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“Oh, that’s funny. Who said that? That I ruined your life?”
“I heard everything from Eun-chae.”
“Lee Eun-chae? She said that? That I ruined your life? Let’s see... I might have ruined her life, but I never ruined yours, did I?”
Watching his mother, with a twisted face, casually say she might have ruined someone’s life but not his, sent a chill down Seok-kyung’s spine.
“Driving Eun-chae and me apart like that ruined me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You two weren’t even a proper couple anyway. Don’t think about changing the past now that you suddenly claim to love her.”
Well, Madam Cha’s words did make some sense.
What if the two of them hadn’t divorced and had continued to live as husband and wife? Would the lack of interest have suddenly turned into love just by living together?
Perhaps, as Eun-chae had said before, she would have withered and died inside the Baek family, having lost everything.
“You shouldn’t have done that to Eun-chae. To drive her away for my sake.”
“I gave her a choice. She’s the one who made the decision.”
“You said you would help my father-in-law. Why did you break that promise?”
“I never promised to help. I said I might be able to help.”
It was a damn wordplay.
The person who had been deceived by those words should have been furious, but Madam Cha raised her voice instead.
He was so disappointed that his own mother was this kind of person; a sharp pain pierced his heart.
“You were stupid enough to believe what you wanted to believe, so why is it my fault?”
“Fine. I’ll concede everything and say your past actions were for my sake, but things won’t go your way anymore.”
“What?”
“I’m going to reconcile with Eun-chae.”
“Are you crazy?”
Madam Cha stomped over and glared at Seok-kyung from across the desk.
“Do you think it’s over just because you became the CEO of Baedo Group? How many people will be eyeing Baedo Group until the Chairman passes away? Why would you embrace such a weakness?”
“Eun-chae is not a weakness.”
“Why not? What does she have? Does she have a strong family background? Does she have outstanding abilities? All that woman has is her lowly body...”
“Watch your language.”
Seok-kyung slowly stood up and stared intently at Madam Cha.
“As the CEO of Baedo Group, I don’t need anything more. I will inherit the chairmanship of Baedo Group with my own abilities. So it doesn’t matter if Eun-chae has nothing. All I need is her.”
“Ha!”
Madam Cha scoffed, displeased.
“To think my son would be so foolish as to sing love songs.”
“Mother, you have two choices. Either accept Eun-chae back as your daughter-in-law, or sever ties with me.”
“Sever... ties?”
“Yes. If that happens, even the publishing house you just got your hands on will no longer be yours.”
“Baek Seok-kyung, are you in your right mind?”
Seok-kyung stared silently at Madam Cha, who asked back in disbelief.
He felt deep disappointment and anger towards his mother.
He couldn’t believe that his mother had driven Eun-chae away and plunged someone’s life into hell.
He desperately hoped that he could change his mother, even now. And the pawn in this was himself.
“I can’t accept her!”
“Mother!”
“I will never accept her, even if I have to be buried with dirt in my eyes! So do as you please!”
Seok-kyung shook his head, watching Madam Cha storm out of the CEO’s office.
He had expected Madam Cha to react this way. However, he had no intention of pushing her right now. She was someone whose entire life had revolved around her son, so he knew she would eventually follow his wishes, even if reluctantly.
Just as his mother had tried to help him in her own way until now, Seok-kyung had no intention of giving up on her either.
________________________________________
Along with the news of Seok-kyung’s inauguration as the CEO of Baedo Group, his stance on the broken engagement with Joo-eun was reported in the media.
[The two individuals, who were set for a arranged marriage, realized that they were looking at different people, and decided to break off the engagement as the marriage would be meaningless.]
That was the gist of it.
Naturally, Joo-eun and Haseong Corporation protested to Seok-kyung and Baedo Group.
They even threatened to sue for defamation, saying how could they release such a one-sided and untrue report.
[Release a correction. It would be even better if you said the broken engagement never happened.]
Seok-kyung chuckled at Joo-eun’s message.
In the past, her reaction would have infuriated him, but nothing bothered him these days.
He had obtained the CEO position of Baedo Group that he had wanted, and more importantly, Eun-chae was by his side.
Seok-kyung went to meet Joo-eun, carrying the prepared envelope.
She was very happy about his contact and told him where she was.
A café in the middle of the city, crowded with people.
It was obvious that this was also part of her plan. She wanted to show that their relationship was still good, no matter what the news said.
Joo-eun, dressed beautifully in a bright yellow dress with her long hair neatly braided and tied up, waved her hand when she spotted Seok-kyung.
Seok-kyung approached her with a blank face and sat down in front of her.
“Long time no see, Seok-kyung-ssi? Congratulations on your inauguration as CEO.”
“Thanks.”
“You asked to see me, so it must be good news, right? The elders wouldn’t have stayed quiet.”
She was clearly under a big misunderstanding.
Seok-kyung took out the envelope from his pocket and handed it to Joo-eun.
“What’s this?”
She opened the envelope with a smile, took out what was inside, and her face immediately hardened.
“It’s a plane ticket to London. I haven’t specified the date so you can leave whenever you’re ready. Please leave.”
“What are you doing? If you act like this, I won’t be able to help you either.”
“You won’t be able to help me?”
“I’m on my way back from barely stopping my father from suing you.”
“Just as you informed the media about our broken engagement without consulting me, I was simply stating my side of the story.”
Joo-eun ripped the envelope and the reservation confirmation inside to shreds with her hands.
“Do you think I’ll admit to my parents that there was someone else?”
“If you don’t admit it? I still considered your reputation and only said there was someone else, not that you were seeing multiple men. You can sue if you want, but why don’t you think about who will lose more?”
Joo-eun’s face turned white at Seok-kyung’s nonchalant words.
“Let Secretary Won know when you’ve decided on a departure date. Be careful on your way back.”
“Seok-kyung-ssi, just a moment.”
Joo-eun grabbed Seok-kyung’s hand as he tried to stand up. He frowned and quickly shook off her hand.
“Just once, give me one chance. What will I become if I break off the engagement with you like this? Can’t you give me the same chance you gave Lee Eun-chae?”
“Ha-”
Seok-kyung looked down at Joo-eun with cold eyes.
“Eun-chae didn’t give me a chance; I gave Eun-chae a chance.”
“What’s so great about her that you’d go this far...”
“There’s something I forgot to mention.”
He leaned in slightly, bringing his face close to Joo-eun’s ear.
“If you lay a hand on Eun-chae one more time, Baedo Group will acquire Haseong Corporation and tear it apart into pieces.”
“Baek Seok-kyung, you...”
As he straightened up, eyes blazing with fire glared at him.
“Until now, I didn’t feel the need to protect what’s mine, but you’ve shown me. And now that I realize the necessity, I won’t just stand by and watch. If you’re curious about how Baek Seok-kyung works, go ahead and run wild as you please.”
Seok-kyung smiled faintly.
Of course, Joo-eun, who saw that smile, froze with a terrified expression, like someone who had seen a ghost.
Leaving her as she was, he walked out of the café, and the hot sunlight stung his eyes.
Summer was already in full swing.
“Sunglasses are here.”
Secretary Won, who had been waiting outside, quickly took out sunglasses and handed them to Seok-kyung.
Seok-kyung put on the sunglasses and got into the waiting car.
“Where shall I take you?”
“Let’s go to Eun-chae.”
“It’s almost quitting time, so I’ll take you to Ms. Lee Eun-chae’s company.”
Seok-kyung nodded and closed his eyes.
Secretary Won sat in the front seat and played classical music for Seok-kyung to hear.
The gentle piano melody filled the sedan.
Suddenly, he wanted to see Eun-chae playing the piano. Even more so because he had never seen it in person.
“Hello.”
As Secretary Won entered the office, the gazes of the three people who were preparing to leave work immediately turned to him.
“Secretary Won?”
Eun-chae was surprised. She had no idea why Secretary Won had come here.
“Oh, President Won. What brings you here?”
What was even more surprising was the president rushing to Secretary Won, grabbing his hand, and greeting him warmly.
“I’ve come to pick up Ms. Lee Eun-chae.”
“Yes? Ms. Eun-chae? Do you two know each other...?”
The president looked at Eun-chae with a bewildered expression.
“Ah, that’s...”
“I know Ms. Lee Eun-chae.”
Seok-kyung said as he entered the office.
“Oh, Baek Seok-kyung of Baedo Group...? You know Ms. Eun-chae?”
A weak question flowed from Director Kim’s lips.
These past few days, the news had been reporting on Seok-kyung’s broken engagement, so the president and Director Kim had constantly been talking about Seok-kyung.
But for him to suddenly appear like this...
Eun-chae’s face flushed bright red with embarrassment.
“You’re leaving work?”
“W-What brings you all the way here?”
“To pick you up. I’m taking you on a date.”
“Yes?”
At Seok-kyung and Eun-chae’s conversation, the president and Director Kim stared at her with their mouths wide open, speechless.
“I’ll, I’ll leave work first.”
“Oh, oh, okay.”
Eun-chae quickly pushed Seok-kyung’s back, urging him out of the office.
“Then I’ll see you again next time.”
“Ah, yes. Yes...”
Secretary Won bowed and followed Eun-chae and Seok-kyung out.
“What’s going on with you two? Secretary Won, how do you know the president?”
“That’s...”
Secretary Won looked at Seok-kyung with a troubled expression. Seok-kyung smiled slyly beside him.
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