episode_0053

【Cha Hwaryeon】

CEO of ‘Hwaryeong Construction’

Age: 25

Charisma: 71

Talent Management: 29

Operational Ability: 54

Charm: 106

Loyalty (Trust Level) towards you: 71%

A CEO who only causes controversy with her beautiful appearance

《Action Leader》 《Energetic》 [Self-righteous] {Excessive Self-Consciousness} {Impulsive} {Hot-tempered} {Jealousy}

As Cha Hwaryeon had submitted directly, her status began to appear.

Finally, I had gained my second older sister, who I had set as my first target.

It was proof of the harvest, taking a momentous first step in my plan to devour my family.

‘Her stats for her appearance… are quite disappointing.’

Even excluding her stats, her negative traits were a staggering {Impulsive}, {Hot-tempered}, {Jealousy}.

If left neglected or abandoned, she possessed a trifecta that would lead her to put the company up as collateral to play slot machines.

The reason for her excessive short-selling or pushing through construction even without money must have largely been due to this impatient personality, regardless of her abilities.

However, this much can be handled with proper management.

If I only provide counseling to boost her self-esteem through continuous meetings, she probably won’t recklessly cause trouble like before.

Since I’ve finally secured internal cooperation, if used well, she could become the trump card to bring down my remaining sisters.

The remaining two competitors won’t be easy enough to show any significant mistakes or weaknesses, so I must use all means available.

“─Hup-cha!

……Well, let’s think about complicated matters little by little later.”

Long-term worries lightly blown away with a stretch and neck exercises.

For now, completing the construction project and acquiring shares of Hwaryeong Construction are the priorities.

Because if Cha Hwaryeon is separated from the Hwaryeong Group, either of the other two will react.

Therefore, what I need to do today is,

‘Ah, she’s here.’

A white luxury sedan pulled up smoothly in front of the hotel.

I had provided funds for maintaining her dignity for cooperation with today’s meeting partner, and she immediately hired a chauffeur.

It seemed she was anxious about going out without a driver whose identity was reliably guaranteed, as well as someone to act as a bodyguard.

Since she was still suffering from mild panic attacks, I gladly walked over and even offered the service of opening the door for her.

I treated the person, who had come out to get some fresh air for the first time in a while to match the darkening meeting time, with utmost respect.

“Aunt Chaewon, you’re here?”

“…….”

Jung Chaewon stepped out of the car, dressed in a neat dress.

She was Jung Sooran, my mother’s younger sister, and thus my aunt by relation.

No long explanation needed; she was the one I had visited previously.

A means to target Mom, whom I had obtained for free a few months ago.

Aunt Chaewon, in a brother-in-law and sister-in-law relationship, had a secret, illicit affair with Cha Seongtaek, the chairman of a large corporation and my older sister’s husband, as his mistress.

However, this dangerous and disgraceful relationship did not last long.

Because when the media caught wind of their relationship and a controversy was on the verge of igniting, Cha Seongtaek cruelly cast Jung Chaewon aside.

Fearing that it might even reach his wife, Jung Sooran’s ears, he anxiously confined and monitored Aunt, suppressing her freedom.

Despite initiating the affair with his wife’s sister, out of a desire not to lose his family and to avoid taking responsibility, he ruthlessly cut off their relationship without giving her a single penny until his death.

She became a living witness, clearly demonstrating that Cha Seongtaek was as ruthless a person as his fame was soaring at the time.

“The fact that you’ve come all this way means you’ve accepted my proposal, doesn’t it?”

“…….”

She merely replaced a verbal answer with a narrow gaze.

Perhaps thanks to that ruthlessness, Jung Chaewon, who had been cooped up in her room, courageously made her way here.

It was to quench the anger she had nowhere to direct after Cha Seongtaek’s death.

“First, I came because I wanted to see how you were doing.”

“Is this a probing move?

Then relax your expression. You look like you’re about to devour someone from the start.”

“…Hmph.”

Even while snorting, she took my arm, which I offered as her nephew.

She then walked alongside her nephew into the familiar hotel.

Into the dazzling, gleaming hotel where her sister, who knew nothing of this sordid truth, resided.

* * *

“Welcome, Chaewon-ah!”

As soon as we entered the secret room, accessible only to family, Mom greeted us with a bright smile, rushing out in her socks.

As she always did when family visited, she had prepared a table full of food and was waiting for us.

“……Unnie.”

“To think you’d suddenly contact me, and look how long it’s been…! You really, really did well to come, kiddo!”

It was like the reaction of high school classmates meeting again.

Not knowing how to express her joy, she instead patted her shoulder repeatedly with a loud voice.

“Come on, let’s sit down first!”

Before Aunt, whose complexion didn’t look very good, could respond, Mom pulled her arm and led her to the dining table.

With her perpetually high cheekbones, she rattled off everything she wanted to say like a machine gun.

“It’s already been four years… or is it five? Anyway, what on earth have you been doing?! Dad was so worried, what happened?”

“…….”

The very first question was incredibly cruel.

Because it was a question that showed she knew absolutely nothing about the tragic history involving her own husband.

However,

“Yeah, I had a lot of busy things going on.”

“Busy things?”

“Well, after graduating from university, I rested too much, so I’ve been busy preparing various things.”

Aunt skillfully acted.

She pretended to be bright, showing dimples and smiling as she spoke to Mom.

She responded like a child from a harmonious family, to the point where one might think that’s what her personality used to be like.

“I’m glad your face looks so much better.

By the way, I heard you were home for a long time… I heard you got your diploma, so did you secretly get a job?”

“More like starting a business than getting a job.

I couldn’t become a professor as Mom and Dad wished, but with help from acquaintances, I started a modest company and began working.”

“When did you ever…!

You should have told your unnie about this! I would have helped with anything.”

“It’s fine, I should only tell you such good news once things are properly settled.

More importantly, if I received help from unnie, it wouldn’t be something I accomplished myself, would it?”

Watching her, it was like flowing water.

She had been cooped up at home due to the after-effects, yet she smoothly continued with the story she had just made up.

She acted like a diligent and good sister, as if she had returned to the days of being an affectionate sister before the monster named Cha Seongtaek got involved.

“Truly, it really did turn out well, anyway!”

False harmony spreading over the dining table..

“How did you two get to know Doyeon?”

“Well, he suddenly came to visit and…”

“Oh! You’re still living in that house with the garden, right?”

Mom, perhaps feeling that Aunt, who had been avoiding her, had returned to her old self, entered chatter mode.

She instantly resolved the questions and curiosities she hadn’t been able to ask.

As most women’s pointless chattering goes, five minutes turned into ten, thirty minutes quickly turned into over an hour with only superficial conversation.

Mainly, Mom, being overjoyed, babbled on excitedly,

“……And─

Oh! Wait, I forgot to say this to Doyeon.”

“Huh?”

While I was preoccupied with my phone, handling some work, having no interest in their past chatter.

My name was called, and I abruptly lifted my head.

“Doyeon-ah, …it seems I should clear up the past misunderstandings with you and properly greet you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well─”

She opened her mouth to convey her true feelings all at once but stammered.

As I waited, she suddenly wiped away sparkling tears from the corners of her eyes.

Perhaps overwhelmed with emotion by the familial love of more than three people gathered together for the first time in a long while, her eyes cried while her mouth smiled.

“Hwaryeon recently contacted me. She said she was sorry for being so harsh all this time.”

“Ah….”

The last time we parted ways, I advised my second older sister that it would be better for her to reconcile with Mom.

I only manipulated her like that to use her for my plan.

“I don’t know much about it, but it seems the two of you have gotten closer than before. It looks like you’ve been working hard behind the scenes, out of sight.”

“…….”

“And to even invite Chaewon, who was only ever at home, and arrange this gathering… It feels like you’re becoming the focal point, bringing our family, who were growing apart, back together in one place.”

After wiping away her tears again.

Then, lightly sniffing to stop crying,

“I’m sorry for misunderstanding you all this time.

I said such harsh words and couldn’t do anything for you, but it truly seems like you’re the only one who cares for our family… Thank you.”

[‘Mom Jung Sooran’s’ trust level towards you has significantly increased from 19% → 46%!]

[The stage has progressed from ‘Still My Child’ to ‘Trustworthy Son’]

“Tha…Hk!”

I held it in.

As even the notification filled with sincerity popped up, I bit my lip to hold it in.

Fearing that a burst of laughter might escape, I too bowed my head deeply, as if overcome with emotion.

‘Damn it, I’m going to burst from laughing…!’

It seemed Jung Sooran had no idea about my true intentions.

To think she would express gratitude to a son who had nothing but thoughts of devouring his mother, his older sisters, and his younger sister.

To compare her to an animal, it was as if her mind was a blank slate.

Perhaps because she was happy to finally reunite with her sister, today’s emotional Mom was utterly naive.

While she was cute enough to make my mouth water with a charm different from that of my mother-in-law Soiseol, I wondered how Jung Chaewon would perceive it.

“…….”

Aunt, who had been enduring the chatter, was now beyond discomfort, seemingly overwhelmed.

As if she couldn’t take it anymore, she put a hand to her mouth and abruptly pushed herself up from the seat.

“Unnie, I need to go to the restroom for a bit…”

“Suddenly the restroom? Did the food not agree with you?”

Before Mom could even hear an answer, Aunt left, hiding her face,

“Ah, I’ll also go wash my hands, Mom.”

“Huh? …Oh, okay, dear.”

I followed right behind her.

Knowing what Aunt would do in the restroom, I followed her.

*

“Uweeeegh!”

As expected, the moment she entered the clean restroom, Aunt clung to a toilet and regurgitated the expensive food she had eaten.

I considered patting her back, but she pushed away my hand and rejected it, so I decided to step back.

“It seems you’ve confirmed your desire for revenge against Mom.”

“Yes….

That face, rolling happily in a flower field as if she knew absolutely nothing, is disgust─ Ugh!”

Sound of retching.

I waited until she calmed down before continuing.

“There’s nothing that could be done.

Before Cha Seongtaek died, Mom didn’t really know about Aunt’s situation, and after he died, Aunt overtly pushed her away.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit! If she truly cared that much and wanted to know, she would have investigated or forced her way in!”

Gurgle! Whoosh─

The sound of the toilet flushing cleanly.

Covering her mouth, she staggered to the sink and rinsed her mouth with cold water.

Without turning off the cool stream of water, she gazed down intently and mumbled.

“Unnie is just a coward. Even if she has suspicions, she’s a coward who turns her head away and ignores the truth when it approaches!

She implicitly knows about Cha Seongtaek’s dark side but pretends not to, covering it up. She babbles on daily about how important it is for family to stick together, but only her own children, her own brats, truly matter!”

“…….”

“She never even tried to truly know about me, she knew nothing of the time I suffered because of that bastard, yet she goes on about how it’s been a while and she’s happy to see me! It’s so sickening, I can’t stand it!”

It seemed she was thoroughly instigated.

It seems she intended to judge by looking at Unnie’s face, but the fire was properly lit.

Moreover, despite being in a situation like a fledgling bird just emerged from its nest, she added such a bombshell statement.

“Indeed, I won’t feel satisfied until I take this hotel for myself!”

An enormous ambition.

An ambition to take her sister’s hotel despite having nothing.

I did not mock her to her face.

“Oh really?”

A smirk.

I was simply delighted that things were unfolding amusingly.