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“I thought something was strange. Like you having no... experience. Hmm, anyway.”
So he had noticed it back then.
The thought that all the lies about a non-existent boyfriend, which had caused her so much heartache, might have been completely pointless made her feel awkward.
“Why did you lie like that?”
“That’s...”
Because of your mother...
Eun-chae bit her lip. No matter how she phrased it, she couldn’t lessen the shock he would receive.
Their relationship with his mother wasn’t bad, and moreover, it hadn’t been long since his father had passed away. She wondered if it was right to drive a wedge between mother and son like this.
However, Eun-chae couldn’t think of anything else because of the hand that tightly gripped her butt.
“A-Alright. I’ll tell you. It’s because of your mother!”
“My mother? ...Our mother?”
Seok-kyung half-rose from the bed.
Eun-chae followed him and sat up. She pulled the blanket over her naked body and leaned against the headboard.
“Tell me what you’re talking about.”
“One day, Attorney Park came to the house. And your mother presented me with divorce papers.”
The memory of that day was still vivid.
It was an afternoon when the autumn wind blew bleakly. She had wondered why Attorney Park would come to the main house, but she never imagined he would be carrying her divorce papers.
“Your father’s company is on the verge of bankruptcy, so she told me to divorce you. Because it would be a blemish on you.”
“How could she...”
“I told her I wanted to hear it from you, but she told me not to bother you with such trivial matters.”
“Do you want to hinder the future of the man you love? You’ll be Seok-kyung’s only flaw. It would be better for Seok-kyung if he were a divorcee.”
The chilling look in Madam Cha’s eyes flashed in her memory.
“So you were going to divorce me because of that?”
“She said she would help my father!”
Eun-chae raised her voice, upset at Seok-kyung’s reproachful question.
She confessed to him how foolish she had been.
“She said she would help us keep at least one small business, or else my father might go to prison! In the end, we lost everything and he was imprisoned...”
Even now, thinking about how foolish she had been to trust Madam Cha made her fingertips cold.
“But why did you make up a boyfriend? Why didn’t you just tell me what your mother said?”
“I didn’t think you would ask for the reason. You... weren’t interested in me, were you?”
She lowered her gaze as she continued, “I was confused when you, who never even contacted me first while you were abroad, asked for the reason for the divorce. I wondered if you even acknowledged me as your wife. And your mother told me to make up a suitable excuse.”
“Ha-”
Seok-kyung roughly ran his hand through his hair.
A moment later, anger flashed in his eyes as he lifted his head.
“I’m sorry.”
Unlike his flashing eyes, the words he spoke were infinitely gentle.
“I’m really sorry.”
“I’m sorry too. I didn’t want to lie. I regret doing it.”
“It’s all my fault that you lied. For me, because you were worried about me.”
As she slowly nodded, Seok-kyung pulled her into his embrace.
Her heart fluttered intensely because the pounding heartbeat wasn’t just her own.
She rested her face on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his back.
“Don’t worry anymore. I know how much you worry about me. I’ll make sure nothing like that ever happens again.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“Good. Just trust me.”
I will trust only you.
Just having Seok-kyung’s love, which she had so longed for, made her feel like she could die right now and it would be okay.
“I love you.”
Seok-kyung whispered softly in her ear.
Ah, really.
Maybe all of this was a dream, and she was already dead and in heaven.
________________________________________
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all the board members who have gathered here despite their busy schedules for the future of our Baedo Group.”
As the moderator stood on the podium and announced the start of the board meeting, everyone’s attention turned to him.
“Today’s meeting is for the election of the next CEO of Baedo Group. The person whom the Chairman has carefully selected as the candidate is...”
The moderator tore open the sealed envelope he had received from Chairman Baek before the meeting began.
He briefly looked at the name written on the paper inside, swallowed, and then looked around at the board members gathered in the conference room before speaking.
“It is CEO Baek Seok-kyung.”
Everyone’s gaze immediately turned to Chairman Baek, Seok-kyung, and Kang Won.
Unlike Chairman Baek, who had a nonchalant expression, and Seok-kyung, who was expressionless, Kang Won looked utterly taken aback, staring at Chairman Baek and Seok-kyung as if he hadn’t expected this at all.
“Now, we will proceed with the vote by show of hands. Those in favor of appointing CEO Baek Seok-kyung as the next CEO of Baedo Group, please raise your hands.”
Chairman Baek raised his hand first, and the board members followed suit, raising their hands in unison.
The only ones who didn’t raise their hands were Seok-kyung himself and Kang Won.
Even Kang Won’s close associates raised their hands, avoiding Kang Won’s fiercely glaring eyes.
With Chairman Baek still in good health, just one word from him could change their fate, so they wouldn’t rashly act against his wishes.
“Now, those opposed to appointing CEO Baek Seok-kyung as the next CEO of Baedo Group, please raise your hands.”
Kang Won raised his hand with a reluctant expression.
“Then, with 15 votes in favor, 1 vote against, and 1 abstention, we hereby announce that CEO Baek Seok-kyung has been appointed as the next CEO of Baedo Group, effective immediately.”
The moderator quickly announced the results, and the board members stood up with bright smiles, responding to the outcome with applause.
Seok-kyung stood up from his seat, smiled, and bowed to them, then bowed deeply to Chairman Baek as well.
“Tch.”
Kang Won abruptly stood up and left the conference room.
Chairman Baek shook his head, clicked his tongue, and dismissed the board members.
“Everyone, go back to work now. Seok-kyung, I need to see you for a moment.”
As everyone left and only the two of them remained in the conference room, Chairman Baek went to the window and looked outside.
Seok-kyung stood quietly behind him, waiting for Chairman Baek to speak.
“You met Eun-chae?”
“Yes, Grandfather. Thank you.”
“And you cleared up the misunderstanding?”
“Yes.”
Seok-kyung wondered how his grandfather knew that, but he answered without complaint.
“I need to be able to protect my woman.”
His grandfather repeated the words his father had said once.
“It seems she went through a lot. It breaks my heart.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“I heard her father is still in prison?”
“Yes. About eight months left.”
Chairman Baek sighed deeply at Seok-kyung’s words.
“You know about the Blue House invitation for the heads of major conglomerates, right?”
“Yes.”
“You go.”
“Yes? Me?”
“Yes. Due to the US-China trade issues, the President will likely have requests for Baedo Group. So listen carefully, answer well, and come back.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“While you’re there, announce your reconciliation too.”
“...Yes.”
Seok-kyung, who immediately understood the hidden meaning behind those words, nodded.
“Baedo Group has followed the government’s lead well until now, so they will surely grant this small favor.”
“I will convey your message to the best of my ability without overstepping.”
“Good.”
Chairman Baek nodded.
Seok-kyung’s heart warmed. He was certain that if his father were alive, he would have said the same things his grandfather had just told him.
He wished his mother would cherish Eun-chae too.
He knew Madam Cha would be shocked and make a fuss if she found out that he and Eun-chae had reconciled.
“Go see your mother. She’s probably heard the news by now and is waiting for your call.”
“Yes.”
“She would be a good person if she weren’t so greedy.”
Chairman Baek scratched his face, looking regretful and disappointed.
Seok-kyung bowed deeply to Chairman Baek again and left the conference room.
As soon as he came out, many people who had been waiting for him offered their congratulations and greeted him.
The head of the personnel team guided Seok-kyung to the CEO’s office, and surprisingly, Madam Cha was already there, waiting for him.
“Welcome, son!”
Madam Cha greeted him with a very bright face, like a woman who had achieved everything.
“What brings you here?”
Seok-kyung ignored Madam Cha, who had opened her arms to welcome him, and asked with a cold face.
He couldn’t believe how much he loathed that smiling face.
“What brings me here? Of course, I had to come. You’ve become the CEO of Baedo Group.”
“I would have called you if you had stayed home.”
Seok-kyung walked past his mother towards the desk.
The interior decoration was still the same as when his father used it. Running his hand over the empty desk, he thought it would be fine to use it as it was.
The chair was very plush and comfortable. The leather was worn in from his father’s many years of use.
“You’re being too cold, son? It sounds like you’re telling me to stop coming here and just stay home?”
Madam Cha lowered her embarrassed hands and sat on the sofa.
“You heard correctly.”
“What?”
She frowned and asked back.
“You heard perfectly well. You’re not even an employee of Baedo Group, yet you come and go as if it’s your own home.”
“I am the lady of Baedo Group!”
“If you’re the lady of the house, then please stay inside.”
“Baek Seok-kyung!”
Madam Cha kicked off the sofa and stood up abruptly. Her face was contorted with rage, and blood rushed to her head. Her tightly clenched fists trembled.
“Are you trying to confine me to the house like your father and grandfather did?”
“No. I’m planning to arrange a position for you so you can be active. Since Baedo’s Choice was almost entirely built by your efforts, how about you take over that business completely?”
“Do you think I put you in that position just to take over one publishing house?”
Seok-kyung leaned back in his chair and stared at her silently.
“I earned this position with my own abilities.”
“How I raised you! Why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“I heard how you ruined my life.”
“I ruined... your life?”
Madam Cha staggered slightly as if she had been struck on the head, then suddenly burst into laughter.
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