There was a reason why Je Ho decided to return to Korea, putting his busy schedule aside.

It wasn’t because of Chairman Kwon’s summons.

Could it really be for the construction of the KG Group headquarters that Chairman Kwon, who had been cutting ties for a long time, suddenly called Je Ho in? Or might he secretly be planning to place Je Ho in the position of successor?

There’s no way they could elevate the second son, Executive Director Kwon Woo Shik, to the chairman’s position. Everyone knows about the executive director’s incompetence as a business executive and his lack of leadership.

Neither did the director Kwon Woo Min have any significant improvements compared to the executive director. Chairman Kwon must have known this. And in his eyes, Je Ho, who had become a globally recognized figure, must have come into view.

But Je Ho had no interest in the position of successor. His only concern was to find those who put his father, Vice Chairman Kwon Je Woong, in a hospital bed and repay them in full.

After stepping down from the vicechairman’s position, his father moved to the United States, where he fell into a coma after a traffic accident. High levels of alcohol were detected in his blood, and the US police concluded it was drunk driving.

But Vice Chairman Kwon doesn’t even touch alcohol. Upon learning that he was investigating the background of the Arcadia Mall project, suspicions began to arise that someone might have orchestrated the accident.

There was also the fact that there had been no contact from the Korean headquarters. Might the news not have reached Chairman Kwon? In doubt, he asked for help from Sutton, a global tycoon with whom he had built a relationship through the construction project.

The report sent by Sutton’s secretary Brandon stated that from the problems with the overseas construction to everything, it is highly likely that someone had planned it all. His younger uncle and cousin, Kwon Min Woo, were strongly mentioned as the behindthescenes.

At that time, he received a call from Chairman Kwon to come to Korea, and after some thought, Je Ho boarded the flight to Korea.

The email sent by Brandon included a picture of Vice Chairman Kwon meeting Min Woo in the hotel lobby 30 minutes before the traffic accident.

“The Arcadia Mall was originally a project planned by the Vice Chairman. Of course he would be interested. But because of the complications with site selection, it looks like he asked Min Woo.”
Woo Gyeol explained to Je Ho who was glaring at the photo.

“So you’re saying my father personally went to him when Min Woo came to the U.S. on a business trip?”
To Je Ho’s question, Woo Gyeol nodded with a solemn expression. Je Ho’s gaze as he looked at the photo was dangerously sharp.

“Do you know what’s outrageous? The Chairman still doesn’t know the state his eldest son is in.”
Je Ho said with a bitter smile on his lips.

At first, he believed that Chairman Kwon was hiding his emotions. However, as their conversation prolonged during the meal, he became certain that he knew nothing about the accident.

The attitudes of Executive Director Kwon and Min Woo were different. Not knowing when a bomb would drop from Je Ho’s mouth, they were tense throughout the meal. The reason Je Ho accepted Chairman Kwon’s dinner invitation without refusing was also to make them uncomfortable in any way.

Even if Je Ho spoke the truth, they would have had many excuses. If they said they didn’t know, that would be the end of it.

Of course, Je Ho’s side also didn’t report the accident. However, the fact that the KG Group’s information team didn’t know about the accident was suspicious. It was clear that someone was blocking the information from reaching Chairman Kwon’s ears.

After looking at the email for a long time, Je Ho, who seemed to have sorted out his thoughts, handed his cell phone back to Woo Gyeol.

“Let’s go.”

Je Ho turned his gaze out the window, one hand clutching at his throat. The tension he had briefly experienced had left his throat feeling stiff.

He had hoped that his family would not be involved, even if the hope was as thin as a thread…

But the reality he ultimately faced was even more brutal than he had anticipated.

“……First of all,”
After maintaining his silence, Je Ho slowly opened his mouth.

“I’ll have to start with Min Woo.”
“In what way?”
Woo Gyeol asked. Without responding, Je Ho shifted his gaze out of the window. The moment the car left the underground parking lot, Yul Li, getting into a taxi from the opposite side, came into view.

“Chae Yul Li.”
Je Ho murmured to himself as he licked his lips.

The woman Min Woo loved, and soon to be Min Woo’s wife…

Chae Yul Li was the biggest reason why Min Woo was so desperate to become the group’s successor.

The image of Min Woo, hugging Yul Li’s shoulder and looking at her proudly, was still fresh in his mind.

Of course, he might genuinely like her, but he might want her even more because she was Je Ho’s former fiancee. Min Woo had always been like that since he was young. He coveted everything Je Ho had.

So, if he snatched Yul Li, whom he thought he had secured, how would Min Woo react?

Even if he didn’t like it, there wouldn’t be a more definitive attack. Also, perhaps Yul Li’s father, Congressman Chae, might also be involved with the past incident.

Two birds with one stone.

As if to quickly get out of sight, the taxi carrying Yul Li sped up.

Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist…

As he watched the departing taxi, Je Ho’s gaze turned cold.

((()))((()))((()))

Before the other employees arrived, Je Ho, who had looked around the office, left. Director Kim asked Yul Li and Seon Yeong to keep the matter a secret from the other employees until all the paperwork was completed.

Was it because she met Je Ho in an unexpected situation? She couldn’t focus all morning. Yul Li, who had to finish the work she had put off yesterday, skipped lunch and focused on her work.

When it was almost time to leave work, a call came from Hyun Kyung.

[You’re leaving work soon, right? Let’s have dinner together.] “I think I need to work overtime because I have some work left. Eat dinner first. Let’s have a drink after I’m done.”
[Okay. Contact me when you’re done.] As she turned off her computer and got up from her desk, the empty office, where all the employees had left, came into view. She must have casually ignored her colleagues’ goodbyes because she was so focused on her work.

Just as she was about to leave the office, she heard footsteps coming from the end of the corridor.

The director?

The only person who would come back to the office at this late hour was Director Kim. Yul Li, who was looking towards the end of the corridor, froze unknowingly.

“Ah…”
She had seen him so many times that now she could recognize him just by his silhouette even from afar.

Why at this time?

Yul Li squinted her eyes as she watched Je Ho approach. The dark corridor lights cast deep shadows on his pale face.

It’s not even a day since they last met, why…

Step by step, the closer he got to her.

Thump, thump, the withered emotions started to convulse.

Yul Li took a short breath and pulled the door handle. But for some reason, the door didn’t close properly. She tried pulling it hard again, but Je Ho, who had now come closer, overlapped his hand over hers.

Thump―.

Was it the sound of the door closing? Or the sound of a heart dropping?

“You’re leaving work late today?”
In response to his question, Yul Li wordlessly glared at the large hand that was overlapping hers.