82. The Humiliation is a Fact

One day, when Dojun was young, his aunt told him this:

“Your mother died giving birth to you. How could her weak body handle twins?”

His aunt always complained, saying her brother, who was raising two young sons alone, was pitiful. Every year, on his mother’s death anniversary, his aunt would repeat the same thing.

“I told her to abort one, but she was so stubborn.”

They said that when Eujun was born, everything went smoothly. However, problems arose during Dojun’s birth. The baby, who seemed like he would come out quickly, wouldn’t budge. Since the hospital wasn’t large, the doctor suggested transferring them to a bigger one. After many twists and turns, Dojun was safely born at a large hospital. But his mother’s bleeding wouldn’t stop, and eventually, she lost consciousness. A day after giving birth, his mother passed away.

“You devoured your mother.”

On the same day, Mr. Park had to register his wife’s death and the twins’ births simultaneously. He heard that he resented the heavens so much when he left the government office. Dojun was the ugly duckling to his aunt, who particularly doted on Eujun. Later, when Mr. Park found out about his sister’s harsh words, he cut ties with her.

“Your mother’s death wasn’t your fault. So forget what your aunt said.”

Dojun also knows. He knows that his mother, who suffered from a serious illness in her maiden years, recovered through his father’s devotion and conceived twins. His mother risked her life to bring Eujun and Dojun into the world. Throughout his growth, Dojun had an indescribable anxiety. This was because Eujun, like their mother, had a weak body.

“Park Eujun, don’t die.”

“I won’t die. Stop saying ominous things.”

Dojun believed he was under a curse. If he gave love, they would leave him and go far away to an unreachable place. His mother was like that. He didn’t remember it, but Dojun loved his mother from inside the womb. That’s why she left. Eujun was frail and suffered from frequent minor illnesses. He was so different from Dojun, who could even chew and swallow rocks without a problem. Dojun had ignored the fact that Eujun was sick. He was afraid that the curse would revive the moment he admitted Eujun’s illness.

Time passed, and Dojun and Eujun safely passed their twentieth year. A peaceful daily life continued, so much so that they even planned to enlist in the military together. But then, one day, Eujun’s health suddenly deteriorated significantly. He returned after an outing with Mr. Park and confessed to Dojun in a calm tone.

“I have leukemia.”

Watching Eujun die day by day was like having his flesh torn off. Then he met Hae-joo. As she precariously climbed onto the rooftop railing, she threw a ball of fire into Dojun’s cooling heart. All he wanted was to save her. He had to save her, and he knew nothing else but saving her. Dojun’s feelings for Hae-joo couldn’t simply be expressed as male-female emotions. It was the result of combining his feelings for his mother and Eujun, and his remaining family, with a pure love at first sight. For the first time in his life, he saw light. One day, the light named Hae-joo, who suddenly broke through his raw emotions, made Dojun beautifully insane.

“Hae-joo, are you listening to me?”

Dojun’s request not to cry anymore was a sincere confession to Hae-joo. She sobbed at his promise to protect her even if it meant death.

“I won’t cry anymore.”

“Good. That’s all that matters.”

During the call, Dojun wiped the bloodstains on his hand with a handkerchief. Looking down at Choi Inho, who had lost strength and slumped to the ground, he delivered new news to Hae-joo.

“I caught Choi Inho. The police will be here soon.”

“Is that true? No, how...?”

“I promised, didn’t I? That I’d protect you.”

Hae-joo’s breath, audible over the phone, resembled the waves he had watched early that morning. Throughout a night that traversed hell, the two endured firmly. Hae-joo said the love she received from him was overflowing. But Dojun thought differently. The beginning of him becoming a sun was the warmth ignited years ago when he held her on the rooftop railing.

“I miss you, Dojun.”

“I’ll be there soon. Just wait a little.”

Hae-joo’s voice sometimes became his mother’s, and sometimes Eujun’s. But now, it was Hae-joo herself. He now had a family to protect and a sick father to take care of. It was right to let go of the painful past at this point.

“...Eujun, please watch over me from heaven.”

Dojun wasn’t without fear. Perhaps the blood he shed to protect Hae-joo had become a poison, as he often had nightmares. Today was no different. The excitement had not subsided in the fist that knocked out Choi Inho, causing intermittent trembling. Dojun exhaled and went in front of the conscious Choi Inho.

“Did you meet Chairman Yu directly?”

“N-no.”

“What did Han Jintae tell you?”

“He said we need a bigger issue to cover up the current confusion, cough!”

Choi Inho, who had fainted and woken up, mumbled his answer with difficulty. He dared not even make eye contact with Dojun.

“Who came up with the idea to use Hae-joo?”

“It was obviously Han Jintae.”

“Han Jintae proposed it, and Chairman Yu accepted?”

“All of that is in the recorded file of my conversation with Han Jintae.”

“Good.”

Just then, the police, who had received the report, arrived. The police officer recited the Miranda rights to Choi Inho and immediately handcuffed him.

“What happened?”

The police officer alternately examined Choi Inho, who was a mess, and Dojun, whose face was covered in blood. Director Song then stepped forward and explained, using the pre-arranged story.

“Mr. Choi Inho attacked first, so you hit him back in self-defense?”

“That’s right.”

“Mr. Choi Inho, is this true?”

Choi Inho looked at Dojun and reluctantly nodded. The police officer, not quite convinced by the answer, also asked Seonkyu, who was in the same spot.

“Is what this person said true?”

“Yes. I saw it clearly.”

Seonkyu also cooperated. Since that was the case, the police couldn’t do anything else and first put Choi Inho in the police car. On one side, they collected evidence of the crimes committed at Han Jintae’s instigation. One troublesome problem was resolved like this.

“Let’s both go to the hospital first.”

Choi Inho’s bones were fine. That meant Dojun had very cleverly hit him only to inflict pain. Choi Inho, his face swollen, began to be questioned. Dojun, sitting next to him, also diligently answered the investigating officer’s questions.

“There might be additional investigations regarding Mr. Park Dojun’s self-defense.”

“Understood.”

“You can go home today and come back on the day we request.”

Dojun left the police station. Hae-joo, who had received a call from Director Song, was waiting and ran to him.

“Dojun!”

Hae-joo’s heart tore when she saw Dojun’s scarred face. She touched his bloodstained lips and couldn’t speak.

“Did Reporter Choi Inho do this?”

“No.”

“Then who?”

Dojun pointed to Director Song. Hae-joo turned her head in the same direction and met Director Song’s eyes.

“Did Director Song hit you?”

“That’s not it. ...CEO?”

Dojun chuckled.

“I roughed up Choi Inho a bit.”

“…!”

“It’s a wound I made to pretend it was self-defense.”

“My goodness!”

“If I get arrested for violence, I can’t catch Han Jintae. I have to catch Han Jintae to kill Chairman Yu.”

The laughter faded from Dojun’s face, and his Adam’s apple bobbed significantly. Hae-joo hugged him and prayed.

“I’m satisfied just knowing you’re safe, Dojun. So never get hurt.”

“I won’t.”

“Let’s go home quickly.”

“You go first. I have somewhere to stop by.”

Dojun comforted Hae-joo and sent her off in the car driven by Hyunseong. As he turned, Director Song reported.

“It seems GN doesn’t know that Choi Inho has been arrested yet.”

“Did you find out the officetel password?”

“Yes.”

Dojun memorized the lock code he extracted from Choi Inho. He returned to the officetel and left a note on the desk. Without lingering, he went straight home. After quickly satisfying his hunger and washing up, he went to the dressing room. He carefully selected and put on a suit. He styled his hair more meticulously than usual and stood in front of the mirror.

“Are you going to the company?”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you rest today?”

“I’ll be back early.”

Dojun’s steps were dynamic as he turned around in his suit. His sleek figure, enveloped by the elegant lines, overwhelmed those who watched him. Hyunseong, in particular, stared at Dojun in a daze.

“Hyunseong, you stay here until I get back.”

“Understood.”

There was even a joke going around that Dojun held the purse strings of South Korea. Befitting his reputation, most major corporate magnates wanted to forge friendships with him. Except for one place: GN. The expensive sedan, indicating his current status, sped along. Eventually, it stopped at GN’s headquarters.

________________________________________

In the early morning, Jinhan received a shocking message. It was a manuscript filled with absurd rumors sent by Choi Inho to Hae-joo. This kind of article spread quickly and stimulated the public’s primal urges. No matter how much she explained that it wasn’t true, Hae-joo would fall.

“He’s going to get divine retribution for this.”

Currently, GN was at a dead end. After the anonymous post went up, Dojun had filed a complaint, supported by evidence. Now it was Chairman Yu of GN’s turn to respond. But what came back was a rumor too disgusting to even mention.

“This is driving me crazy.”

He couldn’t fathom how his father had become like this. On one hand, it was sad, but he was solely focused on stopping him immediately. He found the officetel where Choi Inho was presumed to be hiding. When Dojun also said he was coming, Jinhan turned his car around. He went to his family home, rang the doorbell, and then burst through the main gate.

“Father!”

Jinhan loudly called for Chairman Yu, and what he saw were piles of luggage stacked in the entrance.

“What brings you here so early?”

Hwang Gyeong-ok came out and asked. Her appearance, preparing to leave at this hour, was very unfamiliar.

“I wanted to see Father. Where’s Mother?”

“I’m leaving today. Your father and I are going to live separately from now on.”

“You’re leaving now?”

“Yes. Don’t mind me, go upstairs to the second floor.”

As Jinhan went up the second-floor stairs, the moving company workers arrived. He turned his back after seeing the luggage being carried out one by one. Chairman Yu was sitting on the second-floor terrace. He noticed Jinhan approaching while watching Hwang Gyeong-ok pack her belongings and leave.

“You’re here?”

“I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Chairman Yu reluctantly made space for Jinhan.

“Father, it was you, wasn’t it, who commissioned this kind of article from Choi Inho?”

Jinhan held out his phone, displaying the message Choi Inho had sent to Hae-joo. Annoyance filled Chairman Yu’s eyes as he read the text filling the screen.

“Choi Inho, that damn bastard! How dare he send such a message to Lee Hae-joo without my permission?”

“Did Father order it?”

“Lee Hae-joo started this whole thing.”

“What did you say?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know that Lee Hae-joo had her manager post that anonymous article?”

“Hae-joo didn’t do that.”

“She didn’t?”

“Hyunseong, who was assaulted by Manager Yeongjae, wrote it in a fit of anger.”

“Whoever did it, they have to take responsibility.”

“Father!”

Even amidst all this, Chairman Yu remained unyielding.

“Regardless of what it was, the fact is that it humiliated me and my company.”

“You will surely regret this.”

“Insolent brat.”

“Stop now. Please acknowledge your wrongdoings and pay for your sins.”

“Is that all you have to say to your father?”

Jinhan pushed his chair back and stood up.

“Father, you’ve even thrown away your last chance.”

“Shut up.”

“From this moment on, I am no longer your son.”

Jinhan had a subtle punch. Chairman Yu knew well that if it landed, it would hurt quite a bit. But now, it was beyond pain. His wife had left, and his son was trying to sever their familial ties. He knew he was at the edge of a cliff, but his pride wouldn’t allow it.

“Get out of my house immediately.”

Chairman Yu watched his youngest son’s retreating back as he left the family home where he was born and raised. The sound of the main gate closing after Hwang Gyeong-ok’s last piece of luggage was removed echoed particularly loudly. He sat on the chair, dazed, and closed his eyes. Having tossed and turned all night, he fell asleep and had all sorts of nightmares.

“What is this?”

The mansion, left alone, was no different from a prison. He turned on his phone and saw that quite some time had passed, so he called Han Jintae.

“Director Han, where are you?”

“At the Chairman’s office. I was on my way out after gathering reports, meeting materials, and my laptop.”

Chairman Yu had decided to work from home today. His condition had been poor, so he shouldn’t overexert himself.

“Choi Inho tried to make a deal with Lee Hae-joo using the manuscript he wrote.”

“A deal?”

“He was trying to save himself first.”

“I’ll go check immediately.”

“Let’s release it before Lee Hae-joo’s side does.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll go to the office, so finish up and report back.”

As Chairman Yu prepared for his late arrival at work, Han Jintae’s eyes widened in fury. He had warned Choi Inho so many times, yet he had done something useless.

“That pathetic bastard!”

He called, but there was no answer. He immediately went to the officetel and opened the locked door. What greeted him was a chaotic interior. There were even bloodstains on the floor, filling him with an ominous feeling.

“What happened?”

Han Jintae’s sharp gaze searched every corner of the room. Then he found a memo stuck to the desk. His brows furrowed into an ugly grimace. His heart almost shattered at the short message written on the memo as he approached it.

“-See you soon.”