How happy would they have been if they had married and built a family? It was unknown how many more siblings might have been born after Jaeho. It was heartbreaking.
At that time, they believed that a strategic marriage was the best for Jinhoo.
Countless companies collapsed due to the ‘Sibling Strife.’ Heontae had no intention of creating such a situation. So, deliberately and as if to show, he raised his eldest son, Jinwoo, as the successor.
Jinwoo was not only brilliant but also had determination and tenacity. He was a talent among talents, possessing leadership and responsibility. Under Heontae’s plan, everything about the Taemyung family was secure.
Jinhyeok couldn’t dare to resist his older brother, and Jinmyeong trusted and relied on his big brother more than anyone else, making the household incredibly peaceful.
However, an accident happened suddenly. A car skidded on a rainy road, crashing into the guardrail and plummeting off the bridge. Jinwoo, who was on a business trip, ended his life like that. It happened already 30 years ago.
“Mom’s birthday is next week, isn’t it? I told Director Choi to take care of it. If you have any requests, feel free to let me know in advance.”
“Dad! No, I’m fine. I don’t need anything. It’s already enough.”
Iheontae looked at such a daughter-in-law and smiled bitterly.
“With such a kind heart… I was foolish. If I hadn’t opposed you two back then, would your father still be alive?”
“Father, please don’t say such things. The accident was just an accident.”
Mi-jeong’s voice trembled.
“I owe a lot to your mother.”
“No, it’s not true. By accepting Jaeho… by raising him like this, you’ve already given me more than enough.”
“No, my sins are great. I couldn’t even hold a wedding after giving birth to the eldest grandson.”
On the day Jaeho arrived, in fact, Heontae had already known the answer even before the paternity test results came out. The child had the same look in his eyes as Jinwoo. From that day on, Jaeho became Heontae’s hope. He was such a precious grandson.
Mi-jeong, looking at the deeply lined face of her stepfather, gathered courage and held his hand.
The one who ran away was herself. Jinwoo had promised to figure things out somehow, asking her to wait a little longer. However, the moment she confirmed the pregnancy, everything became terrifying. She was afraid that Heontae would tell her to erase the baby, so she abandoned him first and ran away. Afterward, she hid herself so well that he couldn’t find her.
In difficult and challenging circumstances, she raised the precious bloodline. Even then, she almost killed him in a pit. Mi-jeong decided to return for Jaeho, resolved to use her alias, and boldly rang the doorbell.
She expected to be scolded or treated like a crazy woman. She was ready to present letters and gifts exchanged with Jinwoo as precious treasures.
However, Heontae looked at her piercingly and, just like that, Jaeho looked at her with the same eyes. He asked if she had eaten.
“Tongyeongdok, get these kids some food.”
“Chairman, do you believe my words? Doesn’t it sound too absurd that this is Jinwoo’s son who died 17 years ago?”
“As you live to this age, there are things that just naturally become visible.”
Mi-jeong was just grateful.
“Father, I am happy now. I have nothing more to ask for.”
“I heard Jaeho has a girlfriend. Have you ever seen his mother?”
“No. But when the time comes, I’ll bring her. I just want to wait.”
“I don’t want that.”
Heontae laughed.
“I want to see the child. I want to do anything and everything for him as much as I couldn’t do for you.”
Listening to Director Jung’s report, Jaeho thought. Should he have been honest?
No. No, he shouldn’t have.
He shook his head.
Why scratch at a sore spot when Yoon Dajeong doesn’t remember him? Thinking a hundred or a thousand times, it was the right thing to do. He never regretted it.
And if he wanted to say something, he should have done it earlier. Instead of dragging Yoon Dajeong that far by using all sorts of tricks, he should have apologized first, knelt down before pushing his lips, and, finally, he should have finished the conversation that day.
I’m sorry. I’m a sinner.
Laughing as if he were completely crazy and acting like what truth now.
Heo Jaeho smirked at himself, mocking himself. In the end, it was all about Yoon Dajeong not knowing. He had the confidence to make her the happiest person in the world. He had money and power. Even if he was selfish, all he had to do was live as Yoon Dajeong’s man. That had been his only desire for a long time.
Jaeho hoped that Dajeong would see him as Jaeho, entirely himself. In the state entangled with pain and the accident, he couldn’t be her man. He hadn’t come to comfort her from the side. Even if he had played that role for over a decade, there was no example like Lee Kyung-jun, who couldn’t get a step closer.
Lee Kyung-jun.
Even after occupying the side for a long time, he was nothing but useless. Lee Kyung-jun couldn’t look down on himself anymore, not only in height but also in social status and power.
Jaeho didn’t want anything that his grandfather was giving, but it was different for Dajeong. If Lee Kyung-jun came dirty, he planned to wield all the power.
He could do anything for Yoon Dajeong. Now that he confirmed a good weapon he could wield, ironically, he felt good and smiled.
Even if he became an arrogant conglomerate, it would be fine. For you.
“Lee Kyung-jun’s reputation is at stake.”
“Yes.”
“It’s amusing.”
“I joined two years ago, and my reputation is quite good.”
“Send Lee Kyung-jun far away so that Yoon Dajeong won’t notice.”
The moment Jaeho, who had everything in the world, including the victim and the surviving child, spoke, Chief Jung paused for a moment with a chilly gaze.
Jaeho reaffirmed the fact that he was Jaeho. While doing so, he buried Kim Sung-hyun, filled with trauma, in the deepest place. It didn’t matter whether Kim Sung-hyun had nightmares or was pressed by scissors. As long as Yoon Dajeong didn’t know, there was no problem.
Kim Sung-hyun, crumbling in front of guilt, was no longer related to Jaeho.
But…
The conclusion was that Yoon Dajeong ran away. I’ve reconciled with everything, why aren’t you like me?
Longing shimmered in suppressed pupils. It was no longer bearable.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
