
"If you give it to me, I will gratefully accept. However, 'that person' will cause trouble later to receive the inheritance. This isn't a prediction, it’s a certainty."
In an instant, Choi Ki-hyun’s expression froze.